FISHING / DAN STANTON : Anglers Play Tag With Sharks to Aid Research

Using light tackle, anglers have been fishing for mako sharks in offshore areas from Santa Monica Bay to the 14-mile bank.

Thresher and blue sharks, including some that weigh more than 100 pounds, have also been caught.

Private and charter boats have been catching and releasing sharks in cooperation with the Department of Fish and Game’s shark research tagging program.

The four marine biologists involved in the program--John Sunada, Marija Vojkovich, Rick Klingbell and Leeanne Laughlin--have expressed their concerns about the fish because of increasing consumer demand for shark meat.

They say an effective management strategy to protect migratory sharks begins with a tagging program.

The biologists say they know less about the stock structure, migratory movement and population of sharks than they do about other fish. A tagging program helps provide clues about location, growth and population of sharks in Southern California waters.

The DFG’s tagging program began in 1983 and involved 264 participants, including sport fishermen, commercial shark fishermen and South Bay fishing clubs.

According to DFG biologists, the method used to tag a shark is to apply a steel dart on the fish while it is hooked and in the water.

Thus far, more than 4,000 fish have been tagged.

Although a variety of species are wearing tags, the majority have been mako and blue sharks.

From 1983 to 1991, 2,704 blue sharks have been tagged, but from 1983 to 1992, only 19 have been recaptured.

During the same period, 1,230 makos were tagged and 21 have been returned.

Joe Bairain, who has the six-passenger charter boat Bongos that is used for shark trips, encourages anglers to tag and release sharks that weigh less than 50 pounds.

Bairain said he has tagged several makos and blue sharks caught in the area of the 14-mile bank.

A fish he recently tagged was caught less than a year later in the same area it was tagged. Bairain tagged it again and sent the information to the DFG.

South Bay barges the Isle of Redondo and the Annie B, which offer night fishing on weekends, have been returning with catches of sand sharks. But very few of the fish are kept because they are not considered good eating.

The King Harbor Marlin Club, which also encourages anglers to release sharks, is holding its annual shark tournament July 17-18.

Local update--The half-day boat Matt Walsh from Los Angeles Harbor Sportfishing returned Monday with a big catch of sand bass.

The 26 anglers aboard the vessel caught 260 sand bass--a 10-fish limit for each angler--in less than two hours.

South Bay anglers with fish weighing from five to eight pounds were Jim McDonald of Redondo Beach, who caught an eight-pounder to win the jackpot, Joel Thompson and Danny Thompson of San Pedro, Robert Hernandez and Bob Oyama of Carson, and Kevin Richman and John Bernard of Gardena.

The Long Beach Pier boat El Dorado had a weekend catch of yellowtail averaging 10 to 15 pounds.

Marilyn Robinson of Long Beach caught the largest yellowtail--a 15-pounder.

Island update--Catalina remains the best area for catching barracuda. Some yellowtail are starting to show, but no run of the fish has been reported.

South Bay catches--Joel Goldman of West Los Angeles, aboard the Spitfire outside of Venice Reef, caught the whopper of the week--a 29-pound white seabass.

Paul Dyskan of Long Beach, aboard the Phantom off San Clemente Island, caught a 27-pound yellowtail.

Arnold Stewart of Long Beach, aboard the Aztec off Catalina, caught a 15-pound yellowtail.

Dottie Archibald of West Los Angeles, aboard the Victory at the rigs, caught a 12-pound bonito.

Donna Hazeltine of Wilmington, aboard the Phil A Donna at Horseshoe Kelp, caught a 10-pound sand bass.