OUTDOOR NOTES : Marlin Fishing Taking Turn for Better in Baja

It may be too early to determine whether a combination of a crackdown on Japanese long-line fishermen, restrictions on take, and the growing practice of catch-and-release is responsible, but marlin fishing off southern Baja California is better than it has been in several years.

“I’d say that this is probably getting back to what it used to be in the good old days,” said Bob Van Wormer, owner of the Hotel Punta Colorada in the East Cape region. “This year here has been fantastic. It’s just been hanging right in there almost constantly, and consistently, and there has been some good marlin.”

Most of Van Wormer’s fleet has been flying marlin flags on a daily basis, with occasional catches of up to six billfish on a single boat.

Tarzana resident Tom Snyder, who has been visiting Punta Colorada regularly for 25 years and is co-owner of the fleet’s El Tomas, fished for two three-day weekends this month, and his parties combined for 26 marlin, including 210- and 178-pounders.

Mexican sportfishing laws allow the kill of just two billfish per boat each day, but most charter operations are pushing for release whenever possible--a practice that seems to be catching on.

Asked to compare marlin fishing now to the way it was on his first visit 25 years ago, Snyder replied, “It’s about the same. It’s just fantastic.”

Said Van Wormer: “I hope it’s due to the fact we have tentatively been able to cut off the Japanese long-liners. For how long, we never know.

Japanese long-liners have been blamed for the deterioration of sportfishing off the Baja peninsula, and the Mexican government last year moved to revoke all permits previously granted to Japanese companies, a move that stemmed from the seizure of the Copemapro V, a vessel that had been observed fishing illegally within the 50-mile sportfishing-only zone.

The ship was detained at Cabo San Lucas, where its records were determined to have been falsified. According to the log, there were 820 marlin aboard. Inspection of the holds, however, revealed 195 tons of fish, including more than 6,000 marlin, most of which averaged under 66 pounds.

According to the International Game Fish Assn., that represented more than twice the total weight taken recreationally by marlin fishermen each year off the Baja peninsula.

Hal Cribbs has refused the California Fish and Game Commission’s informal request to resign as executive secretary, apparently forcing a public review of his performance.

Cribbs, as head of the commission’s full time staff since 1979, is one of the most influential wildlife management figures in the state. Friday, after a commission meeting at San Luis Obispo, he was approached by commission President Bob Bryant of Yuba City and commission member Everett McCracken of Carmichael, who asked him to resign.

McCracken said: “Harold has many attributes, but his relationships with many people in the Legislature and the Department (of Fish and Game) are not good.”

There were no Southern California catches included in the latest list of those approved as world records by the International Game Fish Assn., but those off Baja California include:

--A 98-pound gulf grouper, all-tackle category, caught at the Uncle Sam Bank last October by Michael Boquet.

--A 52-pound 14-ounce dolphin (dorado), four-pound line class category, caught off Cabo San Lucas last September by George Hogan Jr.

--A 141-pound 1-ounce Pacific blue marlin, four-pound line class, caught off Cabo San Lucas last September by George Hogan Jr.

--A 202-pound 13-ounce Pacific blue marlin, eight-pound line class, caught off Cabo San Lucas last September by George Hogan Jr.

--A 211-pound 10-ounce Pacific blue marlin, a 12-pound line class women’s record, caught off Cabo San Lucas last October by Elizabeth Hogan.

Corbina season is here, and to accommodate the increasing number of light-tackle fishermen who enjoy this near-shore fighter, the Daniel Freeman Hospital Fishing Club has expanded its annual tournament to include anglers throughout the Southland.

Formerly conducted out of D.J.’s Tackle in Hermosa Beach, the tournament--which awards prizes for the 10 heaviest fish and a raffle at its Oct. 12 conclusion--now includes weigh-in stations from Malibu to Dana Point.

Venice resident Garrett Ray leads with a five-pound nine-ounce corbina.

The grand prize is four nights in a hotel and three days of fishing aboard a cruiser out of Santa Rosalia, Baja California.

Those interested in competing--at a cost of $5--can call the nearest bait shop: Wylie’s in Malibu, Harry’s in Playa del Rey, D.J.’s, Rick’s in Long Beach or Jig Stop in Dana Point.

Briefly

One million signatures have been submitted in an attempt to qualify the Marine Resources Protection Act for the November ballot. The act, authored by Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress), would ban gill-nets off the California coastline. Only 600,000 valid signatures were necessary, but the Committee to Ban Gill-Nets thought it needed more to assure that enough would be valid. County registrars of voters are in the process of verifying the signatures. . . .

The Balboa Angling Club’s 38th annual junior fishing tournament--free of charge and open to boys and girls 15 or younger--will run June 23 through August 18. No pre-registration is necessary. Information: (714) 673-8412.

The volunteer group, Central Coast Salmon Enhancement, Inc., will sponsor the second annual Return of the King Salmon Barbecue on June 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Port San Luis Harbor in Avila Beach. For the past three years, hundreds of salmon reared and released by the group have been returning seasonally to local waters at weights upwards of 25 pounds, numbers and sizes that have not been in the area in more than 45 years. Tours of the facility and entertainment are included in the $10 adult admission price. Information: (805) 489-6456.

The Northeast Orange County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will hold its eighth annual dinner fund-raiser--including auction and raffle of wildlife-related items--on June 6 at Los Coyotes Country Club in Buena Park. Information: (714) 738-5853.

Times staff writer Rich Roberts contributed to this story.