OUTDOOR NOTES / RICH ROBERTS : Hunters Expecting to See More Ducks

The third D-season that stirs Southern California hunters--doves, deer and ducks--opens Saturday, with prospects generally higher than last year.

Manager Cris Gonzales of the Wister and Hazard units of the California Department of Fish and Game’s Imperial Wildlife Area in the Imperial Valley is optimistic there will be more ducks than last year, when 5,487 hunters bagged a modest average of 1.17 birds--mostly green-winged teal and pintails.

The limit is four per day, eight in possession after two days or more in the field, with tighter limits imposed on certain species of ducks and geese. The first part of the split season runs through Nov. 14, then reopens Dec. 5-Jan. 10.

Much smaller but more productive-per-hunter sites last year were at the DFG’s San Jacinto Wildlife Area and the Lake Perris State Recreation Area in Riverside County. Hunters averaged 2.27 ducks at San Jacinto and 1.49 at Perris, but there will be only 12 and 15 sites, respectively, available this weekend.

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The California Waterfowl Assn. has hailed Congress’ passage of the federal omnibus water bill for the Central Valley that means more wetland habitat for migrating birds, but warns that President Bush has said he might veto the measure.

The bill also would benefit Sacramento River salmon, whose runs have been reduced to trickles by controversial water management.

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This vintage Southland saltwater fishing year will be remembered not only for its bounty of tuna, marlin, bonito and barracuda, but for the occasional odd catch, including a salmon near Cabo San Lucas and a hammerhead shark off San Onofre.

Alex Godinez of Fullerton claimed the hammerhead, a 162.9-pound rarity landed on a 20-foot boat 19 miles offshore while he was chumming for makos and threshers. His father, Nash, drove the boat and friends Dan Arellano and Derrick Laws helped to land the fish after 1 hour 10 minutes.

When he spotted the shark, Alex Godinez hauled in his light tackle and put out 80-pound line with a five-pound bonito on a 12/0 hook.

“This big shark wasn’t getting away,� he said. “As fast as I threw it in the water, the bonito was in the shark’s jaws.�

Briefly

BAJA FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: Six blue marlin of more than 500 pounds topped another big week that also included a continuing run of dorado. On one typical day, Darrell Primrose of the Finisterra Tortuga fleet reported, 120 boats with three or four passengers each returned with 1,500 dorado in the 12-25-pound range. Wahoo, roosterfish, yellowfin tuna and sailfish also continue. The big blues: Four friends from Colorado Springs teamed up for one weighing 752 pounds; an unidentified angler caught one weighing 638; Joe Magee of Austin, Tex., 594; Dave Campbell of San Diego, 592; Tracy Slamp of San Diego, 550, and Pokii Seeman of Chicago, 539. San Jose Del Cabo: Most boats scoring one-four wahoo, and many marlin lost as incidental hookups on light tackle. East Cape: Dorado and sailfish excellent on live bait. Top blue marlin 353 pounds. Mazatlan: Sailfish to 105 pounds the main course, with blue marlin to 275. San Diego long-range: The Vagabond, six days to San Rogue with 22 anglers, got 330 yellowtail, 285 yellowfin, 21 dorado, 15 wahoo, eight grouper and one blue marlin. The American Angler, three days to Tanner Bank with 19 anglers, took 58 yellowfin.

FLORIDA KEYS--Encino lawyer Arnold Gold says the demise of fishing because of Hurricane Andrew is totally exaggerated. On his recent semiannual annual visit to Islamorada, he caught and released 12 bonefish in five trips--the biggest being 14 pounds 12 ounces, which guide Capt. Vic Gaspeny said was the largest he had seen in 22 years. Andrew missed most of the Keys. Julie Perrin of the Cheeca Lodge said the storm seemed to drive more fish in. “The fishing is better than it was before the hurricane,� she said this week.

SHOWTIME--The 24th annual Long Beach Boat Show runs at the Long Beach Convention Center and Downtown Marina today through Sunday, with 350 sail and power boats and 300 accessory and service booths. Hours: 1-9 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Admission: adults $6, children under 12 free.

INSTRUCTION--Dale East of San Bernardino will conduct seminars at 1 p.m. today and Saturday at Lake Silverwood on techniques for fishing the lake, especially for striped bass, his specialty. . . . The Long Beach Casting Club will offer free fly-tying classes at 7 p.m. Tuesday evenings from next week through Feb. 9 at the clubhouse in Recreation Park. . . . Advanced bass fishing techniques will be taught by Ron Cervenka, 7-9 p.m. each Tuesday from next week through Nov. 17 at College of the Canyons in Valencia. Fee: $37. Details: (805) 259-7800, ext. 304. . . . “Introduction to Fly-fishing� continues through the first three weekends of November at Bob Marriott’s in Fullerton. Details: (714) 525-1827. . . . “Basic Fly-fishing� is offered the first Saturday of each month at the Upper Newport Bay ecological reserve. Details: (714) 640-6746.

RECORDS--Among the latest all-tackle records approved by the International Game Fish Assn.: a 5-pound 2-ounce California corbina by Douglas R. Delgado, June 5 at Zuma Beach; a 25-8 Pacific crevalle jack by Jeff Klassen, June 4 at Cabo San Lucas; a 2-3 barred surf perch by Robert James Banse Jr., June 4 at Imperial Beach, and a 6-13 Lahontan cutthroat trout by Fred Turner, March 29 at Nevada’s Pyramid Lake. Line class records included a 14-12 largemouth bass on 2-pound test, by Bob Crupi, June 1 at Castaic Lake, and a 20-8 white seabass on 4-pound test by Michael D. Franklin, May 2 at Santa Catalina Island.