Saltwater Seminar Sets Hook in Fishermen Seeking an Edge

Want to get the most out of your chum, put some life into your lure?

Want to master the makos, get your hooks into more halibut, bring in bigger bass?

Want merely to learn more about the frustrating sport of fishing?

If so, you might want to consider going back to school. For a day, anyway.

SaltWater Sportsman magazine’s popular national seminar series is making a Southland appearance for the first time in seven years Jan. 25 at Long Beach State.

Organized by Mark Sosin, of TNN Outdoors’ Saltwater Journal, and George Poveromo, senior editor for SaltWater Sportsman, the series has been well-received wherever it has appeared, mostly because of a fast-paced format that utilizes visual displays and the talents of a cast of characters who claim they can make anyone a better fisherman in one day.

“Our goal is to make it impossible for someone to walk away without learning the shortcuts to success,” Poveromo says.

Local experts for the Long Beach event include many of the outdoor-show circuit regulars, such as Capt. Mike “Beak” Hurt, Greg Stotesbury, Jim Hendricks, George Van Zant, Mike Gardner, Capt. Joe Bairian and Fred Archer.

Courses for the Long Beach event: secrets of fishing the inner harbors; how to catch more and bigger halibut; structure fishing for halibut; scoring more on the kelp paddies; no-nonsense live-baiting tactics for yellowtail; jig-fishing for yellowtail; calico bass on plastics; hot live-baiting tricks for calico bass; new tactics that take more dorado; white sea bass secrets; how to effectively gear up and troll for sharks; latest chumming methods for makos; how to consistently catch thresher sharks; probing the porpoise schools for tuna; new chumming techniques for tuna, and trolling and live-baiting tactics for striped marlin.

All this will be crammed into seven hours beginning at 9 a.m. Cost is $40, which includes a textbook written by Sosin and Poveromo, a one-year subscription to SaltWater Sportsman and a chance to win a bonefish trip to the Bahamas or a fully equipped Mako sportfisher. Advance reservations are required. Details: (800) 448-7360.

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Local bite: They’re doing as much rocking as they are reeling and they’re getting wet to boot, but those aboard half- and full-day boats in the Ventura-Oxnard area are doing very little complaining as they are too busy pulling calico bass through the kelp.

The bite began around Christmas and hasn’t let up, according to Pat Milman, manager of Gold Coast Sportfishing in Oxnard. The only drawback has been the weather.

“They’re getting rained on and there has been a big, rolling swell, but other than that the weather is fine because there has been no wind,” Milman said.

No crowds, either. Only 14 passengers were aboard the Sea Angler on a recent run down the coast. They were kept busy the entire trip, though, landing 140 calicos, including an eight-pounder.

On overnight trips to the Channel Islands, lingcod are the primary target, with fish averaging 15 pounds coming up fairly regularly, being upstaged occasionally by unusually large sheephead.

“They’re getting sheephead up to 20 pounds,” Milman said. “Our captains are flabbergasted by it.”

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Baja bite: The Golden Gate area north of Cabo San Lucas remains the site of a wild striped marlin bite. High boat this past week was the Cucharita, with 13 releases. Most skippers are reporting three or four releases per day, which is still outstanding. Tip: Business is brisk, so reserve your boat a few days in advance and stress that you want live bait if possible. Those without it aren’t doing nearly as well.

Top catch: a 400-pound blue marlin caught by J.R. Schoensiegel of La Habra Heights aboard the vessel Sea Ya. The dorado bite is picking up throughout the region, while yellowfin tuna are cooperating in the gulf north of San Jose for those fishing with sardinas, which unfortunately are hard to come by.

Farther north in the Pacific, San Martin Island is being targeted occasionally by San Diego-based boats. Capt. Irv Grisbeck of the Big Game 90 returned the other day from a 2 1/2-day trip during which 17 anglers bagged 86 small yellowtail, 139 lingcod and an assortment of rockfish.

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Record rainbows: Seems strange that such a small reservoir in such a non-pristine setting--alongside the Riverside Freeway in Anaheim--is becoming the place to catch world-record-class rainbow trout.

But that’s what is happening at Santa Ana River Lakes, a series of ponds where the Riverside and Costa Mesa freeways meet.

A little more than a week ago, Kevin Saum of Anaheim caught a 20-pound 1-ounce rainbow on two-pound test line--beating the existing line-class record by nearly two pounds. Last Friday, Henry Hernandez, 14, of San Pedro landed a 22-pound rainbow on six-pound test. His catch is also a potential line-class record; the current record on six-pound test is a 7-pound 10-ounce rainbow caught in 1994 in Michigan.

On Sunday, Frank Murata of Norwalk, also using two-pound test, landed a 23-pound 1-ounce rainbow that, if approved by the International Game Fish Assn., will become a line-class world record.

Impressive as these catches may be, they are not all that surprising, given that many of the trout in Santa Ana River Lakes were grown to record size in a Northern California hatchery before being stocked.

Nonetheless, IGFA rules don’t disallow such catches, and since 15 fish weighing more than 15 pounds already have been pulled from the reservoir in recent weeks, the opportunity is there for anyone, in good conscience or not, interested in putting his or her name in the record book.

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Skiing: The same drizzle that has been falling at sea level has been falling on Southland slopes, and resort operators are keeping their fingers crossed that the drizzle doesn’t turn to rain.

“It hasn’t damaged the snow yet,” said Judy Bowers, spokeswoman for Bear Mountain in the San Bernardinos. “And let’s hope that what happened up north does not happen here.”

What is happening up north, from Tahoe to Washington, is a whole lot of rain that is washing away the snow.

Bowers said Bear Mountain hasn’t been able to make snow for nearly a week because of this unseasonably warm weather--with nighttime lows dropping only into the low 40s--and the same is true at all local resorts.

“We still have between two and four feet of snow and conditions are good,” she added. “Not great anymore--we have a few thin spots and it’s getting a little soft in the afternoons--but good.”

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Whale watching: Those interested in spotting whales from a bluff for the California gray whale census project at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center on the Palos Verdes Peninsula may attend an orientation Jan. 12 from 1-3 p.m. Bring binoculars and warm clothing. Details: (310) 519-8963. . . . Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro is offering a Jan. 26 program that includes a morning slide show-lecture followed by a two-hour staff-led excursion to view the migrating whales. Cost is $14.50 and, yes, the boat returns before the start of the Super Bowl. Details: (310) 548-7562, Ext. 7017. . . . For information about landings offering whale-watch trips, and departure times, Cabrillo has set up a Tuesday-Friday hotline: (310) 832-2676.

FRESHWATER REPORT

CASTAIC LAKE--Largemouth bass picking up in both reservoirs. Mike Woernley, Canyon Country, 11-4 and 9-7 bass, on trout-pattern lure at 20 feet at upper lake. Guide Gary Harrison, with Chris Wilson, Detroit, 11-4 and 4-0 bass, on water dogs at upper lake. Mark Rogers, Covina, 10-7 bass, on Optimum Swimbait lure from shore at lower lake.

LAKE PIRU--Trout fair in early mornings, biting mostly on yellow and green Power Bait at marina. Trollers using No. 5 Rapalas getting some fish at east end near dam. Largemouth bass feeding at 30-40 feet, biting mainly on plastic worms. Joe Uribe, Long Beach, 6-6 bass, on Castaic Trout lure at submerged lot. Some catfish biting on mackerel at marina.

PYRAMID LAKE--Striped bass fair for trollers or those able to catch live shad, biting mainly at Yellow Bar and dam. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair along shoreline, biting mainly on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Some crappie biting on mini-jigs at docks. Some catfish being caught on mackerel in channel.

LAKE CACHUMA--Largemouth bass picking up, biting at 5-10 feet, best from east end to narrows. Spinnerbaits, Rat-L-Traps and crankbaits working. Trout slow, trollers using Needlefish in front of marina doing best. Plant from Idaho hatchery scheduled for Monday. Red-ear perch biting on night crawlers outside Cachuma Bay.

LAKE CASITAS--Largemouth bass picking up. Terry Aker, Ventura, 9-8 bass, on trout-pattern lure. Guide John Shull, with two anglers from Japan, 8-8 and 9-0 bass, on crawdads at 15 feet. Trout fair near Santa Ana ramp. Catfish fair. John Wood, Carpinteria, 16-0 catfish, on mackerel at Santa Ana Arm.

CORONA LAKE--Strictly trout, with some limits and occasional fish in 10-0 range. Power Bait best bet.

SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES--Lunker heaven for trout fishermen who don’t mind breathing automobile exhaust.

IRVINE LAKE--After a 25-minute fight, Samuel Heminger of Anaheim landed a lake-record 76.5-pound blue catfish, which inhaled a chunk of mackerel at the dam. Trout remain the primary target of anglers, however, with most baits and lures getting their attention.

LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE--Trout good on Power Bait and night crawlers, averaging 1-3 pounds. Eric Sell, Alta Loma, 8-8 trout, on crappie jig at inlet. Some bass and catfish.

LAKE SKINNER--Striped bass providing lots of action, with fish ranging from 4-17 pounds. Plugs and anchovies both working. Trout fair at Ramp 2 and east end, biting best on Sierra Gold and night crawlers. Some largemouth bass (plastics and night crawlers).

LAKE PERRIS--Largemouth bass fair to good, biting mainly at east end. Joe Uribe, Long Beach, 9-2 bass, on Castaic Trout lure. Don Lovelace, Huntington Beach, 13-0 bass, on Kline jig at point east of marina. Trout slow to fair.

SAN DIEGO CITY LAKES--Miramar and Murray good for trout, with a slightly better bite in progress at Miramar and slightly bigger fish being caught at Murray. San Vicente: Some largemouth bass (largest 6-0) but fishing slow for all species.

LAKE CUYAMACA--Despite regular trout plants, the fish refuse to bite. A few are being caught, but empty stringers outnumber those with fish. Best bet: night crawlers or Power Bait fished after noon.

SALTWATER REPORT

SANTA BARBARA (Sea Landing)--10 anglers (1 boat): 23 calico bass, 2 sand bass, 5 rockfish. (Hornet’s Landing)--7 anglers (1 boat): 19 sand bass, 11 rockfish.

OXNARD (Cisco’s)--23 anglers (2 boats): 20 rockfish, 1 ling cod, 1 halibut, 1 whitefish, 195 rock cod.

PORT HUENEME--4 anglers (1 boat): 30 rockfish, 15 whitefish, 10 sheephead, 5 red snapper, 1 ling cod.

MARINA DEL REY--26 anglers (2 boats): 2 halibut, 2 sculpin, 17 calico bass, 126 sand bass, 120 rock cod.

REDONDO--40 anglers (2 boats): 11 calico bass, 98 sand bass, 2 halibut, 5 sheephead, 2 whitefish, 20 perch, 1 cabezon.

LONG BEACH--40 anglers (3 boats): 7 calico bass, 37 sand bass, 1 halibut, 2 sheephead, 154 perch, 2 cow cod, 160 rock cod.

NEWPORT BEACH (Davey’s Locker)--29 anglers (1 boat): 8 calico bass, 22 sand bass, 43 blue perch, 100 mackerel.

DANA WHARF--8 anglers (1 boat): 2 blue perch, 15 sand bass, 1 rockfish.

OCEANSIDE--60 anglers (3 boats): 17 calico bass, 123 sand bass, 2 halibut, 45 sculpin, 3 sheephead, 1 cabezon, 171 rockfish, 16 red snapper, 165 mackerel.

SAN DIEGO (Seaforth)--51 anglers (3 boats): 1 calico bass, 99 rockfish, 135 mackerel, 6 sheephead, 17 sculpin, 1 ling cod. (Islandia)--35 anglers (2 boats): 75 mackerel, 140 rockfish, 12 sculpin, 5 sheephead, 81 rock cod, 1 ling cod, 14 whitefish.

TROUT PLANTS

LOS ANGELES--Castaic Lake and lagoon, Cerritos Lake, Downey Wilderness Park Lake, Elizabeth Lake, La Mirada Park Lake, Puddingstone Reservoir, Santa Fe Reservoir. RIVERSIDE--Cahuilla Park Lake, Lake Perris. SAN BERNARDINO--Mojave Narrows Park Lake, Yucaipa Park Lake. SAN DIEGO--Lake Cuyamaca. VENTURA--Lake Casitas, Lake Piru. SANTA BARBARA--Lake Cachuma. SAN LUIS OBISPO--Atascadero Lake, Santa Margarita Lake.