30 • Feb. 26 - Mar. 10, 2016 • The Log Record-setting Wiper fishrap.com By Bob Vanian


Southern California anglers had to travel into Mexican waters to fish for rockfish/groundfish since the annual two-month closure went into effect on New Year’s Day. The end of this year’s closure is March 1. When the closure comes to an end and the season reopens Southern California anglers will once again be able to fish for rock- fish/groundfish on the United States side of the Mexico Border. Anglers heading into Mexican waters to target rockfish continue to do well. Local half-day trips out of San Diego Bay to fish the waters around Los Coronado Islands have been catching some good numbers of rock- fish and three-quarter-day trips target- ing yellowtail in the region of Los Coronado Islands and the Finger Bank have been picking up some good num- bers of rockfish to compliment catches of yellowtail. More distant 1.5-day trips to fish the waters outside of Punta Colnett have been finding excellent fishing with a mix of yellowtail and assorted rockfish making up the catch. The hard bottom to the north and


to the northwest of North Island at Los Coronado Islands has been a produc- tive rockfish zone while fishing in 40 to 50 fathoms of water and another pro- ductive nearby rockfish area has been at the lower end of the 9 Mile Bank while fishing on the Mexico side of the border. Premier out of H&M Landing fished for rockfish in these areas on morning half-day trips and, on its most recent trip, had 17 anglers return with 89 rockfish. Three-quarter-day trips fishing the


region of Los Coronado Islands have been first and foremost targeting yel- lowtail but have also been picking up some rockfish incidental to drifting around some of the yellowtail meter marks and sonar marks. Most of the recent fishing efforts for the yellowtail were below Los Coronado Islands at the Finger Bank. The Finger Bank has been a productive area for both yellow- tail and rockfish. Yellowtail at the Finger Bank are


good sized fish, running from 15 to 20 pounds. The yellows were caught by drifting over sonar marks or meter marks and fishing with yo-yoed iron or with a dropper loop rig that is baited with a live sardine or a live mackerel. The yellowtail are usually found with the electronics and they have been holding about 20 fathoms below the surface near spots of working birds that are working areas of anchovies or red crabs. The yo-yoed iron worked best for the yellowtail and good jig choices have been Salas 6X Jrs, Sumo Jrs, Salas 7X heavy and Tady 4/0 jigs in


Robert Daoud caught the first wiper in nearly two years at Lake Jennings earlier this month. The wiper was caught at the lake’s Sentry Cove and was seen swimming with two other hybrid striped bass. The 8-pound, 2- ounce catch established a new lake and San Diego County record for largest wiper. Daoud’s record catch tops the previous mark of 6 pounds and 2 ounces set in July 2014. The wiper reportedly died before it could be released.


Southern California fishing news Rockfish season reopens March 1


scrambled egg, blue mackerel or green mackerel colors. Punta Colnett is


where the best of the yellowtail action is being found and is also producing very good fishing for an assortment of rock- fish that include quality sized reds, whitefish and lingcod. Sportboats fish- See ROCKFISH page 31


thelog.com


California’s rockfish season officially opens on March 1, ending a 60-day closure. Anglers will be able to reel in rockfish and groundfish north of the U.S.- Mexico border.


Spiny Lobster management plan almost ready for official review


Fish and Game Commission expects to conduct an adoption hearing at April meeting.


By Parimal M. Rohit


SACRAMENTO — State officials contin- ue to flesh out a proposed Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the California spiny lobster. The California Fish and Game Commission reviewed an update of the Spiny Lobster FMP at its Feb. 10 meeting in Sacramento and authorized notice of intent to amend regulations to be published. Proposed regulation amendments include allowing spiny lobster to be measured aboard a vessel, requiring hole punching or fin clipping of retained bugs, and delay- ing the start of the season from 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Hole punched or fin clipped bugs would not be


The state’s Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan will soon be ready for an official vote.


Spiny Lobster FMP through the consen- sus process serves as a model for small and large fishery management plans. “It really is a template, not just


for the individual fisheries management plans but for the master process we’re going through,” Sklar said. “It’s really encouraging we’re bringing this process into the 21st century.” The state’s recreational spiny lob-


ster fishery extends from central San Luis


Obispo County to the U.S.-Mexico border. Commission staff stated the recreational fishery contributes at least $33 million to the California economy annually. State officials hope the Spiny Lobster FMP will prevent


allowed to be released back onto the water. Divers would still be required to measure spiny lobster in the water. An adoption hearing is scheduled for April 13; the FMP could be adopted at the commission’s June 22 meeting. Public comment on the FMP will continue through April 13.


The FMP has been in development since 2012 and aims to guide future sustainable development of the fish- ery. An independent scientific peer review was completed in 2015. Commissioner Eric Sklar said the development of the


the crustaceans from going extinct. “The increase in commercial fishing effort has raised questions about the long-term sustainability of the fish- ery,” Department of Fish and Wildlife staff stated in a report to commissioners. “The recent rise in commercial effort is also accompanied by changes in the dynamics of the recreational fishery. The recreational sector has tradi- tionally been dominated by divers but in the early 2000s the popularity of boat-based hoop nets began to rise.” Susan Ashcraft, a marine advisor with the Department


of Fish and Wildlife, added the Spiny Lobster FMP would help address the fishery’s needs and help maintain its long-term sustainability. “There have been three fishery management plans adopted by this commission,” Ashcraft said. “This is a powerful tool for the department and commission to use.”


California DFW photo


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