Safe Boating Needed on Holiday Weekend

Memorial Day weekend, one of the busiest of the boating season, is also one of the deadliest.

About 50 people will die in boating accidents this holiday weekend and more than 800 will die in 1994.

“Tragically, 80% of the victims aren’t wearing life jackets,” said Richard Schwartz, president of the Boat Owners Assn. of the United States.

Schwartz added that alcohol is a factor in about 50% of boating deaths nationwide and improper operation is a factor in a third of the fatalities.

BOAT/U.S. suggests boaters keep abreast of weather forecasts and conditions; keep an eye out for other boaters, swimmers, skiers and objects in the water; make sure the boat isn’t overloaded, and that there is U.S. Coast Guard-approved gear enough for everyone aboard.

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The week of June 5-11 has been designated “National Safe Boating Week,” but there is no reason to wait until then to start playing it safe. On Memorial Day weekend in 1993, there were 45 boating-related accidents, 21 injuries and one death in California. Throughout the year, 67 people died as a result of boating accidents.

State officials say alcohol played a key role in more than half the deaths.

“Last year, of 12 alcohol-related fatalities, eight were people who fell overboard after drinking, and five of eight were passengers,” said John R. Banuelos, director of the California Department of Boating and Waterways. “So even if the operator is sober, the passenger is at risk if he or she has been drinking.”

People do seem to be thinking more clearly, however. In 1989, alcohol played a role in 59% of boating deaths in California. That figure dropped to 33% last year. Of course, new and stricter laws might also be a factor.

Briefly

SALTWATER FISHING--The water has been warming slowly off the Southland coast, and the fishing is also heating up. The long-awaited yellowtail bite showed some consistency in the last week at San Clemente Island, with boats tallying impressive counts on the weekend and again on Tuesday. The Pacifica out of L.A. Harbor Sportfishing on Tuesday reported a count of 71 yellowtail ranging from five to 20 pounds and four white seabass.

Some of the white seabass have been pushing 40 pounds. Mark Montes of Lomita boated one of the biggest, a 49-pounder, while aboard the Dreamer last Thursday. More locally, aboard half- and three-quarter-day boats, light-tackle anglers have been enjoying the best barracuda bite all year off the Newport and Huntington Beach coast and at the northern Channel Islands.

Cabo San Lucas: Marlin flags are flying again. It’s been a slow month, but a busy week off the Baja peninsula, where striped marlin are back on the feed. An unusually large striper, weighing in at 223 pounds, was caught aboard the Juanita. Swordfish are being seen, but few are being caught. One was lost after a three-hour fight. Yellowfin tuna, mostly football-size, are abundant, although wahoo and dorado have yet to arrive in force.

East Cape: Striped marlin and tuna are keeping anglers busy, but fishing is far from spectacular.

La Paz: The best fishing remains at Cerralvo Island, for pargo and cabrilla, while unseasonably cool water is keeping the more exotic dorado, tuna and marlin from making it this far north. Angler Ken Allen of Long Beach caught an almaco jack--previously categorized and commonly referred to as a Pacific amberjack--estimated at 130-140 pounds, which could have qualified for an all-tackle world record had it been kept and officially weighed. “I had a scale on the boat that goes to 100 pounds and it bottomed it out,” Allen said. “Nobody knew where we could find a scale so I just gave it to the captain. Oh well.” The all-tackle record is a 132-pounder caught in 1964 in the La Paz area. Allen used 50-pound-test line, but there is no line-class category for the species.

San Diego long-range: Top catch was aboard the Red Rooster III at the Revillagigedo Islands south of Cabo San Lucas: a 361-pound yellowfin tuna--the largest of the season--by Bob Schultz of Signal Hill. The boat returned Saturday with 148 tuna averaging 150 pounds, 107 wahoo and 35 grouper. A 400-pound blue marlin was caught and released. There are reports of albacore schools 650 miles west of San Diego and the fish are moving slowly toward the coast. At their current rate of travel, they could be within range of the fleet by the end of June.

HUNTING--The California Fish and Game Commission approved deer hunting regulations for 1994-95 and established dates, tag quotas and modified some hunting zones, including the expansion of zone X9a, the popular southern Mono County zone. The earliest hunts--in zones X9a and X9b, in the Inyo County foothills--open Sept. 17 and run through Oct. 10. Instructions on tag applications are explained in the Department of Fish and Game’s 1994 big-game hunting booklet, available in sporting goods stores. Applications for X zones and other tag drawings must be received at the DFG’s License and Revenue Branch office in Sacramento by 5 p.m. June 27.

MISCELLANY--Paddle Sports Expo ‘94, the West Coast’s largest paddling event featuring clinics and tryouts on more than 100 kayaks, will be held June 4 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Newport Dunes in Newport Beach. Cost is $7, $3 for seniors and free for children 12 and under. Details: (714) 261-0200. . . . Art’s Fishing Tackle in Gardena is holding a two-part rod-building clinic June 4 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. Details: (310) 323-3339. . . . The television show “Sportfishing With Dan Hernandez” says there is limited space for anglers who want to be part of the taping of an episode featuring San Clemente or Catalina Island aboard the Pacifica out of L.A. Harbor Sportfishing on June 4. Cost is $95. Details: (213) 721-5357.