Let’s See, at Four Ounces of Tuna a Can . . .

Anticipation was high when the Polaris Supreme returned to San Diego from a 16-day trip off Mexico last week, just to see how big Mark Gavich’s fish really was.

Estimates radioed ahead ran from 350 to 380 pounds, but it weighed in at 399.6 pounds--believed to be the largest yellowfin tuna ever taken on rod and reel.

The trouble is that the Costa Mesa angler needed to use a second rod after the fish ran most of the line off the first one, disqualifying it by International Game Fish Assn. standards. The world record remains 388 pounds 12 ounces, by Curt Weisenhutter at San Benedicto Island in 1977.

Some other whoppers on the trip: Forest Hudson, Michigan, 265 pounds; Pat Kennedy, Costa Mesa, 252.5, and Robert Kalotschan, Tustin Ranch, 238.1.

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No sooner did Arizona’s hunters and fishermen dodge a bullet from Proposition 200--the defeated anti-trapping initiative they perceived as a threat to all hunting and fishing in the state--than they now face the loss of as many as 500,000 acres of private and public lands to settle a longstanding dispute between the Navajo and Hopi Indians.

The land, most of which would go to the Hopis, is around Flagstaff in the cooler, forested northern part of the state and includes 200,000 acres of national forest. Some prime hunting, fishing and vacationing areas would be removed from state and U.S. Forest Service jurisdiction, and that is a concern to sportsmen. The Hopis have indicated they would continue to allow public access to some areas, but there are no guarantees.

Elizabeth T. Woodin, a state Game and Fish commissioner from Tucson, said, “As access to the public would most likely be denied to a large area surrounding Flagstaff, the impact to that community and others, as well as to sportsmen, outdoor enthusiasts, tourists and private landowners, would be immense.”

What really irks Arizonans is that the federal government negotiated the settlement in secret for 15 months, without consulting the state or the Forest Service. According to spokesmen for Game and Fish, no definitive maps of the land in question have even been made available to them.

Their hope is that the settlement will at least be subject to congressional approval.

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The sale of fishing licenses in California are off slightly again this year, according to Olga Martin-Steele, chief of the License and Revenue Branch of the Department of Fish and Game. Sales have declined the last four years and figure to go from 2,260,099 in 1991 to about 2,200,000 when this year’s final figures are in.

“But the rate of decline is slowing,” Martin-Steele said. “Time--the lack of it--seems to be the biggest single factor people list for not fishing.”

But the DFG is making it easier for people to buy fishing licenses. They now may phone (916) 739-4140 and order them with credit cards, for themselves or as gifts. The only information needed is name and address.

The basic annual license for ’93 is $23.90, up 25 cents from ’92.

Briefly

MEXICAN FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: Pat Hayes of Temecula landed a 724-pound blue marlin aboard the Sea Rodent II. Also, Bob Fulton, Alexandria, Va., an 85-pound wahoo, and Robert Wilhelm, The Dalles, Ore., a 300-pound hammerhead shark. Dorado continue to lead the counts, averaging 6.8 a boat. Striped marlin migration starting past arch and out three miles. San Jose Del Cabo: Cabo Real area best for yellowfin tuna 8-25 pounds. Dorado 20-40 pounds concentrated near Cabeza de Ballena. Gordo Banks too windy for wahoo fishing. East Cape: Joe Chinovsky of Los Angeles reported good fishing out of Rancho Leonero with friends John Schatz and George Masaki. They caught and released two sailfish and 20 dorado to 20 pounds. Mazatlan: Sailfish to 118 pounds top the count, with yellowfin and dorado close behind. Lee Redding, Arizona, 418-pound blue marlin. San Diego long-range: Steve Giffin’s Holiday, three days 100 miles south with 25 anglers, caught 250 yellowfin to 35 pounds--most of them during a five-hour bite--plus 40 dorado and 105 yellowtail. Mike Lackey’s Vagabond, nine days to Thetis Bank with 16 anglers, caught 240 yellowfin, 50 wahoo and 14 yellowtail. Tom Maxfield of Upland had the two largest yellowfin at 99 and 97 pounds. On a two-day trip to San Martin Island with 18 anglers, the Vagabond caught 50 yellowtail and a 28-pound white sea bass for Steve Russell of San Clemente.

FRESHWATER FISHING--Don Stehsel will tell the South Bay Flyfishers about “Fishing in Nearby Deep Creek” at tonight’s meeting at the Westchester Townhouse, 8501 Emerson Ave. Stehsel also will present a program on Deep Creek and Bear Creek for the South Coast Chapter of Trout Unlimited Thursday, Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m., at the Crown Sterling Suites Hotel in Santa Ana. Details: (714) 497-2495. Stehsel, of San Pedro, has fished the San Bernardino Mountain streams for 15 years. . . . Bob Brooks, CalTrout’s stream keeper for Hot Creek in the Eastern Sierra, will speak at the Sierra Pacific Flyfishers’ holiday dinner meeting Dec. 17 at the Encino Glen, 16821 Burbank Blvd. Details: (818) 785-7306.