OUTDOOR NOTES / PETE THOMAS : Poaching Becoming a Problem in Santa Monica Bay

Surf fishing in the Santa Monica Bay has been terrible this summer--for some.

Those using hook and line say the corbina and barred perch simply haven’t cooperated.

Those using 100-foot nets--poachers--aren’t giving the fish much choice.

As if the Santa Monica Bay doesn’t have enough problems with constant pollution from storm drains and “accidental” spills, it now has poachers.

Now, thanks to a few alert surfers, the problem of gill-net poaching in the nearshore waters has come to light.

It has happened at least twice off Manhattan Beach in the last four weeks and authorities say the illegal practice is probably more widespread than people realize.

“(Poachers) generally just leave the (nets) out for two-three hours and bring them back in,” said Dan Andreen, a warden with the Department of Fish and Game. “But they do it all under the cover of darkness so. . . . “

In the first instance, late last month, South Bay residents Jay Vavra, Wes Toller and Jorg Graf, surfing at dusk, discovered a floating plastic container attached to a line that was attached to a net.

They were approached by four people who claimed ownership of the net. Vavra called the Manhattan Beach police department and three of the gill netters fled before the police arrived.

The other, Chu Van Nguyen, was forceably detained until the police arrived and later was cited by a DFG warden. The net held more than 200 pounds of corbina, perch and assorted species.

The latest incident, again off Manhattan Beach, occurred less than two weeks ago when the same group of surfers saw five men trying to set their nets.

“They buried the anchor for the net in the sand, along with attaching rope, so nobody could see it,” Andreen said. “They just moseyed the net out into the surf 30-40 yards.”

Vavra was wise to the tactic, however, and again called the police, who detained all five until Andreen and DFG Lt. Louise Fiorillo arrived.

Luyen Tran, 36; Duyen Tran, 26; Xuan Son Le, 28; Dang Quang Nguyen, 22, and Tran Van Huong all face possible maximum sentences of six months in jail and $1,000 fines.

Evidence against the five included three nets from 100 to 125 feet long, six perch, three corbina and one leopard shark.

“Fortunately, the nets weren’t in the water for very long so they didn’t get much,” Andreen said.

Chu Van Nguyen, 18, found guilty in the first case, was sentenced to 113 hours of community service and given three years’ probation.

Briefly

SALTWATER--San Diego’s overnight boats are still struggling, but those capable of multiple days are reporting mixed results. The American Angler, fishing 230-260 miles south of Point Loma, returned Sunday with 136 bluefin tuna, the largest an 80-pounder, and 53 yellowtail. The Kanani Kai, fishing for bluefin at Guadalupe Island, caught mostly skipjack tuna and yellowtail.

Central coast: The albacore have once again disappeared, passenger loads have dropped and skippers are back in their “exploratory” mode. The China Clipper, one of a few boats making regular runs, returned to Morro Bay Saturday night with one fish and Sunday with no fish, but is still trying to find the elusive longfin tuna.

Cabo San Lucas: Blue marlin counts are down, striped marlin counts up. Tuna and dorado steady. Daytime temperatures: air 90 degrees, water 86-87.

East Cape: Blue marlin, sailfish, tuna and dorado are showing regularly. Richard Markey of Imperial Beach returned from two days at Hotel Palmas de Cortez and reports that his party of six caught three blues, 15 sailfish, 20 tuna and six dorado.

Loreto: Dorado are averaging 15 pounds, most taking strips of squid trolled slowly. The sailfish bite is fair and they are averaging 72 pounds. Yellowfin tuna are steady, averaging 20 pounds. Yellowtail and pargo are slow because of the abundance of jumbo squid making it nearly impossible to get bait down.

HUNTING--Permits are not necessary for the season on white-tailed ptarmigan that runs through Sept. 22, contrary to a printing error in the California Hunting Regulations. There are daily bag and season limits of two ptarmigan. . . . Participants in Snake Break ’91 can have their hunting dogs trained to avoid poisonous snakes Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., at Raahauge’s Shotgun Sports Complex in Norco. There is a $50 fee.

The DFG is asking for volunteers this weekend at the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area in Niland to clear brush and debris from water structures to prepare the 5,000-acre facility for the arrival of thousands of migratory birds expected this fall. Details: (619) 348-0577.

MISCELLANY--The fishing information service 1-900-USA FISH is out of business--temporarily. It’s telephone carrier has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and canceled service on all of its 900 numbers. The fishing service says it will be “back on-line” as soon as possible.