Irvine Lake fishing topped by 9-14 rainbow

Here's this week's Irvine Lake fishing report, written by veteran angler Steve Carson:

Excellent trout fishing was again the story at Irvine Lake this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. “The trolling bite is just phenomenal, you can’t keep ‘em off the lures,” observed Getty. “We are seeing well over 100 trout limits a day, and are selling lots of second-limit passes and even a good number of third-limit passes. The bite in the Kids Lagoon is also wide-open on just about any small lure. One 8-year old youngster even caught his first-ever fish in the Lagoon while using a bare hook!”

Getty added, “We will be closed on Thanksgiving Day so that our staff can spend the day with their families, but we will be open regular hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the holiday weekend.”

Most trout filling up the limits are in the 1-to 3-pound category, but a nice mixture of 4-to 9-pounders are spicing up the stringers. Good catches were reported from Trout Island, the west shore, boat dock cove, mid-lake and near the dam. 

Trollers scored better than bait dunkers, but both techniques produced plenty of fish. The “natural” Power Mouse was the best bait choice, made with a white Gulp! Salmon Egg and a nightcrawler. Almost any good trolling lure nailed the fish, with firetiger CD05 Rapalas, or hot pink in the SC Shiner or XR06 X-Rap being the top choices.  

A few bass anglers ventured out during mid-week, tallying up a bout a dozen releases for a few hours' effort. The largemouth ranged up to 3 pounds in size, and were hitting dropshot baits and ripbaits at the red clay cliffs and Rocky Point. Some incidental catfish to 7 pounds were brought in by trout anglers soaking nightcrawlers.  

Action in the Kids Lagoon is very good on Power Bait and small lures, for families with children age 12 and under. 

The water level in the main lake is dropping slowly, with a surface water temperature in the low 60s.

Formal recognition as a new lake record was granted to the 49.6 pound sturgeon caught by Ronson Smothers back during the final weekend of catfish season.

Outstanding catches of the week included:

-- Richard Natividad of Baldwin Park, 9-14 trout on Pautzke’s Eggs at Trout Island.

-- Sam Smith of Lake Forest, 9-10 trout on a Roostertail at the dam.

-- Richard Fish of Mission Viejo, 9-8 trout on Norman crankbait at mid-lake.

-- Michelle Farnsworth of Diamond Bar, 9-0 trout on a nightcrawler at the flats.

-- Travis Peterson of Huntington Beach, 7-4 trout on a Rapala near the dam.

-- 8-year old Brandon Pham of Anaheim, first-ever trout limit on Power Bait at the Lagoon.

Photo: 8-year-old Brandon Pham of Anaheim (with pro angler Marlon Meade) catches his first limit. Credit: Irvine Lake

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 23

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	1	17	1 Calico Bass 1 Sand Bass 1 Sheephead 6 Rockfish 72 Bonito 12 Sculpin
H&M Landing	2	47	1 Calico Bass 2 Sand Bass 3 Sheephead 22 Whitefish 18 Rockfish 24 Lingcod 4 Sculpin 56 Red Snapper 42 Rockcod
Seaforth	3	50	3 Yellowtail 3 Calico Bass 10 Sand Bass 1 Sheephead 101 Rockfish 18 Bonito 1 Sculpin 34 Red Snapper
Mission Bay	1	20	7 Yellowtail 12 Calico Bass 3 Sheephead 25 Whitefish 23 Bonito 18 Red Snapper
Helgren's Oceanside	1	14	3 Calico Bass 12 Sand Bass 3 Sheephead 5 Rockfish 18 Sculpin
Dana Wharf	2	27	21 Calico Bass 28 Sand Bass 10 Sheephead 7 Whitefish 11 Bocaccio 40 Rockfish 23 Sculpin 27 Sand Dab 12 Red Snapper

Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers talks hunting and fishing

I plucked the December/January issue of Outdoor Life from the mailbox Sunday afternoon, shortly after learning that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered what was believed to be a mild concussion in a losing effort against the Kansas City Chiefs.

By strange coincidence I turned to the back page first and there was Big Ben, whose team is the defending Super Bowl champion, talking about how much he loves the much safer pastimes of hunting and fishing--and boasting about how he once bagged three ducks with a single blast.

Here's the brief Q&A:

Outdoor Life: How did you start out?

Ben Roethlisberger: I grew up in Ohio and have been fishing and hunting as long as I can remember with my dad and grandpa. Whether it was bobber-fishing for bluegills or spin-fishing for bass, I'd do it. I'd get out often.

OL: What's your favorite place to fish?

BR: Anyplace there's water! Seriously, though, I've taken my dad to Wyoming to fly-fish and it's been a great experience.

OL: How about hunting?

BR: I've always been more of a bird hunter than a deer hunter. I love to hunt ducks, geese, quail, grouse and turkeys.

OL: What's your most memorable hunting experience?

BR: As a kid, hunting with my dad on the Ohio River, I once got three ducks with one shot.

OL: How does playing football compare to hunting or fishing?

BR: I think my dad said it best when he said, "Being outdoors is still  better than anything else you can do." It's hard, but we always manage to get a day off and I'll get outdoors.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger warms up before a game against the Detroit Lions this season. Credit: Leon Halip/US PRESSWIRE

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 22

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	1	18	1 Sand Bass 4 Sheephead 9 Whitefish 26 Rockfish
Seaforth	6	105	10 Yellowtail 2 Calico Bass 3 Sand Bass 3 Sheephead 277 Rockfish 61 Bonito 24 Lingcod 34 Red Snapper
Dana Wharf	2	29	6 Calico Bass 7 Sand Bass 3 Sheephead 9 Whitefish 3 Bocaccio 58 Rockfish 3 Bonito 47 Sculpin 16 Sand Dab 19 Red Snapper
Davey's Locker	2	33	3 Calico Bass 4 Sheephead 2 Rockfish 22 Sculpin 7 Perch
Newport Landing	1	16	2 Bocaccio 51 Rockfish 17 Red Snapper
Pierpoint Landing	4	74	4 Yellowtail 1 Calico Bass 44 Sand Bass 3 Barracuda 70 Sheephead 81 Whitefish 181 Rockfish 10 Bonito 11 Lingcod 40 Sculpin 98 Perch 1 Cabazon

Trout plants for Southern California during the week beginning Nov. 23

The following is a list of Southern California and Eastern Sierra waters, listed by county, that will be stocked with rainbow trout throughout the week of Nov. 23 by the Department of Fish and Game:

LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Belvedere Lake, Cerritos Lake, Downey Lake, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lake, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Kenneth Hahn Lake, La Mirada Lake, Legg Lakes and Lincoln Park Lake.

ORANGE: Carr Park Lake, Eisenhower Park Lake, Greer Park Lake, Huntington Park Lake and Laguna Lake.

RIVERSIDE: Hemet Lake, Perris Lake and Skinner Lake.

SAN BERNARDINO: Mojave Narrows Regional Park Lake, Prado Park Lake and Silverwood Lake. 

SAN DIEGO: Chollas Park Lake, Lindo Lake and Murray Lake.  

Photo: Unidentified anglers display their catch at Beaver Cove on Crowley Lake. Credit: Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 21

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	2	37	1 Halibut 15 Sand Bass 14 Whitefish 33 Bocaccio 79 Rockfish 29 Bonito 56 Yellowfin Croaker
H&M Landing	5	108	2 Calico Bass 3 Sand Bass 34 Sheephead 38 Whitefish 60 Mackerel 12 Bocaccio 184 Rockfish 85 Bonito 7 Lingcod 1 Sculpin 52 Perch 60 Red Snapper	play
Seaforth	4	79	15 Yellowtail 2 Calico Bass 7 Sand Bass 2 Sheephead 4 Whitefish 124 Rockfish 33 Bonito 34 Red Snapper
Dana Wharf	3	73	47 Calico Bass 18 Sand Bass 1 Barracuda 13 Sheephead 2 Whitefish 1 Rockfish 131 Bonito 7 Sculpin 17 Perch 1 Sargo 29 Sand Dab 16 Red Snapper	play
Davey's Locker	2	18	3 Calico Bass 1 Sand Bass 13 Sheephead 2 Whitefish 9 Bocaccio 30 Rockfish 33 Bonito 1 Sculpin 2 Perch 3 Red Snapper
Newport Landing	2	30	1 Sheephead 50 Rockfish 34 Bonito 2 Sand Dab

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 20

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
H&M Landing	1	11	4 Sand Bass 2 Sheephead 4 Whitefish 14 Rockfish 3 Sculpin 18 Red Snapper
Seaforth	2	37	5 Calico Bass 3 Whitefish 47 Rockfish 4 Bonito 1 Sculpin 12 Red Snapper
Dana Wharf	3	30	16 Calico Bass 18 Sand Bass 24 Sheephead 6 Rockfish 2 Bonito
Davey's Locker	1	8	1 Calico Bass 7 Sheephead 2 Whitefish 5 Rockfish 1 Perch
Newport Landing	1	10	5 Sand Bass 10 Sheephead 9 Whitefish 10 Rockfish 2 Sculpin 10 Perch
Pierpoint Landing	3	29	27 Yellowtail 27 Calico Bass 60 Sand Bass 22 Sheephead 12 Whitefish 19 Rockfish 18 Bonito 29 Sculpin 46 Perch

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 19

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
H&M Landing	2	24	2 Yellowtail 2 Calico Bass 1 Sand Bass 9 Sheephead 1 Whitefish 47 Rockfish 1 Bonito 1 Sculpin
Seaforth	4	56	26 Yellowtail 1 Halibut 14 Calico Bass 4 Sand Bass 5 Sheephead 3 Whitefish 160 Rockfish 17 Bonito 13 Lingcod 3 Sculpin
Dana Wharf	1	20	22 Calico Bass 6 Sand Bass 3 Bonito 1 Sculpin 2 Perch 1 trigger_fish 3 Sargo
Davey's Locker	2	11	2 Yellowtail 3 Calico Bass 2 Sand Bass 1 Barracuda 9 Sheephead 5 Whitefish 6 Bocaccio 18 Rockfish 2 Bonito 1 Lingcod 3 Sculpin 7 Red Snapper
Pierpoint Landing	2	22	1 Sand Bass 26 Sheephead 25 Whitefish 74 Rockfish 2 Lingcod 17 Perch
Long Beach Marina	1	18	3 Sand Bass 7 Sheephead 37 Whitefish 18 Bocaccio 130 Rockfish 1 Lingcod 5 Sculpin 4 Perch 9 Red Snapper

Fish and Game Q&A: Is it legal to recreationally catch shrimp?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday afternoon or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: I am a resident of Northern California and have been an avid “crabber” for quite a while. For a new adventure I’d like to take up “shrimping” but need some information on where to go, when to go and how to catch shrimp. Is it legal to recreationally catch shrimp? If so, what are the seasons and bag limits? Is there still a viable population of shrimp in California? Thanks for any information to point me in the right direction. (Tony M.)

Answer: You may take any type of ocean shrimp in California waters, but spot prawns are the most desirable and sought-after for eating purposes; others are often used for bait. According to senior invertebrate specialist Kristine Barsky, because California’s spot prawns are found so deep – usually 100 fathoms (600 feet) or more – and the bag limit is only 35, most people are not interested in trapping these shrimp recreationally. Check out the crustaceans section of the current Ocean Sport Fishing regulations (beginning on page 55) for the regulations, legal gear, limits and other information you will need to know (CCR Title 14, Sections 29.80 through 29.88).

Officials poison Florida pond that was home to piranha

A retention pond near West Palm Beach, Fla. was purposely poisoned earlier this week after red-bellied piranha were discovered living in it.

The piranha were discovered by a young angler, who hooked one of the fish last month. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists followed up and discovered another one 10 days later.

So on Tuesday, FWC biologists pumped rotenone into the pond, effectively killing every living thing in the water.

"The only way to be sure all of the piranha are gone is to apply a safe-to-use fish toxicant to kill any piranha that might still be present in this pond," Scott Hardin, FWC exotic species leader, said in a news release.

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 18

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Seaforth	1	29	1 Halibut 19 Calico Bass 3 Sand Bass 4 Sheephead 33 Rockfish 8 Bonito 3 Sculpin
Helgren's Oceanside	1	9	7 Sand Bass 5 Rockfish 35 Sculpin 1 trigger_fish
Davey's Locker	1	8	10 Sheephead 3 Perch 1 Cabazon
Newport Landing	1	8	52 Rockfish
Pierpoint Landing	2	29	2 Sand Bass 93 Sheephead 18 Whitefish 12 Bocaccio 39 Rockfish 3 Lingcod 34 Sculpin 10 Perch 1 Cabazon
San Pedro 22nd Street Marina	2	19	8 Calico Bass 11 Sheephead 16 Whitefish 9 Bocaccio 68 Rockfish 135 Bonito 25 Perch 2780 Sand Dab 10 Red Snapper
Redondo	2	21	14 Bocaccio 136 Rockfish 2 Lingcod	play
Marina Del Rey	2	18	8 Calico Bass 54 Sand Bass 60 Rockfish 2 Bonito 5 Sculpin
Channel Islands Sportfishing	1	16	31 Calico Bass 4 Sheephead 10 Whitefish 10 Rockfish 11 Perch	play
Captain Hook's Sportfishing	1	20	128 Rockfish 12 Lingcod

Sierra Nevada resorts and national parks brace for season's first winter storm

The first winter storm of the season is due to arrive Friday and that's welcome news for skiers, snowboarders and other winter sports enthusiasts traveling to such places as Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and Yosemite National Park for the Thanksgiving holiday period.

Here's a Wednesday afternoon alert issued by the National Weather Service: 

THE FIRST WINTER STORM OF THE SEASON WILL MOVE INTO THE CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA INTERIOR FRIDAY AFTERNOON...AND PERSIST OVERNIGHT. SNOW
LEVELS NEAR YOSEMITE WILL DROP TO AROUND 4,000 FEET FRIDAY NIGHT.
TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS IN EXCESS OF 4 INCHES ARE LIKELY ABOVE
5,000 FEET...WITH UP TO A FOOT POSSIBLE OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.
 
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE
TO KINGS CANYON... 

Irvine Lake fishing report includes trout to 13-8

Here's this week's Irvine Lake fishing report, written by veteran angler Steve Carson and issued today:

The phenomenal action of Irvine Lake’s opening weekend just kept right on going this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop.

“The trout bite has been just insane,” quipped Getty. “The fish are biting on the troll, bait and plastics; and trolling is probably best of all right now. The few people not limiting-out are either using line that is too heavy or are not paying attention to what those around them are using.” 

Legendary trout expert Marlon Meade of Anaheim offered a technique that has worked consistently at Irvine Lake so far this season, using the 3-inch Power Trout Worm in 5 to 30 feet of water. “Use a size five or smaller split-shot and a small light-wire fly hook,” Meade said.

“Hooks that are too large make the worm sit on the bottom and will not be effective. When casting from a boat, shore or float tube, let the worm sink to the bottom and start popping or dragging it in. Another technique is 'dead sticking,' which means letting the worm sink and not moving it. The trick is to use a small fly hook for best results,” he said.

At Santa Ana River Lakes, Corona Lake, no ordinary trout will do

In the Eastern Sierra, they're just trout. But at the handful of private, paid-entry lakes in Southern California, they need special qualities or catchy names to lure the crowds.

At Santa Ana River Lakes in Anaheim and Corona Lake alongside Interstate 15 near Corona, they're called Nebraska tailwalkers, Mt. Lassen Sierra ’bows and ruby red steelhead.

The lakes, which are run by the same concessionaire, are adding bonus plants for this weekend and the Thanksgiving holiday week. The Nebraska tailwalkers stocking will include fish to about 10 pounds and the Mt. Lassen 'bows will include fish perhaps upward of 20 pounds.

The Big Fish Bonanza begins the day after Thanksgiving. Click on the blue link for details, and check out some of the whoppers pouring into Santa Ana River Lakes in the video. If you're a trout angler, it should whet your appetite.

-- Pete Thomas

Video: Fried fish that still breathes -- a delicacy or downright distasteful?

I'm a longtime angler who occasionally kills a fish for dinner, but I would not be able to stomach eating a fish in the manner portrayed by Chinese diners in the accompanying video, which has been a popular draw on YouTube.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, as expected, has spoken out against the practice of eating fish from a plate while the fish is still alive and breathing -- which is increasingly common in some parts of the world.

A PETA spokesman called it "disgusting" and added:  "Every decent person should be shocked when anyone mocks or abuses a helpless dying animal."

It's just a carp, some might say. But frying the fish on its side while keeping it alive and breathing when it's placed on the plate seems cruel, and the giddiness of the diners makes it that much more unappetizing. Your thoughts?

-- Pete Thomas

Note: To follow this blog on Twitter please visit @latimesoutposts

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 17

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
H&M Landing	1	15	6 Yellowtail 13 Sheephead 51 Whitefish 10 Bocaccio 60 Rockfish 25 Red Snapper
Seaforth	1	15	1 Calico Bass 4 Sheephead 57 Rockfish 1 Lingcod 3 Sculpin
Dana Wharf	2	58	10 Calico Bass 12 Sand Bass 12 Sheephead 24 Whitefish 49 Rockfish 140 Sculpin 48 Sand Dab
Davey's Locker	2	20	3 Calico Bass 1 Sand Bass 31 Sheephead 12 Bocaccio 16 Rockfish 2 Bonito 18 Sculpin 8 Perch
Pierpoint Landing	2	22	28 Sand Bass 27 Sheephead 88 Whitefish 25 Rockfish 30 Bonito 1 Lingcod 1 Black Sea Bass released 2 Sculpin 20 Perch
Redondo	3	35	14 Calico Bass 9 Sand Bass 10 Sheephead 142 Rockfish 1 Lingcod 6 Sculpin 38 Red Snapper
Marina Del Rey	1	25	1 Sheephead 3 Whitefish 110 Rockfish 5 Sculpin
Channel Islands Sportfishing	1	39	50 Whitefish 60 Rockfish 3 Bonito	play
Captain Hook's Sportfishing	1	23	177 Rockfish 28 Lingcod

Is scientist taking great white shark research too far?

Were you able to watch the National Geographic special, "White Shark Expedition," on Monday night -- and if so, what do you think of the methods utilized by researcher Michael Domeier at remote Guadalupe Island off Baja California?

If you live in the Bay Area, you might also have viewed an ABC News program that was spawned by an incident involving Domeier's team using the same methods at the Farallon Islands off San Francisco. The program featured experts who were critical of the methods, which involve using a team of anglers and a large baited hook attached to a line with buoys.

(There's also a film crew, hence the National Geographic special and related episodes to air next summer.)

The hooked shark struggles until it's completely worn out. It's then lifted onto a platform, where a sophisticated tracking tag is bolted into its dorsal fin. A large hose is used to flush water through the shark's gills, so it can breathe throughout a process that can take 20 minutes.

The sharks usually are hooked in the corner of the mouth -- because of the 24-inch circle hook's design --but in at least one case at the Farallon Islands a shark had to be set free with part of the hook lodged deep in its throat.

The specialized tags have a life span of up to six years, providing real-time data and pinpointing precise locations of migrating sharks. They're important, Domeier says, for researchers seeking a clearer picture of these mysterious predators' life history.

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 16

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup

Boats

Anglers

Fish

Audio

H&M Landing	2	26	3 Sand Bass 14 Sheephead 41 Bocaccio 70 Rockfish 1 Lingcod 1 Thresher Shark 36 Red Snapper
Seaforth	2	43	1 Halibut 16 Calico Bass 18 Sheephead 6 Whitefish 59 Rockfish 8 Sculpin 12 Red Snapper
Dana Wharf	3	42	15 Calico Bass 19 Sand Bass 21 Sheephead 4 Rockfish 71 Sculpin 1 Red Snapper

Angler's capture of 4,600-pound great white shark part of research effort off Baja

"Expedition Great White" airs tonight at 9 p.m. on the National Geographic Channel, and if the accompanying photo is an indication, the footage ought to be spectacular.

The location is Guadalupe Island, 160 miles west of Baja California, a truly spectacular destination and one of the world's largest seasonal gathering places for adult great white sharks. That's where researcher Michael Domeier has been studying the apex predators, and using satellite tags to determine their migration patterns and other habits.

And it's where TV fishing personality Chris Fischer got to play the role of angler -- and literally come face to face with a 4,600-pound white shark -- during a monumental capture aboard his 126-foot mothership, named Ocean.

"Like in the movie 'Jaws,' the first  time we saw a shark come in and eat the bait and then take off and drag the buoys under and across the water it was a life-changing moment as an angler," Fischer said. "The experience of capturing and releasing giant great white sharks is nothing similar to an angling experience of capturing large pelagic fish. There's a sense of  history, a sense of awe, humility and humbleness."

Domeier is a legitimate researcher, but some might question the methods: hooking and hoisting incredibly large sharks from the water -- even if for only brief periods and if great care is utilized -- for tagging, measuring and DNA sampling.

Domeier, however, assures that great care is utilized and that "this is a show about real science ... not science created for TV, which is so often the case."

Tonight's episode is part of a longer series that will air next summer and undoubtedly will shed significant light on the lifestyle of one of the world's most notorious and mysterious predators.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Crew member Jody Whitworth lifts the snout of a great white shark as Capt. Brett McBride removes hydration hose that keeps the predator alive while it's on deck. Credit: National Geographic Channel / Chris Ross

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 15

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Point Loma	3	48	2 Yellowtail 3 Halibut 2 Calico Bass 6 Sand Bass 2 Sheephead 179 Rockfish 38 Lingcod 9 Sculpin 122 Red Snapper
H&M Landing	3	61	1 Calico Bass 18 Sheephead 25 Whitefish 48 Bocaccio 93 Rockfish 1 Lingcod 3 Sculpin 19 Red Snapper
Seaforth	4	76	1 Yellowfin Tuna 5 Yellowtail 9 Calico Bass 8 Sheephead 6 Whitefish 210 Rockfish 16 Bonito 18 Lingcod 13 Sculpin 36 Rockcod
Helgren's Oceanside	1	11	10 Sand Bass 20 Whitefish 12 Rockfish 2 Black Sea Bass released
Dana Wharf	3	35	25 Calico Bass 17 Sand Bass 17 Sheephead 7 Rockfish 40 Sculpin
Davey's Locker	2	41	7 Sheephead 15 Whitefish 2 Rockfish 26 Sculpin 80 Perch 2 Sargo

Trout plants for Southern California during the week beginning Nov. 16

The following is a list of Southern California and Eastern Sierra waters, listed by county, that will be stocked with rainbow trout throughout the week of Nov. 16 by the Department of Fish and Game:

LOS ANGELES: Castaic Lagoon, Castaic Lake, Elizabeth Lake, Hansen Lake, Peck Road Park Lake, Puddingstone Lake, Pyramid Lake and Santa Fe Reservoir.  

RIVERSIDE: Cahuilla Park Lake, Diamond Valley Reservoir and Rancho Jurupa Park Pond.

SAN BERNARDINO: Cucamonga Guasti Park Lake, Glen Helen Park Lake, Seccombe Park Lake and Yucaipa Lake.  

SAN DIEGO: Cuyamaca Lake.

SANTA BARBARA: Cachuma Lake.

VENTURA: Casitas Lake, Piru Lake and Rancho Simi Park Lake.

IMPERIAL: Sunbeam Lake and Weist Lake.

Photo: Rainbow trout being prepared for pan frying. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 13

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	1	8	7 Calico Bass 1 Sheephead 14 Rockfish 6 Bonito 1 Lingcod 1 Sculpin
H&M Landing	2	54	1 Halibut 2 Calico Bass 11 Sheephead 1 Whitefish 35 Rockfish 2 Sculpin 15 Red Snapper
Seaforth	2	31	37 Calico Bass 2 Sand Bass 15 Rockfish 35 Bonito 3 Sculpin
Dana Wharf	1	21	3 Calico Bass 5 Sand Bass 7 Sheephead
Davey's Locker	1	12	3 Sheephead 45 Rockfish 30 Bonito 4 Perch
Newport Landing	1	26	1 Calico Bass 5 Sand Bass 15 Rockfish 96 Sculpin
Pierpoint Landing	2	31	17 Sand Bass 21 Sheephead 7 Whitefish 7 Rockfish 4 Lingcod 10 Sculpin 120 Perch
Long Beach Marina	2	26	1 Calico Bass 14 Sand Bass 6 Sheephead 11 Whitefish 3 Bocaccio 69 Rockfish 19 Sculpin 45 Perch 20 Sand Dab 6 Red Snapper
San Pedro 22nd Street Marina	2	32	11 Calico Bass 37 Sand Bass 5 Sheephead 4 Whitefish 6 Rockfish 53 Bonito 1 Sculpin 55 Perch
Redondo	2	33	7 Calico Bass 1 Sand Bass 3 Sheephead 15 Whitefish 78 Rockfish 9 Bonito 12 Sculpin
Marina Del Rey	3	40	2 Calico Bass 5 Sand Bass 55 Sheephead 8 Whitefish 217 Rockfish 2 Lingcod 14 Sculpin
Channel Islands Sportfishing	1	20	10 Sheephead 11 Whitefish 27 Rockfish 3 Sculpin 20 Perch
Patriot	2	29	50 Rockfish 26 Lingcod 13 Red Snapper 221 Bolina 6 Cabazon

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 12

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Seaforth	4	75	1 Calico Bass 20 Sand Bass 6 Sheephead 123 Rockfish 77 Bonito 1 Lingcod 10 Sculpin 12 Red Snapper 13 Rockcod
Davey's Locker	1	8	1 Calico Bass 4 Sand Bass 12 Sheephead 4 Rockfish 8 Sculpin
Newport Landing	1	16	10 Sand Bass 10 Sheephead 15 Sculpin 75 Perch
Pierpoint Landing	2	21	1 Calico Bass 31 Sand Bass 2 Barracuda 22 Sheephead 34 Whitefish 35 Rockfish 4 Lingcod 12 Sculpin 39 Perch
Long Beach Marina	1	14	24 Sheephead 59 Whitefish 10 Bocaccio 125 Rockfish 1 Bonito 3 Sculpin 20 Perch 5 Red Snapper	play
LA Harbor	2	21	32 Calico Bass 12 Sheephead 8 Whitefish 45 Rockfish 63 Bonito 22 Perch 4 Sargo 7 Red Snapper	play
Redondo	1	7	70 Rockfish
Marina Del Rey	2	27	2 Sand Bass 12 Sheephead 50 Whitefish 200 Rockfish 7 Bonito 60 Sculpin 30 Perch
Channel Islands Sportfishing	2	31	17 Calico Bass 16 Sheephead 112 Whitefish 270 Rockfish 7 Lingcod	play
Patriot	1	25	1 Halibut 62 Rockfish 14 Lingcod 5 Red Snapper 148 Bolina 8 Cabazon
Captain Hook's Sportfishing	1	16	160 Rockfish 4 Lingcod

Fish and Game Q&A: Can I be cited for taking bear meat without the shooter being present?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday afternoon or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: I went hunting with my brother-in-law recently. He was hunting for bear and I was hunting for mountain quail and gray squirrels. He had a bear tag and I didn’t. Fortunately, he was lucky enough to shoot a nice one that was about 200 to 250 pounds. We were unable at the time to take the whole bear home so he decapitated the bear, stuffed the head in his backpack and gave me about 50 lbs. of meat to take home in my backpack. We left the rest of the body there and agreed to go back for it later.

When we got home, he asked his brother and me to pick up the rest of the body because he had to go to work. I refused to do so because I thought it would not be legal since I was not the shooter. He told me it should be all right and that if I was stopped by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG), I should just call him at work to verify the kill. I still didn’t go and we got into an argument. In this situation, could I have been cited for taking the bear meat without the shooter being present? Thanks! (Alex V.)

Answer: If you accompany a person in the field who is legally hunting bear and you have a firearm, archery equipment or other means capable of taking a bear, then it is reasonable to assume you are also taking bear. In addition, you could also be cited if you do not have a valid bear tag of your own. Your explanation that you were hunting squirrels would likely not be acceptable to a game warden, especially given that you helped transport some of the bear.

Fly-angler and fishing show host Diana Rudolph lands near-record permit as cameras roll

Diana Rudolph, co-host for the TV fishing show "Breaking the Surface," almost broke her own world record by catching a permit estimated to be just shy of 25 pounds on 12-pound tippet line.

Rudolph was fly-fishing in the flats off Abaco Island in the Bahamas when she hooked the beautiful permit, one of the most sought-after game fish by fly anglers. “I knew it was very close to my current record, but I let the fish go to live another day,” Rudolph said in a post on The Sportsman Channel website. A crew was in tow filming for an upcoming episode.

It ought to be an entertaining show as Rudolph also completed a grand slam, catching permit, tarpon and bonefish during the same trip.

“Having a camera there filming your every move adds a level of excitement to how we fish,” said Rudolph, referring to the other co-host, conventional angler Kim Bain-Moore. “I hope people can learn from how we fish and see the highs and lows of what we do to help make them more successful when they are on the water.”

Rudolph's record permit, a 24-pound specimen, was caught off Key West, Fla., in 2004.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Diana Rudolph displays permit caught recently in the Bahamas. Credit: The Sportsman Channel

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 11

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	1	28	5 Calico Bass 1 Whitefish 11 Rockfish 8 Bonito 2 Sculpin
H&M Landing	4	64	14 Calico Bass 23 Sheephead 37 Bocaccio 193 Rockfish 31 Bonito 3 Lingcod 74 Red Snapper
Seaforth	5	101	8 Yellowtail 5 Sand Bass 5 Sheephead 15 Whitefish 328 Rockfish 1 Lingcod 8 Sculpin 104 Red Snapper
Helgren's Oceanside	1	15	2 Sheephead 9 Whitefish 2 Bocaccio 22 Rockfish 13 Sculpin 36 Red Snapper
Dana Wharf	1	55	17 Calico Bass 12 Sand Bass 10 Sheephead 3 Rockfish 1 Bonito 3 Sculpin
Davey's Locker	2	62	1 Calico Bass 1 Sand Bass 23 Sheephead 40 Rockfish 92 Bonito 31 Sculpin 2 Perch 1 Cabazon

Irvine Lake trout opener one of the best in years; 11-2 rainbow tops list

Here's the latest Irvine Lake fishing report, issued by Steve Carson:

To say that last Friday’s trout-season opener at Irvine Lake was wide open would be an understatement. The pre-opener stocking of 20,000 pounds of trout meant that easy limits were the rule in most areas of the lake, and virtually any legitimate trout-fishing technique yielded plenty of fish. To top things off, the weather was Chamber of Commerce perfect.

Numerous veterans of Irvine Lake openers of previous years gave superlative ratings to this year’s event. Comments there were heard (“Best I’ve been to so far”; “A lot better than any other I’ve been to”; “We bought second-limit tickets before 8 a.m.”; and many more) told the story of trout fishing that was simply incredible on both Friday and Saturday.

“The bite slowed somewhat on Sunday afternoon,” observed Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. “We restocked the lake with another 5,000 pounds of trout on Tuesday, and the bite perked right back up. Because of the Veterans Day holiday this week, we will also put in another 2,000 pounds on Thursday to make sure the fishing stays hot.”

Popular bait/lure choices included the garlic Power Bait/nightcrawler combination, white/pink Power Mouse, chartreuse/orange Atomic teaser, fire-tiger or shad-color Rapala Countdown CD03 and CD05, and gold Thomas Buoyant. 

Panel adopts fishing closure plan that draws ire of Southern California anglers

News item: After months of tireless work by various stakeholder groups in a Marine Life Protection Act process that included periods of review and often heated public input and debate, a plan to establish a network of no-take marine reserves off Southern California has been chosen. A state-appointed panel on Tuesday picked the "preferred alternative," which essentially is a compromise between proposals put forth by conservationists and fishing interests.

Reaction: The panel was not going to please both sides and, as expected, it voted on a plan that angered fishing interests the most. They wanted a less severe network of reserves. Steve Fukuto, president of the United Anglers of Southern California, predicts the closures in such areas as portions of Santa Catalina Island, La Jolla, Swami's Reef and Malibu "will have a devastating effect on California's economy and the public's right to access the state's coastal waters."

Conservation groups are satisfied to a degree but wanted more extensive closures. Notably, they wanted Rocky Point off the Palos Verdes Peninsula to become a no-take marine reserve. An Ocean Conservancy spokesman called Tuesday's decision "a step in the right direction," but added, "There is still room for improvement,"clearly in reference to Rocky Point, which will remain open to fishing.

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 10

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
H&M Landing	1	10	1 Calico Bass 1 Sand Bass 17 Sheephead 53 Rockfish 23 Red Snapper
Seaforth	2	48	12 Calico Bass 13 Sheephead 27 Whitefish 75 Rockfish 1 Lingcod 21 Sculpin 7 Red Snapper 10 Rockcod
Dana Wharf	2	64	14 Calico Bass 11 Sand Bass 13 Sheephead 12 Whitefish 3 Bocaccio 36 Rockfish 69 Sculpin 4 Perch 1 Sargo 13 Sand Dab
Davey's Locker	1	10	1 Sand Bass 23 Sheephead 12 Rockfish 9 Sculpin 7 Perch
Newport Landing	1	21	13 Sand Bass 4 Sheephead 41 Whitefish 5 Rockfish 1 Bonito 15 Sculpin 40 Perch
Pierpoint Landing	2	30	1 Calico Bass 37 Sand Bass 28 Sheephead 21 Whitefish 75 Rockfish 33 Sculpin 185 Perch 1 Cabazon
Redondo	2	23	1 Sheephead 16 Bocaccio 148 Rockfish 3 Lingcod
Marina Del Rey	2	19	2 Sheephead 12 Whitefish 128 Rockfish 8 Sculpin
Sea Landing	1	12	117 Rockfish 3 Red Snapper	play
Patriot	1	30	77 Rockfish 12 Lingcod 1 Perch 3 Red Snapper 200 Bolina 4 Cabazon

Southern California fishing closure issue heated to the bitter end

 Sometime this afternoon or evening a state blue-ribbon panel will vote on how severely to restrict fishing off Southern California, and earlier today, as if to illustrate how contentious the issue is, a brief shoving match ensued, during a hearing near LAX, between men on the fishing and environmentalist sides of the issue.

Fishing interests, naturally, are arguing to keep the extent of the no-take closure areas to a minimum, and to protect their livelihoods. Those on the extreme environmental side favor extensive protection they believe will allow the comeback of embattled fisheries and habitat.

Whatever the panel decides on must be approved by the California Fish and Game Commission. That process will take place next month.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Reed Smolan, taking a break from crew duties aboard the Southern Cal, unhooks an 18-inch calico bass  caught off Palos Verdes. Credit: Pete Thomas/Los Angeles Times

Note: To follow this blog on Twitter please visit @latimesoutposts

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 9

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	2	37	9 Yellowfin Tuna 2 Sand Bass 1 Sheephead 94 Whitefish 192 Rockfish 42 Lingcod 3 Sculpin 36 Red Snapper
Seaforth	2	37	1 Sheephead 4 Whitefish 60 Rockfish 16 Red Snapper
Mission Bay	1	7	6 Yellowtail 1 Sheephead 11 Rockfish 35 Bonito 2 Lingcod 2 Sculpin 1 Mako
Dana Wharf	2	71	5 Calico Bass 17 Sand Bass 2 Sheephead 3 Rockfish 1 Bonito 5 Perch 1 Sargo
Newport Landing	1	14	103 Rockfish
Pierpoint Landing	1	8	19 Sheephead 24 Whitefish 21 Rockfish 10 Sculpin 25 Perch

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 8

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	1	32	1 Sand Bass 1 Whitefish 12 Rockfish 2 Sculpin
H&M Landing	3	78	4 Calico Bass 13 Sand Bass 5 Sheephead 46 Whitefish 85 Rockfish 36 Bonito 45 Lingcod 1 Mako 115 Red Snapper
Seaforth	4	86	1 Yellowfin Tuna 2 Yellowtail 4 Calico Bass 12 Sand Bass 3 Sheephead 10 Whitefish 273 Rockfish 37 Bonito 17 Lingcod 5 Sculpin
Helgren's Oceanside	2	29	3 Sand Bass 10 Sheephead 33 Whitefish 11 Bocaccio 41 Rockfish 2 Lingcod 22 Sculpin 15 Red Snapper
Dana Wharf	2	95	20 Calico Bass 26 Sand Bass 17 Sheephead 5 Rockfish 3 Bonito 5 Sculpin
Davey's Locker	2	24	4 Calico Bass 1 Sand Bass 9 Sheephead 3 Whitefish 74 Rockfish 12 Sculpin 2 Perch

Trout and catfish plants for Southern California and Eastern Sierra during the week beginning Nov. 9

The following is a list of Southern California and Eastern Sierra waters, listed by county, that will be stocked with rainbow trout or channel catfish throughout the week of Nov. 9 by the Department of Fish and Game:

Trout:

LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Belvedere Lake, Cerritos Lake, Downey Lake, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lake, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Kenneth Hahn Lake, La Mirada Lake, Legg Lake and Lincoln Park Lake.

ORANGE: Laguna Lake.

RIVERSIDE: Hemet Lake, Perris Lake and Rancho Jurupa Park Pond.

SAN BERNARDINO: Cucamonga-Guasti Park Lake, Prado Park Lake, Seccombe Park Lake and Silverwood Lake.

SAN DIEGO: Chollas Park Lake, Lindo Lake and Murray Lake. 

INYO: Pleasant Valley Reservoir.

Catfish:

LOS ANGELES: Cerritos Park Lake, Downey Lake, El Dorado Park Lake, Ford Park Lake, La Mirada Lake, Legg Lake, Peck Road Park Lake, Puddingstone Lake and Santa Fe Reservoir.

Photo credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 7

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	2	21	3 Yellowtail 1 Sheephead 61 Whitefish 50 Rockfish 12 Bonito 7 Sculpin
H&M Landing	6	142	240 Yellowfin Tuna 240 Yellowtail 1 Calico Bass 7 Sand Bass 1 Whitefish 21 Bocaccio 155 Rockfish 90 Bonito 6 Lingcod 73 Red Snapper
Seaforth	6	127	6 Bluefin Tuna 2 Albacore Tuna 5 Yellowtail 2 Halibut 4 Calico Bass 4 Sand Bass 11 Sheephead 63 Whitefish 309 Rockfish 36 Bonito 6 Lingcod 11 Sculpin
Dana Wharf	2	45	16 Calico Bass 27 Sand Bass 35 Sheephead 4 Rockfish 14 Sculpin 4 Perch 3 Sargo 1 Red Snapper
Davey's Locker	2	41	2 Calico Bass 1 Sand Bass 5 Barracuda 13 Sheephead 4 Whitefish 73 Rockfish 39 Bonito 11 Sculpin 19 Perch 1 trigger_fish 1 Sargo 1 Sole 2 Red Snapper
Newport Landing	4	67	8 Sand Bass 3 Sheephead 1 Whitefish 234 Rockfish 40 Bonito 21 Perch 2 Sole

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 6

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Helgren's Oceanside	2	28	2 Halibut 2 Calico Bass 5 Sand Bass 8 Sheephead 3 Whitefish 7 Bocaccio 74 Rockfish 36 Sculpin 1 Cabazon
Dana Wharf	2	24	1 Halibut 18 Calico Bass 31 Sand Bass 14 Sheephead 3 Rockfish 6 Bonito 2 Sculpin
Pierpoint Landing	2	14	16 Sand Bass 25 Sheephead 10 Whitefish 17 Rockfish 46 Sculpin 4 Perch
LA Harbor	1	13	14 Calico Bass 16 Sheephead 57 Whitefish 45 Rockfish 60 Bonito 3 Sculpin 3 Red Rockcod
Redondo	2	24	199 Rockfish 2 Lingcod
Marina Del Rey	2	32	4 Sheephead 227 Rockfish 4 Lingcod 6 Sculpin
Channel Islands Sportfishing	2	25	137 Whitefish 204 Rockfish 4 Lingcod 1 Sculpin
Sea Landing	1	17	170 Rockfish

Irvine Lake trout season opens today

The trout season opens today at Irvine Lake, with more than 20,000 pounds of newly released trout awaiting anglers.

Closed since Monday, the lake has been stocked with rainbows ranging in the 1- to 6-pound range, although there were also a decent number of fish released that weigh from 8 to 12 pounds and also some lunkers weighing in at more than 20-pounds.

For good measure, some brown and steelheads were also added to the waters.

Longtime angler and outdoor writer Steve Carson offers the following trout angling tips:

--Veteran trout chasers at Irvine Lake always recommend using ultra-light line to get their limit. Trollers can get by with 6-pound test line, but most lure casting and bait fishing should be done with nothing heavier than 4-pound test monofilament line. If the fish are acting finicky, or there is heavy pressure from weekend crowds, dropping down to 2-pound test line will often get trout when nothing else will.

--Bait fishing with Carolina-rigged PowerBait or Gulp! Trout Dough is the most common way to catch trout from shore. Under normal to clear conditions, go with a 12- to 18-inch leader, but when rains decrease visibility, leaders from 6 to 8 inches work best. Favored bait colors include chartreuse, rainbow and white.
 
--Trollers usually go for Rapalas, in most cases the smaller the better. Top choices are the Rapala Countdown CD01, CD03, and CD05 in firetiger color, or the Rapala X-Raps in the XR06 size and clown or hot pink colors. When the fish want more movement, the Jointed Rapala J05 and J07 in chartreuse or brown trout colors are the go-to baits.

Gates open at 6 a.m. daily at the privately run, paid-entry lake, where no state fishing license is required.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Jenn Ngyuen of Yorba Linda shows off the 15-pound, 4-ounce rainbow she landed near the boat docks at Irvine Lake last year. Credit: Irvine Lake

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 5

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	1	0	8 Yellowtail 26 Rockfish 23 Bonito
Seaforth	2	40	1 Halibut 1 Calico Bass 21 Sheephead 4 Whitefish 77 Rockfish 1 Bonito 2 Lingcod 6 Sculpin
Dana Wharf	1	14	11 Calico Bass 9 Sand Bass 24 Sheephead 1 Sculpin 3 Perch 3 Sargo
Davey's Locker	2	18	22 Calico Bass 2 Sand Bass 1 Barracuda 1 Sheephead 2 Whitefish 1 Bocaccio 42 Rockfish 7 Bonito 1 Lingcod 1 Mako
Newport Landing	1	16	2 Sheephead 18 Whitefish 35 Rockfish 10 Sculpin
Pierpoint Landing	2	26	7 Sand Bass 16 Sheephead 19 Whitefish 60 Rockfish 1 Lingcod 67 Sculpin 72 Perch

Fish and Game Q&A: Can I set a loaded shotgun on the hood of my car?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday afternoon or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: We were hunting doves in Imperial County recently when the game wardens came in asking for inspections. I set my 12-gauge shotgun on the hood of the car, gave the officer my hunting license, and then went back to check the guns to make sure they were unloaded. The officer stopped me and told me not to touch any gun at that point. He then checked the guns and found both my gun on top of the hood and another gun leaning on the front hood were loaded. I was given a ticket for Fish and Game Code Section 2006 ”loaded gun in a vehicle.” I tried to argue that my gun was not “IN” the vehicle but “ON” the vehicle, but the officer declined to argue and said I have to argue in court.

Is this a valid citation? Was the officer in a position not to allow me to have a chance to unload our firearms before his inspection? Do you have any court cases regarding loaded guns on top of the hood/vehicle? I plan to plead not guilty on the charge. (Grace C.)

Answer: The situation you describe did warrant a citation. According to game warden Todd Tognazzini, when a vehicle is upon or along a public roadway, guns placed in or on a vehicle or its attachments may not be loaded.

National Parks to offer free admission on Veterans Day, Nov. 11

What better place than the wide-open spaces within a national park or wildlife refuge to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy and the sacrifices made by members of the armed services to protect those freedoms?

In honor of these heroes, all public recreation land managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation will waive entrance fees for them and the general public on Veterans Day next Wednesday.

(This was reported previously by colleague Jane Engle in the L.A. Times travel blog.)

“The Department of the Interior is honored to offer this fee-free day to thank our nation’s service men and women,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a news release. “The sacrifices and achievements of the brave men and women of our armed forces can never be understated. We invite all of our visitors to enjoy this fee-free day and take time out on this national holiday to remember our service men and women who are currently serving overseas in harms way. ”

Only entrance fees are waived. Fees associated with camping, lodging or other activities will be collected.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of Yosemite's El Capitan and the Merced River by © Darrell Gulin/CORBIS

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 4

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	2	39	1 Halibut 2 Sand Bass 8 Sheephead 33 Whitefish 113 Rockfish 54 Bonito 18 Sculpin
Seaforth	2	23	1 Sand Bass 1 Sheephead 12 Whitefish 84 Rockfish 7 Bonito 2 Lingcod 13 Sculpin 11 Red Snapper
Helgren's Oceanside	1	13	1 Calico Bass 11 Sand Bass 23 Rockfish 67 Sculpin
Dana Wharf	1	12	2 Calico Bass 7 Sand Bass 8 Sheephead 2 Rockfish 4 Perch 2 Sargo
Davey's Locker	1	11	1 Sand Bass 13 Sheephead 2 Whitefish 28 Rockfish 1 Sculpin
Pierpoint Landing	1	5	8 Sand Bass 10 Sheephead 1 Lingcod 8 Sculpin

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 3

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
H&M Landing	1	11	2 Calico Bass 2 Sand Bass 3 Sheephead 44 Rockfish 1 Lingcod 3 Sculpin
Seaforth	3	57	125 Yellowfin Tuna 20 Yellowtail 1 Sand Bass 6 Sheephead 6 Whitefish 123 Rockfish 3 Lingcod 7 Sculpin 23 Red Snapper
Dana Wharf	2	62	3 Calico Bass 6 Sand Bass 5 Sheephead 5 Bocaccio 130 Rockfish 79 Sculpin 20 Red Snapper
Davey's Locker	1	15	1 Sand Bass 1 Sheephead 1 Whitefish 30 Rockfish 1 Bonito 2 Sculpin
Pierpoint Landing	2	33	1 Calico Bass 19 Sand Bass 32 Sheephead 8 Whitefish 25 Rockfish 14 Sculpin 110 Perch
Redondo	2	20	14 Bocaccio 144 Rockfish 1 Lingcod
Marina Del Rey	3	43	6 Sheephead 33 Whitefish 251 Rockfish 2 Bonito 24 Sculpin
Patriot	2	43	2 Bocaccio 50 Rockfish 34 Lingcod 3 Red Snapper 373 Bolina 2 Cabazon
Captain Hook's Sportfishing	1	20	72 Rockfish 40 Lingcod 60 Red Snapper

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 2

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	1	21	2 Calico Bass 10 Sand Bass 5 Sheephead 34 Rockfish 42 Bonito 24 Sculpin
Seaforth	3	46	2 Calico Bass 1 Sand Bass 3 Sheephead 4 Whitefish 128 Rockfish 24 Bonito 1 Lingcod 25 Sculpin 55 Red Snapper
Dana Wharf	2	42	4 Calico Bass 15 Sand Bass 3 Sheephead 17 Rockfish 9 Bonito 5 Sculpin
Davey's Locker	1	4	1 Calico Bass 3 Sand Bass 6 Sheephead 2 Whitefish 20 Rockfish 1 Bonito 1 Sculpin
Newport Landing	1	19	1 Sand Bass 50 Rockfish 2 Bonito 2 Sculpin
Pierpoint Landing	1	10	1 Calico Bass 51 Sand Bass 12 Sheephead 2 Whitefish 10 Rockfish 40 Sculpin 43 Perch

Florida angler in 'state of shock' after landing giant yellowtail at Alijos Rocks

Ron Anderson (pictured at left) was exhausted and "in a state of shock" when he saw the size of the yellowtail he had hooked at Alijos Rocks while on a recent 10-day Penn Fishing University excursion into Mexican waters aboard the American Angler out of Point Loma Sportfishing in San Diego.

It weighed 71 pounds and is among the largest yellowtail caught this year aboard any of San Diego's long-range sportfishers. The Coral Gables, Fla., angler used a dropper-loop rig and 50-pound-test line with a sardine for bait.

"I knew he was really big when I hooked him, I guessed about 50 pounds," Anderson said. "He kept taking line against a tight drag for 20 minutes."

Steve Carson, director of the Penn program, reports that all anglers did well after a persistent wind subsided. The vessel docked with limits of yellowtail, near-limits of yellowfin tuna to 101 pounds, 14 wahoo to 75 pounds, and an assortment of other game fish, including dorado and amberjack.

The long-range season is entering its prime months.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Ron Anderson (left) and crewman Cameron Cribben display the giant yellowtail caught at Alijos Rocks. Credit: Steve Carson / Penn Fishing University

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Nov. 1

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	1	10	1 Calico Bass 2 Sheephead 2 Whitefish 39 Rockfish 1 Cabazon
Fisherman's	1	29	5 Bluefin Tuna 44 Yellowtail
H&M Landing	3	57	215 Yellowfin Tuna 2 Sand Bass 5 Sheephead 6 Whitefish 1 Bocaccio 130 Rockfish 6 Sculpin 77 Wahoo	play
Seaforth	5	86	1 Yellowtail 3 Sand Bass 23 Sheephead 35 Whitefish 301 Rockfish 30 Bonito 117 Lingcod 10 Sculpin 40 Red Snapper
Helgren's Oceanside	2	23	2 Calico Bass 2 Sand Bass 4 Bocaccio 66 Rockfish 32 Sculpin 20 Sand Dab 10 Red Snapper
Dana Wharf	2	48	5 Sand Bass 15 Sheephead 14 Rockfish 1 Bonito 2 Lingcod 3 Sculpin

Trout and catfish plants for Southern California and Eastern Sierra during the week beginning Nov. 2

The following is a list of Southern California and Eastern Sierra waters, listed by county, that will be stocked with rainbow trout or channel catfish throughout the week of Nov. 2 by the Department of Fish and Game:

Trout:

LOS ANGELES: Castaic Lagoon, Elizabeth Lake, Puddingstone Lake, Pyramid Lake and Santa Fe Reservoir. 

ORANGE: Carr Park Lake, Eisenhower Park Lake, Greer Park Lake and Huntington Park Lake.

RIVERSIDE: Cahuilla Park Lake and Rancho Jurupa Park Pond.

SAN BERNARDINO: Big Bear Lake, Glen Helen Park Lake, Mojave Narrows Regional Park Lake, Seccombe Park Lake and Yucaipa Lake. 

SAN DIEGO: Cuyamaca Lake.

INYO: Lone Pine Creek and Owens River Section 2.

Catfish:

LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Belvedere Lake, Downey Lake, Echo Park Lake, Kenneth Hahn Lake, Hansen Lake, Hollenbeck Lake and Lincoln Park Lake.

SAN DIEGO: Chollas Lake, Lindo Lake and Murray Lake.

Photo: Jeff Winter of Van Nuys fishes for trout in hopes of dinner as the sun sets over Lower Pine Creek Lake. Credit: Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Oct. 31

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	2	44	21 Sand Bass 12 Sheephead 33 Whitefish 73 Rockfish 4 Bonito 65 Sculpin
H&M Landing	3	61	195 Yellowfin Tuna 78 Dorado 2 Calico Bass 2 Sand Bass 1 Sheephead 38 Bocaccio 123 Rockfish 1 Lingcod 35 Red Snapper
Seaforth	4	67	1 Yellowtail 1 Halibut 1 Calico Bass 3 Sheephead 11 Whitefish 183 Rockfish 15 Bonito 2 Lingcod 2 Sculpin 5 Red Snapper
Helgren's Oceanside	2	36	1 Sand Bass 2 Sheephead 74 Whitefish 49 Rockfish 9 Sculpin 5 Red Snapper
Dana Wharf	1	29	3 Calico Bass 3 Sand Bass 11 Sheephead 11 Mackerel 8 Sculpin
Davey's Locker	1	22	1 Calico Bass 3 Sand Bass 6 Sheephead 1 Rockfish 2 Sculpin 2 Perch

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Oct. 30

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	1	12	1 Calico Bass 1 Sand Bass 3 Sheephead 2 Whitefish 52 Rockfish 1 Bonito 1 Lingcod 2 Sculpin
H&M Landing	1	17	41 Rockfish 14 Bonito
Seaforth	4	59	9 Yellowfin Tuna 31 Yellowtail 2 Dorado 1 Halibut 1 Calico Bass 1 Barracuda 9 Sheephead 10 Whitefish 135 Rockfish 7 Bonito 1 Lingcod 9 Sculpin 40 Red Snapper
Helgren's Oceanside	3	33	1 Sand Bass 1 Sheephead 22 Whitefish 36 Rockfish 13 Sculpin 1 Mako 3 Red Snapper
Dana Wharf	1	12	1 Calico Bass 2 Sand Bass 7 Sculpin
Long Beach Marina	2	31	2 Calico Bass 25 Sheephead 84 Whitefish 4 Bocaccio 126 Rockfish 3 Bonito 1 Lingcod 9 Sculpin 15 Perch 23 Red Snapper

La Paz fishing for dorado, tuna fantastic--until the arrival of the big north wind

Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International reports that fishing was wide open this week -- until the midweek arrival of the seasonal north wind.

At the beginning of the week anglers found the Sea of Cortez teeming with the acrobatic and delectable dorado, or  mahi-mahi. "Not a lot of big fish, but solid numbers of 10- to 20-pound fish all day long, and you could catch and release to your heart’s content," Roldan said.

Those who ventured out of the Las Arenas area also encountered schools of 20- to 35-pound yellowfin tuna, not far from the beach.

"As several veteran anglers said, 'These fish fight a lot bigger than they are. They are amazingly strong,' " Roldan added. "Whether it was tuna or dorado, it wasn’t complicated fishing.  You either fished with live sardines for the dorado or stripped slow trolled chunks of fresh bonito.  The tuna came up mostly on handfuls of drifted dead sardines."
 
But then came the wind, which is often persistent and hampers the fishing effort. It diminished today but Roldan is unsure what effect it had on the bite.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Steve Marabella (right) of Wilmington poses alongside Capt. Jorge Moscoron with a late-season dorado caught off Las Arenas near Muertos Bay south of La Paz. Credit: Jonathan Roldan

Saltwater fish count for Southern California, Oct. 29

Attention anglers: Outposts will attempt to post the daily Southern California saltwater fish count, courtesy of 976-TUNA, each evening. Hope you find it useful:

Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
Point Loma	1	14	1 Sand Bass 6 Sheephead 5 Whitefish 70 Rockfish 2 Sculpin
Seaforth	2	37	10 Sheephead 11 Whitefish 74 Rockfish 5 Sculpin 13 Red Snapper
Dana Wharf	1	21	1 Calico Bass 7 Sand Bass 8 Sheephead 1 Bonito 4 Sculpin
Davey's Locker	1	13	1 Calico Bass 1 Sand Bass 4 Sheephead 2 Rockfish 3 Sculpin 1 Perch
Pierpoint Landing	2	16	8 Sand Bass 12 Sheephead 20 Whitefish 4 Rockfish 1 Lingcod 52 Sculpin 7 Perch
Long Beach Marina	2	19	1 Sand Bass 20 Sheephead 53 Whitefish 18 Bocaccio 110 Rockfish 3 Sculpin 10 Perch 49 Red Snapper

Fish and Game Q&A: Can I use an electronic call when duck hunting?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday afternoon or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: This is my first year waterfowl hunting and while I am a pretty decent shot when I can get the birds to come in, I am a terrible caller! I can’t seem to get them to respond. I’ve found some electronic callers online that look pretty good and don’t cost too much money. I’d like to try them, but since everyone I’ve hunted with this year uses only the traditional calls, I wonder if these electronic calls are just new or if they might not be legal to use. What’s the answer? (Jake P.)

Answer: I’m afraid you’re going to have to just pucker up and keep practicing with the regular old duck calls found in most sporting goods stores. Electronic or mechanically operated calling or sound reproducing devices are prohibited when taking migratory game birds (CCR, Title 14, Section 507[c]).

To improve your technique, you might want to check out the many demo videos or “how to” techniques published online. The Ducks Unlimited website, for example, is loaded with lots of tips, videos and suggestions. Also, watch for duck calling seminars coming up in your area, such as through Wilderness Unlimited or other hunt clubs and sporting goods stores.

Q: I would like to photograph big bucks and know the best times would be during the rut periods. Can you tell me when the rut starts and stops in zones D-3 through D-5? (Bob W.)