F.Y.I.!!!!!!: Last month we brought you the information about customs reporting, etc. The resulting comments vary from "ridiculous!" "stupid!" "impossible!" "who are they kidding?" etc, etc, etc. Therefore, in researching this dilemma I turned to that marvel of information – the telephone book. The U.S. Customs department is plainly listed in the front of the book under the U.S. Government section. I have subsequently spoken to several different individuals in the U.S. Customs office. The bottom line is that "they" regard entering U.S. waters from Mexican waters as no different from entering the U.S. – by car! by plane! by foot! or by train! You are subject to search at the border and this is no different!!!! (Let’s hear what the Port Commission has to say about all of this.)

How do you call in if there are many boats lined up ahead of you and you can’t get to the mooring office or the phone? – They already have a number: (619) 557-5370. Call on Cell or PCS phone. Pick option "1" on the menu and speak to them directly. They will advise you what to do. If all the waiting slips are taken where do you wait? – the area across the harbor towards the beach area marked by two yellow buoys is, apparently, the designated waiting area..

If a boat departs Mission Bay, Oceanside, Dana Harbor or Newport and fishes in Mexican waters must they report in at the San Diego facility before returning to their respective ports? – YES!!!!! (Are you listening JASPERS, BLEDSOE and SHERIDAN?)

You don’t want to put up with this? Well, just who is it that volunteers to take the 1^st $5,000 fine???? From what I can tell – NOBODY seems to be paying any attention to this process.

SOUTHWESTERN YACHT CLUB BOTTOMFISH TOURNAMENT: Took place on Saturday, April 28^th. They report that some 161 anglers and 52 boats representing 8 clubs (or groups) participated. HARRY and LAN OKUDA’s "Alfresco III" and NORM GEROME’s "Companera" combined to win the 1^st Place Club Award for the Southwestern Y.C.. LAN OKUDA took 3^rd Place in the Ladies’ category with a 5.5 pder and SHERA GRANT won a Special Award for the largest Lingcod (17.8 pds).

HALIBUT TOURNAMENT: Here are the results of the Club’s "Just for the Halibut" Tournament held on May 19^th: 71 anglers on 25 boats participated with 15 fish weighed in. The advertised 1^st Place Award of $1,000 was based on 85 entrants. Thus, all awards were reduced in proportion to the actual participation. The top four:

1^st Place ($850): Jerry Adams ("Osprey") – 21 # - 15oz.
2^nd Place ($425): Dennis Burlason ("Killer Whale") – 20# - 13oz.
3^rd Place ($215): Bob Stringari ("Aqua-Cade)") – 19# - 14oz
4^th Place ($130): Tim Marrs ("Hank Barge II") – 15# - 11oz.

FISHING REPORT: Member JOHN ASHLEY sends us a report of a recent trip to Venezuela on the "La Guaira" Bank for some exciting Blue Marlin fishing. He and buddy, Dave Barnett, in three days released three Blues (2-300 pd. class) and a Sailfish – all stand up fishing. The fishing was by trolling rigged Ballyhoo. He also reports one occasion where their tackle was ripped up by a "school" of Blues.

LARGEST FISH OF THE YEAR:
HALIBUT – MIKE BINGHAM – 44 lb/ 2oz.
YELLOWTAIL – LAN TRAN OKUDA – 17.65 lbs..
ROCK COD – LAN TRAN OKUDA – 5.5. lbs.
LING COD – SHERA GRANT – 17.80 lbs.

COMING EVENTS: Not much is scheduled for the month, but early May brought reports of Albacore and Bluefin Tuna moving closer with large numbers of Yellowtail showing up under the kelp patties. The sport boats are picking up more and more Albies down below (e.g. at month’s end Dan Sansome reported "the largest school of Albacore he has ever seen – at about 200 miles). One day catches seemed to just around the corner. In addition, the White Sea Bass fishing at Catalina also picked up, but it seems to be strictly and "on and off" affair. Of interest was the Albacore report that mentioned Dorado and Turtles mixed in. Perhaps the Marlins can’t be too far behind.

June is bringing us the first Potluck (aka "Sundowner") Dinner-Meeting of the Year. For new members – this is a chance to get together with some of the older members in an informal setting at the Marlin Club. Everyone chips in with something edible ranging from hors d’oeuvres to desserts. Liquid refreshments are available at the Club. We also try to bring a speaker who can present a topic of fishing-oriented interest. This time we have a presentation of timely interest – on Friday, June 15^th - we will have several speakers bringing us all the latest dope about Kayak Fishing with equipment on display.

Leading the group of speakers will be Jerry Esten, originator of Jerry Jigs. Jerry is now working with Izorline. He has been Kayaking since 1979 and, for the fifth year, has sponsored an annual kayak fishing derby out of Redondo Beach. He also writes for South Coast Sportfishing and is a frequent guest on Ronnie Kovach’s radio show.

This sport is becoming more and more popular – especially in our local waters. These Kayakers regularly bring in large White Sea Bass, Yellowtail, Halibut, etc as well as the other kelp residents. And it’s amazing the kind of equipment they can carry on these very simple craft. So mark your calendar and come on out. Bring your favorite entrée, salad, side dish or desert. We’d love to see you there. The festivities start around 6:00 PM. Check out www.kayak4fish.com and www.kayakfishing.com. You will find lots of information on the subject.

TUNA CHALLENGE: For 10 years the Kona Kai Anglers have sponsored their Tuna Tournament which has been open to the public with all proceeds going to the "Make-A-Wish" Foundation. Over the years many thousands of dollars have been generated for this most worth-while cause (last year brought in $36,000). This year the tournament will be co-sponsored by the Southwestern Yacht Club Anglers. Both the Captains’ Meeting (on Friday, Sept. 28^th) and the Awards Banquet (on Sunday, Sept. 30^th) will be held at Southwestern with the fishing on Saturday, the 29^th, and, for the "hard core," on Sunday AM with all fish weighed in by 11:00 AM. Further details regarding rules, entry fees and applications can be obtained from the Southwestern Y.C. (www.Southwesternyc.org), Kona Kai Anglers (www.konakaianglers.com), tackle shops and the Marlin Club. We will be hearing much more of this in the next few months. The committee (representing both clubs) has been hard at work and already has amassed over $86,000 worth of raffle and prize donations.

So mark your calendar – Sept. 29-30, 2001 for the Kona Kai Anglers’/ Southwestern Y.C. Anglers’ Make-A-Wish Tuna Challenge.

This 38’ Egg Harbor Sportfisher was purchased new in 1974 by the MORRIS family (MARTY, CAROLYN, KENNETH, and DANIEL. MELODY was a later upgrade). Thus, we are looking forward to our 28^th season out on the high seas. Most of the original equipment has been replaced including the original Cummins 504s repowered to 3116 Cats moving the boat at 17 knots. Despite a limited range with only 300 gals of fuel the boat has made two trips to Cabo and a third trip to Mag Bay. Of course, several barrels, a bladder, a good transfer pump and several friends with water makers have helped. The boat was the only one to fish in all 18 of the L.A.Billfish Club-sponsored Avalon Invitational Tournament taking 1^st Place on 2 occasions (1984 and 89). The boat and team (including family friend, GEOFF HALPERN) also has several 1^st and 2^nd Place Division II finishes in the Marlin Club I.L.T.T. CAROLYN has a current World Record for Pacific BigEye Tuna (136 ½ pds on 30) taken off La Jolla (8-17-1980) and, in the same area, MARTY took 2 swordfish in 4 days (July 25 & 28, 1979), but haven’t come close since. Numero Uno adorns the walls of ye olde Marlin Clubhouse.

Unfortunately, due to lack of interest this will be the last MC Member’s Boat to be featured in the Gaffline.

NEW BOAT IN THE FLEET: Over the past 25 (+/-) years one of the most common phrases heard on the docks has been: "JASPER has a new boat!" And this year is no exception. Reports are that GARY and LYNN have a new (to them) 58’ Off Shore cruiser

previously named "Magic." It would seem that the name "Wait-N-Sea" is a play on the words: "Wait-N-See what we have this year." Congratulations and safe seas for the JASPERS. When you see their ad in the Year Book you will see that they needed a little more room to hold the entire family.

FROM THE CLUBHOUSE: The Board of Directors wishes to thank RICHARD KEESEE for fulfilling our wish for a donor of patio furniture. Many thanks, RICHARD.

I suspect that new carpeting is next on the "wish list."

The Board has also approved putting up a locked gate on the ramp leading to the Club docks. The question of liability is always of concern and there have been too many unauthorized boats parking in these docks. (The gate might cut down on the foot traffic, but illegal parkers???)

The Office Staff (LIL, WAYNE, DAVE, et al) wishes to advise (startle?) us that the new Year book is almost ready for the printers. (Hmm, maybe they’ll even beat the 1^st Albacore.) But the ads have been painfully slow in coming in and they would like to line up a few more before going to press. Please consider advertising with us and don’t forget – we will be publishing a monthly list of all full page advertisers. Maybe we can get the U.S.Customs office to take out an ad.

----(--(

Even PETE GRAY ("Hook-Up 690") is in to Kayaking as evidenced by this 52 pd. White Sea Bass caught while slow trolling a live mackeral off La Jolla last June.

THE MARLIN CLUB OF SAN DIEGO
2445 SHELTER ISLAND DRIVE
SAN DIEGO, CA 92106