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MAY, 2000
This is the month of reckoning. In getting the computer records straightened out the roster is being brought up to date and we are dropping from the mailing list all delinquent members (i.e. those who have yet to pay their dues for the year). Therefore, this will be the end of the (Gaff-) line for many and it is with regrets that we say good-bye. If you wish to continue your membership (and remain on the mailing list) please remit the dues payment of $85 ($160 for the family) and the $10 late fee.
And speaking of the roster we are trying to get the Year Book put together. Many have already sent in their ads, but there is always room for more. These ads help to defray the cost of the printing. Remember: full page ads run $90, half page $50 and third page $40. Please contact the Club or President DAVE VERDUGO if you wish to submit an ad. Any corrections to the Roster? (addresses? area codes? phone numbers?).
FISHING REPORTS: Albacore??? The persistent rumors of Long-Fin catches by commercials continued into April. By the 12th the rumors and reports began to include private boats as well. Local sportboats have made their preliminary runs and by mid-month were locating groups of fish, albeit non-biters, in the 75-85 mile range. These have been called "holdovers" from last year. However, it appears the season is now underway. The first week of the month saw the Vagabond heading south and picking up over a dozen of the 7-14 pd."new crop" fish at 150-170 miles. Several of the landings will have 1 ½ day trips going out now. The experts, oddly enough, are predicting another banner year. ("experts?" – "optimists?" – fishermen?" = all mean the same.)
There are enough of the "other" species around to keep some of the hard core fleet busy. For example, look at SAM MINERVINI with a 17.9 pd. Yellowtail on 4-8 and a 25.8 pd. Halibut on 4-21. The "Harvey B" team has picked up where they left off last year. MIKE BINGHAM weighed in a 26 pd.-11 oz. "flattie" taken on 8 pd. Line on 4-28.
The White Sea Bass bite at Catalina is still kind of "iffy." But the Yellowtail bite at both the Coronados and San Clemente is picking up.
CLUB CLEAN-UP DAY was held on the 15th and the Club is grateful for the turn-out. BRENT CLINGMAN came in with a power sprayer blasting away a lot of the old paint. Among those wielding paint scrapers, brushes, muscle power and/or just a helping hand or two were: CHRIS and ANTONE LAHR, ED WALDMAN, President DAVE, RICH HAMILTON, BUZZ GUENTNER, WAYNE and CHARLOTTE SLAHOR, TROY GRANT, MICHAEL BERRY, etc. Again, thanks to one and all (and if we left anyone off this list we apologize for not receiving the information). Unfortunately, some of the wood work needs the care of a specialist and some glueing, bonding, filling, etc will be necessary to cover the ravages of time, wood rot and those little wood eating critters before the final coats of paint can be applied.
April closed out on the 30th with the Annual "Day at the Docks." All of the Sportfishing landings held open house with many display booths up and down the waterfront. We, the Marlin Club, had a booth as well. TROY & SHERA GRANT, CHRIS and ANTONE LAHR, DAVE VERDUGO and JIM KONZAL manned the booth distributing information about the Club and talking up interest in the forthcoming Halibut Tournament. Several entries to the tournament came out of their efforts.
Also on the 30th, the Club was open for visitors (i.e. Open House). The banners were flying, several members had their boats on display and it looked like a typical Yacht Club Opening Day – without the uniforms and ceremonial pomp. Thanks to DICK MEDVE ("Captain Hook"), ROB EPSTEN ("Dos Hermanos"), SKETE SIMMONS ("Key to the Sea"), ED WALDMAN ("Sunshine Too"), and ED CHECKERT ("Desperado") for bringing their boats over for the affair. And many thanks to DON & SHIRLEY BLACKMAN, President DAVE VERDUGO and RICH HAMILTON for helping set things up. Smoked Marlin was supplied by the Fillet (Processing) Co.
COMING EVENTS: Don’t forget – May 20th is the Club’s Annual "Just for the Halibut" tournament. If you are interested in participating and haven’t sent in your entry contact the Club or drop in and pick up an entry form. Remember - $1,000 prize for 1st Place. It looks like there is going to be a great turn-out so get in on the fun and catch a big one.
And, if you haven’t already done so, don’t mark your June calendar on the 16th for the Club’s 1st Sundowner of the year. Make it the 9th! Here is a good chance to mix with some of the people you talk to or hear about out there on the water, but don’t get much chance to socialize with. It’s a pot-luck affair so put together your favorite dessert, salad, casserole, meat loaf or what-have-you and join in the party. (If you’re lazy just go to Kentucky Colonel, but, please, nothing spicy and save me a piece of dark meat.) There will be a speaker and presentation of a video regarding Giant Blue Fin Tuna fishing in the North East. We only have two Sundowners on the schedule for the summer so we’d like to see a nice turn-out. "Come on down! – Ya’ll!"
The plan is also to have the final raffle of the Custom Trolling Rod – Penn International Reel combination. Tickets are $5 each and we’d like to see a lot more tickets sold before the final drawing. We’re running a special – 4 tickets for $20.00.
We can’t give you the exact date, but the start of the Marlin fishing season is close at hand. That’s one "coming event" that I’m sure we are all looking forward to.
NEW MEMBERS: Welcome aboard BRIAN KLEIN, HARVEY BEGNOCHE, and DENNIS ALBERT.
Speaking of new "arrivals" the Club would like to thank JACK and LU KEARSE for their contributions to the Club’s library of fishing videos. If anyone else has some fishing tapes they are tired of watching feel free to bring them in. A new addition is the Recreational Fishing Alliance tape: "Gladiators of the Deep; Rape of a Resource." This should be mandatory viewing by anyone interested in the Longline vs. Conservation Issues.
And would you believe a new Voice of the Marlin Club? Yes, it’s true. LILLIAN "LIL" MILLER (aka DON BLACKMAN’s "kid" sister) has agreed to fill the void created by the departure of our recent secretary, HELEN PROO. "LIL" is going to slowly work into the varied activities of the Club with lots of help from the membership. She has had experience in bookkeeping and should be able to help us get the books in order. So let’s all be kind to her, but, more importantly – be patient!
CONSERVATION ISSUES: Continuing the reporting of the Longline controversy – April 26th was the televised meeting of the Highly Migratory Species Management Plan meeting held at the Southwest Fisheries office in LaJolla (and three other sites on the West Coast). This was an all day meeting of the HMS Advisory Committee (including Norm Bartoo, one of their advisors). This meeting was geared to the preliminary development of the HMS Plan. Attending the meeting were RICH HAMILTON, MIKE (aka "THE BEAK") HURT (representing the Recreational Fishing Alliance, among others), RICH JOHNSON, BOB HOOSE (representing 7Strand and the BAC), ED ZIERALSKI (from the S.D. Union-Tribune), yours truly, and several others representing United Anglers and other recreational oriented groups. This meeting was a video conference with participants in Long Beach, Hawaii, Portland, Alaska (by phone) and up north in either Portland, Seattle or San Francisco as well as here in La Jolla. Testimony from parties concerned was permitted and everyone present had an opportunity to voice their thoughts and concerns. The HMSP development committee and the Pacific Fisheries Council have their work cut out for them. The idea is to have a rough draft ready by September, finalization by November, and ready for implementation by April, 2001. Who knows what the future holds, but if you are a pessimist when it comes to politics (and, ahem, "campaign contributions") the possibility of longlines in our EEZ (Extended Economic Zone = 200 mile limit) by next summer is of major concern.
DO YOU SURF THE WEB?: For those of you interested in various fishing oriented internet web sites here is one that looks promising. I met Tom Greene who is a pilot for spotter planes working for the tuna seiners, stick boats, etc. He is involved with a new site: www.FishSpotters.com. It is very comprehensive – including SSTs (i.e. Sea Surface Temperature charts) as well as fish reports, etc, etc, etc. Try it if you’re into this kind of thing.
And speaking of the "Web" more and more requests are being received for a Marlin Club Web site - as in one with schedules and regular updates of the local fishing activities. Unfortunately, work of this nature can be expensive and somewhat technical – beyond the talents of most of us would-be "hackers." Anyone possessing the "necessities" (thank you, Al Campanis) who would like to help out please step forward.
MARLIN CLUB OFF-SHORE INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT: Positive reponses have been coming in from many angles (and anglers) and more sponsors coming on board. Invitations will be available quite soon. A copy of the press release is enclosed.
Please note that the tournament will be limited to 60 participants. Once the limit is reached no further invitations will be extended. For further information call the Club office.
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BONUS
FOOD FOR THOUGHT(FUL FISHERMEN): The first part of the following is not an editorial or attempted source of controversy, but merely an observation, a presentation and review of an article in current literature adding to the lore of sport fishing. If you are in disagreement with the author cited, we are sure he is waiting to hear from you. His words are: "The article will no doubt cause a great deal of discussion, both pro and
con, ……….etc."
As a preface - a recent review of the year 2000 California Sport Fishing Regulations, Section 27.60 ("Limit"), paragraph (b) indicates that it is against the law to take (i.e. "zero fish") the following species: Giant (Black) Sea Bass, Garibaldi, Gulf Grouper, Broomtail Grouper, and White Shark. The corollary to that is that everything else is legal – with limits, of course.
We have brought this information to you in light of an article (regarding the take of legal species) appearing in "The Edge - Big Game Fishing Journal," June, 2000, p. 85 by Capt. Ron Schatman titled: "Who’s the Real Enemy?" He points out that all too often Sport Fishermen are being made the scapegoat for the ills of overfishing. He states: "The depletion of the pelagic fishery is not being caused by the recreational fisherman and we should not direct our ire at him." His question is: "Why should a sport fisherman that takes a legal quantity of fish be made to feel guilty for keeping what he intends to eat?"
He suggests that "it is impossible for a rod-and-reel fishery to ever make a dent in a healthy stock of any pelagic specie." And (in reference to anglers taking legal limits of fish) he adds: "In my opinion, as long as no laws were violated and the fish were not wasted, the anglers are clearly within their rights."
His conclusion? "Sport fishermen that kill fish within the laws and regulations set by state and federal agencies, that practice good, solid, conservation techniques, and do not waste or misuse their catch should not be the target of good-intentioned, but, misguided, individuals."
(Don’t you just love that word: "misguided"????)
However, as Tevye, the Milkman, in "Fiddle on the Roof," might say: "But, on the other hand -------" (as in two sides to every story) – THIS (what follows) is an editorial – (we didn’t want to disappoint you):
While (almost) everyone agrees with the above, the fact remains that we are currently engaged in a war (mortal combat for certain pelagic species) with the commercial interests trying to continue the wholesale slaughter (under the guise of an alleged "experimental" longline fishery) of many of our prized West Coast sportfish (i.e. Bluefin Tuna, Marlin, Swordfish, etc). They are trying to extend to our coast the work that they have so competently demonstrated on the East Coast. They are here because of the effectiveness of their recent operations – they have little left to fish for elsewhere!
The war that we are currently engaged in is one of words, finger pointing, emotional outbursts and, unfortunately, not too much in the way of factual data (how do you count fish?). But there are many at work trying to accumulate the kind of information so necessary in stating our case before the proper authorities. However, there is another field of battle, that we, the recreational fishermen, are actively involved with – that of image (public perception, etc). The key word for us seems to be "conservation" and through are efforts in the White Sea Bass hatcheries, the promotion of "catch & release" tournaments, etc we help to promote the cause. But it is often said: "a picture is worth a thousand words." And we use this slogan repeatedly (and quite effectively) when we splash the pictures of dead turtles, whales, seals, birds, marlin, swordfish, etc in the gillnets and, now, thrashing around on the end of longline hooks. The new picture, "The Perfect Storm," is about East Coast Swordfish longlining and shows large numbers of (very realistic looking, but computer generated) swordfish being pulled from the ocean and dumped on the decks. This can’t hurt our cause. (They had to use computer generated images because there aren’t any of the real thing left.)
However, the other side is capable of using pictures to support their cause just as capably as we have done. We can throw out statistics of thousands of tons of Marlin "by-catch," but the picture of but a single dead marlin hanging from a hook (regardless of whose freezer or table it is destined) does more harm (from a public relations standpoint) for our cause than all the letters, telegrams, petitions, shouting, finger pointing, table pounding, etc can ever hope to accomplish. The old Marlin Club brochure featuring 14 Marlin hanging at the dock is the typical kind of fuel for their side.
Our representatives are fighting the battle of statistics, but we are in the front line, the trenches as it were, fighting the battle of public image. Not only must we think twice about hauling another carcass up to the docks, take pictures which look exactly like dozens that already adorn our walls and scrapbooks, but it may even be time to take a hard look at some of our 100 year old traditions (e.g. the cannon, the flags, the scale guessing games, the pictures, and even some of the awards). We should perhaps expand our capacity to utilize the very real looking Marlin mount we already have and stress the point that it represents a fish that was successfully hunted, hooked, fought and "caught," but is still out there waiting to do it all over again. Wasn’t it Lee Wulff who said: "A fish is too valuable to be caught just once."
Thus, while we are completely in agreement with the author cited we must take into consideration that other forces are at work (in addition, of course, to the rantings of "misguided" individuals). We’ve come a long way, but it appears that there is more, much more, work to be done.
If you disagree with the author cited above let him know. If you disagree with us, feel free to let us know. You know where we are.
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