Yellowtail Are Prize at Coronado Islands

The first big yellowtail bite of the season arrived at the Coronado Islands on Tuesday. Six one-day boats leaving San Diego at 2 a.m. were returning by early afternoon with limits for all anglers.

“It’s really broken loose out there, and the fish are good size,” said Catherine Miller of the San Diego Sportfishing Council. “Most are around 10 pounds, and there are some up to 25 pounds.”

Miller said it was a later, but stronger, first bite than last year’s that “we hope will bring us through to the tuna.”

Bob Fletcher, president of the Sportfishing Assn. of California, said that when Bill Stephens took three friends out on his 54-foot Osprey six-pack charter boat on a three-day trip south, scouting for albacore last weekend, they found ideal water at 63 degrees but no albacore.

Instead, continuing into warmer water 90 to 95 miles south of San Diego, they found eight bluefin tuna 30-65 pounds and five yellowfin 25-35 pounds, along with two dorado and two yellowtail.

“It’s all very promising,” Fletcher said. “It looks like something may be taking off before too long.”

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Alaska is suing the animal rights group Friends of Animals, whose ad in USA Today and the New York Times called for a tourism boycott until the state stops sanctioning the killing of wolves to protect its moose and caribou.

Gov. Walter J. Hickel and Attorney General Charlie Cole said that the state would file a mail fraud complaint with the U.S. Postal Service against the group because the ad asked readers to mail tax-deductible donations. State law bars fund-raising based on false claims.

The Alaska Fish and Game Department’s revised plan, scaled back from a version submitted late last year, will be voted on by the Board of Game Saturday.

Briefly

MEXICAN FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: Big fish of the week was a 374-pound blue marlin landed by Chuck Larsen of Atlanta aboard the Gaviota 7. Catches of striped marlin, dorado and yellowfin tuna were up and in close. San Jose del Cabo: Early morning pangas collecting dorado, yellowfin and occasional wahoo close to shore. Lou Salatich, El Toro, took a 92-pound amberjack and a 42-pound broomtail grouper. East Cape: Two blue marlin about 190 pounds, 10 striped marlin 100-125 pounds. Yellowfin catch topped by 151-pounder. Sea of Cortez: Mel Gallagher of Redondo Beach reported taking a 25-pound wahoo north of Mulege, where wahoo are seldom found. San Diego long-range: Capt. Bill Lang’s American Angler, eight days to Cedros and Benitos Islands with 15 anglers, took 225 yellowtail and 220 yellowfin tuna, topped by a 68 3/4-pounder by Bill Anawalt of Montrose. Capt. John Grabowski’s Red Rooster III, 16 days to Clarion and Roca Partida with 21 anglers, took 143 yellowfin (60 larger than 100 pounds), 103 wahoo to 62 pounds, 27 grouper, plus a 400-pound blue marlin and a 150-pound striper, both tagged and released. Top yellowfin was a 222-pounder by Bill Hanggie of Woodland Hills, edging a 218-pounder by Laguna Beach’s Jenny Jones.

CONSERVATION--The California Fish and Game Commission has stopped the taking of black abalone because of a “withering syndrome” condition that has decimated the marine mollusk in Southern California’s coastal waters. The blacks, harvested primarily for the Asian market, are the least desirable but most prolific of the four local species. However, the commercial harvest last year was only 35,000 pounds, down from 2 million pounds in 1973. “We don’t react quickly enough,” said Pete Haaker, a DFG associate marine biologist at Long Beach. “We don’t treat the oceans the way we do the land. If this was a terrestrial species, it would be listed (as endangered).” . . . “Boaters for the Bay” invites boaters, fishermen and others concerned about pollution of Santa Monica Bay to a free environmental workshop Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at the Santa Monica Yacht Club in Marina del Rey. Details: (202) 429-5609.

FRESHWATER FISHING--Crowley Lake Fish Camp’s first Perch Derby will be run July 1-31. A prize of $10,000 will be awarded the angler catching the largest Sacramento perch from Crowley through Oct. 31, provided it breaks the state record of 3 pounds 10 ounces. Entry fee: $5. . . . Two largemouth bass of 15 pounds and several around 10 pounds have been caught at Oso Reservoir in Orange County this year, according to Bob Heerdt, president of the private Oso Fishing Assn. “It’s the very best fishing we’ve ever had,” Heerdt said. All fishing is catch and release, artificials only. Membership information: (714) 858-0335. . . . Guide Jeff Boghosian will tell the South Bay Flyfishers about fishing the Kings River for northern steelhead, bass and shad at their July 7 meeting at the Westchester Town Hall. Details: (310) 271-2703.

SALTWATER FISHING--Schock Boats’ 10th annual Fishing Tournament is scheduled Saturday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m., followed by an awards dinner and dance. Entry fee: adults $45, children under 15 $30. Details: (714) 673-2050.

HUNTING--A 10-hour hunter safety course to qualify for a state license will be given Saturday at Mike Raahauge’s Pheasant Hunting Club in Norco. Fee: $30, including certificate and lunch. Details: (800) 773-HUNT. . . . The Inland Empire Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold its first Superfund banquet Thursday night, 7:30, at the Ontario Airport Hilton. Tickets: $45 per person, $70 couples, including one year’s membership. Details: (909) 985-5896.