A Record Tuna, or Case of ‘Sorry Charlie’?

The Polaris Supreme was scheduled to return to San Diego today with a yellowfin tuna that could weigh as much as 330 pounds, the largest caught aboard a West Coast sportfisher since last February when David Manella took one weighing 395.3 pounds--at the time believed to be a world record.

Believed to be, because the International Game Fish Assn. has written Manella that it may not approve the record.

“Apparently, they got some reports that it wasn’t caught legitimately,” Manella said Tuesday.

When he asked the IGFA why it wasn’t legitimate and who said so, Manella said, “They wouldn’t tell me.”

Manella caught his tuna at Clarion Island from Frank LoPreste’s Royal Polaris, with Brian Kiyohara as skipper. He said he abided by the two basic rules: that nobody else touched the rod and that the rod never touched the rail of the boat.

“I was up on the bow. There were no other passengers near me, just the crew. Nobody said anything about anybody else touching the rod while I was on the boat or back at the dock.”

John Griffith of Newport Beach, an IGFA representative for Southern California, said Tuesday he would look into the issue.

The latest catch was by Keith McCue of Mammoth Lakes last Friday at San Benedicto Island, about 300 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas. McCue used 100-pound-test line.

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Ray Novelli of Newport Beach figures he lost $523,920 fishing in the Bisbee Black & Blue Marlin Tournament at Cabo San Lucas. Mark Kronemeyer of Mazatlan won with a catch of 615 pounds.

On the second day aboard Capt. Robert Ross’s Rama II, Novelli hooked what was estimated to be a black marlin weighing 750 to 900 pounds. It jumped once about 500 yards from the boat.

“(Then) it spooled me immediately,” Novelli said, “a thousand yards of line.”

As they turned the boat to chase the fish, the line came loose--probably from a soft hookup, Novelli guessed. The whole episode lasted only eight minutes.

Novelli tallied his total loss from the first prize of $61,500, tournament jackpot of $126,360, daily jackpot of $40,000, high team captain of $21,060 and a boat worth $275,000 for any marlin heavier than 750 pounds.

“And this fella was way over 750,” he said.

Briefly

BOATING--The San Diego Boat and Sportfishing Show runs from Thursday through Sunday at the Convention Center and Marriott Marina downtown. Freshwater and saltwater fishing seminars will be featured. The America’s Cup will be on display. Hours: noon-9 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Admission: adults $6, children $3. . . . Gail Hine of Tustin has been elected the first woman president of Recreational Boaters of California, the primary lobby for the state’s boaters. RBOC was instrumental in defeating legislation that would have required dye tablets in holding tanks to detect illegal discharges and eliminated tax deductions on interest paid on boat mortgages as second homes.

MEXICAN FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: Airport road slow but passable and most hotels operating after recent heavy rains. Billfish active: 20 blue marlin (18 released), topped by 595-pound catch by Greg Chavez of Scottsdale, Ariz. in 2 1/2 hours. Also, five black marlin (four released) and five stripers. San Jose del Cabo: Dorado excellent; pangas averaging 20 at 20-40 pounds. Wahoo starting to show. East Cape: At Palmas de Cortez, Harold Keoppe of San Diego took a 308-pound blue marlin, plus many dorado and two sailfish (released). Terry Schleede and friend from Laguna Niguel fished at Punta Colorada after heavy rains and caught 40 yellowfin tuna 20-50 pounds, 20 dorado averaging 20 pounds and a 110-pound sailfish. San Diego Long-range: All boats 1 1/2-4 days getting limits of yellowfin, with longer trips also collecting yellowtail.

FLY-FISHING--Bob Marriott’s fourth annual Fly Fishing Fair is scheduled Saturday and Sunday at his store at 2700 W. Orangethorpe in Fullerton, near the Magnolia Ave. off-ramp of the 91 Freeway. Among those demonstrate casting and fly-tying techniques and holding seminars will be Lefty Kreh, Stu Apte, Nick Curcione, Dave Whitlock and Bill Barnes. Visitors may test new tackle at an 80-foot casting pond. Admission is free. . . . Tony Sarp will tell the Fly Fishers Club of Orange County about fishing in Siberia at their monthly meeting Thursday, 6:30 p.m., at the Revere House in Tustin. . . . The Sierra Pacific Flyfishers’ Las Vegas Night fund-raiser is scheduled Saturday, 7-11 p.m., at the Encino Glen Restaurant, 18821 Burbank Blvd. Admission: $30. Details: (818) 799-5011.

SHOOTING--The Pasadena Junior Rifle Club in Eaton Canyon above Altadena was a casualty of last month’s wildfires, losing its clubhouse and a shed only a few weeks after the Altadena Sportsmen’s Club donated $800 to buy target rifles for the youths. Shooting jackets, slings, scopes, records, target frames and other equipment was lost, along with part of the covered firing line. “Virtually nothing was left,” said Greg Thompson, director of the club, which has 30 boy and girl members. . . . The Southern California Ducks’ Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot is scheduled Sunday, 9 a.m.-dark, at Raahauge’s shotgun range, 5800 Bluff St., in Norco. Contestants will shoot at targets, not turkeys--not even ducks--in various shotgun games. Women and juniors welcome. Details: (714) 735-2361.

CONSERVATION--The Inland Empire chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will have its monthly meeting tonight, 7:30, at the Sizzler in Norco. Details: (909) 985-5896. . . . Gov. Pete Wilson has secured funding to keep the 65-foot California Department of Fish and Game patrol vessel Bluefin operating in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, rather than transferring it to Southern California to replace the Hammerhead, which is virtually in mothballs at Long Beach.