28 • Feb. 12 - 25, 2016 • The Log


Fat Catfish at Santa Ana River Lakes


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Pico Rivera resident Henry Manzo caught and released a 50-pound catfish on Jan. 22. He reeled in the monster using mackerel at the catfish lake during a night session. Manzo was not the only one mak- ing big catches late last month. The staff at Santa Ana River Lakes reported at least 10 trout weigh- ing 10 pounds or more were caught in late January, including an 18-pound and 1-ounce trout at Sandy Beach and 14-pound, 8-ounce trout at Levitz corner.


Southern California fishing news Wrestling with a Sea Bass


Veteran kayak angler Brian Fagan, 56, made a massive catch off the coast of San Diego during the final weekend of January. He launched his kayak from La Jolla before sunrise on Jan. 28 and started fishing at the crack of dawn. Almost immediately he was in a battle with what he thought was a black sea bass. Fagan, who has made more than 300 kayak fishing trips in his life, narrates his experience in reeling in a white sea bass: “On Thursday, Jan. 28, I launched out of La Jolla at 5 a.m. By 6 a.m. I had made bait (green mackerel) and started fishing just at gray light. Five minutes later I hooked into what I thought was a black sea bass because it was so heavy and I couldn’t budge it from the bottom. It towed me around for 35 minutes. When I finally got the fish to color I was in disbelief. I quickly sunk the gaff into her and boated the fish. Happy days! “I had the fish weighed up at Dana Landing


and she went 74.2 pounds with a 32-inch girth. She was 5 feet long and had a tail width of 12 inches.”


Northern California Assemblyman questions fishing gear designation


State representative collects signatures to challenge an agency’s work plan.


By Parimal M. Rohit


SACRAMENTO — A state legislator from Plumas Lake, California penned a letter to the deputy director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) on Feb. 1 to challenge the state agency’s designation of the fishing weights and gear as a priority product for review as part of the agency’s 2015 work plan. Assembly member James Gallagher


(R-Plumas Lake) stated he and his fel- low signatories were concerned about fishing weights and gears being target- ed for review without a “lack of con- crete evidence.” “The rationale for putting fishing


weights and gear in a product category does not seem compelling,” Gallagher wrote to DTSC Deputy Director Meredith Williams earlier this month.


“There have not been any reports of increased lead exposure amongst sports fishers and the work plan presents evi- dence that is either mere conjecture or speculation. We are concerned about the lack of concrete evi- dence backing [the department’s] decision and the adverse eco- nomic effects incurred on consumers and the sport fishing industry if DTSC decides to regulate or ban these products.” Williams previously told FishRap the published Draft Priority Product Work Plan was a starting point to determine if any regulation is neces- sary. Whether any policies or regula- tions result from the plan remains to be seen. Gallagher’s two-page letter, which was co-signed by 23 State Senators and


James Gallagher (R-Plumas Lake)


Assembly members, could accordingly be seen as a preemptive strike. The Assembly member added any ban on fishing weights and gears, if for- malized, would adversely affect recreational angling. He cited a Department of Fish and Wildlife statistic crediting the fishing industry con- tributing more than $4.9 million annually in eco- nomic activity. “A ban would threaten


local tourism and the billions of dollars of economic activity fishing provides,” Gallagher stated. “Aside from the dearth of scientific evidence to support including fishing tackles and weights as a priority product for potential reg- ulation, the cost to Californians who enjoy fishing and our outdoors would be too onerous. “The numbers of recreational anglers are already declining,”


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Gallagher continued in his letter. “The cost of … [state-issued fishing] licenses increase every year and imposing regu- lations that would raise the cost of sport fishing even more would make fishing cost prohibitive for many out- doorspeople.” The Plumas Lake representative added lead alternatives are becoming more prevalent and any regulation fishing weights and gear would not have any meaningful impact on the environment. “Regulating this small product seg- ment seems superficial with respect to the impact of other consumer prod- ucts,” Gallagher said. “There is also a risk that manufacturer of fishing gear would exit the California market alto- gether if they must develop two differ- ent production and distribution sys- tems. DTSC released its Safer Consumer


Products Final Priority Product Work Plan on April 15, 2015, outlining the department’s priority products and chemicals of concern. Fishing and angling equipment were included on the work plan’s list. Also on the list were building and household prod- ucts, cleaning products, clothing, office furniture, office machinery, and personal care and hygiene products.


Santa Ana River Lakes photo


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