Outdoors : OUTDOOR NOTES : Final Hearing Friday on Hunting Seasons

The California Fish and Game Commission will hold its third and final hearing on proposed mammal hunting seasons Friday at Long Beach.

The DFG has prepared eight lengthy documents to support hunts for deer, bear, elk, tule elk, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, fur-bearing mammals and pursuit hunts with dogs.

The documents are meant to meet requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act and head off court challenges similar to those that stopped proposed bear, mountain lion and, for a time, tule elk hunts in recent years.

The new documents have been unchallenged in two previous hearings at Sacramento and San Diego. But Terry Mansfield, assistant chief of the DFG’s Wildlife Management Division, expects challenges from anti-hunters in Long Beach.

About 2,000 fishermen will be in the Santa Monica Bay this weekend trying to catch Big Bertha.

Big Bertha is actually one of five specially tagged fish released before the beginning of the Santa Monica Bay Halibut Derby.

If a participant should catch one of these tagged fish during the two-day tournament, and if the tag’s numbers match those sealed in one of five envelopes at the weigh station, he or she will win $25,000.

Otherwise, prizes range from trips to Alaska and Baja California resorts to marine-related merchandise and cash.

In an effort to aid a DFG study on halibut, participants catching any tagged halibut should bring the fish--or the tag if the fish is under 22 inches--to the weigh station. Those who do so will be eligible for a raffle in which $800 will be awarded.

Entry forms are available at most sportfishing landings, but checks must be in by midnight Friday. Entry information can be obtained by calling (213) 450-5131.

Add halibut: There has been some confusion lately as to the legal limit of halibut in Southern California waters.

The DFG recently issued a correction to its 1990-91 sportfishing regulations--which was printed in several local outdoor publications--that the legal take of Pacific halibut is one a day and one in possession.

However, halibut caught in Southland waters are California halibut and the legal take remains the same: five a day--at 22 inches or longer--and five in possession.

Mark Wellman, who climbed the sheer face of Yosemite’s El Capitan the hard way--on a rope, hand over hand--last July, will appear during Abilities Expo at the L.A. Convention Center Friday through Sunday.

The Expo is billed as the nation’s largest display of products and services designed to extend the activities of those whose physical abilities are otherwise limited.

Show hours will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $3, children under 12 free.

Emphasis will be on California for the annual Federation of Fly Fishers’ conclave Saturday and Sunday at the Airport Marina Hotel in Westchester.

Hourly audiovisual programs at two locations, 50 booths for tackle manufacturers, retailers and guide services, plus fly-tyers and flycasting expert Mel Krieger will be featured.

Hours will be 8:30 to 5.

SEACOPS, the nonprofit organization fighting the high seas drift nets they say are devastating the northern Pacific salmon population, will have an information booth. Admission: $12 single or $15 family, good both days.

Times staff writer Pete Thomas contributed to this story.