March, 2000

Welcome to the New Millenium! This is our 1^st Gaff Line of the new year and we hope that all of you are staying healthy and busy gearing up for the coming season. Actually, with an early Yellowtail bite at the Coronados it would appear that the season is already off and running. In addition, there have been reports of "keeper" Halibut being taken. And there is even talk of the Albacore still being taken by the net boats. We hope that this all continues and augurs well for an outstanding season. More of that later.

There is much to report and where else to start, but the election of a new Board of Directors and Officers. DAVE VERDUGO will continue as President. Dr. KEN MORRIS has moved up to the position of 1^st Vice President and SKETE SIMMONS continues as the 2^nd Vice President. SKETE (along with DAVE and RICH HAMILTON) have been representing the Club in the various meetings with the Port authorities and will continue doing so. Newly elected JIM KONZAL takes over as Secretary-Treasurer. MICHAEL (aka MICHAEL "B") BERRY and CHRIS LAHR have also been elected to the Board of Directors joining hold-overs RICH HAMILTON, RICHARD KEESEE, BRENT CLINGMAN, ED WALDMAN and STEVE WILLIAMS.

FROM THE BRIDGE: I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our out-going Board members, MARTY MORRIS and RUSS POND: Thank you for the endless hours spent on Marlin Club business and welcome to you JIM KONZAL, CHRIS LAHR and MICHAEL "B." We all look forward to working with you this year. For those who did not make the Board this year, don’t be discouraged. Get involved, and you will be called upon again. And a very special ‘Thank You’ to TROY GRANT, a frustrated Urologist, for the new plumbing in the Men’s room." - R. DAVID VERDUGO, El Presidente

There is also a change in the front office. HELEN PROO, our secretary for the past three years, is moving on and has submitted her resignation, but will be around to help out for the transition. We will manage to keep the door and phone lines open while we make new arrangements. And the "temp" looks forward to hearing from all of you – yes, even you, BARRY ROCKWELL, are welcome.

The "Gaff Line?" The torch has been passed. Time considerations have forced Dr. Ken to reluctantly discontinue his erudite literary contributions to this publication and, for better or worse, I have been asked to step in and channel my word processing activities in a more productive direction. As HARRY OKUDA has requested: "Please – no controversies." For HARRY and LAN’s sake I’ll do my best, but it will be oh, so hard. I know – "we just want the facts, Marty!" Oops, I just gave myself away. Now I can’t even be an "un-named reliable source." But I do promise you this – not another word about Spanky, Sparky, Bozo or any other of STEVE WILLIAMs’ alter egos. And I’ll bite my tongue every time I have to use the "r" word.

But there is a lot to write about and we hope to make this little publication something that you all look forward to. Can Desk Top publishing be far behind? In order to succeed it is important that I (we) get as much input from you as possible. We want to be able to present your thoughts as well as your exploits. We want to be able to report on distant as well as local fishing activities and ask that you all feel free to pass on to us as much reporting (sorry, no by-lines) as possible. Everyone likes to see their name in print and we aim to please. We want to make this YOUR Club. In addition, we’d like to get some pictures added to this publication so please feel free to send us anything of interest – anything, of course, that has to do with fishing , members, or the Marlin Club. If you have any comments – feel free. You can send whatever to the Club or directly to me: (619) 583-5132 fax (619)265-2212 or e-mail: Mmorris999@aol.com. And PLEASE – no jokes (and that means you, ED, DAVE, TROY, Misty BILL, et al). Well, on second thought, if they are funny and have to do with fishing – maybe!

The Annual Awards Dinner was held on January 29^th at the Bali Hai. There were 81 bodies in attendance and the usual raffle winners, but the major Awards were as follows:

SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD: TROY GRANT

Speaking of raffles: the Club has a super on-going raffle of a Penn Int. 20 – Custom trolling rod combination which is being put up for a special raffle with proceeds going to the Club. Tickets are $5.00 each and the winner need not be present when the lucky ticket is drawn. If there are enough tickets sold we plan to have the raffle at the General Membership meeting in April. Any member of the Board can sell you a ticket – or two – or more – or they can be had at the Club.

COMING EVENTS: please find enclosed a copy of the somewhat revised Year 2000 schedule of events. And take note of the fact that March has been designated the "Big Fish of the Month" contest. Not exactly a tournament, but the dues paid member who registers the largest fish of the month will be credited with paid up dues for next year (2001). Everything counts and from the shark family Makos and Threshers will qualify.

Any old (legitimate) weight slip is all that is needed (preferably dated in March, 2000). And I’ve got to say it, but releases (bite #1) won’t qualify.

Next up will be the Annual General Membership Meeting. This is scheduled for April 4^th and will be held at the Southwestern Yacht Club at 7:00 PM. Please try to make it. In addition to the introduction of new Board Members and announcements of new activities (including a new tournament concept) a By-Laws change regarding a change in the procedure for election of officers will be presented. We need your vote. In the revised schedule of events you will note reference to a "New MC Off-Shore Tournament." Rich Hamilton will be providing a presentation of what that is all about and this may prove to be a most interesting and provocative evening. More reason to attend!!!!

Please note that there will be only two (2) Sundowners this year. The attendance at these social events had fallen off and it has been decided to cut back. A most entertaining fellow has been lined up to present an interesting fishing experience at the 1^st gathering on June 16^th. Mark your calendar! More information later.

CLUB HOUSE: if you haven’t been by lately – drop in. We have something new. We now have a larger screen TV-VCR and are attempting to build a library of fishing videos. They are starting to trickle in and we welcome any and all donations. If you have any old tapes that you are tired of looking at consider donating them to the club. If you haven’t seen it, the Michael Fowlkes Inside Sportfishing tape from the Sea of Cortez with the under water shots of the bait balls being attacked by Dorado, Marlin, etc is spell-binding and worth looking at over and over again.

MEMBERSHIP: if you haven’t already done so please send in your dues. Changes are in the works (for the better, of course) and we hope to have you all joining us. If you fail to re-up this may be your last Gaff Line. And you don’t want to miss out on all this hot dope, now do you? On the down side, sadly, we must report the recent passing of ED FITZGERALD owner of the "Mil-So-Mar." ED had been ill for a number of months.(We are told that MILLIE plans to keep the boat active on the local scene, so, at least, we’ll know where to find RICH HAMILTON.) In addition, TONY SCHIAVONE, a member of the Southwestern Yacht Club Anglers and long time MC member, recently passed away. Both he and ED were active anglers and credits to the sport. The condolences of the entire Club go out to their families.

And, yes, we do have some FISHING REPORTS: I am sure that most of you have heard of the 1^st Albacore of the Millenium $1,000 shopping spree offered by DOUG KERN of the Fisherman’s Landing Tackle Shop. The prize was claimed in the early morning minutes of January 1^st and the runner-up pulled in 15 minutes later. Several other fish were caught that day (including the 1^st of the Year Flag for Southwestern’s BOB L’ETOILE) and then the weather turned ugly. That night of the 1^st BOB and PAT WOODARD’s "Christina Lynn" anchored up at South Island and spent the night in near-gale force winds. HARRY slept through the night. No, they didn’t make it out to the Albacore grounds the next day. This, apparently brought an end to the extended Longfin season, but even at the time of this writing there are reports of the commercials still taking good sized (55-60 pounders) in their nets out towards the Butterfly Bank, towards Pyramid, etc. Have a few spare hours? You might want to try dragging some hardware around. Good practice for May? Or ??

And have you been watching the water temps? Normally, they are in the downward spiral getting close to the very low 50’s this time of the year. However, the temps have remained in the 57-59 degree range for the past two months and, after last year’s early season doldrums we may be surprised by an earlier Marlin season than expected. !st of the Year in May? I believe the Past Presidents’ poll for 1^st of the year isn’t quite that optimistic. e.g.: DON BLACKMAN - June 27 TROY GRANT - July 28

RICH JOHNSON - July 6 SHIRLEY BLACKMAN - July 31

STEVE WILLIAM - July 14 ED WALDMAN - Aug. 3

SKETE SIMMONS - July 22 MARK HENWOOD - Aug. 7

But, currently, the Yellowtail have been putting on a show at the Coronados. I guess you can call it a "show" if you’ve got something to "see" them with (a decent fish finder, sonar, etc). Actually, there has been a fairly steady bite on the iron for the fish have, for the most part, been deep (down to 300 ft.) and found by the bird activity or the fish finders. Sticking close, but not too close, to the Sport Boats also helps locate the fish. Several members including CHRIS LAHR, HARRY OKUDA, et al have been out there and regularly bringing home the bacon (you know what I mean). The fish have been running from about 12 to 20 pds with steady reports of occasional fish over 25 pds.

I understand that there are plenty of Sand Bass and Calicos for those interested and regular reports of keeper Halibut are coming in. They don’t talk much, but keep your eye on the BINGHAM family ("Harvey B"). And this may sound silly, but – pray for Mackeral!!!! (as in Marlin fodder!)

POLITICS (not as usual): if you’re on my e-mail list, watch the Southern California Marlin Online web site, read Western Outdoor News or Ed Zieralski’s articles in the Union-Tribune then you ought to be aware of the Mexican efforts to introduce an "experimental" Shark fishery program consisting of a fleet of "25-30" longliners into their waters extending out to 50 miles off shore. Just think for one minute of a band of water 50 miles wide extending from Tijuana to Cabo and containing 30 longliners. The effect on their fishing, our fishing, and eventually the entire Sportfishing/Tourism industries is mind boggling. But, don’t worry – they are only after sharks. And all the hooks will be so marked so that innocent swordfish, marlin or tuna don’t get involved and take the hooks by mistake. As news of the program leaked out (thanks to STEVE ROSS, RICH HAMILTON and others) a massive letter writing campaign directed to the Mexican Department of Fisheries (their U.S. office is here in San Diego) and the biologist in charge of the program was initiated. We’ll pass on further information about their plan as it becomes available.

But if you are an optimist (as most of us are) and you think there will be fish for us south of the border this year don’t forget to get your Mexican Licenses. They are available at the Mexican Fisheries office "SEMARNAP" (which is their acronym for the Mexican equivalent of Ministry of the Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries) located at 2350 Fifth Ave., Suite 101 (corner of Fifth and Laurel). Boat licenses are: under 23’ - $28.30 23’ to 29’ 11" - $56.60 30’ and higher - $84.90

Auxiliaries (dinghies, inflatables-, etc) also require a license costing $27.10.

Yearly angler licenses are $37.15 – everyone! on board requires one – regardless of age. They do not accept cash or checks – only cashier checks or money orders made out to "SEMARNAP." And don’t leave home without them!!! (i.e. if you intend to fish in Mexican waters – they have been boarding quite regularly.) You will also have to show a copy of your Registration or Documentation when you apply for the licenses. And if you apply by mail they require a stamped, self addressed envelope and take no responsibility for anything lost in the mail suggesting Certified Mail tags for both request and return mailings. Their telephone number is: (619) 233-6956. Want a suggestion: go in person! But don’t complain about the longliners until after you get the licenses. Mr. Santiago Gomez, the representative of the Dept. of Fisheries, has his office there and will be delighted to hear from you.

As for their fishing regulations there are no major changes. Limit of 10 fish per day per angler, but no more than 5 of a single specie (albacore, tuna, yellowtail, etc) and Marlin count as 5 of a species and Dorado count as 2. But don’t forget – each angler may use only one rod at a time (e.g. three anglers are not permitted to troll 15 rods – only one per angler). And no filleting permitted on board. Bottom fish may use 4 hook gangions.

And if the Mexican longliners aren’t enough, don’t worry. It would seem that we have our own and plenty to go around. Our very own Pacific Fishery Management Council (under the auspices of the National Marine Fisheries) has another plan over which we can lose some sleep, the Highly Migratory Species Plan, which covers not onl;y Blue Fin Tuna, but also swordfish, marlin, sailfish, oceanic sharks, and others. Only a fraction of the total harvest is taken within U.S. waters (i.e. 200 mile limit), but it would seem our commercials would like to do better. It appears that they are attempting to introduce an exploratory "limited entry" longline fishery for at least the Blue Fin within the 200 mile limit. The next meeting of the PFMC is March 7-10 in Sacramento at the Red Lion Hotel. The presentation of the control date for the limited entry (including action on the recommendation) will be on Thursday morning, March 9, 2000 at 0800.

NORM BARTOO, a member of Southwestern, is actively involved (in an advisory capacity?) with this entire process and, perhaps, can provide us with a summary of the March 9 meeting.

FROM THE CLUB-HOUSE: don’t forget – if you have a fish to weigh in please call ahead on Channel 78. Or call the club via phone at (619) 222-8677. Until THE season starts (i.e. the 1^st Marlin of the Season is caught) the Club is open Wed., Fri., and Sat. from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The fish report can be heard on (619) 222-2502. More numbers will be made available in the near future.

More startling news: we are going to try to get the Year Book/Roster out before the start of the season. Thus, letters are being sent to previous advertisers regarding this year’s book. In addition, if you have never done so, consider submitting an ad this year. It is one way of telling everyone more about your self and your business as well as an act of supporting the Club. Further information re: costs will be forthcoming.

And so – in closing (phew, at last) - I leave you with this thought – what ongoing "BEAT" do "they" keep talking about??????

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