OUTDOOR NOTES : They Call Number of Marlin Incredible

When Tom Snyder pulled El Tomas into Cabo San Lucas last Saturday, he did not share the popular concern over the conspicuous absence of striped marlin in recent weeks.

The Tarzana resident knew exactly where the fish were, as did everyone aboard the Sassy Cissy. The two vessels were traveling together to the cape when they stumbled upon an area outside Magdalena Bay so teeming with marlin that it must have seemed like a dream.

“I looked around--I was totally surrounded by feeding marlin,” said Snyder, 59, a lifelong fisherman who claims never to have seen such a spectacle. “You look out there at the lures, and when you’d see one coming, you would see three or four or five. Sometimes, they would bang it, or zip it. Other times, they’d get hooked; other times, they would back off--it was just a total frenzy.”

In one instance, with six trolling rigs set off the stern, Snyder’s group of four got six hookups, which is almost unheard of when fishing for marlin--and too much to handle.

“We didn’t get ‘em,” said Snyder, who tried to bring in one while on the bridge behind the wheel. The three below tried to handle the other five.

“The lines were crossing one another,” Snyder said. “We only got two out of the six. It was a damned costly hookup because I lost some good lures.”

Those aboard the Sassy Cissy, meanwhile, were involved in similar chaos.

“We were hooked up with doubles and triples, and there were fish swimming by the boat, free swimming right by the boat,” said Dennis Gagnon, 61, of Whittier. “Four years ago in the same area, we pulled in 14 fish in 1 hour 15 minutes. But this was phenomenal. You can’t believe it. It was unreal.”

The bite went on for more than two days before the two groups called it quits, after catching an estimated 50 marlin, all but one of which were released. They pulled into Cabo San Lucas with a tale that many probably didn’t care to hear.

“If there’s 30 million fishermen in this country, there’s only . . . you can count them on both hands, that ever get to experience this kind of fishing,” Gagnon said.

Four persons were each sentenced to 540 hours of community service--to be completed within a year--and two years’ probation after pleading no contest to unlawfully using gill nets in Santa Monica Bay.

Thanh Van Nguyen, Peter Duong Tran and Dung Quoc Tran, all of Santa Ana, and Duc Minh Huynh of Westminster were turned into the Department of Fish and Game by a Los Angeles County fireman and his brother, who found the four fishing offshore between Topaz Beach and Sapphire Beach in Torrance.

During the probation period, the four will not be allowed to own or possess a gill net.

Briefly

SALTWATER--When the Polaris Supreme pulls into San Diego’s Fisherman’s Landing today at 9 a.m. it will have aboard two potential world-record fish: a 370-pound yellowfin tuna which, if approved by the International Game Fish Assn., would set a 130-pound line class record, and a 38-pound rainbow runner, a possible all-tackle record-setter. Both fish were caught by Tom Pfleger, co-owner of the vessel.

San Diego’s medium-range trips to San Martin and Guadalupe islands haven’t been especially productive, but the most of the fish have been of high quality. Top catch: a 195-pound bluefin tuna take at Guadalupe by Greg Trompas of Del Mar.

Mazatlan: Sailfish are active, according to Bill Heimpel of the Star Fleet. During the period Nov. 16-22, the fleet reported 78 sailfish (the largest 121 pounds 10 ounces), 45 tuna, 29 dorado, five marlin and three wahoo (including a 104-pounder).

Cabo San Lucas: Billfish action is slow. Most marlin appear to be feeding north near Magdalena Bay. Dorado and yellowfin tuna are providing most of the action, with tuna ranging between 50 and 150 pounds. The bait supply is poor. Top catch: a 563-pound blue marlin taken aboard La Brisa by Miles Nicholas of Westminster.

East Cape: Marlin fishing is slow, but blues to 300 pounds and stripers to 150 pounds are occasionally being taken. Dorado and tuna are fairly plentiful. Most of the action is taking place 20 miles offshore.

Loreto: Yellowtail fishing has finally turned on, with boats reporting as many as 10 a day. Strong north winds have been blowing consistently, however, making for unpleasant boat rides to San Bruno Reef. The fish are averaging 10-25 pounds, taking live bait.

HUNTING--Heritage Hunts for kids are again being offered by the DFG Dec. 7-8 at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area in Imperial County and Dec. 30 at the Lone Pine Pheasant Club in Inyo County. DFG officials said that of the 42 children taking part in the Nov. 16 hunt at San Jacinto, “nearly every one bagged at least one pheasant.” Details: (310) 590-5158.

MISCELLANY--Don and Alicia Bullock’s Gun Show and Sale will be at the Anaheim Convention Center Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.