Marlin season kicks into high gear
JIM NIEMIEC
Timing could not be any better for marlin tournaments being hosted
out of Avalon harbor for private yachts. The water temperature in the
channel has moved up a couple of degrees and a good bite on striped
marlin occurred along the trench off La Jolla earlier this week. Most
action was from blind strikes on fast trolled lures in spots of water
that ranged between 72 and 73.5 degrees.
Balboa Angling Club secretary Dara Stotesbury reports that there
has already been 28 marlin landed by members of the club and in the
best interest of conserving marlin fishery off our coast, most
anglers are releasing their catch. The father and son team of Doug
Daniels, Sr. & Jr. from Huntington Harbor both released marlin this
past week while fishing aboard the sportfisher Pescador. Balboa
Angling Club members Stan and Kathy Ecklund fishing on their yacht
Hooker, both brought marlin to the leader and released them as did
Lynn Jasper of San Clemente who set the hook of a jig hard into the
bill of a striper while trolling off La Jolla.
According to Stotesbury, who also released a marlin on Sunday
fishing with her husband aboard their fast 25-foot Skipjack Kawakawa,
most fish being caught are coming up to Sevenstrand EAL lures with
the best color patterns being Mean Joe Green (green and black) and
purple and black. The fish that were off La Jolla last weekend might
move up on to the Avalon Bank or off the east end of San Clemente
Island by this weekend as water conditions are ideal for a movement
of fish closer to Newport.
The 14th annual Church Mouse Marlin invitational will be held out
of Avalon on Monday and Tuesday and the timing would appear to be
excellent for this tournament that has raised in excess of $350,000
toward the purchase of supplies for the Avalon School and Avalon
Christian School, supported the kids fishing program, helped with the
playground at Twin harbors and donated funds to assist recreational
events. The Master Angler Marlin Tournament set for Sept. 17-18, and
is a “Catch and Release†event and the pre-tournament party will be
held on Sept. 14 at the Village Crean Restaurant in Newport Beach.
Based on points for releasing marlin on 12-, 16-, 20- and 30-pound
tackle, the addition of special broadbill and yellowfin tuna
divisions makes this tournament very popular with local big game
anglers. For more details on participating in the Master Angler
tournament contact Stotesbury at (949) 673-6316. The Catalina Classic
will be held on Sept. 20-21, with a gala kickoff party at Discanso
Beach on Sept. 19.
Outer waters are producing good counts on albacore for overnight
boats running out of Davey’s Locker and Newport Landing Sportfishing,
while inner waters are holding fair numbers of yellowtail and Dorado
under floating kelp patties. The Cat Special returned from a 2-day
trip earlier in the week with 350 ablies and then topped off the trip
with yellows and a few Dorado. Davey’s Locker spokesman Dave Myers
reports that the Cat Special will be running a 1.5-day limited load
trip this coming week.
Along the beach bass, barracuda and bonito are making up the bulk
of the catch for both the half-day and three-quarter day boats
running out to local fishing grounds. The artificial reefs off
Newport and on up to Huntington Beach are good spots for calico bass,
while barries and boneheads and a few small yellowtail are popping up
on balls of bait all along the coast. Bait conditions are good with
solid sardines available in the receivers.
Dove season starts on Wednesday and the outlook for this season
opener is excellent. There are lots of mourning dove flying and ideal
temperatures in the desert areas have held good numbers of whitewing
dove that should improve over all hunting for scatter gunners making
longer drives. The Imperial Valley should offer up good shooting on
Wister and the Finney-Ramer Wildlife refuges, which are open to the
public with no fee being charged, although all hunters must check in
before heading out to a refuge field. The limit on dove is 10 birds
and whitewing dove can only be included in the daily bag limit in
Imperial, San Bernardino and Riverside counties and in Arizona.
Hunters over the age of 16 must have valid hunting license, junior
hunters need their license and all hunters are required to have a
Heritage upland game bird stamp.
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