Notebook : Entrepreneur Casts Lot With Sportfishing

Skipper Andy Volaski grew seasick watching Ventura Landing Sportfishing try to stay afloat in a very competitive market.

Volaski, 54, had been operating fishing boats out of the landing for 17 years and had worked for four different owners.

After the last owner went bankrupt and left Ventura without commercial fishing for 2 1/2 months, Volaski decided to run the business himself.

“We’ve always had a good following,” Volaski said. “I’ve been fishing in these waters for a long time and I have a few favorite spots. I try not to let any of my customers go home empty-handed.”

Business, however, has been slow. Few people know about the landing because there has been little advertising. In order to make a reservation, you have to call Volaski at home because his boathouse is currently under construction.

“Until now, it’s been a Mickey Mouse operation,” Volaski said. “We should have new facilities and new docks by the end of the week.”

Volaski’s boat is called the Sea Angler Sportfisher and leaves for three-quarter-day runs every morning except Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is also twilight fishing on Wednesday through Saturday from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.

“We’ll be switching to surface fishing from rock codding,” Volaski said. “Right now, we’re getting some halibut, bass and barracuda. The fishing will really get good as soon as the waters warm up.”

The landing is located at 1500 Anchors Way in Ventura Harbor. For reservations: 805-646-3590.

Stroke of luck: Jeff Richards, a professional painter, has changes partners as often as paint cans, but it hasn’t affected his luck on the Ventura County Grand Prix tour.

Richards has won two tournaments and twice reached the semifinals in five events while competing in the Men’s A doubles bracket.

He leads the division with 140 points. Phil Ranger, the former tennis pro at Cabrillo Racquet Club, is second with 70.

Next stop on the tour is this weekend at the Oakridge Racquet Club Tournament in Simi Valley.

Heading home: Chris Hantgin, former Ventura High basketball standout, is transferring to Ventura College after attending Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington for one year.

Hantgin, a forward, red-shirted his freshman year with the Bulldogs and will join the Pirates as a freshman.

Bayou Bound?: Ventura College pitcher Shane Espitia will visit Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La., this weekend before deciding where he will continue his baseball career.

Espitia posted an 8-3 record and 2.86 earned-run average last season for the Pirates.

Espitia is also considering Cal Lutheran, Azusa Pacific, Cal State Sacramento, Sonoma State, and San Francisco State.

Tennis professionals appointed: Dave Dike of Santa Paula will become the new professional at the Moranda Park in Port Hueneme. Dike formerly coached the men’s team at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson.

Dave McKinney, who recently moved from Kohler, Wis., has been appointed director of tennis and head professional at Cabrillo Racquet Club in Camarillo.

Junior tennis: The Cabrillo Racquet will enter three teams in the State Championships for junior team tennis on August 26 and 27 at the Sierra Club in Fresno.

There will be six teams representing each Northern California and Southern California in a competition known as the Gar Glenney Cup.

The Boys 15 and under team features Darren Potkey, who competed as a freshman for Ventura high. The top two players on the boys 12 and under team are twins Mike and Bob Bryan of Camarillo. The top player on the girls 12 and under team is Jessica Improta of Camarillo.

These three teams qualified for the state tournament by winning the junior team tennis playoffs June 10 and 11 at UCLA.

Junior team tennis has 255 teams from Bakersfield to San Diego with 1,800 youngsters participating.