FishingRomantis

Wayne Shaw

No fishing license is required on Saturday, the second and last such day this year designated by the Department of Fish and Game.

It’s an opportunity to try the sport and see if you like it.

It’s a sport that I delved into late in life and have enjoyed tremendously. The activity has connected me with fascinating people that I would not have met otherwise.

All fish regulations such as bag and size limits and gear restrictions remain in effect.

MPAs are in effect starting Friday

The Central Coast Marine Protected Areas will be in effect Friday. Twenty-nine marine protected areas (MPAs) have been established from Pigeon Point in San Mateo County to Point Conception in Santa Barbara County.

The network includes 15 State Marine Conservation Areas which limit commercial fishing but allow recreational fishing.

There are 13 “no take” State Marine Reserves.

Department of Fish and Game marine wardens will patrol and enforce the new MPAs, a DFG release advises.

“Maps and coordinates are posted on the DFG Web site,” said Chamois Andersen of the Fish and Game Communications Department in a telephone interview.

Visit www.dfg.ca.gov/ mlpa for more information. No buoys will be in place at the various protected areas.

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Record Halibut response

What is the record for a sport-caught halibut out of Morro Bay? Last week, I wrote about a 45-pound flattie caught by Atascadero’s Dick Ernst while fishing with Nick Auyong of San Luis Obispo on Aug. 9, 1985.

Auyong wanted to know if that’s the record.

The lone response came from Clay Davis, who e-mailed:

“I grew up in Morro Bay in the 70s and fished often. I remember when Nick caught his halibut in ’85. But, for years before that I would look at a photo that the people at Virg’s told me was the bay record. It was a 54-pound fish caught in the early to mid 70s. There were also pictures of a 52-pound fish. These photos were up at Virg’s for most of the 70s. I know they were pretty faded after years on the board. The photo of the 54-pound halibut was posted by the fish cleaning station.

“When the 45-pound fish was caught, I had discussions with other local guys and they said it was the third-largest halibut caught out of Morro Bay.

“I know I wasn’t the only one who remembered those photos. I have nothing to document this. I’m only trying to give direction to your search.”

Does anyone else remember the bigger halibut and does documentation exist? If you can help, e-mailsports@thetribunenews.com Virg’s Landing, Morro Bay

A pair of 10-pound lingcod topped last week’s catch by 364 daily rockcod customers.

Joe Romley of Cambria and Bob Watson of Reedley had the 10-pound lings.

Long Range trips from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. are popular offerings Fridays and Sundays. The fare is $86. For more information and reservations, call 772-1222.

The catch for customers between Sept. 9-15 included 18 lingcod, 1,649 red rockcod and 1,801 assorted rockfish.

Other jackpot winners were: Roy Massengill Cambria, 9-pound red rockcod; Ed Staggs, Exeter, Danny Wu, Los Angeles, and Joe Romley, Cambria, all 8-red rockcod; Devan Berna, Lemoore, 7-pound lingcod; Kirstyn Steele, Bakersfield, Ashlee Meyer, Bakersfield, both 7-pound red rockcod; and Josh Beckett, Morro Bay, 6-pound red rockcod. Patriot Sportfishing

This week’s three albacore fishing trips were canceled because of a large swell offshore, according to manager Roger York.

The next albacore trips are planned for Oct. 1 and 2. The Pacific Horizon would leave at 10 p.m. the previous day. The fare is $225. For reservations and more information, call 595-7200.

Zack Burke of Bakersfield moved into third place in the third annual Lingcod Derby with a catch of a 12-pound, 14-ounce ling Sept. 16.

Occupants of the top two places remain unchanged. Ismale Sucedo of Tulare and Alonzo Tamez of Selma secured their positions Sept. 9 with lings weighing 14-1 and 13-15, respectively.

Last week, 270 rockcod passengers caught 44 lingcod, 1,430 assorted rockcod, 887 red rockcod, 364 bolina, two cabezon and 17 bocaccio.

Other jackpot winners included: Mike Slagle, Reno, Nev., 9-pound lingcod; Brian Stahl, San Luis Obispo, Rudy Flores, Bakersfield, Martha Godinho, Riverdale, all 8-pound lingcod; Aaron Quarles, San Luis Obispo, 7-pound lingcod; Ralph Gilkey, Corcoran, 7-pound vermillion; Chris Martinez, 7-pound red rockcod; Don Lediff, Fresno, 6-pound bocaccio; John Hendricks, Ahwahnee, 6-pound lingcod; Mark Lucas, Pismo Beach, and Phil Ranfan, Fresno, both 6-pound red rockcod. Port Side Marine

Dave Brogran of Santa Maria took Port Side’s whopper of the week honors with the catch of a 26-pound halibut Sept. 11.

Sixty-seven boats were launched last week. Full limits of rockcod were logged Sept. 12-16. On Sept. 10-11, fishermen posted three-quarter limits.

Forty-four lingcod and four halibut were in the catch. Lopez Lake

The marina was closed Monday through Wednesday to accommodate the paving of the 4-acre launch ramp parking lot. The $750,000 improvement project began last week.

Funding was provided by a California Department of Boating and Waterways boat-launching program.

The launch ramp is being paved, the concrete transition zone replaced and existing launch and courtesy docks replaced.

New docks are expected to be in place by January, according to supervising ranger Don Melin. Santa Margarita Lake

A free Kids Fishing Jamboree is scheduled for Saturday for youngsters ages 15 and under from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All equipment will be furnished. Following instruction by experienced fishermen, participants will have the opportunity to fish for bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish.

San Luis Obispo County Optimist Clubs and San Luis Obispo County Parks Department are the joint sponsors.

A free barbecue will conclude the event.

Vehicle entry fees will apply. Christine and Steve Goldman of Santa Margarita went beyond The Narrows on Sunday where they caught 10 mud catfish on night crawlers.

On Sept. 13, Roy Baro of Santa Margarita caught a 16.3 catfish on mackerel. Lake San Antonio

Six-pound stripers are being caught in the shallows on topwater lures. More linesiders are being caught in deep water by the dam.

“The best fishing is taking place when the wind is blowing out of the south,” said marina staffer Terry Florek.

Silver spoons are working best by the dam.

One fisherman caught six smallmouth bass last week. Nacimiento Lake

A Hanford angler caught a 3.5-pound spotted bass in Las Tablas Cove last weekend.

Marina spokesmen Warren Field and Phil Nerdrum concur: Early morning is the best time to fish.

White and spotted bass continue to drive shad to the surface. Boils are occurring near the marina and a number of other places around the lake. Cachuma Lake

Cachuma Bay and Little Cachuma Bay are the most productive locations for morning bass fishermen using topwater presentations.

Marina staffer Travis Meyer said trout fishing is picking up, especially by the dam.

Trollers are dragging Pearl Bikini Needlefish and paying out eight to 10 colors of lead core line. The rainbows are down 50 to 80 feet. Whale Rock Reservoir

No trout were caught during the Sept. 12-16 open period for a very good reason: Nobody showed up to fish for them.

Camp Roberts Fishing

The Nacimiento River running through Camp Roberts yielded 214 trout and 60 crawfish to fishermen last weekend.

Twenty-five adults and five juniors caught 102 trout Saturday.

Sunday’s catch by 28 adults and 14 junior anglers was 112 trout. Thirty crayfish were caught each day.