OUTDOOR NOTES : Law Goes Beyond Ban on Hunting Mountain Lions

Proposition 117, the Wildlife Protection Act, doesn’t merely ban the hunting of mountain lions in California.

Terry Mansfield, the Department of Fish and Game’s assistant division chief for wildlife management, and DeWayne Johnston, chief of enforcement, say that the law--which went into effect upon approval June 5--also prohibits Californians from hunting lions in any of the other 10 Western states where it is legal and bringing their trophies back into the state.

“It would prohibit possession, unless you can prove the lion was in your possession before June 6 of 1990,” Mansfield said. “It would prevent you as a hunter from going to Montana, killing a lion legally, and then bringing the pelt, the carcass, whatever back into California.

“Obviously, (the proponents’) intent was not only to stop lion hunting in California but to stop California residents from hunting lions in any other state.”

The state’s houndsmen--hunters who use dogs to pursue game such as bears and lions--probably have seen the last of pursuit permits--usually 85 to 120 a year--that allowed hunters to chase game with dogs, tree it but not kill it.

“Right now, a tight reading by the enforcement guys is that it would eliminate the opportunity to use pursuit permits,” Mansfield said.

Last year, after proposed lion seasons were thrown out by courts in 1987 and ‘88, the Fish and Game Commission also lost its bear season, and the pursuit permits increased to 447. For those houndsmen, apparently, the sport was not the kill but the chase, although proponents of Proposition 117 were skeptical.

“I have my doubts that that’s in fact what they do,” said Gerald Meral, the Sacramento lobbyist whose Planning and Conservation League sponsored the initiative.

Said Mansfield: “We’re taking steps to amend Section 265 (of the state’s Fish and Game Code) to conform with the initiative and delete the option for pursuit permits.

“The interesting thing is, you’ve never been able to sell a mountain lion or parts of mountain lions--such as pelts--in California. This initiative now allows you to do it.

“It’s a poorly worded section. The intent was (something else). But in essence, it would allow lions and their parts to be sold if you could prove you had (them) before June 6 of 1990.”

Summer is still a week away, but don’t tell anyone fishing off Santa Catalina Island.

“Summer has kicked in, and the water’s warmed up,” said Ray Province of L.A. Harbor Sportfishing.

Province said boats from the landing--after an on-again-off-again spring--have been doing well at the island all weekend, but the action really picked up Monday.

The Shogun, with 39 passengers, had 14 yellowtail weighing up to 32 pounds, and seven white sea bass to 38 pounds. The haul also included 410 barracuda and 250 calico bass.

The Top Gun had only seven anglers, who caught 25 yellowtail averaging 21 pounds, one white sea bass, 70 barracuda and 40 calico bass. Two of the white sea bass taken Sunday aboard the Top Gun weighed more than 40 pounds. The Outer Limits on Monday had 20 catch 15 yellowtail, five white sea bass, 102 barracuda and 87 calico bass.

“It’s the best fishing in many, many years,” said Bobby Taft, skipper of the Top Gun. “If you can (catch) squid (for bait) at Catalina, it’s a guarantee right now.”

The Black Jack, out of Redondo Sportfishing, reported early Tuesday that its passengers had already boated 30 yellowtail, 22 white sea bass and 150 barracuda.

Meanwhile, sportfishers out of San Diego are beginning to catch more and larger yellowtail in California waters only 16 to 20 miles west of Point Loma.

On Monday, 21 passengers aboard Buzz Brizendine’s Prowler caught 61 yellowtail averaging close to 12 pounds. The Pacific Queen, fishing the same area, reported 22 yellowtail for 12 passengers.

In previous weeks, most of the yellowtail had been taken 40 to 60 miles southwest of San Diego and had averaged between six and eight pounds.

Hurricane Boris apparently did not adversely affect the fishing off southern Baja California. Blue marlin and wahoo have moved into the area, and striped marlin remain extremely active only eight to 10 miles off the arched rock signifying land’s end.

“We’ve had several blues in the 250- to 280-pound range, two over 500 and the 638-pounder,” said Darrell Primrose of Tortuga Sportfishing. The 638-pounder was caught Monday by Dale Poynter of Delano.

If anything, Boris served to pump warm water into the area. Water temperatures are averaging between 80 and 82 degrees, Primrose said.

In the East Cape region, fishing remains excellent. Dan Perry and 12 friends from Las Vegas spent two days’ fishing from the fleet at Hotel Palmas De Cortez. Their catch: seven blue marlin, 28 sailfish, 14 dorado, 10 yellowfin tuna and one wahoo.

Briefly

Tag applications and regulation booklets for deer, bighorn sheep, elk and antelope are available at sporting goods stores and Department of Fish and Game offices in Southern California.

Applicants for X Zone and special deer, antelope, bighorn sheep and elk hunts must file by June 25 to be eligible for the computerized, random selection of assignments. Deer tags for A, B, D and Archery Only zones are available at authorized outlets.

The San Diego Marlin Club’s annual Just for the Halibut tournament, proceeds of which will benefit the Wheelchair Regatta sponsored by the Silvergate Yacht Club, will be held Saturday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the largest halibut, and anglers can fish from Oceanside to Point Descanso. The cost is $20 for adults, $7.50 for those 16 or younger. Information: (619) 225-1300.