Capt. George S. Parker led a colorful life

When I met Capt. George S. Parker, he was 91 and a tad cranky but with a memory as sharp as a newly forged hook.

He recalled the time he took Jimmy Hoffa fishing and received, from the notorious Teamsters chief, instead of a tip, the following counsel:

“When he left the boat he said, ‘Remember captain, there’s only one way to live in this world. You’ve got to live by the golden rule. You’ve got to do unto others before they do unto you.’ ”

George Stevens Parker, the first angler to catch a Pacific blue marlin weighing more than 1,000 pounds, died recently at his home overlooking Hawaii’s Kona Coast.

He was 96 and departed with many remarkable memories, such as growing up in San Diego during the Great Depression but discovering paradise after driving his Model A onto a ship bound for Oahu.

Parker, whose sons Marlin and Randy are top Kona captains, witnessed Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, propelling the U.S. into World War II.

“We got up and saw the smoke rising from the ships that were being torpedoed and at the same time we heard these planes coming in from the mountainside, right out of the sun,” the old salt recounted.

After the war, Parker bought a charter boat and helped transform Kona into the blue marlin capital of the world. In 1954, he landed a 1,002-pound blue marlin after a fight that lasted long into the night.

His clients included Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart and Tennessee Ernie Ford. He helped establish Kona’s small boat harbor and bring tournament fishing to Hawaii. In 2005 he was inducted into the International Game Fish Assn.’s Hall of Fame.

Parker’s ashes will be spread at sea during a May 3 ceremony and the next day, perhaps, another grander will be caught.

The season’s first two granders were landed the week before Parker died; the largest a 1,251-pound blue caught by Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil, aboard Integrity with Capt. Rob McGuckin.

McGuckin shared the news with Parker just days before his passing.

The tuna was how big?

Philip Friedman, the voice of the saltwater fishing website 976-tuna.com, is noting signs of spring in several directions: Bonito and some yellowtail at the Coronado Islands, bonito and some barracuda at Catalina.

As he filed this report the Big Game 90, on the first day of a 976-tuna two-day charter, had two yellowtail on board and anglers were watching more yellowtail boil.

Friedman’s best bets:

–White seabass: The Phantom had limits for seven anglers (one fish apiece) Friday. The Big Game 90 had four seabass Sunday and the Old No. 7 had two Saturday.

Squid is abundant and this bite, while still sputtering, is showing signs of busting wide open as we move near Sunday’s full moon.

–Long-range tuna: The Royal Polaris called in to report a 314-pound yellowfin caught at Hurricane Bank, 980 miles southwest of Point Loma. Wahoo were coming over the rail too. The vessel has moved to Clarion Island and on Monday, anglers were into a thick and voracious school of 170- to 190-pound tuna. Check the website for on-the-water audio reports from Capt. Frank LoPreste.

–Rockfishing: Rockfish remain cooperative just about everywhere. The Torrance High varsity volleyball team participated in a 976-tuna youth fishing program trip Saturday aboard the Southern Cal and loaded up on salmon grouper and other tasty rockfish. Great bottom fishing has been the rule.

More bonito/barracuda

Anglers aboard the three-quarter-day San Diego on Sunday caught 134 bonito in the five- to 10-pound class, along with 20 red snapper. The sighting of barracuda is exciting because it means they’re moving up and should become abundant over the next few weeks.

Northern Baja rockfish

Capt. John Walton of the Legend reports excellent rockfish action off the Baja California coast. His top trip: 243 rockfish and 17 lingcod for 29 passengers. The Aztec returned with a similar count. Both vessels run from Seaforth Sportfishing.

Ice cold Santa Monica Bay

Capt. Rick Oefinger of the New Del Mar on Monday reported water readings of 55 degrees deep in the bay and only slightly warmer along the coast – and a very slow bite for anything but rockfish.

But thank goodness for rockfish, and for cellphone cameras. (See photo).

Big-game blitz at East Cape/La Paz

The windy season is over and the big-game season is off to a reel-screaming start.

Marlin, sailfish and small dorado are abundant 10 miles from East Cape beaches, reports John Ireland, owner of Rancho Leonero Resort.

“Our boats are getting at least one billfish per day, along with limits of dorado, mostly five- to seven-pounders but some to about 30 pounds,” Ireland says.

The presence of so many dorado so early in the season is unusual but bodes well for a strong summer bite.

Inshore, roosterfish averaging about 10 pounds, jack crevalle and African pompano are being targeted with remarkable success by light-tackle and fly anglers.

Outside of La Paz variety is also the watchword. “I counted over 15 different species taken over the course of the week,” says Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International.

Still lingering despite warming water are “hawg” yellowtail north of Cerralvo Island that Roldan says “ripped surface baits like candy.”

Tailhunter client Gary Evans of Irvine, on his first trip to Baja, battled a 140-pound striped marlin for 3 1/2 hours on light line, and during that fight his brother Bill landed several bull dorado. Unfortunately, the marlin was bleeding so instead of being released it was brought in and donated to a local village. (See photo).

Cabo marlin stirring

Water has warmed considerably off Land’s End, with readings to 74 degrees, luring marlin striped that are only reasonably cooperative for most.

Anglers aboard cruisers are seeing them in groups as high as 15, says Capt. George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing, but seeing them and getting them to go after a hooked mackerel are different matters.

“Most boats have been releasing two or three marlin per trip,” Landrum reports, “but throwing bait to 40 or so fish to get those numbers.”

Tracy Ehrenberg at Pisces Sportfishingreports that part-time Cabo San Lucas resident Michael Connolly caught and released 17 marlin in two days aboard Falcon, within 15 miles of Baja’s tip.

Freshwater spotlight: DVL

Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet is heating up literally and figuratively, with largemouth bass in the spawning stage, holdover rainbow trout patrolling at 20 to 40 feet, and catfish cruising even higher in the water column.

Jesse Dinkins, a spokesman for the DVL marina, says male bass are guarding nests and drop-shotting purple and green plastic worms is producing lots of two- to four-pounders. Watermelon or pumpkin-seed Senkos are effective.

It’s only a matter of time too before the larger females begin lashing out and finding themselves hanging briefly from a scale.

“We’re getting some in the seven- and eight-pound range but nothing over 10 yet,” Dinkins says.

As for trout, several in the five-pound class were caught by anglers drifting or slow-trolling night crawlers, with the west dam producing before the sun gets too high.

Dinkins says sight-fishing for catfish has begun at a lake known for its clarity. “I got into a 20-pounder the other day, but it broke me off,” Dinkins says, suggesting that anglers try using anchovies and a small split-shot near the marina wave barrier.

“But they’re cruising all over the lake,” he says.

Derby time

–Youth derby: MacArthur Park near downtown Los Angeles will play host to a derby for boys and girls May 3 from 8 a.m. to noon. The event is sponsored by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and the Daniel Hernandez Youth Foundation, which will provide equipment for those in need. The SEA Laboratory of Redondo Beach will display marine critters. Details: (213) 368-0520.

–Trout derby: Diamond Valley Lake is site of the “Spring Smackdown Trout Derby” on May 17 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. It benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest County. Adults $35, kids $10. Details: (951) 926-7201.

Trout opener note

The Eastern Sierra trout opener is April 26 and will be the subject of Friday’s print/web column.

This week’s trout plants

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

ORANGE – Trabuco Creek.

RIVERSIDE – Strawberry Creek.

SAN BERNARDINO – Mojave Narrows Regional Park Lake, Santa Ana River and Santa Ana River South Fork.

SAN DIEGO – Murray Lake.

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

SANTA BARBARA – Cachuma Lake, Lion Canyon Creek and Santa Ynez River.

INYO – Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Owens River (Below Tinnemaha),Sheperds Creek, Symmes Creek and Tuttle Creek.

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