January 6-19, 2023 The Log Digital Edition

The new year has brought in new recreational groundfish regulations that the CDFW believes are in the angler’s best interest while catering to the decline in certain species.   P. 10

PORT OF

SAN

DIEGO TESTING ON HARBOR ISLAND

he three-year pilot project launched by the port district and eco-engineering company ECOncrete will demonstrate and study a new design of ECOncrete’s interlocking Coastalock Tide Pool Armor in two different locations on Harbor Island, a man-made peninsula only a few hundred feet wide. P. 11

Lumpy little Isla Gonzaga provides several nice anchoring spots. The island also shields Alfonsina’s Motel and Cantina and 50 palapa homes that line the northwest beach of huge Gonzaga Bay. The narrow entrance to adjacent Willard Bay is visible in the upper left, even a bit narrower at the low tide seen here.

Sheephead Can Change Sex When Necessary

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

California Sheephead fish are a funny-looking species. The males rock a white chin, large protruding canine teeth, and a very organized red and black body, while the females almost look like a large, slender goldfish. They are fascinating fish that play a vital role in maintaining the balance of kelp forests. Although male and female sheepheads look different, there is something about the fish’s sex that the two have in common— all sheephead are born female. Sheephead are sequential protogynous hermaphrodites meaning they begin life as females and will eventually become males.

Even though they are born female, a sheephead can develop into a male when the ratio of males to females becomes unbalanced in a local population. According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, as female sheephead get larger, they can produce more and more eggs. At some point, however, they could fertilize more eggs as a male than they could make themselves as a female. This reproductive pressure is potentially how sequential hermaphroditism evolved—as a case of biological economics. This may be why the switch is

delayed when resources are plentiful— females can keep getting bigger and making more eggs.

Teasing out the effects of social versus genetic control in gender change has been tricky, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In a healthy and historic kelp forest, many males can be found in close proximity, with perhaps a few dominant individuals holding a territory. When resources are plentiful, females switch gen-

ders later in life, around 13 years. When resources are scarce, or male-to-female ratios are small due to overfishing, females change into males around seven to eight years.

In 1990, Robert Cowen studied sheephead at four sites where food availability varied. In the area with the most food, females changed sex at about 13 years old and lived for nearly 21 years. In the area with the least food, females changed sex

at five to six years old and lived about nine years. At least in these two areas, the females changed sex about two-thirds of the way through their life spans.

Male sheephead are highly prized by sport fishermen and anglers. However, due to their hermaphroditic life history, the removal of males can drastically affect the genetics of a population and cause females to switch genders younger and smaller.

Female California sheephead have a less decorated appearance. The female has a dull pink color covering most of its body.

Male and female sheephead have

patterns and body shapes. The male is larger, with black tail and head sections, wide, reddish-orange midriffs, and red eyes and a fleshy forehead bump.

Shutterstock Image Shutterstock Image

COMMUNITY

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

The Helm in all its Forms

In a car, we call it a steering wheel, but on a ship, it’s called something different. While some may call it the boat wheel or the ship wheel, today, most people refer to it as the helm—the space in which the boat is steered. The helm is part of the ships steering mechanics that changes the rudder’s direction in the water as the ship goes in another direction. You may wonder where the word “helm” comes from. The word “helm” comes from an Old English word meaning “rudder.” As mentioned, the rudder is the physical mechanism used to turn the boat which can be controlled through the tiller or steering wheel.

Without the interference of customization, the ship’s steering wheel is on the starboard side or the right side. As you know, the port side on the left is where unloading takes place.

The helm being on the right side is favorable to right-handed sailors. They can operate the ship naturally and conveniently. This has been the practice since ancient times and even in wars. The captain’s right hand controls the ship, while the left controls the weapon. It’s the standard, considering the majority of the human population is right-handed.

Although the steering wheel on ships, deck boats, sailboats, pontoons, and other vessels is usually called the helm, what about the pirate ship steering wheel name? There’s no difference, as it’s also called helm. The same term is used in film and literature when referring to a pirate’s ship.

A wooden steering wheel has the most recognized design, which you can find among the traditional wheels. It’s round, made of sturdy wood, and added to smaller vessels. This tool allows the captain to maneuver the craft without leaving the top deck.

The classic steering wheel design comes with 8 or 6 wooden spokes. However, depending on the design, you may also find wooden wheels with ten spokes. These spokes are held together by a square hole in the center. It’s where the axle moves around. Next, there’s a spindle connected through a barrel, and it reaches out to the tiller chain. Finally, sheaves and pulleys under the ship complete the system.

Though the word meant rudder, as time went on and boats continued to evolve, the term also began to develop. Instead of just meaning rudder, it came to be associated with the entire mechanism used to steer the boat and the surrounding area from which it is controlled, including all other necessary controls and navigation systems.

the captain’s tasks.

The modern steering wheel is smaller; some are smaller than vehicles ones. Although the massive size of the wheel has been reduced, the vessels work as expected, and they’re even faster and stronger than before.

On Board With JR Johnson

The operation of the traditional steering wheel is relatively straightforward. Minor modifications are made to the modern version, but the premise remains unchanged.

The steering wheel of the past can’t be underestimated as it’s an advanced invention. It can even compete with the present hydraulic and engineering abilities. However, no one can tell if there will be discoveries in maneuvering ships only through a few control steps.

While a traditional steering wheel can let the ship cross the open sea, a huge wooden body is not always the perfect recipe for functionality. Due to modernization, electronics are incorporated with mechanisms to ease

Aside from its function, the helm has become a very recognized symbol. The design of the steering wheel can be identified in many instances. It’s worn as a tattoo and added on patterns and logos.

Some of those tattoos live on retired sailors who still treasure their lives at sea. Others utilize this steering wheel on a boat despite the helmsman’s control of the vessel. Oftentimes you can see a steering wheel as a decoration.

It can also be a symbol that manifests a life of a person who goes through challenges like the unexpected roughness of the sea. In the past, the wheel on a ship was used as a solar sign. However, history will tell you that it symbolizes leadership and management based on its function on the boat.

Letters/Online Comments

—Gomow

RE: Channel Islands Harbor Director Gives Update on Casa Sirena Demolition (APRIL 15-28)

“My father stayed at the Casa Sirena on a business trip to Oxnard in March 1977. According to his postcard from there, he had an enjoyable time there.”

—Thomas M. Powers

RE: U.S. Approves World’s Largest Dam Demolition Project in History (DEC. 9-22)

“About Time, long time over due. As one Judge said many years ago about this ‘Even a 12 year old know fish need water’”

—Alton Forthe

RE: All 50 States Have Been Compared and Ranked for Best Fishing Activity (OCT. 15-28, 2021)

“This is really helpful and informative. Thank you so much for sharing.”

Shutterstock image

news briefs

By Katherine M. Clements

LOCAL

Registration for 75th Annual Newport to Ensenada is now Open

NEWPORT BEACH — The Newport Ocean Sailing Association has announced that online registration is open for the 75th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race. The iconic coastal race will start at the Balboa Pier on April 28.

For 2023, NOSA is re-focusing on its distance racing heritage and will have only two courses; the traditional Newport to Ensenada International 125mile overnight race and the California Coastal 90-mile San Diego course.

Also, this year will be a new online entry system driven by Regatta Network, making registration and race management easier. Racing classes will include ORR, PHRF, ULDB, Cruising (Spinnaker and non-Spinnaker), and Multihulls.

“After last year’s exhilarating race, which saw almost all of the course records fall and a record-breaking firstto-finish time of just over 7 hours by Manouch Moshayedi’s monohull RIO 100, next year’s fleet of close to 200 racing boats will again push the speed boundaries for this spring sprint for the border and beyond,” said NOSA’s Commodore Mary Bacon in a press release from Dec. 5, 2022.

In-person and Zoom seminars will be offered in January and February for those looking to brush up on new requirements, night sailing techniques, provisioning, weather, and crew tips for a fun, safe and trophy-winning race. The race will feature YB Race Tracking again. For more information, please visit https://nosa.org/.

STATE/NATIONAL/ INTERNATIONAL

CDFW Opens Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery but Continues Partial Recreational Crab Trap Restriction

As of Dec. 31, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has opened the commercial Dungeness crab fishery statewide. Fishing Zones 3-6 (all areas south of the Sonoma/ Mendocino County Line) opened under a 50 percent trap reduction on Dec. 31, at 12:01 a.m., with a 64-hour gear setting period to begin on Dec. 28, at 8:01 a.m. This trap reduction will help reduce the risk of entanglement as humpback whales migrate to Baja, their winter breeding grounds.

Commercial Dungeness crab vessels operating in Fishing Zones 3-6 must understand and comply with the restrictions by reviewing the CDFW Declaration. Any commercial Dungeness Crab vessel fishing in or transiting Fishing Zones 3-6, regardless of fishing location, is subject to the 50 percent reduction and must always have at least half of their valid buoy tags for the current fishing season onboard and available for inspection by CDFW until the trap reduction is lifted.

Fishing Zones 1 and 2 (Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties) had been delayed due to poor meat quality results, but recent tests indicate crabs are ready for market. As a result, the fishery reopened on Dec. 31, at 12:01 a.m., with a 64-hour gear-setting period that began at 8:01 a.m. on Dec. 28.

CDFW is continuing the temporary recreational crab trap restriction in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6 due to the presence of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement from trap gear. CDFW wants to remind recreational crabbers that taking of Dungeness crab by other methods, including hoop nets and crab snares, is still allowed during a temporary trap restriction.

Available data indicate whales remain in Fishing Zone 3, particularly in waters around Point Reyes and the Farallon Islands. As a result, CDFW Director Charlton H.Bonham is also issuing a Fleet Advisory for Fishing Zones 3-6 and reminds both the commercial and recreational fishers to avoid setting gear in areas where whales are transiting or foraging and to follow best practices, as described in the Best Practices Guide.

CDFW anticipates the subsequent risk assessment will take place on or around Jan. 18. At this time, Bonham will re-evaluate the commercial trap reduction and temporary recreational crab trap restriction in Fishing Zones 3-6.

For more information on the risk assessment process, please visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page or the Dungeness crab fishery, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/crab.

NOAA Seeks to Expand Seafood Import Monitoring Program

On Dec. 27, NOAA Fisheries announced a proposed rule to expand the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), a risk-based Program for targeted species of seafood imported into the U.S.

Expanding SIMP would increase the number of species in the program from approximately 1,100 individual species to about 1,670 individual species.

SIMP currently establishes reporting and recordkeeping requirements for about half of all U.S. seafood imports to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and misrepresented seafood from entering U.S. commerce. By providing a screening and deterrent tool for IUU fish and fish products and misrepresented seafood products entering the U.S., SIMP will strengthen the national economy, global food security, and the sustainability of our shared ocean resources.

The rule proposes to expand the species currently subject to SIMP, including red snapper and tuna, to include all species in the snapper family and other tunas, to minimize the risk of mislabeling and product substitution that is used to

LEGAL

ADVICE

ask a maritime attorney

By David Weil

Founded in 1971

NO. 1197 JANUARY 6 - JANUARY 19, 2023

WRITE TO: P.O. Box 1337

QUESTION:

I manage a small marina in Northern California and was recently confronted with a “safe harbor” question. One of our tenants was extremely delinquent on their slip rent and facing eviction. The boat is in terrible shape. The owner claims the engines don’t run and, even if they did, he would be unable to move the boat because he can’t find another slip. To make matters worse, the owner is elderly, and he apparently can’t afford to hire a captain and crew, or even a towboat, to help move the boat. He now claims that it would be dangerous to move the boat during the current spell of bad weather and, as such, we are legally required to provide “safe harbor” to him rather than force him to move the boat a time such as this with a bad weather forecast. Is this true? Is there a “safe harbor” law? What are my rights here as a marina operator?

David Weil is the managing attorney at Weil & Associates (www. weilmaritime.com) in Seal Beach. He is certified as a Specialist in Admiralty and Maritime Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization and a “Proctor in Admiralty” Member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, an adjunct professor of Admiralty Law, and former legal counsel to the California Yacht Brokers Association. If you have a maritime law question for Weil, he can be contacted at 562-799-5508, through his website at www. weilmaritime.com, or via email at dweil@weilmaritime.com.

ANSWER: “Safe Harbor” laws do not apply to private marina operators, but there are nonetheless a few practical guidelines that need to be observed.

It should first be noted that the concept of a “Safe Harbor” (more properly referred to as a “Port of Refuge”) was developed to provide large merchant vessels a safe environment in which to conduct repairs or for salvage operations to proceed safely. The legal framework was enacted through an international treaty in 2003, when the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a resolution to provide “Guidelines on Places of Refuge for Ships in Need of Assistance.”

The IMO resolution was drawn up in response to significant events involving oil tankers that broke apart and sank, resulting in catastrophic en-

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Contributors

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The Log Goes to St. Barts

“Here the LOG is with Pat and Vince Flynn of the Coronado Yacht Club,” said Vincent Flynn in an email to the Log. “We are in Gustavia, St. Barts, on Dec. 16, 2022.  St. Barthelemy is an overseas collectivity of France located in the Lesser Antilles, noted for it’s luxury yachts and beautiful beaches.”

Bring Your Buddy Aboard!

“This is Buddy onboard Palapa at the San Diego Yacht Club!” said pawrent Emily Heft in an email to the Log. “He loves being on the water and his favorite thing is to pass a bait barge full of seagulls and sea lions.

-Emily Heft”

Is there such thing as a “safe harbor” law and does it apply to a tenant whose slip rent is overdue?

Attorneyvironmental damage to coastal nations due to spilled oil. The purpose of the IMO resolution was to encourage coastal nations, who do not want a maritime pollution disaster to occur in their waters, to adopt systems to balance the needs of the vessel with the needs of the coastal nation, and make sound decisions to enhance maritime safety and the protection of the marine environment.

In the context of our reader’s question and recreational boating in general, it is important to note that the IMO resolution applies to nation states and the shipping ports operated by each nation, but not to private marinas. We should also note that, even for big ships, the IMO resolution provides guidelines for allowing a ship in distress to enter your port, rather than to allow ships that are already in the port to stay there indefinitely.

So with this international legal framework in mind, what rules, if any, apply t o a private marina? Can a recreational boat in a private marina borrow rules that are intended for big ships in government-operated commercial ports? The a nswer is “maybe.”

As recreational boaters, we are often subject to regulations and laws that are intended for big ships. Maritime law does not generally carve out exceptions for small boats. As such, a small boat in distress would certainly be allowed to enter a port or harbor under circumstances that would threaten the safety of the boat or its crew. This scenario would also extend to allowing the boat to anchor at a safe public anchorage while it c onducts necessary repairs to make the

From page 5

framework to target species most vulnerable to IUU fishing and seafood fraud. This risk-based approach allows for efficient use of government resources for screening and implementation while minimizing industry burden and trade impact.

The agency welcomes feedback on the potential addition of these species and other elements in the proposed rule to clarify the responsibilities of International Fisheries Trade Permit holders, electronic recordkeeping requirements, and provisions to accommodate small-scale fisheries. NOAA Fisheries also seeks feedback from stakeholders on program improvements, such as interest in a standardized form for compliance.

The comment period for the proposed rule will close on March 28. NOAA Fisheries will consider all public comments before issuing a final rule.

For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/3VqAm7m.

Canadian Government Offers to Buy Back Commercial Fishing Licenses

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has put out a notice of $123 million dedicated to buying back Pacific salmon commercial fishing licenses from harvesters who want out of the industry. The effort would also help protect dwindling

vessel seaworthy.

There is nothing in this legal framework that requires a private marina to o ffer a berth to the distressed vessel, particularly where a safe anchorage is available in the port or harbor. Similarly, there is nothing in this legal framework that would allow a vessel to remain at a dock or an anchorage indefinitely because the owner is elderly or cannot afford to repair the boat or hire a crew or a towboat to move it.

Finally, we should point out that individual harbors or municipalities may have local statutes that would specifically address these cases. And, a marina cannot simply cut a boat’s mooring lines and set it adrift, even in good weather. Our reader will therefore need to initiate an eviction procedure just as he would for a boat that does not claim a “safe harbor” status. Marina operators and boat owners should each therefore contact a maritime attorney who is familiar with marina tenancy laws before taking any action on their own.

David Weil is licensed to practice law in the state of California and as such, some of the information provided in this column may not be applicable in a jurisdiction outside of California. Please note also that no two legal situations are alike, and it is impossible to provide accurate legal advice without knowing all the facts of a particular situation. Therefore, the information provided in this column should not be regarded as individual legal advice, and readers should not act upon this information without seeking the opinion of an attorney in their home state.

stocks of fish.

The funds are part of an almost $650 million Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative announced by the government agency last year. In mid-December, the Canadian Press news agency reported that 1,300 licenses would be eligible to participate in a deal to purchase the licenses at the market rate, then remove them from circulation.

DFO plans numerous rounds of commercial license retirement, with the first round to assist license holders who have said they wish to leave the industry immediately. The application deadline is Feb. 28.

According to Fisheries and Oceans, many salmon stocks are declining to historic lows due to climate change, habitat loss, and other adverse impacts on Pacific salmon.

The buyback plan came on the heels of a Department of Fisheries and Oceans announcement in late June of 2022 of plans for a two-year renewal of licenses for marine finfish aquaculture facilities outside of British Columbia’s Discovery Islands.

DFO officials noted in a news release the impact of that decision was part of a planned transition from open-net pen salmon aquaculture in British Columbia.

Canada’s Liberal Party and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have called for a shift from open-net pen fish farming by 2025.

POINT LOMA MARINA

Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern Open for Brunch Saturday & Sunday

PIER 32 MARINA

Pier 32 Waterfront Grill Open for Brunch Friday, Saturday & Sunday

Point Loma Marina, 4980 N. Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92106 619.718.6260 / pointlomamarina.com Pier 32 Marina, 3201 Marina Way, National City, CA 91950 619.477.3232 / pier32marina.com

MEXICO REPORT

By: CAPT PAT RAINS

As the year 2023 awakens across Mexico’s 3,500 nautical miles of Pacific coastlines, here are four brief items of interest to U.S. recreational boaters, cruisers, and fishing folk.

Gonzaga Update: Shore support has recently improved for boaters exploring the upper Sea of Cortez, thanks to the completion of Mexico Highway 5.

From the fishing port of San Felipe, BCN, this newly straightened, smoothed, and well paved 2-lane highway (occasionally four lanes) runs 85 miles south along Baja’s rugged desert coastline to Gonzaga Bay’s famous Rancho Grande Junction. Thanks to increased traffic, the tiny Pemex station at Rancho Grande has been enlarged, as has its adjacent Mini Market – both critical resources (fuel, food, water, beer, ice) for many dozens of recreational boaters who summer over at anchor in the seven coves around Gonzaga Bay and its adjacent Willard Bay. In addition, at Gonzaga’s improved airstrip, weekend fly-ins and emergency evacuation are now practical.

Instead of just 4WDs and dune buggies, the new Highway 5 makes an easy drive for vehicles towing fishing boats that want to launch, for example, at Papa Fernandez’s Camp in the north end of

Willard Bay or maybe off Alfonsina’s sand bar in the northwest end of Gonzaga Bay.

The new Highway 5 also passes close to popular launch spots such as San Felipe’s municipal darsena, Puertecitos Bay and hot springs, Playa La Costilla, Isla Huerfinito, Playa Bufeo just north of Punta Willard, and not far from Camp Punta Final at the south end of Gonzaga Bay. The fishing is phenomenal in this upper Sea of Cortez region. Still, with local spring and neep tides ranging from 12 to 16 feet, boaters need to reach these reliable launch and retrieval locations safely.

South of Gonzaga Bay, Highway 5 turns inland and climbs the steep Arroyo Las Arastras for 30 miles to join Highway 1 at the dry lake bed of Lago Chapala. Now, even northbound trailer boaters can easily reach Gonzaga Bay on Highway 5.

Marias Update : The Marias Islands (former prison colony) are not yet officially open for private boats to visit on their own. Sorry. But the good news is that some groundwork has been laid.

Mexican President AMLO officially inaugurated the Visitor Center and park at Puerto Balleto on Isla Maria Madre on December 21. That day a bright red ferry (the first of two boats) shuttled the first bunch of registered visitors from Mazatlan to the island (a five-hour voyage) for a 3-day excursion (Friday-Sunday), includ-

ing a hostel-type hotel and buffet restaurant. A nicer hotel and more eateries are planned.

A new website, http://visitlasislasmarias.com, explains the various nature hikes, island tours, and free trail bikes.

Gonzaga Bay: Boaters who summer over at Gonzaga Bay and Willard Bay will enjoy a lot better shore support, because to newly widened Highway 5 now runs nearby and has brought improved resources to this remote boating destination.

Chart from “Mexico Boating Guide”

The excursion prices range from about $175 to $300 per person, depending on which comfort options you pick.

For the hundreds of many recreational boaters who must cross about 300 n.m. from Los Cabos in southern Baja to Puerto Vallarta on the mainland (and vice versa), being able to stop for the night at Isla Maria Madre would be a huge safety benefit. The Isla Marias archipelago is a natural waypoint because it lies about 200 n.m. southeast of Los Cabos and about 100 n.m. northwest of Puerto Vallarta. Only about five years ago, boaters had to dog-leg their straight-line course in order to stay 20 n.m. off these prison islands - or risk getting shot at by the prison patrol boats.

As a safe refuge in case of bad weather, or simply as a much-needed rest stop, being able to anchor or moor at Puerto Balleto (or a couple of other spots) would be a welcome addition to Mexico’s pristine cruising destinations and would surely increase nautical tourism to the Islas Marias nature park and biosphere.

Every week, many boaters ask me if they can stop here yet. Not yet.

No actual charts of the Islas Marias exist, not DMA or S.M. charts. Because at least three different government agencies and two states are involved in the public opening of this brand new Nature Protected Area, my many questions to the authorities about private yachts anchoring or mooring at Puerto Balleto or anywhere in the islands have not yet been answered. Perhaps they are waiting for the Mexican Navy to issue a new chart or to install new moorings for nautical tourism. Stay tuned.

Panama Canal Update: As of January 1, fees to transit the Panama Canal increased for all sizes of non-commercial recreational vessels.

About a third of the long-range cruising boaters who head into Mexico and Central America yearly express some interest in transiting this 50-mile canal, the world’s best shortcut for entering the Caribbean. The Panama Canal Authority issued its schedule of annual price increases, making it easier for boaters to budget this major adventure into their cruising kitties. Each boat’s overall length (LOA) is determined by physical tape measurements performed by agents from Panama’s Admeasurer’s Office. Your LOA, including swim step and bow sprit, determines your Transit Fee.

• For yachts less than 65 feet LOA, the Transit Fee is $1,760. That’s up from $1,600 in 2022.

• For yachts 65 to up to 80 feet LOA, the Transit Fee is $2,640. That’s up from $2,400.

• For yachts 80 to up to 100 feet LOA, the Transit fee is $3,850 – up from $3,500.

• For those over 100 feet LOA, the Transit fee is $5,000 – up from $4,100 in 2022.

Additionally, flat fees are collected for Security ($130), Buffer ($891), and Delay ($471). The Buffer and Delay fees are potentially refundable after transit. All fees are slated to increase again in January 2024 and 2025.

Covid Update: As cases rise again in both the U.S. and Mexico, we should not be surprised if some masking requirements reappear this winter.

photo courtesy Islas Marias Biosphere

Named “Isla Maria,” this red ferry vessel brought the first bunch of registered visitors from Mazatlan (5 hours) to Isla Maria Madre for a 3-day adventure. Another ferry is slated to bring tourists from San Blas to the islands.

Lumpy little Isla Gonzaga provides several nice anchoring spots. The island also shields Alfonsina’s Motel and Cantina and 50 palapa homes that line the northwest beach of huge Gonzaga Bay. The narrow entrance to adjacent Willard Bay is visible in the upper left, even a bit narrower at the low tide seen here.

Pat Rains

photo

2023 Brings New Groundfish Regulations

The new year has brought in new recreational groundfish regulations that the CDFW believes are in the angler’s best interest while catering to the decline in certain species.

a ll Groundfish Management Areas will have a portion of the season when ‘alldepth’ fishing is permitted, and anglers are not subject to the Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) depth constraints. This change allows new fishing opportunities for deeper-water shelf and slope rockfish, which are most plentiful in places previously closed to recreational groundfish fishing.

Listed below is a summary of the new boat-based regulations for RCG species and lingcod in each management area:

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

The CDFW implemented new changes to recreational fishing seasons for various groundfish species as of Jan. 1, 2023, and now include depth and bag limits.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted the new regulations in June 2022, and the California Fish and Game Commission in Nov. 2022. As in previous years, the boat-based fishery for most groundfish species will be closed statewide beginning Jan. 1, while spear divers and shore-based anglers will continue to have year-round fishing opportunities for groundfish.

For groundfish, including Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling (RCG), as well as lingcod, the boat-based fishing seasons will bring a mix of increased and r educed fishing opportunities, depending on the species. Unlike years before,

Southern Management Area between 34°27’ N. latitude (Point Conception) and the U.S./Mexico border:

• For nearshore rockfish, cabezon, and greenlings: closed Jan. 1 through March 31, open at all depths April 1 through Sept. 15, closed Sept. 16 through Dec. 31.

• For all other rockfish (shelf and slope species) and lingcod: closed Jan. 1 through March 31, open at all depths April 1 through Sept. 15. From Sept. 16 through Dec. 31, take of shelf, and slope rockfish and lingcod is open seaward of the 50 fathom RCA line. Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50 fathom RCA line.

• Additional regulations still apply within the Cowcod Conservation Areas.

Central Management Area between 37°11’ N. latitude (Pigeon Point) and 34°27’ N. latitude (Point Conception):

• For nearshore rockfish, cabezon and greenlings: closed Jan. 1 through April 30, open at all depths May 1 through Sept. 30, closed Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.

• For all other rockfish (shelf and slope species) and lingcod: closed Jan. 1 through April 30, open at all depths May 1 through Sept. 30. From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, take of shelf, and slope rockfish and lingcod is open seaward of the 50 fathom RCA line. Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50-fathom RCA line.

San Francisco Management Area between 38°57.5’ N. latitude (Point Arena) and 37°11’ N. latitude (Pigeon Point):

• For nearshore rockfish, cabezon and greenlings: closed Jan. 1 through July 15, open at all depths July 16 through Dec. 31.

• For all other rockfish (shelf and slope species) and lingcod: closed Jan. 1 through May 14. From May 15 through July 15, take of shelf and slope rockfish, as well as lingcod, is open seaward of the 50 fathom RCA line. Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50-fathom RCA line. From July 16 through Dec. 31, open at all depths.

Mendocino Management Area between 40°10’

N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino) and 38°57.5’ N. latitude (Point Arena):

• For nearshore rockfish, cabezon and greenlings: closed Jan. 1 through July 15, open at all depths July 16 through Dec. 31.

• For all other rockfish (shelf and slope species) and lingcod: closed Jan. 1 through May 14. From May 15 through July 15, take of shelf, and slope rockfish and lingcod is open seaward of the 50 fathom RCA line. Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50-fathom RCA line. From July 16 through Dec. 31, open at all depths.

Northern Management Area between the California/ Oregon state line and 40°10’ N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino):

• For rockfish, cabezon, greenlings, and lingcod: closed Jan. 1 through May 14, open at all depths May 15 through Oct. 15, closed Oct. 16 through Dec. 31.

Anglers will need to be able to identify the rockfish species they catch and, a s of 2023, be able to determine if the fish is categorized as a nearshore, shelf, or slope rockfish species, as different seasons and depths apply to each category depending on the Groundfish Management Area and month. The RCG bag limit w ill remain at ten fish consisting of an assortment of rockfish, cabezon, and greenlings, with sub-bag limits of not more t han four vermilion rockfish, one copper rockfish, and one quillback rockfish. Take and possession of cowcod, yelloweye, and bronzespotted rockfish remains forbidden.

The new groundfish regulations are a significant shift from the fishing seasons and depth limits that anglers are acclimated to and are critical due to scientific information suggesting that copper rockfish and quillback rockfish populations are in severe decline.

The season structures for each man-

agement area were designed in consultation with fishing industry representatives, non-governmental organizations, a nd state, federal, and tribal governments. The CDFW has stated that the changes will provide the most appropriate amount of groundfish fishing time a nd opportunity to anglers throughout the year.

“While recognizing there are concerns with copper and quillback rockfish that will reduce nearshore fishing time in the near-term, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is excited to offer recreational anglers new deeper-water and offshore bank and reef opportunities for groundfish that have been closed for more than two decades,” said CDFW Environmental Program Manager Marci Yaremko in a press release from Dec. 20. “We look forward to seeing the diversity of healthy species come across the docks in the coming years as significant new fishing grounds will now be available to recreational angling.”

In addition, there are also changes for several species that have been subject to boat-based fishing closures in the pa st, which may offer new alternatives for boat-based anglers as early as January. They include:

• New year-round opportunities: ocean whitefish, California scorpionfish, leopard shark, soupfin shark, Dover sole, English sole, arrowtooth flounder, spiny dogfish, skates, ratfish, grenadiers, finescale codling, Pacific cod, Pacific whiting, sablefish, and thornyheads will now be open year-round in all depths, statewide.

• Boat-based fishing for California sheephead will open statewide from March 1 through Dec. 31. Regardless of fishing mode, the bag limit will decrease from five fish to two fish.

The recreational groundfish fishery is subject to in-season regulatory changes to meet harvest goals.

To stay informed, visit CDFW’s summary of recreational groundfish fishing regulations webpage before fishing.

Copper rockfish are highly variable in coloration, ranging from a dark reddish brown, with pale copper blotching along the sides, to a lighter pinkish brown with a yellowish-white mottling on the flanks.

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Something to Consider— The Importance of Balancing the Weight on Your Boat

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

Supervising the load onboard your boat starts before you take off and continues throughout your entire time spent o ut on the water. Keeping an eye on your boat’s load is essential, and your safety, efficiency, and handling will increase and improve. Some boats carry a yacht certification which the National Marine Manufacturers Association provides to confirm that a particular boat model has been manufactured to meet all ABYC standards of safety, design, and construction—this will help you organize the load on your boat. However, if that’s not your case, apply this formula: The recommended number of people equals boat length (in feet) and boat width (in feet) divided by 15.

Rule number one is never to exceed the capacity rating of your boat. Find the capacities listed in pounds and persons, engraved or imprinted upon a plaque or sticker near the helm. Know that for the purposes of capacity, a person equals 150 pounds. So, if your linebacker-sized guest comes on board, count them as two people.

Weight distribution on your boat starts with the center of gravity and trim. Trim is the running angle of the boat as it makes its way through the water. The boat’s center of gravity (CG) is the point where downward (gravitational) forces focus. The center of buoyancy (CB) is where the upward (floating) forces focus and should always line up vertically under the CG while at rest.

According to Dave Gerr, noted naval architect and dean of the Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology, you can assume that the center of gravity and buoy-

ancy is 60 to 65 percent aft of the bow on almost any planing hulls. Putting the CG on the aft third helps a boat quickly plane but makes it more sensitive to trim and weight issues. When the weight distribution is focused around the calculated CG, it will find its best speed, fuel economy, and handling. But that’s only sometimes practical. Sometimes adding weight in the wrong place will alter a boat’s CG or CB away from the ideal spot.

Rough water, engine power, weather forecast, tide schedule, and wiggle room for all aboard to coexist should also play a part when configuring the layout of the load going on your boat to help the weight distribution. For example, while your boat may hold so many guests, how well will it run through the inlet when heavily loaded if the tide turns? Always take a minute to consider the possibilities and err on the side of caution.

Along with the math, experience-based indicators tell you when your boat, or a boat you happen to be aboard, is overloaded. A boat that heels or rolls excessively may be overloaded, mainly if it shows a very deep, slow roll (heavily ballasted displacement craft excepted). Struggling to achieve a plane is another indicator of excess weight aboard, though a weak or underpowered engine could also be the culprit. In addition, a boat that shows its waterline below the water’s surface, or one in which the cockpit drains are entirely submerged, is another indication that the boat may be overloaded. Hopefully, your boat is not slow to rise to the waves, which is often an indicator of too much weight aboard.

As explained, these commonsense overload indicators come with caveats. Use them as part of a greater awareness— an expansion of your boat sense. If one crops up, investigate, read the capacity plate, and alert the captain or owner.

Another tip is if you load the stern with heavy gear, store some equipment

in the bow to neutralize it. Keep all the big guys from sitting to port; try to place them on opposing cushions. And if you add aftermarket items, consider how they’ll alter weight distribution and make adjustments.

Another rationale for managing weight can be financial. Excess weight costs more fuel to carry along the water. So, avoid filling the livewell until neces-

sary. Carry spares and backups of equipment, but don’t store enough to stock an entire marine store on board and leave the beach gear and toys on the dock if the seasons don’t permit it.

Before setting sail, take an inventory of your gear, heed capacity plates, trust your boat sense, and, in all cases, when loading a boat, place safety first.

Navigating the people and weight on your boat ensures safety for all. Here are suggestions for coordinating the weight onboard.

Too many guests gathering at the same spot on the boat can shift the weight on board and weaken the safety of everyone aboard.

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Fish Get Sick Too— But Should Anglers be Concerned?

While we linger in flu season, it’s a reminder that we aren’t the only ones who get sick– so do fish. But is it something for anglers to worry about? In addition, here is what to look for and the effects a sick fish can have on humans, the environment, its habitat, and the fishing industry.

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

For those who had a fish tank as a kid, it’s highly likely that your aquarium fish got sick at one time or another. That could have been ich, the visible white spots on your fish, their lack of buoyancy, or their balance. Unfortunately, when we are in control of the fish’s habitat, we sometimes make mistakes that cause the fish to get sick. But what about in oceans, rivers, and lakes where anglers fish?

Well, fish in the wild can indeed get sick, but it is not so much of a concern for anglers since sick fish tend to be less active and less likely to bite lures or bait. According to The CDFW’s Fisheries Veterinarian, Kevin Kwak, the clinical signs of sickness in wild fish are very similar to what happens to aquarium fish at home.

“Some other clinical signs I would add are lethargy, color change, flashing (where they are scratching themselves), and open wounds,” said Kwak in an email from Dec 29. “Different diseases can manifest differently during an outbreak. There can be other factors that decrease survival. Some of these factors can depend on the type of pathogen/disease infecting the fish, the severity of the infection, where on or in the fish the infection/disease occurs, the age of [the] fish, environmental conditions, the ability in finding shelter, and avoiding predation.”

Other diseases can be genetic, chemical, etc. According to Kwak, a disease isn’t always caused by an infectious agent like a pathogen, and a pathogen doesn’t always cause disease. Three main factors usually cause disease by a pathogen. There needs to be a pathogen, the appropriate host, and the right conditions. When all three are present, you typically will see disease.

“There are a wide variety of illnesses and issues that can occur – just as with other living organisms,” said Peter Tira, information officer for CDFW. “Sometimes it is species or site specific – such as parasites that can infest fish in a certain body of water. The only illness that seems to be newsworthy at the moment is a thiamine deficiency impacting Chinook salmon. This stems from a lack of thiamine or Vitamin B1 in their diet, and we mostly see the ramifications when they spawn and in their offspring. Not something anglers would notice necessarily, but it’s im-

pacting wild salmon reproduction.”

Most fishermen have caught fish with evidence of diseases such as infected eye sockets, fins, gills, or body sores. This can often raise concerns about the health of the lake and its fish, yet rarely is this concern merited. These organisms all exist in healthy ecosystems, just as in terrestrial environments, and some fish will always be found with disease.

“There are some pathogens that can be transmitted to humans (zoonotic disease), but this is rare,” said Kwak. “Practicing good hygiene, such as washing your hands after handling a fish, using gloves, and cooking fish thoroughly, will minimize your risk. You should also follow any public announcements/postings (such as heavy metal warnings, domoic acid closures, etc.) related to fish/shellfish and guidance from the Department of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (DEHHA). If there is any question, contact your physician and make sure to give a thorough history, including what you recently consumed or touched.”

However, sick fish can cause other problems that might not have been considered. According to Kwak, if there are threatened or endangered fish in the ecosystem, they become at risk for infection and potentially dying. If it is a massive die-off, this can be unappealing to the public, and the odor can become a nuisance. This event can also attract other animals to the area. These animals can transfer pathogens (attached to their hair, feathers, or in their feces) to different ecosystems that are not yet infected. The rotting fish carcasses can also worsen the water quality or provide opportunities for other pathogens, like some bacteria, to increase their presence.

People can unknowingly transfer pathogens to other bodies of water, especially to freshwater ecosystems. For example, pathogens can attach to waders or other fishing equipment and catch a ride if the angler goes to another body of water or the gear doesn’t dry out before their next outing. This remains true for boats that take on water and aren’t completely dried out before the next body of water it’s used in.

“Some fish have learned to live with some infectious pathogens like Lernea (anchor worms),” said Kwak. “Anchor worms are external parasites that can be found in lakes and reservoirs. When rainbow trout start spending more time in warm water columns within a lake, they can be parasitized with Anchor worms. This infection can be unsightly since the fish develop external sores that angler sees when they catch the fish. However, they typically do not contaminate the meat, and the fish can be consumed.”

But when the lakes and reservoirs cool down in the winter, the incidence of infection dramatically decreases and is reported less. Therefore, this pathogen can be present with reduced concern for fish, the ecosystem, and its habitat.

Sick fish can also be an indication that something is off balance, according to Kwak. It can be water quality issues, water temperature, food availability, or

Different diseases will display in various forms on and in a sick fish. However, when a fish is sick, its appearance and behavior will noticeably change.

a new pathogen and/ or predator. There can be multiple factors to consider. Thus, it is essential to do a thorough investigation. For example, anchor worms can indicate that the water temperature is overall warmer if earlier and later reports of infected fish are recorded.

Seeing one sick fish doesn’t necessarily mean that a whole population or ecosystem is affected. When multiple sightings are reported, then your concern would be greater. If you find a concern, take clear pictures and make a report with a thorough history. Fish investigations are difficult and time-sensitive. Fish samples start to deteriorate once the fish dies, and frozen samples limit the examination and exclude some of the diagnostic tests used.

One infectious pathogen, Lernea, also known as anchor worms, will leave visible sores on the fish. As unsightly as the sores look, they don’t usually contaminate the meat and can still be consumed.

One of the most common disease problems encountered by freshwater game fish is generically referred to as “red sore disease.” The red sore disease is a generic term that describes the physical condition of fish rather than referring to a specific disease agent. Fish most frequently affected are game fish, particularly bluegill (bream), largemouth bass, and striped bass and their varying species. The condition is observed in fish from natural waters, recreational fishing ponds, and commercial aquaculture facilities. This problem usually occurs in the spring and fall, and fishermen and pond owners are often concerned by the appearance of red ulcers and sores on their fish. Typically, “red sore disease” is caused by two organisms, Aeromonas hydrophila, a bacterium, and Heteropolaria sp. (formerly Epistylis sp.), a protozoan. Both of these organisms are found in healthy aquatic environments and are ca-

pable of causing disease. Red sore disease will often run its course, and fish may recover without treatment. The primary concern is often not the mortality of fish but the anglers’ rejection by the affected fish because of the diseased appearance. Occasionally red sore disease can reach epidemic proportions, contributing to significant mortality (more than 10 percent) of game fish, but this is rare.

Another type of bacteria that causes disease in fish, reptiles, and other amphibians is mycobacterium marinum, a non-tuberculous mycobacterium This germ is found in freshwater ponds and aquariums and can infect humans and animals through contaminated water when exposed to injured skin. All fish are susceptible to mycobacteriosis. This disease is typically slow growing in fish but can affect some fish more quickly. Affected fish may show no signs of illness or stop eating, lose their fins or scales, develop sores, or appear deformed.

To prevent getting sick from an infected fish, remember to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling fish.

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Catalina Connection

Annual Avalon Benefit 50k/50 Mile Run

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

AVALON — On Jan. 7, The 42nd Annual Avalon Benefit 50k/50 Mile Run will take place from 5 a.m.- 5 p.m., beginning at Crescent and the Pier Avalon to benefit the Avalon Lions Club, which supports local charities. The 50-mile run will take place from 5 a.m.-5 p.m., and the 50K run will go from 6 a.m.- 5 p.m. The Avalon Lions Club and event management company Spectrum Sports organize the race.

The Avalon Benefit, 50 Mile/50K Run, is California’s oldest Ultra Trail Run. It was originally just the 50-mile run. The 50K joined the event in 2018 and instant-

ly became a California classic in trail running traversing the same trails that the older run uses.

Participating in the Avalon Benefit 50Mile/50K gives runners an up-close and personal experience of one of California’s natural running trails across Catalina Island. Runners will experience Catalina’s vistas and views of the Pacific Ocean, see a bison or two and say hi to some of the volunteers and aid stations. It costs $120 to participate in the 50-mile run and $110 for the 50k— runners must register in advance online at https:// www.avalon50.com.

The run begins and ends in Avalon,

and in between, runners will have to run the entire length of the island - and back. After the race has concluded, several award tiles and trophies will be given to overall winners according to age groups.

“The age group awards are made by local artist Robin Cassidy at Silverado Canyon,” said Mike Bone, President of Spectrum Sports. “Finisher medals are also provided to each finisher of both races; these are sustainable, wood medals.”

For questions about this race, please contact the race director at info@spectrumsports.net.

CALENDAR EVENTS AT SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

SeaWorld Inside Look

SAN DIEGO — From January 14-16, SeaWorld will be offering SeaWorld’s Inside Look, a unique event that will take guests behind the scenes and give them an inside look into what it takes to maintain a zoological institution such as SeaWorld San Diego. The tour will let guests learn what it takes to be on the SeaWorld Rescue Team and will dive deeply into the world of orcas, dolphins, sharks, and more. Guests will hear and see firsthand everything it takes to provide the animals with care.

The park will be open from 10

a.m.-7 p.m., and the Inside Look tour is included with the price of admission.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit https://www. sandiego.org/members/attractions/ seaworld-san-diego/events/seaworld-inside-look.aspx.

SeaWorld Mardi Gras

SAN DIEGO —For select dates from Jan. 21- Feb. 27, SeaWorld San Diego will bring Mardi Gras excitement to San Diego. The New Orleans-styled carnival event will be accompanied by live music provided by the Good Time Jazz

band, colorful costumes, and Mardi gras infused creole and cajun foods like jambalaya, beignets, and more. Throughout the day, performers will put on shows near the Sky Tower stage to show off their costumes and lead family-friendly games and activities.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit https://seaworld.com/san-diego/ events/mardi-gras/.

The 50K race joined the party five years ago and instantly became a California classic in trail running traversing all the same trails that the older run uses.

The almost 59-year-old theme park offers events monthly, from educational purposes to family-friendly experiences.

Image courtesy of Mike Bone; Spectrum Sports

Sailing

First Comes Gybing Then Comes Tacking

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

Gybing is the sailing maneuver that changes a boat’s direction through the following wind. As with the tacking maneuver, gybing a sail boat calls for the crew to work together as a team and is one of the first sailing skills to learn.

When a boat is sailing downwind, with the wind blowing from behind the yacht, it may need to change course so that the stern goes through the wind. This action requires the sailing maneuver called a gybe, where the sails move f rom one side of the boat to the other.

The aim is to turn the stern smoothly through the wind onto the new course in as controlled a manner as possible. This means the mainsail boom must be handled carefully through the turn, and the boat must not be allowed to swing around and turn sideways to the wind, causing it to heel over.

When tacking, the gybe maneuver calls for a well-coordinated crew and clear instructions from the skipper and helm.

Gybe maneuver

The gybe maneuver can involve two or three crew members and goes as follows:

• The skipper or helm decides it is time to gybe and alerts the crew.

• Helm calls, “Ready to gybe!”

• The mainsheet is pulled in to bring the boom to the center line.

• If there is a mainsheet traveler, this is cleated to hold the boom in place.

• One or two crew members control each jib sheet w inch, depending on the boat’s size and the number of crew available.

• A crew member then puts two t urns of the slack or “lazy” jib sheet around the winch (crewmember A) on its side of the cockpit and pulls in the slack. Another crew member un-cleats t he “working” jib sheet, keeping it tight on the winch (crewmember B).

• The helm turns the boat slowly to allow the wind direction to pass from one side of the stern to the other. Once the turn is complete, the helm calls, “Gybe-oh!”

• As the boat turns, the headsail blows from one side of the bow to the other. The crew on the working sheet eases and releases the sheet from winch (B).

• The crew on winch (A) then pulls in the new working sheet. The winch handle is inserted into the top of the winch, the crew winches in the sheet,

and the sail is trimmed for the new course.

• The helm steers the boat onto its new course, and the mainsail is let out on the new side.

• Both sails are then trimmed for the new course.

Additional tips:

• It is crucial to sheet in the mainsail to the centerline before gybing, to pre -

ing at 12 p.m. on the Regatta Patio that is mandatory for all skippers and crew. The first warning will go off at 1:30 p.m. The race costs a $25 entry fee. For questions about the event, please email raceoffice@lbyc.org. To register for the event, please visit https://bit.ly/3jCvQpb.

Rookie Regatta & Seminar (Jan 21)

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

2023 Saturday Solin Regatta Series (Jan. 21)

LONG BEACH — On Jan. 21, the Long Beach Yacht Club will host the first Saturday Soiling Regatta in a series of seven races spread throughout 2023. The race is available to club soling classes. There is a competitors meet -

DANA POINT— On Jan. 21, the Dana Point Yacht Club will host the Rookie Regatta and Seminar from 8 a.m.- 5p.m. The event will kick off with a continental breakfast, then move to a basic r ules and tactics seminar presented by North U, where racers will learn racing basics in a casual environment. Lunch will then take place, followed by the Rookie Regatta. Finally, there will be a post-race debrief followed by a trophy presentation.

Registration is available and can be completed through the Regatta Net -

work at https://www.regattanetwork. com/clubmgmt/applet_registration_ form.php?regatta_id=25567.

2023 Opening Day Race (Jan. 28)

SAN PEDRO — On Jan. 28, the Los Angeles Yacht Club will host the 2023 Opening Day Race. This series will be governed by the “rules” as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and the US Safety Equipment Requirements (USSER), US Nearshore Race level, except as modified by this notice of race and sailing instructions. This race is open to yachts possessing a current Southern California PHRF handicap. Cruising class or Wooden Hull class yachts with a SoCal PHRF certificate will use their applicable PHRF rating, Area C, and Random Leg. A minimum of four entries will be required to establish a class. Entry fees shall be $50, and a current PHRF certificate must accom-

thing.

vent the boom from swinging across i n a dangerous, uncontrolled manner. In sailing, a sheet is a line used to control a sail’s movable corner(s).

• All crew should keep their heads well down away from the boom during a gybe if it swings across unexpectedly.

Stay tuned for next week when we learn about the maneuver, tacking.

pany all entries. Entries must be received by 6 p.m. on Jan. 26. Late entries will only be accepted with the approval of the Race Committee Chairman. The warning signal for the first class will be at 12:55 p.m. Subsequent starts, if required, will follow the first start. The racing area will be in the vicinity of Los Angeles Harbor, with the starting area (SF1 on course chart 2014 attached) approximately 1.5 nautical miles NE of the Los Angeles Harbor Entrance inside the middle breakwater area. The finish will also be in the same area as SF1. Trophies will be presented as possible after the completion of the racing. Take-home trophies for the event will be awarded in each class on the following basis: up to 4 entries, 1 trophy; 5 to 7 entries, two trophies; 8 or more entries, three trophies for corrected time finishes. For more information, please visit L AYC.org.

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Gybe or Gybing can also be spelled jibe or jibing. However, both mean the same

ON THE HORIZONS

New Year’s Resolutions for Boaters

Ahoy Sailors, the Holidays have come and gone, and we have taken down all our boat’s decorations. So now is as good a time as ever to set some New Year resolutions that will benefit your 2023 boating season. To stay on theme, our next issue will talk about all the devices and equipment you should check or replace before the boating season picks up!

5.

Reduce your waste.

It’s crucial to stop ocean plastic pollution. Go through your c abin and swap out disposable containers for reusable ones. M ake a conscious effort never to let trash g et thrown or blown overboard, or foreign material enter the water. This can harm marine life, so work harder to protect your waters.

6. Random acts of boating kindness.

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

Welcome to 2023. For boating enthusiasts struggling to come up with a New Year’s resolution, here are ten suggestions that will bring you new adventures and prepare you for another year of safe and exciting boating.

1. Work on your boat operating skills.

Whether it’s backing into a slip or navigating via a compass (particularly important if your electronics break), challenge yourself by setting a goal to improve at least one boat-handling skill.

2. Try something out of your comfort zone.

This year, try pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. This could be boating to a new destination, trying your hand at new sailing maneuvers, or maybe even letting your teenager take the wheel with you right by their side.

3. Organize and stay organized.

Boating resolutions aren’t very different than any others. Tackle spring cleaning a couple of months early and untangle that pile of boat stuff in your cabin, garage, basement, or both. Start with neatly coiling lines. Ensure PFDs are stowed a way on the boat, and check all your equipment to ensure it is working and up to code after resting during the off-season. Finally, straighten up your boat’s interior; nothing beats an organized vessel.

4. Try a new watersport.

Boating doesn’t have to mean staying on board. This year, try your hand at waterskiing, wakeboarding, or other water sports. This could also apply to other water activities. For example, take a whack at deep-sea fishing or participate in your yacht club’s regatta.

A new year can mean turning over a new leaf— practice kind boating etiquette. This could be offering to catch someone’s dock lines as they move into their slip or letting someone go before you on the boat ramp. Make small changes to be kind to other boaters.

If you’re the type of person who makes New Year’s resolutions for yourself, try modifying some to cater to your 2023 boating interests.

7.

Raft up!

Join a local raft-up and make some new friends. You already have a love of boating in common, so it will be easy. Just make sure you research safety protocols when rafting up to other boats.

8. Improve your nautical skills.

2023 is the year to impress your boat guests with your newly enhanced nautical skills. Try learning how to read a nautical chart or learn to tie your knots better. This could even be brushing up on boating facts and regulations so you ensure everyone on board is safe under your watch.

9.

Register your EPIRB.

An EPIRB lets search-and-rescue teams know where you are if something goes wrong. The device can home in on your position using GPS coordinates that the EPIRB sends out—presuming you have registered the EPIRB properly.

You can go to someone at your local ACR Electronics to make it easy for you to register your device, no matter where you live. Their website lets you type in your home country and automatically click through to where you should input your data.

A lso worth noting is that the U.S. Power Squadrons recommends that you take an extra registration step to ensure that the U.S. Coast Guard can cor-

relate distress data as it comes in during a search. Then, follow the Power Squadrons website steps, and you’re good to go cruising.

10. Check your equipment.

I briefly mentioned this in tip number three but let’s expand. Check your flares. Emergency flares expire 42 months after they’re made, meaning boaters must replace them after only a few seasons on the water. So, if you’re out cruising on coastal waters, including the Great Lakes, you must have up-to-date flares.

This handy guide from the U.S. Coast Guard explains the various types of flares that are available and approved. Various combinations are permitted for day and

night use.

Next, consider updating your personal flotation devices. The companies making flotation devices work on upgrades constantly, making them more comfortable while staying within regulations so more people will wear them while enjoying time on their boats. According to BoatUS, more than two-thirds of all boating fatalities are drowning incidents, and 90 percent of drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket.

Those statistics shift in your favor if everyone on board, including the dogs and kids, wears a properly fitting life jacket.

FishRap

TOP CORNER

Tips for Beginners Wanting to Take up Fishing in the New Year

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

You may be considering taking up fishing as a new hobby for 2023. For those who have never caught a fish or even held a rod, here are tips that will help you start your new hobby.

A very important part of fishing is your lure— lures come in various colors and designs. It is helpful to match your lure color to the color of the water you’re fishing in. Of course, you never know precisely what color lures the fish will prefer on any given day, so if you’re not catching anything, try adjusting your colors. However, as a general rule, start by choosing lures that match the water’s color.

• In green water, lime or chartreuse is a good choice.

• In clear water, go for white or pearl.

• And in tannic-stained water, a root beer-styled color will often prove effective.

The shape and size of your lure is important as well. Choose a lure shape and size that lets you “match the hatch.” When predators feed on a school of small, thin fish like anchovies, a small, thin spoon that’s the same shape and size as those baitfish will often prove successful. On the contrary, using a five-inch lure with a wide body in the same scenario may not get a bite.

The profile and length of your lure are important features in this regard because your target may be accustomed to the shape and size of the native baitfish and ignore other offerings.

Next, you should appropriately fit your gear for the size of fish you want to catch— don’t try to get one-size-fits-all rods and reels. The 12-pound-class casting reel anglers use for bass is too heavy for tossing the tiny jigs and spinners that black crappie likes to bite. Likewise, the four-pound-class ultralight ideal for casting micro-jigs to that crappie can’t endure a big largemouth bass. Gear that claims to work for multiple-sized fish won’t be ideal for either task. Rather than trying to make do, get equipment sized for the species you are targeting.

Taking a step back from gear and lures, you might be fishing a style that allows for trolling. If you are taking a shot at trolling (motoring slowly while you tow lures behind the boat), before releasing the lines, hold your lures next to the boat and watch them to ensure they’re swimming realistically. If they look lethargic, try speeding up the boat. Contrarily, if they seem spastic, slow down. This will help you set the most effective boat speed to compliment your lure while also ensuring that you don’t accidentally let out a lure that’s spoiled, damaged, or not swimming correctly.

Fishing line is another variable in the equation for a good fishing experience, and there are many different types of line. As a rule of thumb, remember that braided lines have high sensitivity and great hook-setting power, making them ideal for fishing with lures. On the other hand, monofilament lines have less sensitivity and can stretch quite a bit, making it ideal for when fish begin nibbling on the

bait.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but you should always use new hooks or sharpen your old hooks before casting. Believe it or not, a lot of people go out fishing with their dull old hooks, and while that might catch them a fish or two, there is no doubt they would have had more success with a sharp hook.

Reel drag is also important. The drag is a pair of friction plates inside fishing reels. If the fish pulls on the line hard enough, the friction is overcome, and the reel rotates backward, letting the line out, which prevents the line from breaking. Use a scale to set your reel’s drag. The drag allows a fish to take line instead of pulling against it—causing it to snap; having it set correctly is essential. Most people give a tug on the line until it feels right to them. Unfortunately, that’s a subpar substitute for tying your line to a hand scale and setting the drag to one-third of the line’s rated breaking strength, which is commonly regarded as ideal.

After you have properly assembled your equipment and know the basic dos and don’ts, start considering whether and the environment. You can fish early or late. Many fish species bite the most

at dawn and dusk in ambient sunlight. During the mid-day hours, cloud cover can make for better fishing, and in direct sunlight (primarily during summer heat), look for shaded areas. Fish often seek shade when it’s hot and sunny and become more active during hours of the day with lower temps—like us.

In addition to the time of day, if you’re fishing in saltwater, consider the tides and currents before heading out—the ebbing and flowing of the tides greatly impact how, when, and where saltwater fish feed.

Last but not least, do your research. Although this article is just a jumping-off point into the sport of fishing, there is so much information out there that can help you catch fish.

Newport Landing Sportfishing Facebook photo

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FISHING NEWS

Use lures that match the color of the water you are fishing in. Murky green water goes great with a lime green or chartreuse lure.

Santa Brought Sheephead and Trigger Fish!

WHAT IS FISH SPAWNING, AND DOES IT AFFECT YOUR FISHING?

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

If you’re heavily involved in the fishing industry, you may have heard the term spawn or spawning, but do you know exactly what it means? Spawning is fish mating and producing offspring. Here is a breakdown of spawning and how it affects the fishing community.

Spawn is used to describe the process of how to mate fish and reproduce. It is very different from the usual ways of reproduction that mammals have. While fish have a spawning season, humans can also induce the process.

If you’re an avid angler and don’t know about fish spawning, that’s normal. However, if you don’t know, you should learn more. A fish’s behavior switches when they’re s pawning. Knowing when your target fish is spawning a nd how it changes its behavior can h elp you modify your methods for a more successful fishing trip.

Most fish follow specific spawning patterns, although that pattern changes in each particular type of fish. M any move locations when laying their eggs or give birth in special places or by specific underwater terrain for protection. Some fish, like salmon, are almost always caught during their spawning season.

ferences for different types of fish. Those distinctions include the time of the year, the age of the fish participating, and their behaviors when spawning. In addition, different types of fish have different strategies when it comes time to spawn, and they have to worry about other threats.

Fish reproduce in one of three ways. They can reproduce by livebearing, spawning, or by themselves. Livebearing is similar to the way mammals reproduce. Some fish can even switch their gender, which means they can go through the entire process independently. But, the most common way for fish to produce is by spawning. Spawning happens when

Salmon lay their eggs in multiple streams and rivers. Depending on the species, a female salmon will lay anywhere from 1,500 to 7,000 eggs in a nest or redd she has created by making a shallow depression in the stream bottom. The male fertilizes the eggs, and then both fish push gravel over them to protect them.

Understanding when fish spawn will make you a better angler, and you can either anticipate and avoid the spawning s eason or use your knowledge to catch spawning fish when they change habitat.

In addition, some fish are also known to become highly territorial before they spawn, often pushing each other out of their prime habitat. For example, fish on spawning gravel have been observed picking up sculpins, shaking them, and spitting them away from the area. Biologists believe this is to protect already existing redds from predation or to evict t hem from the area a fish may want to dig. A redd is the general location selected by a female for laying eggs. The interesting thing about this observation is that the fish (trout were observed in this case) do not eat the sculpins when this takes place. Instead, they do it to kill them or get them out of their territory.

Although the concept of spawning is the same for all fish, there are some dif-

the female lays her eggs in the water. The male will then come and fertilize as many eggs as he can. This can also be done when a person holds the pregnant female and slowly rubs one hand down the belly of the fish, forcing all the eggs out and “squirted” into a container. Next, the person grabs the male and makes the same motion down the center of the fish’s belly, extracting the male’s “milk” and combining it with the female’s extracted eggs, causing fertilization.

Whether or not a fish lays eggs depends on the species of fish. Some fish birth live fish, while others lay eggs. Females laying their eggs for the males to fertilize is the most common form of reproduction among fish. The female fish can leave anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of eggs.

So, before your next outing to the lake, river, or ocean, research your target fish to understand their spawning season before you get out on the water. The more you know, the more fish you can catch. In addition, since spawning can drastically affect a fish’s behavior, learning when and how they spawn can improve your success while fishing.

Shutterstock image

san diego fish report

STORMY WEATHER CONDITIONS HINDER THE SALTWATER FISHING EFFORT AT THE START OF 2023

By Bob Vanian of 976Bite.com

• The 2023 fishing season is upon us but those that wanted to get out on the water and do some fishing on New Year’s Day had to put those plans on hold as there was a storm passing through Southern California that brought Gale Warnings and a combination of strong winds, high seas and rain. The New Year’s Day storm and its Gale Warnings have now passed but the weather is still unsettled with the 10 day forecast calling for several more days of unsettled weather. Anglers and Skippers should keep a close eye on the marine weather forecast so they can plan their days of fishing for days of good weather.

• Prior to the New Year’s Day storm there were still bluefin tuna biting out at the Tanner Bank. The bluefin bite was not at the near limit to limit levels of the prior week but there were still some pretty good numbers of bluefin biting to go with good number of assorted bottom fish species. Two recent sportboat trips that found biting start with Tribute out of Seaforth Sportfishing that had a 1.5 day trip

with 29 anglers catch 10 bluefin tuna, 115 rockfish, 50 whitefish, 13 sheephead and 4 lingcod. The other trip was out of 22nd Street Landing that had Amigo fishing an overnight trip with 15 anglers catch 14 bluefin tuna, 142 whitefish and 136 rockfish.

• Most of the bluefin around the Tanner Bank have been in the 18 to 40 pound range with some bigger fish to 65 pounds also in the mix. The best bluefin fishing has been in the dark and during the early morning hours and lot of the bluefin fishing is being done while anchored. A good bluefin zone has been anchored to the north and the northeast of the Tanner Bank high spot. Best baits and jigs for the bluefin have been live squid, sardines, knife jigs and Flat Fall jigs. Squid has been able to be jigged for bait at night at the Tanner Bank but it is usually a good idea to get squid for your bait tank wherever you might find it be it from a mainland bait receiver of from a squid boat at Catalina or elsewhere. It will be interesting to see what will happen with the Tanner Bank blue-

fin fishing after the passing of the New Year’s Day storm and its gale force winds.

• There has not been much to report in the way of bluefin activity from other local offshore areas with recent weeks seeing occasional bluefin activity found in the region of the 178 Spot, 9 Mile Bank, Kidney Bank and at some of the offshore banks outside of Ensenada. Not much if anything has been caught from these areas in some time. There are reports of some larger bluefin to 240-plus pounds being caught further down the Mexican coast in an area that I understand to be between 150 and 180 miles from Point Loma.

• The other offshore fishing that had been producing occasional action before the recent bad weather was deep drop fishing for swordfish. The swordfish bite has been slowing overall but there have still been a few people giving it a try that were seeing some good signs on the fathometer and getting a very occasional bite. It has been over 2 weeks since I have heard news of a hookup but I am thinking that some people will want to go out and try to catch the first swordfish of 2023 once the weather calms down. The areas that have been showing signs of possibly holding swordfish have been the 9 Mile Bank, the 178 Spot,

the Radar Dome at San Clemente Island, the 152 Spot off the East End of Catalina, the Avalon Bank and the area 3.5 to 8 miles off Newport Beach.

Full story will be found online. Bob Vanian is the voice, writer, and researcher of the San Diego-based internet fish report service called 976-Bite which can be found at www.976bite. com. Vanian also provides anglers with a personal fish report service over the telephone at (619) 226-8218. He always welcomes your fish reports at that same phone number or at bob976bite@aol. com.

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