Thanks to Mike Bingham, Andy Norton, Don & Jack Wroncy, Charles Bean and Bob James, who helped at our booth and especially for getting 6 new members to sign up!! Way to go!!!  We also generated a lot of interest in our upcoming Spring Shootout and Halibut Tournaments.

Board of Directors Meeting Notes:

§         Attempted to schedule first Sundowner/Seminar for May 22^nd with Mike Bingham to provide everyone with Halibut fishing tips; however, we found out later that this conflicts with the Stop, Drop & Reel Firefighters Tournament.  We’re working on another date.

§         It was decided to place a order with Buck Knives for tournament prizes. 

§         Reviewed upcoming tournaments and what help is needed.  Had a very animated discussion regarding prizes for the Small Boat Tournament.

§         Decided to leave club hours the same for now until fishing activity picks up.

§         We will begin our Fish of the Month this month for Halibut – see inside.

§         Voted to participate in the Life Jacket Loaner Program for Kids.  More details to follow.

§         Insurance policies were reviewed and it was decided that all vessels utilizing our docks must have proof of insurance on file at the club.

§         We are also working on a Junior’s Club Championship for the junior who catches the largest three different game fish out of the following 6 categories:  Marlin, Dorado, Yellowtail, White Seabass, and Tuna.  More details soon.

REMINDER TO ALL MEMBERS:  If you wish to berth your boat at our docks, you MUST have “Proof of Insurance” on file with the club. You can mail a copy of your insurance to the club or drop it off. It is important that this is done prior to using the docks. Thanks!

MAY EVENTS  -- Mark Your Calendars – Support Your Club
 

May 15^th - Spring Shootout Tournament

1^st place Albacore is a custom trolling rod and a $250 gift certificate to San Diego Marine Exchange
1^st place Yellowtail or White Seabass is a custom trolling rod and 30 Penn International optional halibut Jackpot is $10 per angler 1^st place takes 75% of the Jackpot 25% of Halibut Jackpot will go to the Kid’s Fishing Fund Awards for 1^st-3^rd in both divisions for adults and 1st and 2^nd in both divisions for juniors.  One prize maximum per angler per category.

Awards Dinner at 6 PM 2445 Shelter Island Dr. Phone (619) 222-8677

Come get your grub on at Bernie's BBQ extra dinner tickets only $10. 

May 22^{nd -} Stop, Drop & Reel Tournament

ENTRY: 1) Each boat must have at least one fire dept. representative in crew.
               2) $50 per person includes: (1) ticket to awards barbeque / Raffle and Tournament T-Shirt
AWARDS & BARBEQUE:  Saturday, May 22^nd 2004 at THE MARLIN CLUB following weigh-in. BBQ starts at 4:30 pm with the great RAFFLE & AWARDS to follow. Guest BBQ tickets = $5.00 per person

PRIZES: 1st Prize Fifty-percent of all net entry fees will be donated to the UCSD Burn Center on
                 behalf of the winner’s Fire  Department, plus prize to be announced. 

                 2nd Prize Twenty-five percent of all net entry fees will be donated to the UCSD Burn
                 Center on behalf of the winner’s Fire Department, plus prize to be announced.
  
                 3rd Prize Prize to be announced.   See our website or stop by the club for more
                 information.
 

The Junior’s Tournament
By Jack Wroncy    

     I entered the Junior's Tournament at the Marlin Club. We brought my friend Matt; it was his first tuna trip. We were going to go to the 302 and the 371. Matt was a really good fisherman; he was born to fish. Matt spent the night at my house so we wouldn't have to go pick him up so early. We planned the trip, made food, and all that stuff. We woke up at 5  o'clock, Matt was all ready up. And hen we went to the dock; it was really foggy but we still went out. We got to the bait barge, they had big sardines and little sardines and then we were off. Matt and  I went onto the bow and looked for logs and boats and sunfish because it was still foggy. We got out about 10 miles and we started looking for kelp paddies and jumping fish. It was about an hour before I spotted a kelp paddy; it was a nice size paddy. I threw a bait out to the paddy and so did Matt.  But, we threw the bait the wrong way because right behind us there was about 1,000 fish just a little bit further away from the paddy. I reeled it in and then I cast it where the fish were..BOOM! I hooked up and my Dad hooked up, then Matt hooked up and then we got tangled up and my line broke. But Matt got a huge yellow tail, about 25 pounds. My Dad got a nice sized one too. Then we moved back to the paddy, I cast my bait out and my Dad  saw a  yellow that just went crazy for by bait.  I caught a nice one but it was kind of small. I cast my bait out and I got hooked up and this one was big!

                So that was a fair spot, Matt and I got back on the bow and looked for kelp paddies. Then Matt spotted a kelp paddy and my Dad drove up to it. I saw little wakes right on the paddy. I was pretty sure that there was some fish under it. We all cast our bait out and I got hooked up. Man we were on fire! I caught a quality size yellow tail. We were just cruising along when we heard on the radio that there was boat that was on the 371 and they had been on that spot for 3 hours and were up to their limit with albacore and we went there because that 's where we were headed.  We got there and we looked around.

                Then Matt spotted a fish jump and we went to it. We cast out our bait and Matt got hooked up. This was the longest fight I've seen in a while. It took Matt about 30 minutes to reel it in. While he was reeling it in, I got hooked up but I lost it in the prop. Matt got a 25 to 30  pound albacore. We looked around for a little bit and then we found where they were catching the fish and all around us there was fish jumping. We couldn't get bit with the sardines, so we tried trolling. I used a Mexican flag and Matt used a purple and black feather. Matt got 4 albacore,  I got 3 albacore. Our total of fish was 7 albacore and 5 yellow tail. And that was our best trip of the summer.

When we got  back to the marlin Club, we weighed our fish but there was a mix up with the yellow tail division. I and this other kid got a yellow tail that was the same size, 24.4 and we flipped a coin for the picture and  I won and we got a picture of a marlin. But Matt's fish was bigger and the person who was the weigher put the yellow tail into an albacore division. We would re-weigh it but it had been in the sun and had lost weight. They said they would make it up to Matt and they did and Matt got a 26.5 albacore. But first we did the raffle and we won a bunch of feathers.  Matt's card was picked last and the pole was raffled off last and he won the pole and the reel and they gave him some feathers. And to top it all off, a guy came in with a marlin! That was sure, no question, our best fishing trip of the summer. Then I woke up and said to myself,  that was a long time ago.

2004 YEARBOOK – WE ARE STARTING TO WORK ON IT – If you have any changes to your address or phone numbers please submit to the club.  Also, it’s not too late to place an ad.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
 

Stephanie Savell joined her husband – now a family membership
Jim Jenks – 30’ Boat: LUPE
Rene Gonzales – 25’ Boat: EL MAGO
Frank Frowiss – no boat
Greg Gershman – Boat: HARVEY B III
Jon Wilson – 22’ Boat: DOS GRINGOS
David Buckner – No boat - yet (David & his 9 yr old son would like to join in fishing tournaments and sharing the expenses. Call the club if you have room on your boat.)

2004 Tournaments