The Gaff November

marlin2.gif (15861 bytes)
The Marlin Club

The Gaff Line

Since 1931

logo2.gif (8329 bytes)

Early October saw a continuation of the pesky, but tasty, YFTs here, there and everywhere. But, by month end – gone (but not forgotten). The BETs quietly slipped out of town and the Marlin continued their erratic up and down showings off Catalina, the oil islands, 14 Mile Bank, 267/279, Clemente,. etc. It turned out to be a "Maybe today’s the day" kind of action.

Locally, there were almost daily reports of a fish or two being seen at the "top of the 9," "bottom of the 9," 302, etc. The Mission Bay Marlin Club 2000 Charity Heart Marlin Tournament brought out a maximum effort in local waters resulting in a grand total of one (1) Marlin being taken up towards the 277.

Chuck Smith on his SEA TREK IV brought in a fish on Oct. 8 taken barely 5 ½ miles off the Mission Bay Jetty. And then – the inevitable stormy weather – the signal to "pack your bags and go south for the winter." The start of the "end"?

But mid-month brought a "high" in the weather patterns with a mild Santa Ana condition. This encouraged the "hard core" to set out in hopes of extending the season.

Sure enough, on Oct. 14 Chuck and Todd Smith did it again scoring with yet another striper taken 3 miles off the dome at Clemente. That same day Steve Bledsoe and crew on the NO EXCUSES released two fish in that same area (giving them, by the way, 11 fish – all released - for the season. Let’s see – I think that put them about 11 fish ahead of most – or at least some - of us. Sour grapes? You bet!)

The end of the month saw a remaining fraction of the original "herd" setting up house-keeping in the Laguna quadrangle (Newport to the 14 to the 269/279 to Dana Pt.). Feeders were still being seen, sleepers here and there and frequent jig bites. With the fish located only 6-10 miles from Dana harbor Gary and Lynn Jasper on WAIT-N-SEA took advantage and recorded fish on an almost one-a-day basis. And NO EXCUSES registered their 12^th of the year. But the last week of the month saw activities slowing down as the series of bad weather passed through the southland. By month end "WAIT-N-SEA had a reported 17 fish to their credit (12 released).

The last week-end of the month not only brought an end to Daylight Savings Time, but suggested an end (?) to the local Marlin season. Several boats (including Bob Woodard's CHRISTINA LYNN) took off for the reported wide open fishing off Mag Bay. However, with breaks in the weather some of the "hard core" have continued to give it the good old college try with scattered sightings off Oceanside and even here on the "9." On the way south, Bob Woodard reported several BET bites down on the "Worm" or "Peanut" bank south of the Banda Bank. Apparently, they boated at least three of the creatures. A nice start to a long trip.

And that brings us to the final(?) – at least month-end - totals. Getting to these figures can be somewhat complicated for the listings are a bit confused. For those not familiar with the process this will help to explain:

There is a black-board on a back wall in the Marlin Club on which are listed all Club member boats that have reported catches (Marlin and/or Swordfish; weigh-ins and/or releases). This gives a little insight into just who is in the running for the annual Fuel Dock (aka "The Thousand Gallon Bank") Award.

And – if you have ever visited the Club House – there is a white poster-board perched on an easel and kept at the front door to the club. This board lists all billfish (Marlin and Swordfish) weighed at the Club – regardless of Member status or not. An effort is being made to indicate just which of these are caught by members (by *-asterik) and which by non-members. The board also lists all releases by members regardless of the boat on which they were fishing (i.e. member’s or not). This board does not list reported releases by non-members fishing on members’ boats. Is that clear? Such releases will be reflected in the boat activities on the back wall black-board.

And – remember – releases don’t get listed if you don’t (or didn’t) send in your release slips (with or without copies of the tagging cards). For the record: the Club Rules and Regulations state that Release slips must be turned in or post-marked within three (3) days of the event. Three days? That’s kind of ridiculous and the Club has never adhered to such a strict dead-line. But two months later? Let’s try to keep things current.

Thus, the month-end numbers added up to this (unfortunately, not too many fingers and toes will be needed to get to the totals):

That adds up to 30 Marlin weighed at the Club and 30 releases reported by members – a total of 60 – the 2nd poorest total on record. 1962 was the poorest of all with only 59 fish recorded. But 1963 rebounded with 1,410. Can that happen in 2001? Don’t count on it. Don’t forget, gill-nets and long-lines weren’t around in ’63. And, no, this wasn’t one of those "El Nino" years so don’t look for a hot bite at Christmas time.

2000 has set a poor example for the new millennium. One is forced to wonder if the stepped up longline activity south of the border has already taken its toll.

For those so inclined – go south! Fantastic Marlin fishing has been reported off Mag Bay with daily counts of 25-30 fish per boat (per day, that is) not too uncommon. Fuel at Turtle Bay is reported to be $1.95 per gallon and, if necessary, a little better at San Carlos. And, of course, October has been time for the start of the reely big tournaments down at the Cape. (Don’t leave home without your attorney – or truth serum!) Reports from the Bisbee Black and Blue Tournament indicate that some 234 boats participated. 1^st Place went to the "Midnight Express" (captained by Steve Lassley) with a 500 pd. Blue Marlin following the disqualification of a larger (534?) fish when the team failed a lie detector test. Apparently, they handled the line (an IGFA no-no), moving it away from the swim step. However, as we go to press the whole mess is headed for the courts and the final Final Results are yet to be determined.1^st Place winnings (including a daily jack-pot for the day of their wining fish) amounted to a mere $990,000 ($450k for 1^st Place and $550k for the daily jack-pot). Yes, for a measly $18,000 entry fee ($5k for the entry fee and the rest for getting into all of the jack-pots) you, too, could join in the fun. Legal fees are extra.

Member, John Ashley, fished the Cabo waters prior to the Bisbee and boated a 386 pd. Blue. He had a rare double, but the larger one got away.

SADLY, we must report the recent passing of a long time member and friend of the Marlin Club. This past month saw Pat (Mrs. Walt) Gutjhar succumbing to a six month bout with lung cancer. Walt has asked that any donations made in her memory be made to the American Cancer Society and sent to him.

FROM THE CLUB: Many (almost 100) members have not dropped in to pick up their year-books. The Club will be mailing to the out-of-towners but those who live in town are again requested to drop in and pick up your copy. It costs some $1.87 to mail the books out so please help save the Club some unnecessary expenses. The Club is still open daily from 2-6 PM .

Secretary Lil is still holding down the fort Wednesday through Sunday. She has done an exceptional job in transferring much of the Club records and data to the new computer. Almost all of the member vital statistics have been transferred and new mailing labels created. No, if you call on Monday or Tuesday she isn’t hoarse. The voice you hear is member Wayne Slahor who is handling the phones. The Board of Directors is most appreciative of Wayne’s help in organizing some of the chaos in the storage areas. Now, if we can twist his arm a little he would be a welcome addition to the Board of Directors.

AWARDS: No, it isn’t time to hand out the trophies. But your attention is called to the Tom Stanfield Perpetual Hard Luck Trophy: "awarded annually to the Marlin Club angler, who submits in writing before November 15^th, an account deemed by the Board of Judges to be the greatest fishing misfortunes of the season." Right now there are about 20 (+/-) of us in the running whose greatest misfortune was to decide to go Marlin fishing this year.

And that’s NOT my final report: lest you think the season has come to an end – before I could get this to the printers – lo and behold – Richard Keesee (with Skete Simmons at the wheel) managed a jig strike off Mission Bay on November 1^stand caught and released yet another Marlin (10 miles/280 degrees from the Point) with other fish being seen in the area. That makes 31 releases for the membership.

Winter Time: as the Marlin and Tuna become part of the Club statistics it is time to forget about Mackeral and time to: