JANUARY 2002

Happy New Year everyone. Lots of new reels under the tree? Do you have your "1^st of the Year" Albacore flag? If not – why not? Actually, if you don’t have one you are a little late. The recent weather has been very conducive for freezing your (deleted) off, but they are (at least, were) there and some approaching Morro Bay size. But it’s not too late for some fresh fish for the table – there is always a little more room in the freezer.

Steve and Gail Ross and their cronies down in Ensenada had been picking away at a "lost battalion" of the creatures down near the Inner Bank for the past month. A lot of "1^st Flag" wanabes scored well in the area on New Year’s day. Wanting to get in on the action HARRY OKUDA and I decided to give it a try. BOB BOSSLER of Southwestern fame agreed to come along and on Jan. 2 we heading south - 69 miles 181 degrees. For our effort we were rewarded with 14 Albies with 3 over 30 pds and a fourth in the high 20’s. This gave BOB Marlin Club and Southwestern’s 1^st of the Year honors and I’m on the board at Kona Kai with the 1^st and largest of the year (36#). 

Shortly thereafter BOB WOODARD on "Christina Lynn" boated the 1^st Bluefin Tuna of the Year. And there were reported Marlin sightings and bites in that rather cool water. (i.e. 60-61). Year end also brought a squid build up at the Coronados and the start of Halibut, White Sea Bass and Yellowtail fishing. The Club has also weighed in a 13 pd. 5 oz. Barred Sand Bass taken off Oceanside, a pending World Record.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the Annual Trophy Awards Dinner on Saturday, February 2^nd at the Bali Ha’i, 2230 Shelter Island Dr. Cocktails are at 6:30 pm and Dinner at 7:30. Please send in your reservations if you haven’t already done so. It’s always nice to sit around and just being social without worrying about "where the fish are." And please participate in the usual raffle – buy lots of raffle tickets – profits help to add to the Club coffers.

By now eligible members have received your ballots for the election of three new members to the Board of Directors. Unfortunately, the By-Laws call for the Ballot to list six (6) nominees and, therefore, this first ballot has been disqualified and a new Ballot was to be prepared by the Election Committee.

And, of course, you have received your dues statement. Yes, dues are due so please help out and respond a.s.a.p. As President DAVE VERDUGO indicated the Club has been in a slight financial crunch due to the loss of income from normal Club activities (especially the various fishing tournaments). As you all are aware conducting any kind of business is not without costs. The Marlin Club, attempting to keep the Club House open every day during the fishing season with paid employees, maintaining a daily fish report, putting out a monthly newsletter, keeping up the utilities, maintaining the Club’s Web site (arguably one of the best, if not THE best, on the West Coast), keeping the Club House well stocked and presentable, providing suitable Trophies and Awards, and, of course, maintaining the only official weigh station in San Diego Harbor has expenses that our dues simply do not cover. This year, the Board of Directors has found it necessary to dip into cash reserves in order to make ends meet. Yes, a few hundred more members and, of course, a few more Marlin at the right time in the right place would certain help.

Thus, the Board has come up with the idea of the additional Membership Categories. Not being a member of the Board and a part of this decision making process I can well imagine the cry of: "By-Laws! Unconstitutional! Amendments!" etc, etc, etc being heard in every corner of the water-front. But this current proposal gives the membership an optional (i.e voluntary) chance to pitch in – above and beyond the call of the By-Laws. To paraphrase someone (his name escapes me) who might have said: "Ask not what your Club can do for you – Ask what you can do for your Club."

(Note: If you have read these perhaps a little too wordy newsletters over the past two years you will possibly be aware that the above is the first hint of editorial comment to cross these pages. I have carefully – as promised – attempted to avoid subjects of a controversial nature [e.g. you know – the "r" word], but this was something that I feel was needed. Over the years the Marlin Club has stood for something special to many of us and we try to help out when ever we can. Hopefully, there will be others who feel the same.) And maybe the Marlin will help as well.

POLITICAL REPORT: During the past year much has been reported about the upcoming presentation of the West Coast Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan for the Pacific Fisheries Management Council. This is the plan that has been discussing the pros and cons of the introduction of an "Experimental" Long Line Fishery into our 200 mile EEZ (Extended Economic Zone). The final draft form of the FMP has been prepared for public comment prior to final submission to the Council on March 11-15, 2002 at the Red Lion Sacramento Inn, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA. The Council is scheduled to take final action on the plan at that time. Written comments received by March 5, 2002 will be presented to the Council prior to the meeting.

A copy of the final draft of the plan can be obtained by writing to the Pacific Fishery Management Council, 770 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 200, Portland, Oregon 97220-1384 – (503) 326-6352. As I read – it does NOT recommend an introduction of these deadly lines into our EEZ, but the commercials undoubtedly fight this until the bitter end.

IMPORTANT! – the final draft of the plan is to be submitted to the public at various locations throughout the state. If you are interested in attending mark your calendar for FEBRUARY 4 at Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, CA 92109 at 7 p.m. These public hearings are for the purpose of receiving public comment. If you don’t like what is in the plan or wish to support their recommendations this is the last chance to speak up. This is the last opportunity to tell "them" what we think.

GAFFLINE BY E-MAIL: As previously reported sending the Gaffline by E-mail can result in substantial savings of printing and mailing costs. WAYNE SLAHOR has received many positive responses. If you are interested in cooperating simply so indicate to WAYNE at SlahorW@aol.com and he’ll put you on his list (that sounds like a line from "The Mikado").. It is also easy enough to download the GL from the Web site and this does have the advantage of getting some pictures in color – Thank you DENNIS ALBERT (our Webmaster). If you haven’t checked the Web site lately you really should. You will find that weighing in the Last Marlin of the Year at the Club is worth an awful lot of "ink." Maybe one of those 1^st Albacore of the Year fish will have pushed us off the screen.

YEAR BOOK (FULL PAGE AD) SPONSORS

Many thanks to ALL of our subscribers. We owe them our support and gratitude.

SUBSCRIBER OF THE MONTH

If you do any fishing you know the value of lures – albacore, marlin, wahoo, etc. And if you have spent any time in the sport you probably have an assortment of such lures – all sizes, shapes and manufacturers. And if you have any preferences you’ll probably find the name ZUKER stamped on a majority of these. Year in and year out members JOHN LLOYD and BILL MIYAGAWA have made the name "ZUKER" a household (or should I say boathold) staple. Their lures have caught more than their share of fish throughout the world and they have been most supportive of the Marlin Club throughout the years. They contribute regularly to all of the Club’s activities and it is fitting that we support them as best we can. I don’t know who "ZUKER" is or was, but thank you JOHN and BILL.

And why isn’t your name on this list? Just think - $90 gets you a full page ad in the Marlin Club Year book and monthly listing as above. But we appreciate ALL of the subscribers to our Year book and urge everyone to join in. It’s just another way of supporting the Club – and getting a little "ink" as well.

NEW MEMBER: Let’s welcome TOM PARNAKIAN:res-40224 Paseo Sereno, Temecula, 92591;(909)695-2555/wk:43044 Business Park Dr.,Temecula 92590;(909) 695-3022 ("Ambush").

NEW WORLD RECORD: Congratulations to ALLAN SHERIDAN for a new IGFA record Sand Tail Sole – 8.8 pds on live squid at San Clemente on June 3,2001. Fish ws taken on 8 pd. line, but is listed in the All-Tackle category.

E-MAILING: Again - this Gaffline is being triple mailed: U.S. Mail, E-Mail and, of course posted on the Web site. WAYNE would like to see how the E-Mailing is working so if you signed up let WAYNE know if you didn’t get it on the ‘net.

THE MARLIN CLUB OF SAN DIEGO
2445 SHELTER ISLAND DRIVE
SAN DIEGO, CA 92106