Puddingstone Suffers Illegal Gill-Netting

Wanna knock ‘em dead?

Get a dozen friends, some throw nets and haul out to Puddingstone Reservoir late some night. Stretch the nets across the opening of one of the shallow little coves and start walking toward the back. We’re talking buckets full of trout, catfish, bass, crappies, bluegills, red-eared sunfish and carp.

They’re only four to seven inches long, but you count your catch by the pound.

It’s called gill-netting, and it’s very effective. It’s also illegal. Title 14, Section 2.00 of the California Fish and Game Code says hook and line angling is the only legal--not to mention sporting--way to fish.

Puddingstone, alongside the 210 freeway at San Dimas, seems to be particularly attractive to poachers. Local anglers complain about it regularly. An efficient poacher can net as many as 50 fish a night.

The situation seems odd because Puddingstone is part of Los Angeles County’s Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park complex. The gates are locked at 10 p.m. and there are rows of spikes across the exits to keep people from driving in.

“You can put stuff over the tire-rippers,” said Bob Gonzalez, the park superintendent. “It’s pretty well organized and it’s been going on for over a year, I think.”

He isn’t sure because park personnel leave at 10.

“We don’t have a budget to keep security people on after closing,” Gonzalez said.

That has left warden Mark Jeter of the Department of Fish and Game to wage a lonely campaign against the poachers. He said those he has encountered are from Latin American countries.

“That’s how they fish in their native countries,” he said. “They’re eating (the fish) themselves and selling them to their community.”

Jeter said they also know they’re breaking the law. How does he know?

“They run,” he said.

But last month he ran faster and arrested eight suspected poachers.

If convicted, they are subject to maximum penalties of $1,000 fines and six months in jail.

And the heat is on. Local anglers have volunteered to patrol the lake at night. If they see anything suspicious, they can call Jeter, who lives only five minutes away.

When he can, Jeter patrols the shores of the lake, carrying night-vision equipment.

The worst fear is that the problem will impact Puddingstone severely later this spring when the adult fish enter the shallows to spawn. Jeter hopes to have it under control by then.

*

Briefly

FRESHWATER FISHING--Bad weather didn’t stop Bishop’s Blake Jones Trout Derby, the traditional prelude to the Eastern Sierra trout season, but it put a dent in it. After Friday’s severe storms, U.S. 395 was closed from the north by snow and California 14 was closed by flash-flooding between Mojave and Red Rock Canyon, requiring a 30-mile detour. That made it difficult to get to Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the Lower Owens River. There were 531 entries, down from 1,168 last year. A father and son from Sacramento were so determined to get there that they drove in via Klamath Falls, Ore.

After pouring down three inches in 24 hours, the rain stopped at 5 a.m. Saturday, just in time for the first casts. The day was sunny but the water remained murky and higher than ideal because the L.A. Department of Water and Power had to maintain enough flow to prevent dam overflows, but all 35 prizes were collected. The blind bogey trout was 11 ounces, won by Michael Campbell of Fontana. Seth Baker of Glenville was the children’s winner. Kim Jenkins of Bakersfield caught the biggest fish--three pounds eight ounces.

SHOWTIME--For those who missed the Fred Hall Western Fishing Tackle and Boat Show at Long Beach earlier this month, another edition will open a five-day run today at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Hours: 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission: adults $7, children under 12 free.

FLY-FISHING--The Downey Fly Fishers will offer a free “Fly Fishing Made Easy” clinic Saturday at Wilderness Park in Downey. Details: (714) 952-3552 or (310) 425-7936.

HUNTING--Novices may qualify for their state hunter safety certificates in a 10-hour, one-day course Saturday at Mike Raahauge’s Shooting Enterprises in Norco. The $30 fee includes lunch. Check-in time: 6:30 a.m. Details: (800) 773-4868. . . . The Inland Empire chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will conduct a free turkey hunting seminar Thursday at the Sizzler in Corona at 7 p.m. Details: (909) 980-5826 or (714) 539-1925.

AUCTION--Physical assets of the bankrupt San Simeon sportfishing landing will be auctioned Saturday starting at 10 a.m. The list includes fishing tackle, locker-type freezers, a computer, office equipment, an ATV with trailer, a 14-foot skiff with trailer and 100 pairs of sunglasses. Details: (805) 237-1122.

BAJA FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: Striped marlin are back up to the numbers of a year ago but this time at the Outer Gorda Bank instead of on the Pacific side. Gaviota 4 and 5 released five each on different days, while the Pisces fleet reported releasing 46 out of 54 hooked. The run may slow after the full moon Thursday. The inshore panga fleet is hitting tuna, roosterfish, sierra and dorado. San Jose del Cabo: Yellowfin have shifted to the west at Cabeza de Ballena. Reef anglers Henry and Frank Griswold of Laguna Niguel caught a dozen snappers and two 20-pound cabrillas and released six roosterfish. Loreto: Yellowtail surface-feeding frenzy continued last week. Top catch was 38 pounds, the average 20 pounds.