OUTDOOR NOTES : With Declining Resources, Salmon Fishing Is Threatened

It is not yet a reality, but a total closure of California’s recreational salmon fishery is a definite possibility.

The state Fish and Game Commission will meet on April 16 to consider, among other things, “emergency action” that would affect not only fishermen and the fish they look forward to catching each season, but hundreds of businesses related to the salmon fishing industry.

“The commission is fully aware that sportsmen are not the cause of the decline, but that decline is such that something needs to be done,” said Robert Treanor, executive director of the commission. “That might include closing the fishery for a few years while we meet with water exporters, the agriculture industry and others, and try to come up with a management strategy that would benefit the salmon.”

Tim Farley, acting chief of the Department of Fish and Game’s inland fisheries division, added: “We are getting down to the point. For example, (consider) the Klamath fishery: The bottom level, below which it should not fall is, like, 47,000 fish. They know right now there’s only 42,000 in the ocean. So we’re getting to the point where every fish caught just lowers it further.”

The commission will wait for the outcome of the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s meeting in April 6-10 in San Francisco to adopt salmon regulations for commercial fishing.

The council has the authority from the federal government to adopt ocean salmon fishing regulations for sport and commercial fishermen. However, it does not have jurisdiction over rivers and other inland waters. According to the Magnuson Act, the state can adopt regulations that are more restrictive than federal guidelines in such waters.

“The commission will wait and see,” one council member said. “We both know there is a serious problem with the resource, and we want to address it.”

The Los Angeles City Department of Water and Power must open Haiwee Reservoir to fishing, but apparently doesn’t have to make it fun.

Like Crowley Lake to the north, Haiwee is a city reservoir, along the eastern side of U.S. 395 south of Lone Pine. Although built in 1913 and full of bass, Haiwee had never been open to public fishing until Bob Hayner’s Owens Valley Warm Water Fishing Assn. discovered an obscure state law last year, forcing the issue.

But Hayner says, in an application to the California Department of Health Services for a public fishing permit, the DWP has made conditions so restrictive and inconvenient that it’s hardly an improvement over no fishing at all.

Fishing would have to be from shore, meaning no boats, no float tubing, no waders; the access roads would be unsuitable; there would be only two restrooms, with no accommodation for the disabled, and the DWP would continue to use copper sulfate--or “bluestone”--to cleanse the water of impurities.

A man paddling his surfboard near the mouth of Oregon’s Umpqua River on Sunday was the apparent victim of a great white shark attack, the third such incident in the area since 1976.

Mike Allman, 21, of Coos Bay, Ore., said the shark, estimated at between 12 to 15 feet, bit through his surfboard, grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him under the water.

The shark released Allman and swam away. Allman made it to shore on half of his surfboard and doctors later stitched a 10-inch-long cut in his shoulder and a two-inch cut in his left side.

The California Department of Fish and Game will begin capturing wild trout tonight in the two-mile area of the Upper Sacramento River unaffected by last summer’s Southern Pacific spill. Up to 20 pairs will be transferred to lower stretches, where all fish and plant life were killed.

According to Paul Wertz, a DFG information officer in Redding, the department received 45 comments on its proposal for rehabilitating one of the state’s prime fisheries, which did not include a plan to plant hatchery fish. Thirty-one agreed, four wanted a total hands-off policy and 10--including Southern Pacific, Dunsmuir business interests and Cal Trout--wanted planting.

The Marina del Rey Halibut Derby, held during the weekend, was won by David Rhoden of Los Angeles, who caught a 33.05-pound halibut on the first day of competition.

Second place went to Bill Gaul of Hemet, who caught a 28.06-pounder, and third was Fred Casmir of La Canada with a 23.06-pounder.

The team competition was won by Bill Northington and Jerry Foote of Torrance with a combined catch of 41.03 pounds.

Briefly

SALTWATER--Locally, the attention remains focused primarily on rockfish, rock cod and calico bass, although the Toronado, out of Long Beach Sportfishing and working off the west end of Catalina, had five white seabass and 196 barracuda on board as of 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Cabo San Lucas: Striped marlin and dorado are feeding as close as a mile off Red Hill, according to Victor Gutierrez, who operates a fleet of pangas off the beach at Palmilla. The dorado have been averaging about 40 pounds. The top fish was a 440-pound blue marlin that took eight hours to land. The Gaviota fleet reports an average of 3.3 fish per boat, mostly striped marlin and dorado. Live bait, considered a must, is in good supply.

East Cape: Fishing is very good when the wind isn’t blowing. Small blue marlin, tuna, dorado and bonito are providing plenty of action, according to reports out of Hotel Palmas de Cortez. Bait is readily available.

Loreto: Fishing is very good between periods of strong wind, mostly for yellowtail averaging 20 pounds. Most boats are bringing back about eight fish a day, according to Gordon Prentice of Baja Fishing Adventures. The bait situation is rated very good.

Mazatlan: Sailfish, tuna and dorado continue to cooperate for those fishing black and red lures. Top fish was a 137-pound 9-ounce striped marlin taken by Dale Cunningham of Minnesota.

MISCELLANY--Don and Alicia Bullock’s Gun Show and Sale, featuring modern and antique weaponry, will be held Saturday and Sunday at Fairplex Park in Pomona. Details: (310) 430-5112.

The Department of Fish and Game is offering a variety of programs this month at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve: Campfire Program, on the natural history of the bay, Saturday at 7:30 p.m., meet at Newport Dunes. Kayak Tours, every Sunday at noon; details: (714) 729-1150. Friends of Newport Bay Tour, Saturday every half-hour, starting at 9 a.m., meet at corner of Eastbluff and Back Bay Drive. Canoe the Back Bay, Saturdays at 8:30 a.m., meet at Shellmaker Island, reservations: (714) 640-6746.