Sports

Wednesday, Oct. 01, 2008

Bass boils lead local to a top-10 finish

Comments (0) |

“This was the closest I’ve ever been to winning a boat,” said Roger Haas of Morro Bay in reflecting back on the events at Clear Lake last week in the W.O.N. Bass Tri States tournament.

Ninety-six teams were entered including eight tandems from SLO and Santa Barbara Counties.

Hass and his partner Jerry Williams of Porterville were brimming with confidence as they entered the Friday-Saturday competition.

The high expectations were based on a discovery during practice on Tuesday.

“We found boiling fish and had close to 30 pounds of fish in 30 minutes on Zara Spooks, buzz baits and frogs,” Haas said.

“Jerry and I had seen boils like this when we were albacore fishing but never on a lake. Four to 10-pound bass came out of the water. The boils were 25 feet in diameter. They lasted only a few minutes at a time and all occurred during a span of 90 minutes each afternoon.”

With a 17.14-pound five-fish limit on Friday, Haas and Williams were in 17th place. North County residents Nick Salvucci and Jeremy Burns were seventh with a 19.61 limit and Gene Gray and Jay Short were 12th with a 17.89 limit.

As time was running out on Saturday, Williams caught a 3-pound bass on a frog. It enabled the duo to cull a 2-pound fish.

“I cast a Zara Spook into a boil and had a 10-pound fish almost to the boat when it jumped and spit the hook. That fish probably would have won the tournament for us,” Haas groaned. The team placed 8th with a two-day weight of 36.19 pounds worth $1,105.

Nicholas and Thomas Kanemoto won the boat and the tournament with a 45.70 weight.

————

Central Coast placers, No. Fish, Total Wt., Winnings—8. Roger Haas, Morro Bay, Jerry Williams, Porterville, 10, 36.19, $1,105; 15. Nick Salvucci, San Miguel, Jeremy Burns, Paso Robles, 10, 32.87 pounds, $175; 16. Gene Gray, Atascadero, Jay Short, Templeton, 10, 34.95 pounds; 18. Dan and David Frazier, Pismo Beach, 10, 34.47 pounds; 31. John White, San Luis Obispo, Bobby Doss, Santa Maria, 10, 31.18 pounds; 62. Jim Keeney, Tom Ryan, Paso Robles, 7, 18.05 pounds; 72. Scott Garman, Morro Bay, Cory Woodman, Cayucos, 6, 14.73 pounds; 79. Darrin Bishop, Paso Robles, Del Bishop, Templeton, 5, 12.60 pounds. Port Side Marine Whopper of the Week was a 12.2-pound lingcod caught on Sept. 28 by Aiden Gallant of Santa Maria.

Only 37 boats were launched last week. The average number of launchings for the last five weeks has been 76 boats. No boats were launched either Monday or Wednesday. Nineteen lingcod and five halibut were in the catch. Half to three quarter rockcod limits were logged three days; full limits one day and three quarter to full limits one day. Virg’s Landing Manuel Silva of Hanford caught last week’s big fish, a 12-pound lingcod.

Last week’s harvest by 262 anglers included 7 lingcod; 697 red rockcod; and 1,789 assorted rockfish.

A 10-pound bocaccio caught by Jake Howard of Bakersfield was the big fish on a Saturday private charter with 31 anglers on board. The catch included 3 lings, 230 quality red rockcod and 80 assorted rockfish.

Long Range trips from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. are offered on Sundays for a fare of $105. The next overnight trip will depart at 3 p.m. Oct. 11 and return the next day by 5 p.m.

For reservations, trip schedules call: 772-1222.

Other jackpot winners included: Felipe Urendo, Bakersfield, 9-pound lingcod; David King, Oakland, 8-pound red rockcod; Carlos Albert, Bakersfield, Andy Reitt, Bakersfield, both 8-pound lingcod; Alex Potren, Shell Beach, 7-pound red rockcod; and Chris Scott, Fairfield, 6-pound red rockcod. Patriot Sportfishing

San Luis Obispo’s Mel de la Motte caught last week’s big fish, a 13-pound, 15-ounce lingcod.

The Rita G captained by Michele Leary has been running out of Patriot while the Pacific Horizon has been undergoing engine repairs. Leary’s boat is expected to fill the void through Friday or until the Pacific Horizon is back on line.

The three leaders in the 3-month-long Lingcod Contest remain the same. Vanessa Barrios of San Luis Obispo is in third place with 16-6 ling caught on Sept. 17.

Long Range trips to the lingcod rich waters off of Pt. Purisima are scheduled Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, weather permitting. The fare is $75. For reservations, trip schedules call: 595-7200.

The catch by 184 passengers last week included 79 lingcod, 226 red rockcod, 743 assorted rockfish, 711 bolina, and 12 cabezon.

Other jackpot winners were: Daniel Harrington, Nipomo,13-8 lingcod; Juan de Campo, Bakersfield, 13-pound lingcod; Eric Mulay, San Luis Obispo, 10-pound lingcod; Enrique Meza, Bakersfield, 9-pound lingcod; Matt Sanford, Hesperia, 7-8 lingcod; Terrance Marin, Mesquite, AZ, 6-5 red rockcod; and Diana Arredondo, Corcoran, 4-pound vermillion. Central Coast Sportfishing

Since Sept. 28 the Rita G has been operating out of Patriot’s landing at Port San Luis while Patriot’s vessel, Pacific Horizon, undergoes engine repairs.

Greg Jacobs from Arroyo Grande had last week’s big fish, an 8-9 lingcod.

Fifty passengers last week caught 4 lingcod, 69 red rockcod, 300 assorted rockfish and 119 bolina.

Other jackpot winners were: Zach Murray, Monterey, 8-pound lingcod; Glen Holland, Bakersfield, 7.9-pound lingcod; and Rocky Miller, Visalia, 7-pound copper rockfish. Lopez Lake

After being out of meal worms for two and a half months, marina manager Jerry Weatherly is expecting a delivery of the bait this week. He’s also anticipating the first DFG trout plant of the season anytime soon.

Angie Santos of Santa Maria reeled in a pair of half-pound crappie on Sunday. Oxnard’s Casey Vega caught a 1-pound redear on Sunday. Cottonwood Cove was the site of both catches on nightcrawlers. Santa Margarita Lake

San Luis Obispo’s Robert Merino outdid his dad, John, last Friday. Robert caught a 5.5-pound bass on a purple worm while John landed a 4.3-pound bass on a black frog.

Don Lopez, marina operator, said crappie, bluegill and redear are plentiful all over the lake. Cachuma Lake

Marina spokesman Clay Sanchez says trout are down 50 feet or more. He suggests downriggers. Trollers are using Pearl Bikini, Nickel Bikini or Fire Tiger Needlefish. Small shad imitation Rapalas also are producing. Jackrabbit Flats and Harvey’s Pier are hot spots for catfish. Crawlers and mackerel are the baits of choice. The best bass fishing is in the first cove out of the harbor, by Arrowhead Island, near the Pump House or on the back side of E Point. Lake Nacimiento

Anglers are using plastics and jigs to catch largemouth and white bass by the dam and in Los Tablas Cove, according to marina spokesman Jose Zaragonza. Camp Roberts Fishing Only three more weekends of fishing remain. Just five trout were caught on Saturday, Free Fishing Day. Eight anglers, seven of them adults, were on hand. Forty-five trout and one non-game fish were harvested on Sunday when 33 adults, 6 juniors and 3 guests turned out. Whale Rock Reservoir Only two anglers showed up last week. They experienced the same fate as the last 71 fishermen before them. They went fishless. The blankings have reached 10 weeks