OUTDOOR NOTES : Showing of Albacore Near the Central Coast Stirs a Ringing Success
Suzanna Stanley was asked about the showing of albacore off the central California coast last weekend and she couldn’t hold back her excitement.
“It’s the biggest thing that has happened around here in five years--and this phone has not quit for one minute,” said Stanley, owner of Paradise Sportfishing in Avila Beach.
Albacore have not shown off the central coast in any significant numbers since 1986.
The current showing, mostly in an area 50-70 miles northwest of Port San Luis, appears to be fairly substantial. Norm Bartoo, a National Marine Fisheries Service biologist specializing in migratory species, said salmon trollers fishing for albacore a little farther north and out as far as 100 miles have not reported catches of albacore, but added: “That doesn’t mean they’re not there.”
Jonathan Roldan of the Paso Robles-based 1-900-USA-FISH said a private boater reported catching albacore as close as 16 miles offshore and commercial vessels have reported landings 30 miles off the coast.
Bartoo said it would be premature to predict a lasting bite, but added that conditions have improved along the north and central coast as a result of recent upwelling, which has cooled the water to below-normal levels.
“That should be good,” Bartoo said. “If they’re there, they’ll hang around the upwelling areas. It wasn’t looking good earlier in the year because there had been abnormally low upwelling.”
Two sportfishing boats from Paradise Sportfishing and one from Virg’s in Morro Bay have been departing nightly--charging $125 per passenger--since Saturday, returning with impressive numbers of albacore averaging between seven and 15 pounds.
“They’re a little on the smaller size, but we’re glad of that,” Stanley said. “That generally means you’re going to have a longer season and bigger fish to follow.”
Sixteen teams from Southern California and two from Northern California are competing in the 33rd Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament off Kailua-Kona.
The tournament, one of the most prestigious of its kind, began Monday and features 74 teams from 15 countries. Points are based on line size and size of the fish, with those tagged and released worth an automatic 200 points.
Pacific Harbour Anglers of Fiji led after the first day with three blue marlin. Huntington Harbour was in fourth and Marina del Rey in sixth.
The Marina del Rey team has become known for untimely hookups and unsuccessful efforts with the mighty billfish.
Last year the team fought a large blue marlin for 23 hours before losing it. This year--in the pro-am event--it lost another large marlin after a seven-hour fight, then followed that up with a hookup after quitting time with a fish that also got away.
The tournament ends Friday.
Briefly
SALTWATER--San Diego’s overnight fleet is desperate for something worthwhile to pop up within its 100-mile range but as of yet the bigeye, yellowfin and bluefin tuna are not cooperating, remaining in an area about 140 miles south of Point Loma. Some of the fleet reportedly is en route to the Morro Bay area to get in on the albacore action.
Cabo San Lucas: Blue marlin are still being taken regularly, as are sailfish, large tuna and dorado. Top catch: a 528-pound blue marlin taken aboard the sportfisher Relentless. Wind is calm and water averaging 82 degrees, according to Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters.
East Cape: Most species are active, according to reports from Hotel Punta Colorada. West Covina’s Gary Heilgeist and his 17-year-old daughter combined for three blue marlin and two stripers and two sailfish.
Loreto: Dorado fishing remains steady and yellowtail season is taking shape, according to Gordon Prentice of Baja Fishing Adventures. Sailfish are showing in the counts more frequently each week, Prentice said.
HUNTING--California’s waterfowl hunting regulations will be similar to last season’s if proposals by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are adopted by the Fish and Game Commission. States may further restrict the seasons. Pacific Flyway proposals basically call for a 59-day duck hunting season for Oct. 5-Jan. 5, 1992, with a bag limit of four ducks, including no more than three mallards (one hen), one pintail and either two canvasbacks, two redheads or one of each.
Proposals for non-waterfowl migratory birds are also similar to 1990 regulations. The dove season will begin Sept. 1 and run through Sept. 15. The second half of the split season will be Nov. 9-Dec. 23.
Quail Unlimited: The Los Angeles Chapter will focus on dove hunting in tonight’s 7:30 meeting-barbecue at the Izaak Walton Club, 3701 S. Gaffey, San Pedro. Steve Comus of Western Outdoors News will speak. Information: (213) 541-6625. The Riverside Chapter’s annual fund-raising dinner will be Friday at 6 p.m. at El Prado Golf Course in Chino. Details: (714) 735-0136. The San Gabriel Chapter’s annual sporting clays fun shoot and wild game dinner will be Saturday, 10 a.m., at Moore & Moore Sporting Clays in Little Tujunga Canyon in San Fernando. Details: (213) 629-5700 or (818) 351-0381.
INSTRUCTION--Offshore & Big Game Fishing, Thursdays through Sept. 19 from 7-10 p.m. at Mt. San Antonio College, instructed by Al Zapanta.
