‘Trash’ Fish Targeted To Help Out Trout

California has declared war on so-called “trash” fish in regulations for 1994-95 adopted by the state Fish and Game Commission at Long Beach last week.

Carp in the East Walker River at Bridgeport may be shot with bow and arrow starting next trout season, and carp, goldfish, western suckers, Sacramento squawfish and hardheads may be speared on a 10-mile stretch of the Kern River when the regulations go into effect March 1--no limits.

It is hoped that thinning of the rough fish will save forage for the trout, especially those in the East Walker only starting to recover from the devastating 1988 water releases. The carp seemed to recover immediately. They were so thick in the pool below the dam that fly fishermen were known to use the site for live casting practice, at the same time serving the resource by leaving the carcasses on the bank.

Also, it seems Fish and Game is tired of having its planted trout eaten before they reach anglers. Non-game fish in the Kern gorge themselves so heavily that, it has been estimated, only 10% of the trout are left for anglers. Farther south, at Silverwood and Pyramid lakes and to a lesser degree at Castaic, striped bass enjoy feeding frenzies every time the fish truck arrives. Starting March 1, striped bass bag limits on those lakes will be increased to 10.

Striped bass are a game fish, too, and those who like to fish for them pay the same for their fishing licenses as those who prefer largemouth bass or trout. So, they will argue, they also are helping to finance the hatcheries, although they benefit less directly.

Kevin Howard, who operates the marina at Silverwood, is skeptical about how effective the new striper regulations will be. It has been tough enough to catch the current limit of five, and the top anglers care only about size, not numbers.

“I seldom hear of more than one hookup per angler per day,” Howard said. “If you catch three, you’re God for the day. You’ll never get them out of the lake.”

And if you did, they would probably be back next week. Stripers originally migrated through the aqueduct systems of California to establish populations at almost every major reservoir.

*

The commission also imposed a limit of 25 on crappies, the feisty little panfish that are catchable off docks. The decision was based more on morality than biology.

“While a no-limit regulation presents no threat to California’s crappie resource, (the limit will) support ethical fishing convictions,” a statement said.

Crappie anglers can probably live with that.

The commission also discussed and heard recommendations on the proposal to require anglers to wear their fishing licenses. No opposition was expressed, so that probably will become law when the commissioners vote on it Jan. 4.

Briefly

MEXICAN FISHING--San Diego long-range: Joyce Corrigan of Cerritos claimed a women’s world-record yellowfin tuna of 304.4 pounds on a 17-day Royal Polaris trip. The catch will be submitted to the International Game Fish Assn., which lists 270 pounds as the largest taken by a woman. The trip produced 11 yellowfins weighing more than 200 pounds. Cabo San Lucas: Blue marlin topped the week’s catch, with 26 of 33 released. There also were 16 striped marlin and a continuing run of dorado of 20-25 pounds. Scott Eyler of Shonomish, Wash., and Bill McElmurry caught and released eight stripers and five sailfish over two days. Tarrey Fahey of Boca Raton, Fla., released a 130-pound striper caught on four-pound-test line. East Cape: Blue marlin, sailfish, dorado and one 400-pound black marlin taken. Loreto: Yellowtail of eight-14 pounds providing most action.

CONSERVATION--United Anglers has provided $10,000 and volunteers to augment the Bolsa Chica artificial reef 4 1/2 miles southwest of Bolsa Bay with 700 tons of discarded building materials donated by Rampart General, Inc., of Long Beach. Simultaneously, the international artificial fishing reef off Point Loma near San Diego will be enlarged by the addition of a Trident missile launch pad.

HUNTING--Minneapolis banker Lee Anderson has claimed a California state record for Nelson desert bighorn sheep that measured 90 inches on a single horn and scored 178 3/8 Boone and Crockett points. It topped the record of 175 points for a ram taken by Stan Boots of Syracuse, N.Y., last year. Anderson had bid a record $100,000 for the privilege of hunting the restricted area alone last month before 10 hunters drawn by lottery got their chances starting last weekend.

Anderson was guided by Floyd Krank of Globe, Ariz., who has served several hunters since California’s limited hunts started in 1988. Anderson’s was the 51st sheep killed in the program. The state population is estimated to be 4,900.

Forty-four duck hunters at Lake Barrett near San Diego last weekend shot 156 birds, netting 33 limits, for an average of 3.5, only a half-duck under the limit. Most were ringnecks and greenwing teal.

SALTWATER FISHING--The weather was rough and exploratory trips out of Morro Bay failed to find albacore last weekend.

WILDLIFE--Deer seem to be recovering well on regrowth of natural food in the burned areas of Southern California, says Larry Sitton, Southern California’s supervisor of wildlife management for the Department of Fish and Game. Sitton’s only concern is that some well-meaning people have been putting out hay, which deer can’t digest.