The Gaff September 2001

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The Marlin Club

The Gaff Line

Since 1931

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Since last we "spoke" several significant things have happened. Yes, the 1^st Marlins of the Year have attached themselves to Marlin Club hooks and have hit the scales. In addition, the !st Release of the Year has been recorded. The Juniors’, Couples’ and Labor Day Tournaments have been concluded and, so, there is much to report.

FIRST things first: As we managed to squeeze into the already printed August Gaff Line, unless you have been working in the bilge, you are aware that ED WALDMAN along with GARVIN HERRING, while bringing ED’s new 29’ Blackman, "Moonshine Too" back from it’s 3 month Ensenada Honeymoon on July 30^th, earned the Club’s FIRST MARLIN OF THE YEAR Flag with a 119 ½ pder taken on a lure on 20# tackle in 25 min. (The winner of the Past Presidents’ Prediction Poll was current President DAVE VERDUGO with an August 1^st prediction.)

FIRST RELEASE OF THE YEAR honors go to a new member, BOB PERNECKY who released a fish on the Mackeral Bank on Thursday, August 2 while fishing on his boat, "No Problem."

FIRST "DOUBLE" OF THE YEAR honors go to "Key To The Sea" on Saturday, August 4 with RICHARD KEESEE bringing in a 120 ½ pder and SKETE SIMMONS releasing one – both on 50.

First of the competitions was the Marlin Club’s JUNIORS’ TOURNAMENT. On August 18^th the tournament, chaired by MC BOD member, Dr. KEN MORRIS, saw 14 kids trying their hand at this rod and reel stuff. The majority of the catch was in the Yellowtail division with Jose Alvarrez, fishing on the "Ken-Dan" (with KEN), boating the largest in the division – 19 pds. 2 oz. Sydney Blackman, fishing, of course, on the (DON & SHIRLEY) family flag ship, "Retriever," took honors in the "Killer B" divison with a 1 pd. 11 oz Spotted Bay Bass. And Ryan Jusko, fishing on the "Endeavor" (with BRAD and GEOFF STYLES), topped the Tuna division with a 20 pd. 15 oz albacore. Ryan, of course was the Top Male Angler and Shelley Swink, also fishing on the "Ken-Dan," was high Lady Angler with a 13 pd. 12 oz Yellowtail. 15 fish were weighed in, but many other smaller fish were taken. Many thanks to all the members who contributed their boats and to BILL & BARBARA HOLMES for handling the food concession.

First of the "big kids’" tournaments was then the COUPLES’ TOURNAMENT, held on August 25 and sponsored by TROY and SHERA GRANT. This was the first in a series of intra- and inter- Club tournaments qualifying for the Club’s Competition Award.

After a terrific "potluck" dinner on Friday evening the participants (at least those still talking to one another) gave it a shot the next day. Unfortunately, while the local fish put on a token appearance, no fish were caught in the LaJolla to Upper Finger arena. Carolyn and I wandered up the coast all the way to the 267 (aka 279) only to watch some of our locals put on a show. KENNY SCHILLING (on "Skirt Chaser") along with his "significant other," Ms. Pamela Macomber, spent the day at the 267 area and it paid off – rather handsomely. The fishing in that area was mostly blind jig strikes and at mid-day they nailed one – released by Pam. About 2:30 they "hung" a double and KENNY released them both – all 3 fish on 20! (While this was going on I watched out of my other eye the "Mil-So-Mar" fighting another fish which they ultimately boated and weighed in at the Club – a 184 pd. "keeper.") At 135 points for a release that gave KEN and Pam 405 points (and 1,000 competition points for the day and left everyone else tied for second in the tournament with "zero" points and "zero" competition points. (Talking about late bites – on the way back to Point Loma we witnessed TRENT HULS’ "Marlin Man" boating a fish at about 6:30 PM in those same waters 5 miles off of LaJolla that had proved so unproductive during the day. After the local fleet had departed the area they had a "double" about 5:00 PM.and got the one. The next day they released 2 fish up the coast towards Oceanside and made a shambles of the Rod & Reel Big Fish Tournament in both the Largest Marlin and Release categories.)

And just completed was our annual LABOR DAY TOURNAMENT. An uncomfortable south-east wind during the preceding week produced little fishing activity, but the weather turned beautiful for the week-end. MC boats spread out from Clemente to Dana Point to the Coronados. Nice weather, but the fish seem to be lying in wait in anticipation of the "big bite." But one of the faithful, BOB WOODARD, Jr., on his new boat "Drop Back", managed to do just that (sounds good, but it was a jig strike) and was rewarded with a mere 106 pounder, but it sure looks good on the scoreboard. (P.S. BOB, a release would have earned you 130 points, but 106 points was enough.) BOB was fishing just off North Island. Meanwhile, several of the "hard core" celebrated the opening of Pyramid and worked the San Clemente Island waters. This paid off for STEVE BLEDSOE and his regular crew (of non-members) with two Marlin released tight to the island between the domes and the windmills. Other near misses were reported from up North in the Dana waters, but no scores. Since the L.D. tournament is limited to "Members Only" the High Male Angler and High Boat Awards will go to BOB WOODARD, Jr and his "Drop Back." These awards will be presented at the Annual Awards Banquet after the 1^st of the Year.

SPECIAL MENTION: The entire Club, in fact the entire Southland fishing community, owe a special thanks to DAVID SCHLIEDER for bringing to our attention the Navy’s intent to close Pyramid cove for the entire Labor Day week-end and then leading the way in confronting this issue with the Navy and the appropriate department and individuals responsible for setting up the San Clemente Island (i.e. Pyramid) schedules. It was largely through his efforts that the Navy backed off and made major concessions opening up the anchorage for the week-end holiday.And it was DAVID who set up the special meeting with representatives of SCORE trying to bring the conflict out into the open. Thank you, DAVID, for a job well done. The turn-out by supposedly irate boaters was disappointing, to say the least, but at least the Navy got an earful and this led directly to the noted changes. Hopefully, the Navy will take this information into account when next setting up the schedules for Memorial Day, July 4^th, and Labor Day week-ends. And thanks to those of you who took the time to write or Email SCORE. We are sure that the response had quite an effect of them. And thanks to Pete Gray and Marty Milner for putting out the information on their "Hook-Up 690" talk show.

FROM THE HELM (i.e. EL PRESIDENTE – DAVE VERDUGO): "I would like to personally thank JOHN LINDHOLM for donating his "soloed" Marlin to the Club – and our processors, "The World Famous Smoked Fish Co.", for donating the smoking of the fish. The fish was given as a gift to the local merchants that have supported the Marlin Club year-in and year-out. Again, Thank You, JOHN!

Our tournament schedule is upon us and it is critical that the membership participate in as many events as possible. Much of our budget is derived from our tournaments and raffles. We need the support and participation of each member. Without your support we could not afford to maintain and staff the finest facility of it’s kind on the West coast. I am asking each and every member to view our tournaments as fund raisers and participate accordingly. We need your support and participation for a strong and viable Marlin Club of San Diego.

FROM THE CLUB HOUSE: It is always a pleasure to introduce to you NEW MEMBERS – KATHY (the brand new Mrs. BARRY) ROCKWELL will soon be out there on the high seas on the family’s "Drift-A-Way." Also, let’s welcome DOUG & KIMIKO AUGUSTINE, 4452 Pescadero Ave., San Diego, CA 92107 – potential participants in both the Couples’ and Small Boat Tournaments in their 23’ "Legacy." And also joining us are ERICH & PAMELA BORGSTEDE, 1649 10^th Ave, #303, San Diego, 92101; res: 619-248-6135/wk:619-545-8506 – also candidates for both the Couples’ and Small Boat Tournaments in their 26 ft "Pamela B." Next in line are ROY & ROSEMARY MACISAAC;2062 Ginny Lane, Escondido CA, 92025 ("Nonisomorphic")

followed by JIM MITCHELL, 34002 Copper Lantern, Dana Point, CA, 92629;949-661-2558 ("Shaka Brah").

A membership in the Marlin Club comes with each entry in the Club’s Offshore Invitational Tag & Release Tournament. Early entries have introduced us to (and vice versa): BOB PERNECKY, 3650 Karen Sue Lane, Flintridge, CA 91011 ("No Problem").

JOHN KING, 2014 Redcliff St., Los Angeles, CA 90039 ("Afishinado"). Dr. MIKE LAVOR, 4000 Coronado Bay Road, #B2, Coronado, CA 92118. MICHAEL BROWN, 2164 E. Broadway Rd., #300, Tempe, AZ 85282 ("Hot Pursuit"). TODD MANSUR, 201 Shipyard Way, Cabin B, Newport Beach, CA 92663 ("Capt. Hook II). STEVE CAMPBELL, P.O. Box 2835, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 ("Carlota").

The Staff and the Board of Directors wish to inform one and all that the Club’s parking area is there for the daytime use of the staff, our members, and their (your) guests. This area is NOT AN OVERNIGHT PARKING LOT!!!!! As a courtesy to our members trailers may be parked at the back of the lot for a maximum of one week.

And, if you haven’t been by in the past couple of weeks, drop in and take a look at our beautiful new carpeting. Many thanks to CRIS LAHR and his team for getting the job done and the Club House back in working order in record time.

NOTICE TO MARINERS: This is not a substitute for the official Coast Guard "Notice" but any members going south in the lee of South Coronado Island should be aware of the presence of large Tuna holding pens extending almost a mile and half out from just inside the south end of South Island. They are surrounded by large polypropelene ropes floating free in the water and are not lit at night. Make sure you give them lots of clearance. (As in "Middle Ground" – and we do mean "middle.")

COMING EVENTS: with tournaments coming week after week there may be some cross-over and the Club’s OFFSHORE INVITATIONAL TAG & RELEASE TOURNAMENT (Sept. 7 & 8) may either be next up or just completed pending our ability to get this newsletter into the mail promptly after the LABOR DAY TOURNAMENT. The final results will come with next month’s Gaff Line.

The SMALL BOAT TOURNAMENT chaired by MICHAEL BERRY and HAROLD WEIMER is scheduled for Sept. 15 & 16. All you small boaters get out there and show the big guys how it is done. Entry is open to the general public, Marlin Club members, and to members of all angling clubs in Southern California. Entry fee is $50.00 per angler and includes a SBT T-shirt and the Awards BBQ on Sunday the 16^th. The BBQ and Awards ceremony will be held at the Marlin Club at 6:30 PM. Prizes will be Shimano Trinidad and Calcutta reels. This year fish can be weighed in at any official weigh station and the weight slips faxed to the Marlin Club no later than 5 PM, Sunday the 16^th. Tournament rules/entry forms are available at the Marlin Club and on the Marlin Club website (www.themarlinclub.com). Or you can call Harold Weimer (760) 438-2249 or Michael Berry (619) 993-6748 and they will mail them to you.

And last on the schedule is the Marlin Club’s traditional annual (Gene Grimes Memorial) INVITATIONAL LIGHT TACKLE TOURNAMENT (aka ILTT). This will be a one-day affair on Saturday, Sept. 22. President DAVE VERDUGO will be handling this event and, while trying to maintain the continuity of the tournament which has been of historical importance to the Club, he and the BOD have elected to simplify the tournament (as evidenced by making this a 1 day affair). Please note that this will be 30 pd. tackle for Marlin (no bonus for lighter line) and 50 pd. for Broadbill. Point per pound, 130 pts for release. All hook-ups and intent to release must be called in to Tournament Control. No Captains’ meeting. Weigh-in or release slips to Club by 10:00 PM. Minimum of two anglers per boat – no maximum – only one boat class. They would like to hold a 40 mile limit, but that might depend on the actual fishing at the time. Entry fee will be $75 per angler. Awards dinner on Sunday, Sept. 23 at the Club featuring BBQ beef and all the fixings ala SHERA & TROY GRANT. Please review the enclosed flyer and return the application form (on the backside) ASAP. Thanks.

For a change of pace also consider the annual "Make-A-Wish" Tuna Challenge which will be co-sponsored this year by both the Kona Kai Anglers and the Southwestern Y.C. Anglers. This will be on Sept. 29-30 and will feature close to $100,000 worth of awards, prizes, gifts, raffles, etc. This is one of those annual "must" affairs. Applications are available at the Club, at Southwestern Y.C. and just about at every tackle shop.

While not a Marlin Club-sponsored tournament we recommend you consider the Mission Bay Marlin Club’s annual "Heart" tournament on October 6^th. Proceeds go to a good cause and this is another "recognized" qualifying tournament for the Club’s Competition Award.

Speaking of worth-while causes President DAVE suggests that those of you going south to Cabo San Lucas for the Fall fishing season consider the 14^th Annual Pete Lopiccola Memorial "FOR PETE’S SAKE" Marlin Tournament. This is sponsored by the Pete Lopiccola Cancer Research Foundation.

Boats:
Blackman Boats (Don & Shirley Blackman); 4925 Market St.;(619)266-8013
Crow’s Nest Brokerage (Michael Gardella); 2515 Shelter Island Dr.; (619)222-1122
Riviera-Ellsworth Marine; (619)294-6568

Personal:
The Gary and Lynn Jasper Family
The Rich and Marie Johnson Family
Captain T and the Twin B Crew (John Tanner)

The Year Book Committee wishes to apologize to two of our regular supporters and advertisers. The ad for the FISHERMAN’S LANDING TACKLE SHOP, headed by member, DOUG KERN, was inadvertently omitted from this year’s book. DOUG’s ad routinely indicates "a big thank you to our loyal customers for all your support over the years." That goes two ways for we wish to thank DOUG, FRANK LOPRESTE, BILL POOLE and all the others at the landing and tackle shop for their support of the Marlin Club and our many activities. Many of our awards, prizes, etc are through the generosity and cooperation of DOUG, et al. The shop, located at the sportboat landings, has one of the finest, most complete selections of salt water fishing supplies in San Diego We thank them so very much for their help.

Another "book-keeping" miscue was omitting another of our regular advertisers, West Coast Air owned by members FRED & LAURA DUDLEY ("Quest"). They routinely support the club with their ads.