The Gaff April 2001

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The Marlin Club

The Gaff Line

Since 1931

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ATTENTION: The Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April, 3^rd at the Southwestern Yacht Club, 7:30 pm. Plans for the coming year will be discussed. Important by-laws changes will be presented and a quorum will be needed in order to vote. Please try to attend. We have also arranged for a speaker. Bill Boyce, noted underwater photographer, will give one of his most interesting spectacular slide presentations. Please note that the meeting will NOT be held at the San Diego Yacht Club.

The recent "Blue Water" Seminar was held on Wednesday, March 14^th at the Southwestern Yacht Club. Close to 80 people were in attendance. Rick Gaffney from Hawaii and Mike Sinclair, editor of Australia’s "Blue Water Boats & Sportfishing" magazine, gave an interesting presentation on the status of sportfishing in Australia, Hawaii, Midway, Christmas Island, and other south Pacific hotpots.

"Blue Water" is an excellent sportfishing publication giving a lot of information from "down under." They are sponsors of the Club’s Offshore Invitational Tournament and Mike tells us that reduced rate subscriptions are available to MC members. They can be contacted at www.bluewatermag.com.au or by email: bluewater@tradergroup.com.au.

CLUB CLEAN-UP DAY: SATURDAY, APRIL 14 - This is one of our annual get together and pitch-in days. WAYNE SLAHOR is lining up a variety of things to do (e.g. painting, greasing, oiling, hammering, nailing, gardening and general re-organization.). Here’s a chance to help out, be a little social, and let the Club provide refreshments and vittles for those in attendance. See enclosed.

OPEN HOUSE & DAY AT THE DOCKS: SUNDAY, APRIL 29 – DAVE VERDUGO, CHRIS LAHR, and TROY & SHERA GRANT will be manning our booth down at the Day at the (Sportlanding) Docks. In addition, we will have the Clubhouse open for Open House activities. Several boats will be on display on the docks and we encourage you to invite as many friends as possible. Yes, refreshments will be served.

BOAT OF THE MONTH: As previously reported we shall, each month, (with your cooperation) feature a presentation of one of the boats listed in the Club’s "fleet." You hear these names over the radio and this will give some identity to the boats and their Club-member owners. Thus, here is the first:

Built in Ventura in 1966 by Larry Drake this 55’ boat has had several owners until purchased in 1989 by BOB and PAT WOODARD. After a long and slow "de-bugging" process the boat has become a mainstay on the Southern California and Baja fishing and cruising scenes. The WOODARDS have cruised (very slowly) the length of the Mexican coast and have made at least 10 trips to Guadelupe Island and 6 trips to the Mag Bay fishing waters. In local waters they have been regular scorers in the Club’s ILTT winning the Large Boat Division three times. In the Kona Kai’s Tuna Challenge they have scored among the leaders on at least 6 occasions, being high boat three times. Together, BOB (9) and PAT (7) have earned 16 Marlin Club line-class awards. And a third member of the team, BOB, Jr, has another 8 button awards to the family’s credit. The Boat is berthed at the Southwestern Yacht Club where they have been awarded the club’s top competition trophy.

MICHAEL & SHERYL BURMAN – 310-234-9776
1810 Malcolm Ave. Apt 104, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Boat – 30’ "Reel Bruin" (Hmmm, must be UCLA fans!)

RICHARD & DONNA CLIFTON – res: 909-948-5355/wk:909-872-6444
1101 Vicksburg Ct., Alta Loma, CA 91737
Boat – 50’ "Sleek Cat II"

FISHING REPORTS:
Currently, Yellowtail are popping up around the Coronados with increasing frequency. Look for the birds working the breezing fish, check out the meter marks and get out the iron. The Halibut are also sliding into the shallower waters and scattered "keeper" catches are being reported. If you see the "Harvey B’s" slip empty you will know that it is time to start drifting.

There were also reports of large Bluefin Tuna being taken by the sport boats on their way south. The "Royal Star" got into a great bite with fish up to 230 pds. They were reported to be "south of Benitos." Of course, the South Pole is also "south of Benitos," but these fish were found near the Uncle Sam Bank – "only" 200 miles "south." Yes, accurate information does help. Don’t leave home (port) without it!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The San Diego Sportfishing Council (representing the three main landings) in conjunction with the Port of San Diego’s month-long celebration of "Bay Days" will be having a "Teach the Kids to Fish" day on Saturday, April 7^{th 11 AM to 3 PM}. This will be on the fishing pier at Embarcadero Park (just east of the Convention Center). The landings will be supplying all the tackle and at least a dozen volunteers to pitch in work with the kids will be needed. If you are interested please call Kathryn Miller at 619-234-8791.

YEAR BOOK TIME: We would like to include the following section in the Gaffline each month. It is hoped that this will encourage more participation in the Annual Year Book. If you don’t see your name listed – get in touch with the Club (222-8677). We are currently in the process of soliciting ads for the 2001 Year Book. Once again – it’s a race to see which will be first – the publication of the Year Book or the 1^st Marlin of the Year.