OUTDOOR NOTES / RICH ROBERTS : Boaters’ State Fund Has Sprung a Leak

California boaters, along with those throughout the country, were outraged last year when told they must pay a federal “user fee”--read tax-- that would not be used for boating.

Paying either annual state registration fees or an extra tax on marine fuel was offset by funds returned to boaters from the Department of Boating and Waterways through grants or low-interest loans of $30-40 million a year. These were used to build new docks, sea walls, launching ramps, floating restrooms and for other improvements.

But the federal tax is in the process of being repealed and the state is raiding the boaters’ treasury to bail out other programs, particularly the destitute Department of Parks and Recreation.

According to Bud Zucker, president of Recreational Boaters of California, the state siphoned $14.3 million from boat funds into the state’s general fund last fiscal year and plans to take another $14.7 million this fiscal year, plus $9.5 million from the private marina portion of the boating budget.

Doug Wheeler, secretary of the Resources Agency, is considering recommending to Gov. Wilson the merging of Boating and Waterways with Parks to help balance Parks’ budget, at boaters’ expense.

Zucker said, “This department has been operating efficiently for 35 years and it’s never been a burden on the state. There’s never been a default (on a loan).”

Jim Clark, commodore of the Southern California Yachting Assn., said, “This scheme, which was put together by an alleged ‘blue ribbon committee,’ purposely avoided having representation from those most affected--the state’s boaters.”

The House of Representatives has voted, 339-78, to repeal the federal fee imposed last year on 4.1 million recreational boats of at least 16 feet. The Senate is expected to follow next week. President Bush favors the fee, but Congress appears to have the two-thirds majority necessary to override a veto.

Then it gets confusing. The annual fees are $25 (“A” decal) for boats 16-20 feet, $35 (B) for 20-27, $50 (C) for 27-40 and $100 (D) for 40-up. But under the repeal, boats up to 21 feet would become exempt Oct. 1 of this year, boats up to 37 feet Oct. 1, 1993, and all other boats Sept. 30, 1994.

David Pilvelait of BOAT/U.S., Washington-based lobby that led the fight, said, “The categories were split to phase it out as quickly as possible for as many boaters as possible.”

Considering those 4.1 million boat owners, this being an election year might have helped.

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta’s striped bass fishery, in serious decline for the past several years, had its rearing and planting program suspended by the California Department of Fish and Game.

Boyd Gibbons, director of the DFG, cited the “imperiled condition of the winter-run chinook salmon,” listed as “endangered” under California law and “threatened” federally.

Gibbons said research indicates that striped bass “occasionally prey on young salmon. Though researchers indicate a minimal risk that planted striped bass will push the winter-run to extinction, I am not prepared to take that risk.”

The damming of rivers, water diversions and pollution are being blamed for the decline in winter-run salmon, which at one time numbered almost 200,000 fish. Last year, fewer than 200 returned to spawn.

Briefly

SALMON--Recreational salmon fishing is available to California anglers and 30 landings throughout San Francisco Bay are taking passengers out free June 12. In late April, the DFG announced a ban on sport fishing for salmon, but left a small area north of the harbor open to salmon fishing until Nov. 1. A subsequent drop in business left Bay Area fleets hurting, prompting the “Spectacular Salmon Offer.”

BAJA FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: Marlin fishing is fairly steady, with boats reporting 1 1/2 striped marlin for every blue caught. One blue weighed 538 pounds, Dorado averaged about 35 pounds and tuna ranged from 10 to 90 pounds. East Cape: Hotel boats are reporting at least one marlin a day. Tuna fishing slow, but dorado and sailfish are still striking live bait and lures. Roosterfish are showing along the coast south of Punta Colorada. Loreto: Dorado fishing is fairly steady, though some skippers are still concentrating on bottom fish. The first striped marlin of the season, a 130-pounder, was caught May 26 by Jim Cannon of Hacienda Heights.

MISCELLANY--Saturday is semi-annual Free Fishing Day in California, with no licenses required. The DFG is sponsoring programs all day for beginners at the Redondo Beach fishing and at the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. . . . Veteran skipper Louie Abbott will open the Southland’s newest saltwater sportfishing landing today, but the first “running days” aren’t until June 13. Harbor Village Sportfishing in Ventura, with a three-boat fleet, will offer the traditional slate of half-day, three-quarter-day and twilight trips. Telephone: (805) 658-1060.