State Has a Free Fishing Day; Anglers Take the Bait

The sandy shores of Newport Bay were lined Saturday morning with rookie anglers and one great shark hunter.

The state Department of Fish and Game threw open the local public waterways and waived state fishing-license requirements for its twice-annual fishing seminar for beginners, but state officials obviously weren’t expecting 3-year-old Jenson Kamiya.

Armed with poles and special shrimp bait, Jenson and his family arrived from Westminster about half an hour before the program started.

And by late morning the savvy fisherman had reeled in a foot-long shark and two stingrays.

“I catched the shark, but he didn’t bite me,” Jenson said, sitting on a blanket with his 1-year-old sister. He said that “baby sharks” are not a problem for him.

“I’m getting bigger now,” he said, demonstrating his reeling technique. Jenson’s father, Dexter, said Jenson has been fishing since age 1.

Dave Parker, a Fish and Game Department marine biologist, said the seminar has been conducted twice a year since 1989 and attracts the novice anglers who may not own poles, hooks or bait but have plenty of curiosity.

“It gives people without fishing experience a taste of it,” Parker said. “It is simple and enjoyable.”

State officials also took groups out on a boat, and discussed natural history, tagging and tracking procedures for marine species. The bay, which stretches inland to Jamboree Road, is an ecological preserve where saltwater fish species congregate to spawn. The state has set size minimums on most fish species to protect the younger fish during the spawning season.

Most fishermen and land-loving families began the day by watching a state official demonstrate the proper rigging, casting techniques and bait philosophy.

Then, with state-issued poles, tackle and bait, they went off searching for pieces of shoreline and prize catches.

“It is good, cheap entertainment,” said Stuart Wilbur of Irvine, who brought his sons, Scott, 8, and Sydney, 10.

None rated even a bite for the morning, but they looked the part of newly skilled fishermen.

Scott stood about 10 feet offshore, his shorts and shirttail submerged.

“He does it to get more of a communion with nature,” the father joked from shore, “and so he can relieve himself without anyone noticing.”

Most of the more than 60 new anglers seemed more intent on the hunt and not the kill.

“It is harder than it looks,” said Frances Ibarra, 13, of Azusa.

Ibarra had had her share of land-to-land casts and now stood calmly watching her line drift in the water.

Mike Baham, 9, of Anaheim had a grandiose strategy for his catches.

“I try to catch anything I can,” Baham said. “And if you really want to know how to cook them, ask my mom.”