Messy mollusks definitely keep it interesting

They’re a welcome change of pace, all slithery and grabby, squirting water and ink, providing boatloads of fun as well as delectable table fare.

But then there’s the aftermath.

“The whole boat is black,” says Capt. R.J. Hudson of the New Seaforth out of Seaforth Landing in San Diego. “It takes us an hour-and-a-half to scrub the boat once we get it back to the dock.”

Leave it to Humboldt squid to stir things up during the sportfishing doldrums, caused by a two-month rockfish closure that runs through February.

“Anything at this time of year is a good thing,” says John Yamate, general manager at Seaforth.

These fascinating mollusks, which are among us for the second time in three winters, are coming over the rail of San Diego-area vessels measuring nearly 5 feet and weighing upwards of 60 pounds.

The nighttime bite began two weeks ago and this week turned into a frenzy, with passenger loads increasing and some counts reaching 300.

Multiple hookups, on heavy jigs with upturned prongs, are resulting in multiple tangles. Crews are scrambling to gaff squid after squid, which are responding by shooting long streams of water and ink.

During one trip this week Hudson “got blasted in the face twice and I couldn’t see for about 10 minutes. I had ink all over my face.”

As for the anglers, they’re left with ruined clothes, fond memories and enough calamari to send their cholesterol levels through the roof.

“We cut the head off, cut the flap off, rip the little spine out, then pull all the guts out, and the main membranes on both sides,” Hudson said. “Basically when they go home they have a 2-foot-by-2-foot piece of meat.”

*

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Assn. continues to monitor a developing El Nino condition in the tropical Pacific.

For saltwater anglers, it may lead to an influx this summer of sub-tropical species such as mahi-mahi and yellowfin tuna.

But warmer sea temperatures might also scatter food sources and lead to increased mortality among seals and sea lions.

“We never truly know the intensity of an El Nino until we see these marine mammals stranding on our local beaches,” NOAA biologist Joe Cordaro said in a news release issued by the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

Temperatures remain seasonally cold locally, but Cordaro added during an interview that at least 30 northern fur seals -- which breed and pup on San Miguel Island during the summer -- have shown up emaciated on beaches north of San Luis Obispo.

“Usually during an El Nino, the northern fur seal is the first species to show any signs of starving,” Cordaro said. “They seem to be the canary in the coal mine. With any kind of change in the environment, it seems like they’re the first ones affected.”

*

The young male great white shark that lured thousands of visitors to Monterey Bay Aquarium since its arrival Aug. 31 has been tagged and released.

It was freed Tuesday in the bay after having grown from 5 feet 8 and 103 pounds upon arrival to 6-5 and 171 pounds. Tag data will be posted at www.toppcensus.org.

*

Despite persistent dry weather, conditions are excellent at the major Southland ski and snowboard resorts, thanks to frigid temperatures and near-nonstop snow-making.

Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, for example, have more than 95% of their terrain open and the former may open its superpipe as early as Monday.

An actual storm would be nice though. “Without rain down the hill, people don’t realize there’s snow up here,” said Marty Ward, spokesman for both Big Bear resorts. “They don’t know that we have the best conditions of the season.”

*

Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska, has received more than 375 inches of snow and is on pace to break a U.S. record of 1,140 inches, set by Mt. Baker in Washington in 1998-99.

Alyeska logged a record 283 inches in December, when snow fell 28 of 31 days.

“We have a lot of snow for a place that gets lots of snow,” spokesman Justin Weeks said. The resort record is 1,116 inches -- or 93 feet.

*

The Blake Jones Trout Derby, in its 40th year, has been rescheduled for March 17 at Pleasant Valley Reservoir near Bishop.

It was moved a week later to avoid conflict with the popular Fred Hall fishing show March 7-11 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Sign-ups are available at Bishop sporting goods stores and the chamber of commerce.

Opening day of the general trout-fishing season is April 28.

*

A waterborne ceremony was held Tuesday at Pipeline, the notorious Oahu surfing break, in memory of Joaquin Velilla, a 35-year-old shaper who paddled out in 20-foot waves late Jan. 11 and never came back.

His fiancee phoned authorities and a search failed to turn up a body.

Photographer Jon Mozo and big-wave expert Malik Joyeaux perished at Pipeline in February and December 2005.

pete.thomas@latimes.com