It’s Time for Annual Highway 395 Slalom
Skiers and fishermen are two different crowds, and they make for a dangerous mix every spring on the last Friday of April.
It’s the day before the opening of the Eastern Sierra trout season, the busiest day of the year on U.S. 395, with weekend skiers and the fishermen sharing the highway. Up to 100,000 anglers are expected in the Eastern Sierra for the opener on Saturday.
“The problem is, fishermen pulling their boats are coming along nice and easy and then high-speed skiers come along and feel they have to pass everyone,” said Sgt. Ray Dickson of the Highway Patrol in Bishop.
Dickson said traffic on 395, which winds along the eastern edge of the Sierra, starts to build on Monday before the opener.
“And it builds every day,” he added. “Friday will be the worst day.”
Dixon did have some advice for those who want to avoid accidents and speeding tickets: “Stay with the flow of traffic, take it easy and don’t be in a rush.”
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The Highway Patrol isn’t the only state agency that will be out in force this weekend. Department of Fish and Game wardens will be making sure the trout get every break coming to them.
Last year the DFG wrote 57 citations, most for limit and non-license violations. Twenty were for violations of special regulations.
Warns Capt. Bill Powell of the DFG office in Bishop: “Be sure you know the name of the water you intend to fish, and check the regulations booklet.”
The DFG has extra wardens on special assignment in the Eastern Sierra and to enforce the new wear-your-license rule.
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Although the spotlight is on trout this week, there are those who prefer the larger game off Cabo San Lucas, where anything can happen.
Dennis Kline of Los Angeles, fishing out of San Jose del Cabo, was reeling in a small tuna when a 50-pound pargo crashed the surface and inhaled the smaller fish. Kline landed both. Earlier, he had lost a striped marlin estimated at 150 pounds after a 1 1/2-hour fight.
In a similar case, a bonito swallowed the sardine Ron Moore of Huntington Beach was using for bait, then a large mako shark chased down his bonito. Moore landed the shark, a 200-pounder, and also battled nine tuna from 35-50 pounds. According to one report, “He had to quit fishing because he couldn’t lift his arms.”
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Farther up the gulf, in the East Cape region of Baja, striped marlin are putting on a show.
“It’s the first time I had ever seen schools of marlin,” said Mike Silvas of Santa Ana, who returned from the area Monday. “We came up on five marlin dancing on the water.”
Silvas’ fishing partner, Herb Garza, who owns a home in the East Cape, landed a 105-pound wahoo after a 25-minute fight.
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Rough seas kept almost the entire Southland fleet at bay Monday, but a group of 15 women were out in the shipping lanes, rocking and rolling and taking it to the sharks.
The “Mako Mamas,” as they call themselves, had to cancel two previous trips because of weather and were intent on proceeding this time.
“We went out in the worst weather possible,” said Karen Akana, who ran the galley on the trip, aboard the California Dawn out of Davey’s Locker in Newport Beach. “We were jumping from wave to wave, water was coming over the rail and we were walking from side to side all day.”
Barbara Markoja, 50, a grandmother from Lake Elsinore, walked side to side, and ran up and down the rail when a 74-pound mako took her bait. She eventually brought the fish to the boat, where it was gaffed by deckhand Greg Obymako.
Three blue sharks were also pulled through the slop before the skipper said enough was enough and returned to port.
Briefly
MISCELLANY--The annual Day at the Docks tournament and festival will be held Saturday and Sunday at the San Diego sportfishing landings on Harbor Drive and Scott Street. The tournament, featuring adult and junior divisions, will be held Saturday, and the festival--which officially kicks off the spring fishing and boating season--will be Sunday. Details: (619) 294-7912. . . . The Greater Los Angeles Shooting Sports Expo, featuring seminars on gun safety, home defense and shotgun sports, will be held Friday through Sunday at the Angeles Ranges in San Fernando. Cost is $7 for adults, $5 for those over 62 and free for children under 12. Details: (818) 899-2255. . . . Classes Unlimited is offering a two-session introductory fly-fishing class at its South Pasadena campus on May 3 and May 10. Instructor is Gary Tomovich. Cost is $55. Details: (213) 254-7451.
