State Commission Talks Compromise

The state Fish and Game Commission seems to be headed for a compromise rather than a confrontation with Department of Fish and Game Director Boyd Gibbons over its recent action to re-open fishing on the Upper Sacramento River next spring.

It will have been nearly three years since a derailed Southern Pacific tank car killed all life in 38 miles of the river by spilling 19,000 gallons of herbicide at the Cantara Loop bridge. Current quality of the fishing is uncertain. Admittedly rough estimates by the DFG’s special Cantara research team are that the spill killed 7,200 trout per mile and that the population has recovered to about 1,200 per mile.

Without fishing, tourism has dropped in the town of Dunsmuir. The commission, hoping to help the town revive its economic base, thought the solution would be to make up the difference by planting hatchery fish. But Gibbons and the DFG would prefer a wild trout fishery, at least until further recovery is evident, lest the lowly hatchery fish contaminate the gene pool.

The commission, meeting at Long Beach this month, approved a plan endorsed by the Dunsmuir Chamber of Commerce and Southern Pacific to plant hatchery trout but ruled that wild trout had to be released. Anglers could tell the difference by the hatchery trout’s clipped fin.

The vote was 3-1, with Commission President Ben Biaggini of San Francisco abstaining because he is a former Southern Pacific executive. Frank Boren of Carpinteria voted no because the plan failed to address gear restrictions. A wild trout that has swallowed a barbed treble hook meant for a hatchery fish is not likely to be released alive.

Commissioner Al Taucher of Long Beach, who voted yes with Gus Owen of Dana Point and Doug McGeoghegan of Colusa, said: “Just before we took the vote, Boyd (Gibbons) leaned into the microphone and said, ‘Mr. Chairman, no matter what your decision, I won’t abide by it.’ I was under the impression that the commission made the policy and the department carried it out.”

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Can the commission order the department to plant?

“I don’t have an answer for that,” said Ron Pelzman of the commission staff.

DFG General Counsel Craig Manson said, “I don’t see anything (in the Fish and Game Code) giving (the commission) the power to order the department to plant or not plant.”

It may not come to that. The commission has agreed to review its decision at its next meeting Jan. 4.

“They tried to do the right thing,” Pelzman said. “It’s not a perfect system.”

The final regulations probably will call for planting a five-mile stretch through Dunsmuir, with the normal state limit of five per day, and wild trout regulations--artificial flies and lures, barbless hooks and total catch and release only--above and below the town.

Briefly

FISHING LICENSES--Southland saltwater anglers will save $3 off their 1994 licenses. The Sport Marine Resources Protection Stamp required by Prop. 132 in 1992 for waters south of Point Arguello near Lompoc has already generated more than enough revenue to pay off the commercial gill-netters who will be banned inside the three-mile limit starting Jan. 1. Anglers will need only the basic license ($23.25 at California Department of Fish and Game offices, $24.40 at tackle stores), plus the $1 Ocean Enhancement Stamp.

INSTRUCTION--The DFG will host a free introduction to fishing Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon, at Centennial Park Lake in Santa Ana, on the west side of Fairview at Edinger. Bait and tackle provided. Participants 16 and older must have licenses.

MEXICAN FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: Billfish bite continues, with blue marlin in the gulf and stripers in the Pacific. Jimmy Bushnell, Las Vegas, took a 616-pound blue near Cabo. The 85 billfish caught during the week included 41 blues (33 released), 43 stripers (31 released) and one sailfish. Dorado also excellent, topped by an 84-pound catch by Matt Merritt of Burbank. San Jose del Cabo: Wahoo slow but yellowfin tuna and dorado good. Panga fleet collected 10-20 yellowfin of 12-40 pounds per boat. San Diego Long-range: John Grabowski’s Red Rooster III, 18 days to Socorro, Clarion, Roca Partida and San Benedicto with 18 passengers, took 212 yellowfin, topped by a 337.4 by Francisco Mora of Alhambra. About 70% of the tuna were larger than 100 pounds.

FLY-FISHING--Mas Okui will talk about fishing Hot Creek trout when the Sierra Pacific Flyfishers Thursday nightat the Encino Glen. Details: (818) 785-7306. . . . The club also is offering a five-week course in beginning fly tying starting Jan. 19. Cost (for materials): $40. Details: (818) 845-5656. . . . Jack Dennis’ talk, “Fishing Streamers More Effectively,” will be held at the dinner meeting of the Fly Fishers Club of Orange County on Thursday night at the Revere House in Tustin. Details: (714) 373-2721.

ADVENTURE--With the sea ice freezing, Pam Flowers has resumed her 2,500-mile dogsled journey across the Alaskan and Canadian Arctic. She was marooned with the natives on Gjoa Haven island when the ice broke prematurely last spring, delaying her completion of the last 300 miles to Repulse Bay.