OUTDOOR NOTES : Increase in Permit Fees Has Boat Owners Wailing

Gray whales are migrating down the coast, headed for Baja California’s warm-water lagoons to bear their young. It’s an event that attracts thousands of viewers each year.

But this year, Mexican officials and San Diego boat owners are at odds, and the losers could be the whale watchers.

Mexico has recently increased permit fees to the point where boat operators are wondering if they will be able to absorb the added costs or be forced to increase prices.

“It’s going to make it tough on us, that’s for sure,” said Frank LoPreste, whose Royal Polaris and Royal Star have trips scheduled to San Ignacio Lagoon.

Most notable is the increase in permit fees paid Mexican skiff operators, who take passengers from the larger vessels for close inspection of the whales--from $10 to $25.

Bernard Thompson, a San Diego specialist in Mexican-American affairs, is going to Mexico City on Monday to negotiate on behalf of the San Diego fleet. Thompson, who was instrumental in attaining a relaxation of strict fishing regulations imposed on the fleet earlier this year, said the price increases caught the whale-watching fleet by surprise.

“Unfortunately, we have not had an opportunity to negotiate this fee,” Thompson said. “We’ve already entered into contractual agreements with clients, we’re already booking the tours, we’ve already set the prices--and for them to impose a 150% increase in prices. . . . We’re talking about the potential of losing that business because (San Diego boat operators) could be forced to cancel those trips.”

LoPreste said that even if Thompson is unable to negotiate a better deal, the permit fees will be paid--this year, anyway--and schedules maintained.

“I’m not sure what we’re going to do, whether we’re going to try to pass the charge on (to customers) or try to absorb it,” he said. “The fees are costing us $3,000 per trip. It’s getting awful tough.”

Long-range fishing pioneer Bill Poole remains cautiously optimistic that the Mexican government will soon grant him the permits necessary to run a series of experimental trips to the fish-rich Revillagigedo Islands from Cabo San Lucas, something no Southland commercial passenger vessel has been able to get.

Poole proposed his plan at a meeting last spring with Mexico’s fisheries secretary, Guillermo Jiminez Morales, but has yet to receive an answer.

A spokeswoman for Fisheries Undersecretary Carlos Camacho Gaos said Tuesday from Mexico City that Gaos is still reviewing the proposal and that an answer is expected sometime this week.

Should Poole be allowed to operate from the resort city, it would require a boat ride of about 24 hours, instead of the three days it now takes to reach the popular island chain.

Cabo San Lucas has no boats capable of making the trip, although one Mexican company is working on getting one.

Cost of the 10-day trips would be similar to those of 16-day trips out of San Diego, but fishermen would be flown to and from Cabo San Lucas. Their fish would be kept aboard and saved for pickup upon their return to San Diego.

“It saves the guy the ride down, is what it boils down to,” Poole said.

Add long-range: The first trip to the Revillagigedos this season has ended successfully. The Qualifier Excell returned to San Diego on Tuesday with 27 anglers who caught 405 wahoo and 405 yellowfin tuna, one a 293-pounder.

Briefly

SALTWATER--San Diego’s medium-range fleet reported mixed results off western Baja California. The Holiday returned from San Martin Island on Sunday with a load of barracuda and rockfish, but little else. The Morning Star, fishing the same area, had 36 bluefin and six yellowfin tuna to go with an assortment of barracuda and skipjack. The Kenani Kai did not find the fishing any better at Guadalupe Island.

Cabo San Lucas: Marlin fishing has not picked up since the full moon late last month, according to Darrell Primrose of the Tortuga Fleet, but sailfish, dorado and yellowfin tuna are keeping anglers fairly busy. Live bait is plentiful and weather is ideal, Primrose said.

East Cape: Blue marlin are still in the area, most coming from an area south of Hotel Punta Colorada, averaging between 250-300 pounds. Sailfish and dorado are part of the daily catch, but tuna are providing the most action, mostly north of Palmas Bay, coming in at 40-60 pounds.

Loreto: Yellowtail are showing better every day, most in the 12- to 15-pound class. Pargo and cabrilla fishing is steady around islands, cut bait and live mackerel the preferred baits. Roosterfish are active throughout the area, reportedly taking chrome spoons and live mackerel.

POACHING--Da Van Nguyen, 60, of Long Beach, has been found guilty of illegally fishing with gill nets off the Southern California coast for the third time since 1989. Nguyen was sentenced to six months in jail last Thursday. He had previously served 79 days for other convictions.

CONSERVATION--Nominations for the 38th annual Chevron Conservation Awards will be accepted until Dec. 1. Conservationists who have worked to enhance North America’s air, water, land and wildlife resources are eligible. Details may be obtained by writing Chevron Conservation Awards Program, P.O. Box 7753, San Francisco, 94120-7753.

ROCK CLIMBING--Loop road plans that could affect climbing activity at Joshua Tree National Monument will be discussed when the National Park Service conducts public hearings tonight at the Twentynine Palms Visitors Center and Thursday night at Black Rock Campground in Yucca Valley.