BASS FISHINGBass Fishing Sports Blog

American Legion baseball try-outs in Orland

The Orland American Legion baseball program is holding sign-ups and try-outs in February, and players must first sign up before trying out. Sign-ups are from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 11 at Bihler Field, with try-outs Feb. 18, 19 and 25.

There will be three Orland teams this summer, including an under-19 team, an under-17 team and a team for players ages 13-17. Team will play between 30 and 45 games, with tournaments in Reno, Redding and possibly Oregon.

For more information, email Greg at orlandbearcats@hotmail.com, or call Kyle Dahlgren at 521-9215, Evan White at 624-8740 or Dean Fumasi at 521-1577.

T-ball registration in Orland

The Orland Recreation Department is currently holding registration for its youth T-ball league, which will play from March 17 to May 17 from 9 a.m. to noon at Spence Park.

The league is for youth ages 4-6 and the fee is $40. Registration deadline is March 2.

For more information, call the Recreation Department at 865-1630.

DFG votes against striped bass proposal

The California Fish and Game Commission took final action Thursday to reject proposed changes to striped bass regulations.

In a unanimous decision, commissioners voted not to pursue a proposal that would have changed sport fishing regulations related to anadromous striped bass, including increasing bag limits and decreasing size limits.

The proposal that was introduced by the Department of Fish and Game arose out of a settlement agreement resulting from a 2008 lawsuit. In that lawsuit, the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, a group of San Joaquin Valley water districts, asserted that striped bass are harming native species, including endangered salmon and Delta smelt.

Chico Starz holding softball try-outs

The Chico Starz are holding try-outs for their Junior Olympic fastpitch softball teams Feb. 11 at Hooker Oak Park in Chico.

U-16 and U-18 players will try out from 9-11 a.m.; U-14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; U-12 from 1-3 p.m.; and U-10 from 3-5 p.m. Players should arrive 30 minutes early.

For more information, call Lance Whittaker at 342-8533 or Adele Johnson at 898-9777.

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Military veteran Stacey Twiggs has always loved the outdoors, even before he was severely injured while serving during the first Gulf War.

It’s been exactly 20 years since that injury on Feb. 5, 1992, and this weekend Twiggs is a guest of Nick Patronis on a spot of hunting land in north Bay County, part of a segment being filmed for the TV show Destination Whitetail and set up in conjunction with The News Herald. The show focuses on “hidden gem” hunting spots across the country and, in this case, the healing effects of outdoor life. This episode, to air in the fall, is designed to highlight that the Bay County area has more to offer than sandy white beaches and that while most of the country may not be aware of it, the Panhandle offers prime whitetail hunting only a small drive from the coast.

The show will air on either Outdoor Channel or NBC Sports. A second show for Deer and Deer Hunter is also being filmed here and features local hunters, including News Herald Editor Mike Cazalas, hunting while talking about their experiences here.

It took two years of hospital rehabilitation in California before Twiggs was able to venture out and do the things he loved, such as fishing and hunting, but when he got back to it, “I’ve found my inspiration from the outdoors,” he said.

But Twiggs has never bagged a huge buck, and was looking forward to this weekend.

Twiggs, who currently lives near Orlando, became involved with Destination Whitetail while living in Texas after his discharge from the U.S. Navy led to helping other paralyzed vets and youngsters.

Twiggs, a marvel of inspiration, said the last 20 years since his lower body was crushed on the guided missile frigate USS George Philip “have been a blessing.”

“It’s been 20 years of borrowed time, is how I look at it,” he said.

The Patronis family, which also owns Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant, has had the hunting land for 50 years. Growing large white-tail deer out there, and sharing that hunting experience with the disabled, has become a passion of his, Patronis said.

“I want to give opportunities to people that don’t have them,” he said. “whatever I can do, I hope it brings joy to them.”

Patronis said he never wants his children to take anything for granted, such as their health and mobility, and showing them the strength of individuals facing and overcoming disabilities reinforces the lesson.

It’s an thought that fits like a glove with the thinking of Twiggs, who said “when I got out of the hospital, I realized how much I had taken for granted.”

Twiggs, a 21-year-ancient gunners mate missile technician at the time of his injury, vividly recalls when his lower body was crushed by the operation of a missile launcher during a training mission. although not in a combat area, he thought he was going to die, and he prayed.

Since then he has met his wife, Debbie. they both now have a 13-year-ancient daughter, Torri. if not for his injury, he said, his wife and daughter would not have come into his life. In a way, “my injury was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Now, he’s a writer and photographer and goes fishing all over the world. An upcoming trip is planned for Brazil to go after the exotic peacock bass.

“if there are fish tugging on the other end of the line, I’m a happy man,” he said.

Patronis said he started taking disabled kids to his hunting land about two years ago. A youngster with muscular dystrophy will be out there Sunday, “and we will carry him up into that tree stand if we have to.”

He said the tree stand is 8-by-8 and large enough for parents to accompany their children.

Although Saturday’s hunt was unsuccessful, Twiggs and the group will try again Sunday.

“It’s been pretty overwhelming,” Twiggs said. “I’ve been humbled by the opportunity.”

When California’s then-governor, Gray Davis, signed into law the sweeping Marine Life Protection Act in 1999, state wildlife officials knew they’d have a fight on their hands.

The act was designed to simplify and strengthen a byzantine array of existing marine reserves and fishing regulations to create a coherent “ecosystem-based” policy of marine protection meant to allow fish populations, which have been in severe decline, to recover.

Later, the Arnold Schwarzenegger administration divided the state’s 1,100-mile coast into five regions and encouraged the participation of stakeholder groups that would hash out the location, size and scope of the reserves. Conservationists, scientists, fishermen, policy-makers and the public weighed in on the new regulations, each pushing hard for varying degrees of protection.

The meetings were often contentious, with commercial and sport fishermen claiming that the reserves would spell doom to their way of life. Some saw an aggressive green agenda at work.“What the environmentalists wanted, they wanted to take it all, “ said Michael Thompson, co-owner of Newport Landing Sport Fishing in Newport Beach, Calif. “They wanted to leave us with nothing.”

After much debate, the first phase of the plan went into effect in September 2007, with the creation of 21 reserves encompassing 20 percent of a 350-mile arc of the central California coast. A second phase started in may 2010, with the creation of 29 reserves encompassing approximately 153 square miles, or about 20 percent, of state waters from San Mateo County to Santa Barbara County.

But perhaps the largest test of the law started on Jan. 1, when reserves went into effect in Southern California, the state’s most populous region. the California Fish and Game Commission started enforcing the new regulations on some 50 marine reserves from Point Concepcion, near Santa Barbara, to the border with Mexico.

The reserves protect about 350 square miles of state waters, putting over 10 percent of the coastline off limits to any kind of fishing or even shell collecting along the beach or in tidal areas. Environmentalists hail the effort as a major milestone in marine conservation.

“No other state has attempted this nor has any state tried to set up as exhaustive and detailed a process,” Greg Helms, a program manager for the Ocean Conservancy in Santa Barbara, said. “It’s a national first, and we know that other states other places around the world are watching.”

In late December, I visited one of the hotly contested new marine reserves in Laguna Beach to produce a video about the effort. the area is favored by fishermen and lobstermen, who say they have lost some of their most cherished fishing grounds. Rodger Healy, a lobsterman featured in the video,says the new reserves may deal him a major blow.

“I stand to lose probably 60 to 65 percent of the area I fish,” he said. “Depending on the year, it’s probably 75 percent of my income.”

Michael Thompson of Newport Landing Sport Fishing said he expected a similar drop in business. “We lost about 30 percent of our area,” he said. mr. Thompson said he was now redirecting resources to other activities like whale watching, burials at sea and harbor cruises.

The California Department of Fish and Game said that there had been no citations or arrests related to violations of the rules.

Paul Hamdorf, assistant chief of law enforcement for the California Department of Fish and Game, said that “there have been violations, but since we’re just eleven days into it, we don’t want to issue a bunch of citations to people who make mistakes. We’re trying to educate now instead of making people angry.”

Conservationists and many scientists hail marine reserves as the best way to rebuild once-thriving fish populations in California, which in some species have declined by over 90 percent. they point to numerous studies showing the success of marine reserves around the world. In one scientific survey of more than 100 reserves worldwide, scientists found a 446 percent average increase in biomass of animals and plants..

Locally, biologists monitoring fish populations and kelp within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary say they have documented a 70 percent increase in biomass within the reserve after only five years of protection.

“The difference inside the reserve versus outside the reserve is so dramatic,” David Kushner, a biologist with the National Park Service, said. “If you’re swimming underwater, it is pretty simple to see the difference. You’ll see larger fish such as sheepshead and kelp bass and ocean white fish and large lobsters.

“Immediately upon swimming outside of the marine reserve, those fish are all of a sudden smaller and there’s fewer of them,” he said.

The ecosystem approach favored by the state of California is unparalleled. but questions abound over whether the economically strapped Department of Fish and Game will be be able to properly enforce the rules regarding the new reserves.

Indeed, some local conservation groups have taken it upon themselves to police the rocky tidal areas, posting volunteers who will gingerly inform recreational fishermen and shell-collecting beachcombers that they may be breaking the law.

“It’s a huge change, and it should be a huge boost to our marine life,” says Ray Heimstra, associate director of Orange County Coastkeeper. “It will create areas where they can recover and we can hopefully in a number of years see the types of populations we saw far in the past.”

California’s bays are chock-full of kayak fishing action. NorCal gets big game, SoCal boasts bass. 

Some people look a gift fish in the mouth. They scoff, refusing to see how good they have it. take California’s bays and marinas for example.

Incredibly, some kayak anglers not only take them for granted, they want no part of the brilliant fishing they offer.

“I’m not a bay guy. Give me the big water and big fish,” goes one chest-thumping line. If that’s not enough testosterone, try this one on for size.

“Fish for bay bass? Are you kidding? That’s like fishing for bait. They’re both small. Wake me when you catch a real fish!” I’ve heard it, read it, seen it, lived it.

Ok, I’ll fess up. Most of that blowback is nothing more than excellent-natured bluster, sort of a “My dad is larger than your dad” deal. I’m not going to debate which is better, the wilder world offshore or the usually mellow water behind the breakwater. They’re different, and brilliant in their own ways. Waiter, bring me the steak AND the lobster.

Bays and marinas are often seen as places for new kayak anglers to earn their “Water Wings.” Oops, I slid back into big Water Bill territory for a moment. But it’s right; a cool bay, a warm day, and lots of willing fish are just what a new kayaker needs to develop confidence. Skills learned on the bay – casting, fighting, and landing fish from the kayak – transfer directly to the big Blue Salty.

But hold on a minute, you doubters. It’s not necessary to go outside to get your big fish fix. Particularly not if you live within driving distance of San Pablo Bay.

San Pablo, a part of the vast San Francisco Bay complex, is ground zero for kayak sturgeon fishing. it takes a hardy individual to soak up the pounding that often raucous San Pablo dishes out. Fearsome wind and the constant slap of an icy chop are enough to make some successful sturgeon anglers weep out “No mas!” once they punch their hard-earned cards.

“How the heck can anyone sit still for hours in cold weather, waiting for that little bump?” asked Joel Lotilla, although I’m sure he knows the answer. Lotilla put in four full seasons to earn his first victorious “dino” sleigh ride.

“You’ve got to put your time in,” deadpans Lotilla. when he triumphantly hit the beach with his California-legal 47-inch dinosaur, Lotilla immediately gave away his sturgeon snare and other tools of the trade. Evidently he wanted to retire at the top of his game.

“Rainy season is sturgeon season,” says Erik Kunz, sturgeon guru extraordinaire of the NorCal Kayak Anglers online community. Kunz says good spots to soak grass or ghost shrimp are best accessed via China Camp, Black Point, or the Dumbarton Bridge.

From the forgoing, you might conclude the sturgeon game is for experienced kayak fishers only. You’d be right. San Pablo Bay is a challenging winter environment.

Come springtime, San Francisco bay area fishing options will multiply.

“Everything kicks into gear in April,” Kunz says, meaning stripers and halibut will be on the menu. Area kayak anglers unsure of the best local fishing spots should visit the NCKA website for up to date information.

Farther south, bay-bound big game is rare. There are the occasional oversized halibut of the back bays, rare but thrilling catches, and that so-called “mud marlin” the bat ray, more of an incidental than a typical kayak target. No, in Southern California, the fishing is more about numbers than size.

Oh, but what numbers, and it’s a year-round cornucopia. A dozen, 20, even 50 fish days are within reach. three varieties of saltwater bass, barracuda, halibut, and bonito – they’re all here at one time or another. And something very special, a hidden tropical treat. more on that in a bit.

Bays such as Mission, Dana, Newport, and King Harbor are all well loved kayak fisheries, and not just with novices. the water’s relatively warm even in the dead of a so-called Southern California winter (even the present chilly one), and there’s nearly always a little corner sheltered from the worst of the wind. No wonder so many new kayakers cut their teeth in the bays.

There’s a breed here that’s just as dedicated as the sturgeon hunters up north, and maybe even more prone to obsession: kayak bass fanatics. something about bay bass, especially the mean little red-eyed spotty, inspires a single-minded devotion to catch (and release) larger bass than the other guy.

Why? I reckon it’s the addictive nature of saltwater bass fishing. These fish aren’t too hard to catch. They’ll latch onto just about anything you’ll find in the freshwater bass aisle at the neighborhood tackle store. Some days you can toss a Berkley Frenzy back there and troll up a couple dozen without really trying.

It’s not always that simple, and some days it’s brutally hard. Consistently lassoing the cranky bruisers of the bunch? That takes artistry, and explains why kayak bay bassers are always on the prowl for their next secret weapon.    

Remember that tropical surprise I hinted at? It’s hiding in plain sight way down south at the very end of San Diego Bay: the legendary bonefish. Most accounts date their appearance to a 1980s El Nino cycle. Since then, if they haven’t exactly flourished, they have at least established a solid foothold.

An average San Diego bonefish runs around 18 inches. These aren’t the grey ghosts of the Florida Key flats, but the frenetic little fish can still spin a kayak in circles. Most are caught incidentally on the small plastics that are so effective for the area’s spotties. to up your odds, opt for live ghost shrimp or imitations.  

Shoot, some people just don’t know how good they’ve got it here in the Golden State. They’ll sit on the beach, hemmed in by high winter surf, or shiver out on the ocean, waiting in vain for a bite, and never even reckon of sneaking away to a little ol’ bay. me? I wouldn’t dream of passing up the rich banquet of fishing opportunities. besides, if I feel like suffering, I can always paddle wind-whipped San Pablo for sturgeon. 

Top, FISH OF THE FROZEN FINGERS – The hardcore kayakers who suffer for sturgeon in chilly San Pablo Bay pay heavy dues, making eventual success so much the sweeter. Here’s Joel Lotilla with his first legal “dino.”

Above,

BEHOLD, THE SPOTTED BAY BASS – Something about this small red-eyed fish makes Southern California bay bassers a little bit crazy. You can’t catch (and release) just one. Ed Whited roped this typical specimen in Mission Bay.

This tale originally appeared in Western Outdoor News in 2007. Republished here by reader request. -ed.

Imperial, California (NAPSI) – if you’re looking for a gift people really want, pick up a gift card. According to a study by the National Retail Federation, it is the gift of choice over clothing, consumer electronics and jewelry. In addition, a gift card never has to be returned and is convenient to buy at the grocery store.

To personalize gift card giving, Michele Beschen, host of PBS and Make TV’s B. Organic, suggests some fun, simple, homemade ways to get creative. These ideas can be made on your own or as part of family time:

• Help someone relax with a SpaFinder Gift Card presented with a beautiful homemade tea kit created from an old tin box and cardboard. a SpaFinder Gift Card is excellent for spa treatments in over 7,000 spas, salons, yoga or Pilates studios and fitness centers. There’s likely a spa or wellness experience in most areas and global travel destinations.

• Make a homemade fishing pole using a long branch that incorporates handmade tackle accessories and a bobber. Hang a Bass Pro Shops gift card from the end of a hook. Bass Pro Shops has fantastic gear for people of all ages and for a number of outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, hunting, camping and kayaking.

• Plotting a night out with family or friends can be simple. Make a handmade magnetic calendar from a dry erase board and pair it with an Applebee’s gift card. mark down your next family, girls or guys night out. Applebee’s has a healthy indulgence menu and is a fantastic place to watch a game.

• if you’re shopping for a music lover, you can make a one-of-a-kind scarf out of a few T-shirts from favorite bands. cut the shirts, sew them together and add a pocket to hold an iTunes gift card, which can be a fantastic gift for anyone. iTunes gift cards provide one-stop entertainment as they can be used to purchase music, movies, TV shows, apps, games, books and more.

• Make a wall rack organizer using the front of an old dresser drawer. Add vintage doorknobs, accessories and hooks. Hang a jcpenney gift card from it. jcpenney offers a large selection of unique and affordable gifts for just about everyone. It’s a fantastic place to find style at compelling prices that make sense in this economic climate.

Gift cards and many of the materials used to make these unique gifts are conveniently available at grocery stores.

To learn how to save with gift cards and other creative tips and to share your gift card tips, visit facebook.com/GiftCardsRock.

At one time crappie were the top game fish at Clear Lake, but the past two years has seen the population of this tasty fish take a nosedive.

A lot of fishermen are wondering why.

Where it was once common to catch 20-100 crappie per day, this year it’s considered a excellent day if you can catch three or four. This is weird given the fact that the bass, catfish and bluegill fishing has been ranging from excellent to brilliant.

Crappie are often referred to as a “cycle” fish by biologists, meaning they undergo wild swings in population. The population will build up to massive numbers in a few years and then crash. This has happened at Clear Lake a number of times. The last time the crappie population peaked was 2008. Typically the crappie population goes from a high to a low over a four-year period at Clear Lake. If this holds true, the crappie fishing should show a vast improvement by next summer.

The lake’s crappie fishery reached its peak in the early 1960s when it wasn’t unusual to catch 100-150 fish per day. however, around 1980 the crappie fishery crashed and they all but disappeared. The county even stocked the lake with Florida-strain crappie with the hope the fishery would make a comeback. Juvenile crappie started showing up in excellent numbers last summer during the electro-shocking studies done by the Department of Fish and Game and many fishermen reported seeing schools of young crappie this fall. The big question is if these young crappie will survive the winter and become young adults by next summer.

The downfall of crappie is their table quality. few fish can match a crappie for eating and that’s a reason most of the fishermen catch and keep the 25-fish-per-day limit. however, biologists say that catching and keeping a limit of crappie probably has little effect on their population.

Like largemouth bass, crappie aren’t native to Clear Lake or even the West. Really, Clear Lake was the first lake in California to be stocked with crappie. that happened in 1908 when crappie were brought to the lake from Meredosia, Illinois. These were the black crappie species and Clear Lake offered ideal habitat and the fish flourished. White crappie were planted in the lake beginning in 1951.

Both species of crappie are nearly identical, however, they can be identified by counting the spiny rays on the dorsal fin. A black crappie has seven or eight spines and a white crappie has six spines. most of the crappie presently in the lake are of the black species although there are also excellent numbers of white crappie.

They can grow to large sizes. The world record is 6 pounds for black crappie and 5 pounds, 3 ounces for white crappie. Clear Lake holds the state record for white crappie, a 4-pound, 8-ounce fish caught in 1971. Two-pounders are common and occasionally a 3-pounder is caught.

Unlike bass, crappie actively feed even in the winter when the water temperature dips below 50 degrees. In fact, in northern states such as Minnesota and Michigan, crappie are a well loved fish for ice fishermen. The anglers cut a hole in the ice and either drop a live minnow or jig down into the icy water. they often catch dozens of crappie.

Crappie are always found in schools and some of the schools can be huge, holding up to 200 fish. For example, the crappie often school by the thousands off Kono Tayee. The same thing happens off Shag Rock. they also tend to be in the deeper water during the winter months. At Clear Lake, most of the crappie are found in water that’s at least 20 feet deep, which means they are primarily found in the south end of the lake.

When the crappie population is at its peak they draw more fishermen to Clear Lake than does the bass. they are more of a family fish because they are simple to catch and make brilliant table fare.

By the Record November 20, 2011 12:00 AM

STOCKTON – After protests from Delta fishermen, the state Fish and Game Commission will change the venue of an upcoming meeting to discuss controversial changes to striped bass fishing regulations.

Originally, the commission was set to consider the matter at its December meeting in San Diego – about as far from the Delta as you can get.

Now the issue will be heard at the commission’s February meeting in Sacramento.

The commission will consider loosening protections for the striped bass, a popular sport fish.

Stripers are not native to the Delta, and they eat endangered salmon. But fishermen argue that increasing the number of fish that can be caught will decimate the fishery.

SAN ANDREAS – Calaveras County Water District officials this week announced the agency has received a $1.48 million grant to replace aging water system infrastructure in West Point.

The money comes from the California Department of Water Resources.

The work is expected to start in the spring and includes replacing 8,000 feet of water mains and a redwood water storage tank.

A free community flu shot clinic will be held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at Sutter Tracy Community Hospital, 1420 N. Tracy Blvd.

Influenza vaccines are available for anyone 6 months of age or older. there is a limited supply on a first come, first served basis.

Donations will be accepted from those who are able to help offset the cost of the clinic.

For more information, call (209) 833-2420.

Ads by Google

That terrific halibut bite at San Nicholas Island is still there for those who know the ropes on how to catch them. sometimes it is very dull waiting for the flatties to grab the bait and I hear the large halibuts that were caught were caught doing the “bounce-ball” method.

Bounce balling is a way to catch halibut that started with commercial halibut fishermen. The terminal tackle is not much to look at and is so heavy an angler must use a sturdy rod and reel setup. The running line should be at least 30-pound mono and many anglers are using 50-pound or heavier braid. The line can be lighter than that, but the sinker weighing 1 1/2 to 2 pounds needs very heavy line so the angler can pull free from hang-ups and not break off expensive tackle.

Above the sinker about 18 to 20 inches a heavy dropper leader is deployed about three feet long from the 30- to 40-pound test. from that, a 6- to 8-inch chrome “dodger” is added following the dodger about 12 inches to a plastic “hoochie” or some type of bait. The dodger can be various colors just like the ones that are used in salmon fishing. Finally, some anglers use a three-way swivel to attach the running line, sinker line and the dodger hoochie line.

Bounce balling is a technique to stir the bottom with lots of noise and clouds of sand or mud to attract the halibut. Halibut are ambushers that lay on the bottom covered with sand and usually strike a bait only if it is inches away.

Normally they will not chase bait out of their zone, but with bounce balling they will aggressively chase a lure or bait and they don’t care about all the tackle that’s being dragged across the bottom from 50-80 feet deep. Bounce balling really works. Halibut get their “hackles” up and charge recklessly into the commotion of flashing lures and clouds of mud and sand.

The Toronado from Pierpoint Landing went to St. Nick lately expressively for those extra-large halibut that inhabit the area and really got very bored drifting without a pick-up from a butt so they switched to rockfish fishing and the day was saved by catching all the rockfish they could handle.

The real excitement came from a wide-open lingcod bite where many of the lings were more than 20 pounds. More than 30 were caught.

A few yellowtail are showing up around the Islands for the 6-pack boats and for those who know how, some sea bass are also crossing the rail. The islands are producing lots of calico bass, especially since the market squid is so abundant and simple to catch.

Albacore/rockfish: The Pacific Queen from San Diego that has been stationed at Patriot landing for the hot albacore bite went back to its home landing in San Diego as the albacore fishing dried up. Patriot Landing says if the albacore show up again they will send the sportboat Pacific Horizon to chase them down.

The local day-long sportboats at Patriot are experiencing great rockfish trips where it’s not unusual to see limits caught for each angler. Patriot is still announcing its lingcod contest that will end Dec 31. Guy Leo is currently in first place with a 26-pounder. William Chong (19) and Brad Hudson (18-9) are in second and third place.

The prizes are $3,000 for first, $2,000 for second and $1,000 for third.

Waterfowl hunting: Duck hunters in California find the best shooting in one of the dozens of wetlands operated by the Department of Fish and Game. these wetlands are referred to as refuges.

The refuge system began in the 1920s in response to national concern over dramatic drops in the waterfowl population. The money used mostly came from the Duck Stamps that hunters had to buy along with their hunting licenses. The stamp money allowed the state to buy up wetlands and make the refuses across the state.

In the 1950s, national refuges and state wildlife refuges opened to waterfowl and pheasant hunting in response to a growing demand for public hunting.

To date, both the state hunting refuges “State Wildlife Areas” (WLA) and the “National Wildlife Refuges” (NWR) have special regulations to hunting on them. Every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday during the season these areas are open to hunting. One of the most prudent actions a hunter can take before planning to hunt on a refuge is to read the booklet on Hunting and other Public uses on State and Federal Areas.

There are many ways to access public hunting land.

1. Reservations: The DFG receives your application for a date 17 days in advance of your hunting date. If drawn, you and your partner are guaranteed entry.

2. Lottery System: Spots not filled by reservation are filled by a drawing the night before. 3. first come, first-served: Hunters sign up for a number after the reservation list is exhausted.

4. Each area has it own system of calling numbers in the morning. those numbers include:

Wister Wildlife refuge: 760-359-0577; San Jacinto Wildlife Refuge: 951-928 -0580; Baldwin Lake: 760-607-2043; Kern National Wildlife Refuge: 661-725-2767; Raahauge’s Duck Club: 951-735-5981; Four Winds Duck Club: 310-370-2238; San Diego City Lakes: 619-668-2050; Lake Henshaw: 760-782-3501; Cibola Sportsman’s Club: 928-857-3531; Cibola National Wildlife Refuge: 928-857-3253 ext. 111; Mendota National Wildlife Refuge: 559-655-4645

By Karen Garrison

I’ve written in the past about the health of California’s fisheries, and how we can use available information to assess how well the state is doing at ensuring the health and productivity of the ocean. So what’s the latest? There are bright spots, but we lack excellent information for 70% of the fish we target. Scientists who are beginning to fill those information gaps are finding serious reasons for concern.

A recent study by a team led by Brad Erisman at Scripps Institution of Oceanography found that two popular recreational fisheries-barred sand bass and kelp bass-have collapsed: both have experienced a surprising 90% decline in abundance, and the study authors say overfishing is partly to blame, along with climatic shifts. These two fish have ranked near the top of the list of species caught by charter boats for many years. Fishing for the two species is concentrated on spawning aggregations, which are places where fish predictably congregate in large numbers.

The phenomenon, known as "the illusion of plenty," has masked the declines until very recently because fish can be caught quickly in those places even as the over-all population is shrinking. for similar reasons, declines in other species caught while aggregating to spawn are widespread. in an article on the study in the  San Diego Union-Tribune, Erisman clarified it this way: "The problem is when fish are aggregating in these huge masses, fishermen can still catch a lot each trip, so everything looks fine-but in reality the true population is declining." Fishermen are among those worried by these trends. From coverage of the study in the Orange County Register: Recreational fishing enthusiasts have seen a decline in barred sand bass, said Dave Elm of Huntington Beach, the chairman of the United Anglers of Southern California. "We don’t get the spawns we used to have 10 years ago on the Huntington Flats," Elm said. Despite the steep drop in landings, regulations for these fisheries haven’t changed in the past 30 years. clearly, we need a course correction in order to halt these population declines.Study author Erisman has recommended reducing the bag limit and increasing the minimum size of fish that can be kept. And closing a part of the spawning grounds to fishing, as California carries out the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), will help reseed these depleted populations and keep them healthy into the future.

Print this report | Send to a friend

Browse in : [ Reports]

There are no comments attached to this item.

John Laird is sitting in an armchair in his austere 13th floor office in the state Resources Building on O and 9th Streets. the former chair of the Assembly Budget committee is in shirt sleeves buttoned at the wrist. He gestures broadly while talking.

There are posters of parks on the walls, a hard hat from the state firefighters on a credenza, a row of baseball caps in the otherwise empty bookcase. His desk is ordered but full.Named secretary on Jan. 5 – one of Gov. Jerry Brown’s first appointments – the 61-year-ancient Santa Rosa native touched many of the issues he now is responsible for overseeing during his six-year tenure in the Assembly: state parks, the Sierra Conservancy, renewable energy, the future of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The former aide to East Bay Rep. Jerry Waldie, Santa Cruz City Council member, director of the Santa Cruz AIDS Project and Cabrillo College Board trustee talks with Capitol Weekly about his current job and some of its unique challenges.

Capitol Weekly: So how big is the Resources agency?John Laird: There’s over 17,000 employees. It’s got a $14 billion budget and 25 departments, boards and commissions.

What’s the ratio of special fund to general fund?Of the $14 billion, $1 billion is general fund and the rest is special fund or outside revenue. the two biggest general fund parts of the budget are (the Department of) Parks (and recreation) and Calfire (the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection). Resources relies on bonds for a lot of its efforts. Flood control. Water infrastructure. Parks. Acquisition of parkland by local governments. Habitat restoration.

Is it hard going from being a legislator to running such a big agency? I spent most of my career being an administrator in one way or another, both as a non-profit director and a local government administrator. even when you’re a mayor – and that’s elected of course – there’s a lot of administrative pieces to the job.

Where does the public touch your agency the most?Mostly in rural California. Resources is in many ways the ambassador of the state to rural California whether it’s Fish and Game or Parks, Water. and in urban areas if you have water tap you interact with the agency.

Where would the average Californian – whatever that is – come into contact with the agency? in the broadest sense, the “average” Californian is probably either going to the park or fishing. the Energy Commission also interacts with a lot of Californians whether you’re urban or not in terms of alternate energy and whatever comes with that. Building standards. the Energy Saver program.

What does the current occupant of the corner office say he would like you to do as resources secretary?For once I’m being circumspect. the governor wants to make sure the state’s goal of one-third of its energy from renewables is met. He wants to make sure that the water system is upgraded to modern times and to take into account fish and habitat as they relate to water supply. He’s committed to the dual goals of the Delta – determine water reliability for those who depend on the Delta and restore the habitat as fast as we can.  

So is it going to be on your watch when California gets that pesky water thing solved?It’s one place where we hit the ground running. We’re trying to have a clear plan and process for restoring fish habitat in the Delta. That’s part of our meeting those dual goals the Legislature gave us in 2009 – water reliability and habitat restoration.

The real difference between the Schwarzenegger and Brown administrations is the fact that there’s no loyalty oath to sign in order to participate in developing the state’s water plan and the meetings are public and transparent and there are groups of stakeholders and people with an interest in water with widely different perspectives at the table trying to solve the key issues.

Because there’s water in the reservoirs this year are there more cards in your hand to do something meaningful on water?Water is the Rubik’s Cube of public policy. the thing that probably works to our advantage to get towards some agreement is, for the first time in a long time, the status quo in the Delta benefits no one. the fish populations are crashing. Judges were turning off the exports. So there’s almost no one that isn’t dissatisfied with what’s going on in the Delta. and the two dual goals are somewhat elegant in that sense. I’m always fond of saying everybody is firmly committed to one of the two goals.

Where do you start?There’s nothing simple. There is the bay Delta Conservation plan process, of course. for 20 years there have been all the lawsuits on everything. Sue on smelt. Sue on salmon. Sue on striped bass. What the Delta plan process does is say, ‘We’re going to look at it all together, see how it fits and try to address the whole thing.’

So we’ve made something like 12 stakeholders committees on a number of issues: What to do with the Yolo Bypass, what to do with the South Delta, what to do about salinity, what’s the governance and finance of any water project going forward.

And we’re asking the members of those committees, ‘What do you want? What fixes your concerns?’ the members are so used to an adversarial relationship with the state for so long, they’re not used to being asked. It can be tough trying to orient people to thinking we’re going to actually do something at some point.

When do they have to finish meeting and offer recommendations?The goal is to try and get it done by the end of the year.

Then what happens?If they come to some conclusions then those solved problems will be included in the Bay Conservation Development plan. Those have been kinda vexing issues for any number of decades.

Yes. exactly. But now there are people at the table talking about them, not the government trying to impose a solution. now, if they can’t come to a decision we have to make the decision on how to go forward. So we’re giving everybody a change to come to agreement among themselves, which makes everything simpler for everybody.

What’s the worst thing about this job?My worst nightmare is closing parks. It’s especially hard for me as the guy who made the proposal in the Legislature to raise the vehicle license fee to have a steady revenue stream for parks and couldn’t get the two-thirds needed. then it went to the people on the ballot and lost. and now I’m the one who has to do the closing.

Why did voters not go for that? It seemed like a pretty excellent deal all around for, what, 18 bucks?One factor was the economy. It was a really tough time to ask voters that question. that was the overriding thing. and I think the public was concerned that the money wouldn’t necessarily go to parks. They set aside this money and then the Legislature immediately raids it. It’s not like that hasn’t happened before.

Is there any way to keep them open? I mean closing the former Governor’s Mansion?Statutory authority exists now for cities and counties to run state parks, but not a general statutory authority for non-profits to do it. (A bill on Gov. Brown’s desk by Assemblyman Jared) Huffman would allow up to 20 non-profits to partner for up to 20 parks.

They’d be more likely to do it?Some non-profits have capacity cities and counties wouldn’t. Non-profits could also organize around specific parks, establishing the upkeep and improvement as the non-profit’s purpose.

The money can’t be found? What is it, something like $22 million?There’s been a 37 percent reduction in the General Fund to parks in recent years. the only way to find the revenue is to shift it to parks from something else other than parks and in the current state budget climate that’s very hard.

Those on the list of 70 to be closed… …Are the least visited and generate the least revenue.

Are you going to be the Resources Secretary for a while or is there a (state) Senate seat in your near-term future?I would hope to be the resources secretary for a while.

OK so what longer-term goals do you and the governor have?Let me say, Number One, whatever the governor sets, as a priority is the Resources Agency’s priority. over the course of the long term, a sustainable way to deal with state parks, a way to take the marine protection program to stability and get it where it needs to be going forward. trying to help everybody that’s working to get to the 33 percent renewable goal and trying to just get to a measure of sustainability in all the different efforts in the agency. and one of those is getting to the end of our Fish & Game (department) vision process.

What’s that?It’s a way to set priorities for the department and figure out how best it can carry out those priorities. When you have a 37 percent general fund reduction, you may very well no longer be able to accomplish what once was your core mission. the vision plan is formally due by next July 1 but we’re trying to get it done a small earlier so its submission runs consistent with the budget process and the legislative session.  

What happens if a department can’t carry out its primary mission?It has to be changed or the support to carry out that mission has to be present. I’m sure at some point the economy will come back and there will be some measure of support that comes back to the state but also a long-term vision should be thinking how we can best maintain support for state parks.  That’s the discussion that started as a result of the economy.

What’s the problem with the marine protection areas?What’s lacking is there are four different segments of the coast. South, Central, North Central and North. for Southern California, the regulations are just about to become final in the next few months. the North Coast is out for environmental review. a map will be place out and a final vote of Fish and Game Commission in February or March of next year. then we go on to enforcement. How it works, how it’s monitored for the science and having money to enforce – that’s still a challenge.

Stability is needed for the financial support for the enforcement. There are mechanisms to do the enforcement but not to raise the money to do it. Considerable private support for this has been raised and bond money or money that went to the Ocean Protection Council that’s funding the monitoring but, as I said earlier, what’s the long-term plan?

Is everyone in agreement on how these marine protection areas should be configured and what restrictions apply within their boundaries?Recreational fishermen have not been happy about some aspects.  from others there have been some differences over what the right science is. One interesting criticism, which has actually come from commercial fishermen, is they think the problem we need to be addressing is much broader than just marine protected areas. we also need to deal with marine debris and acidification and other issues that are threatening the ocean instead of simply responding to fish populations crashing.

Who’s winning that argument?It’s not an argument. There need to be some reserves. Look what’s already happened off some parts of the coast of California. There’s such urgency you can’t wait. if you wait until a comprehensive solution is established, you might never get there.

What’s going on with the Sierra Conservancy?I carried the legislation. actually it was a bipartisan compromise with (former GOP Assemblyman) Tim Leslie. They’ve been really successful in what they’ve undertaken. the goal was both environmental protection and economic development of the Sierra. I just met with people from the conservancy here about a number of different issues to take it to the next step. It’s great that they’re focusing on that.

So this time around – it’s something like the third – is the Water Control Board going to get it right on those septic regulations that have been kicking around for 10 years?this is my second favorite thing to say in this job: “They’re in Cal-EPA.” My most favorite thing to say is when people complain about something done by the Resources Agency during the Schwarzenegger administration: “‘I can give you Susan Kennedy’s phone number if you want it.’”