DFG Gives Lobster Rustlers a Good, Hard Lesson

Don Ashley, owner of Long Beach Sportfishing, describes Pat Whittaker as a “good hard fisherman” and hopes the young skipper will have his boat ready to begin taking customers to the local islands within the next few weeks.

“But he’ll have to get his head on straight first,” Ashley said.

Whittaker, it seems, did some good hard fishing recently aboard his boat, the Reel Special. Trouble was, the Department of Fish and Game says he did it illegally.

Whittaker, 30, a Huntington Beach resident who for the last few years--mostly in spring and summer--has been running out of Long Beach Sportfishing, had been fishing commercially all winter and was among five men arrested at midnight March 17 for rustling lobsters from another fisherman’s pot.

In all, they had 156 spiny lobster tails, the bodies having been disposed of, many under the legal size limit, the DFG says. The haul also included 270 pounds of rock cod.

DFG warden Don Richardson, one of four wardens who greeted the vessel as it docked in Long Beach Harbor, said Whittaker and the other men confessed to taking the lobsters from a single commercial receiver belonging to another fisherman.

Large submerged receivers are often used to keep lobsters alive after they have been removed from traps.

Whittaker said he had been sick returning from San Nicolas and San Clemente islands and “was not in the ballgame” while being questioned by wardens.

He refused to discuss the case but did deny confessing to stealing the lobsters and says he intends to fight the charge.

He and the four others--Ted Hale of Long Beach, Fred Lee of Gardena, Josh Gordon of San Pedro and Sean Smith of San Diego--were cited for violations of Fish and Game laws that prohibit possession of “tailed” lobsters, possession of undersized lobsters and “for robbing commercial traps of another.”

Whittaker admitted only to “tailing” the lobsters--which had an estimated value of $2,100--and taking along unlicensed fishermen as crew.

Whittaker, owner-operator of the vessel, was the only one with a valid commercial fishing license. The others also face charges for fishing without commercial licenses. All violations are misdemeanors and the five face possible fines of $1,000 and six months in jail for each charge.

The case is not expected to jeopardize Whittaker’s sportfishing captain’s license.

“Regretfully, the fact that he has run out of this landing reflects poorly on us,” Ashley said.

Why then, is Ashley letting Whittaker back at the landing?

“Because we need the boat,” he said matter of factly.

The 47-foot Reel Special, because of its speed and range, specializes in trips to Catalina and San Clemente Islands, which are very popular in springtime.

Briefly

TOURNAMENT FISHING--The Santa Monica Bay Halibut Derby will be held Saturday and Sunday, and it seems the fishing is picking up at a good time. Tournament chairman John Bourget, who said there are still openings for the event, said the bay produced several keeper halibut Monday and Tuesday, with a few topping 20 pounds. Last year’s winner was a 40-pounder. About 1,500 anglers are expected to compete for various prizes, among them a trip to Alaska. Details: (310) 450-5131.

CONSERVATION--White Seabass Weekend, originally set for last weekend, has been rescheduled for April 7-9 off Catalina Island. The goal of the event is to capture seabass for use as brood stock in a new hatchery being built in Carlsbad. It is hoped the hatchery will help repopulate a species that has suffered a significant decline. Details: Jock Albright at (714) 722-7274. . . . The Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep and U.S. Forest Service are requesting volunteers for a census project April 8-9 in the San Gabriel Mountains. Details: (213) 256-0463.

MISCELLANY--Virg’s Landing, which operates the sportfishing concession at Morro Bay, has acquired the vacant concession at San Simeon and expects to be operational there by May 20. The previous lease holder filed for bankruptcy last summer. Virg’s at San Simeon will have daily half- and three-quarter-day trips, as well as long-range excursions. . . . Outdoors in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area--Spring 1995, a booklet describing various spring activities in the Santa Monicas, is available free of charge. Details: (818) 597-9192.