Squid-stuffed marlin and dorado getting landed in Sea of Cortez

Philip Friedman reports a successful conclusion to the Fiesta de 976tuna tournament in Baja California’s East Cape region.

But he adds that dozens of T-shirts he’d planned on giving contestants were lost when the trunk atop his car flew open, spreading them along the peninsula highway.

So it could be said the tournament chairman has clothed the poor and stimulated the Mexican economy.

But seriously, Friedman confirmed reports that Sea of Cortez marlin and dorado are stuffed to the gills with squid, so it has been tricky to get them to bite.

However, Mary and Kenny Cochran of Torrance caught and released their first marlin, and Mary won the dorado contest with a 47-pound mahi-mahi.

Also releasing their first marlin were Lamar Lee and Emmett Olvera of Costa Mesa.

Winning the Bass Pro Shops/976tuna surf fishing portion of the contest – by landing a multitude of species from the beach – was Steve Kechichian, a 13-year-old taking a break from his far more significant battle against leukemia.

There were dicey moments. One involved a deckhand’s foot becoming impaled by a large hook, which the deckhand merely pulled through and out another part of the skin. Another involved a “sugar episode” experienced by a diabetic, who turned out to be OK.

And there were beautiful moments, such as when Paul Harris of Agoura Hills and his brother, Jeff, were greeted by a 23-foot whale shark that swam alongside their boat long enough to tempt them to jump overboard and catch a Baja sleigh ride.

Then there was the partying, required of any Baja fiesta, at the Palmas de Cortez hotel bar.

Friedman was asked how much tequila was consumed. “Gallons,” he said.

Cabo nightmare continues

Fishing is unseasonably poor, and a chief factor might be unrelenting fishing by large-scale commercial purse-seiners.

“Bad news was the seiners showed up again and wrapped all the fish,” Fly Hooker Sportfishing Capt. George Landrum glumly reports. “The government allows it and now we don’t have anything to fish for.”

It makes no sense to allow such a large commercial fishing operation so close to – or even within sight of – tourists who contribute millions annually to the economy.

But when have Mexican fisheries laws and the means by which they’re enforced made sense?

Roosters and more near La Paz

Strong winds have keep the fleets close to the beach, but in so remote and prolific an area that’s not always a bad thing.

Roosterfish, jack crevalle, African pompano, amberjack and pargo were among the marauders taking offerings in the Las Arenas/Muertos Bay area, reports Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International.

“The roosters came on several days like gangbusters and they brought bigger cousins with them,” Roldan said. “Several fish in the 40- to 60-pound class were hooked and most of them either busted off or were released.”

San Diego long-range

Los Angeles angler David Fay caught a 331-pound yellowfin tuna during a recent trip aboard the Royal Polaris, but says an even larger fish got away – sort of.

“I got the tail and part of the spine of that fish back,” he said. “After the sharks were done.”

Coronado Islands

Big bonito remain the primary aggressor, and yellowtail remain finicky. New to the mix, delighting light-tackle anglers, are calico bass.

Capt. Ryan Bostian of the San Diego, which runs from Seaforth Sportfishing, late last week logged a count of 65 bonito, 49 calico bass and one yellowtail for 13 anglers.

Calicos are also becoming increasingly active along the coast, and the presence of barracuda is welcome news as these invaders figure to flood Southland waters soon. For now Islandia and Seaforth are closest to them.

Add bonito

These mighty fighters have launched the type of Southland invasion not seen in years.

Sunday counts: http://http:daveyslockersportfishing.com/ in Newport Beach: 187 bonito, one of them weighing 17 pounds; Newport Landing: 327 bonito; Helgren’s in Oceanside: 86 bonito.

Though not a fantastic food fish, they’re extremely fun to catch.

Crowley Lake steady

Crowds have thinned, the water has warmed and trout are becoming more active at the popular Eastern Sierra fishery. Two- to four-pounders are being caught daily. Hot tip: use a two-pound-test flourocarbon leader.

Top baits: Berkley Gulp eggs (red and orange), Gulp marshmallow clusters and inflated nightcrawlers.

The fish are up so trolling Rapalas or Thomas Buoyants are also effective. Fly anglers are keying on the midge hatch from about 10 a.m.-1 p.m., doing well with Sierra Drifters chironomids No. 16.

Top catch: a 6 1/2-pound rainbow by a young angler named Kyle Pettigren.

Poached Sabrina trout

Patti Apted at http:///lakesabrinaboatlanding.com/ reports that boats were allowed onto the Eastern Sierra lake late last week and that limit-style fishing is the rule.

She adds that she witnessed a bald eagle swoop from the sky and nabbed a large trout in its talons. “Utterly spectacular,” she describes.

A DVL holdover story

I caught several holdover rainbows, including a four-plus-pounder, while fishing Diamond Valley Lake with Trout Only’s last week.

What struck me as unusual was that the trout and bass are sometimes feeding in the same areas; trout anglers might also catch bass and vice-versa.

San Pedro’s Barry Ogawa, who was with us, told a story about an unusually fat trout he caught. Its stomach contained nearly a dozen plastic worms.

Presumably, a bass angler accidentally dropped a bag overboard, it opened and the trout believed it had stumbled upon a dream buffet.

Trout Only maintains the holdover trout, like the bass, are structure oriented and have developed some of the same feeding habits.

Trout fishing at DVL remains productive for those slow-trolling nightcrawlers, and it should get even better in the weeks ahead, though down-riggers might be required to reach them as the water warms.

Meanwhile in Kona

In an April 15 column I reported that legendary Kona Capt. George S. Parker, who died at age 91, would be remembered during a May 3 ceremony, and implied it would be fitting if someone caught a 1,000-pound marlin that same week.

Someone came close, on the same day as the ceremony. According to Kona Fishing Chronicles, Robert Holding IV battled an estimated 700-pounder for 30 minutes with stand-up gear aboard the Sea Genie II. The mighty billfish was brought to leader, and released.

It was caught on a Marlin Magic blue-jet lure patterned after a flying fish spread, produced by a company owned by George Parker’s son and respected captain, Marlin Parker.

Happy Days in Carlsbad

An unlikely cast of anglers is expected for Saturday’s Celebrity Fishing Tournament at The Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation in Carlsbad.

Erin Moran (“Happy Days”), Brett Cullen (“Lost”) and Christopher Knight (“The Brady Bunch”) are among 15 TV stars who will participate in the fundraiser.

Cost is $35 for adults and $10 for children 15 and younger. That includes a bag of Gulp bait, T-shirt and lunch with celebrities at the Discovery Center on Cannon Road.

Proceeds benefit the foundation and Hubbs-Sea World Fish Hatchery on the lagoon.

Tournament begins at 7 a.m. First-place prizes are $500 for longest bass, halibut and spotfin croaker. Details: (760) 632-7770 or david@dmirisch.com.

San Juan River, N.M.

One of the country’s most popular tailwater trout fisheries will be profiled by renowned guide-author John Tavenner during Thursday’s meeting of the Sierra Pacific Flyfishers at the Monterey of Encino restaurant. Dinner is at 6 p.m. Presentation is at 7. For dinner reservations call (818) 789-1919.

San Diego call for volunteers

The San Diego Oceans Foundation is seeking volunteers May 18 to help clean the white seabass pens used in an ocean enhancement stocking program. Scuba divers and snorkelers will be asked “to pick, pry and rip mussels and other sea life off of the containment nets so that the fish will always have a constant flow of fresh water.”

Visit Sdoceans.org for details on this and other volunteer opportunities.

This week’s trout plants

LOS ANGELES – Castaic Lagoon, Castaic Lake, Cuddy Creek Pond, Elizabeth Lake, Hansen Lake, Little Rock Reservoir, Piru Creek (Frenchman’s Flat) and Pyramid Lake.

ORANGE – Trabuco Creek.

RIVERSIDE – Strawberry Creek.

SAN BERNARDINO – Santa Ana River and Santa Ana River South Fork.

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Atascadero Lake, Lopez Lake and Santa Margarita Lake.

SANTA BARBARA – Cachuma Lake and Santa Ynez River.

INYO – Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek Intake 2, Bishop Creek Lower, Bishop Creek Middle & South Forks, Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Owens River (below Tinnemaha), Shepherds Creek, Symmes Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek and Tuttle Creek.

MONO – Bridgeport Reservoir, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Deadman Creek, Glass Creek, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Creek, Little Walker River, Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek, Robinson Creek, Rock Creek Sections 1 & 2, Rush Creek, Sherwin Creek, Silver Lake, Twin Lakes Bridgeport Lower & Upper, West Walker River Sections 2 & 3 and Virginia Creek.

VENTURA – Casitas Lake, Piru Lake, Rancho Simi Park Lake, Reyes Creek and Rose Valley Lakes.

 pete.thomas@latimes.com