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UNDERWATER HUNTERS REPORT
© 2005 UNDERWATERHUNTERS.COM
All rights reserved.
In This Report
Cover Page .......................................................................................................................... 1
In This Report / Contributing Editors ................................................................................. 2
Photos of the Month (Ledgendary Group of Underwater Hunters) ..................................... 4
Web Links of the Month ...................................................................................................... 5
Catch of the Month (New 283.2 lb. YFT IUSA World Record) ......................................... 6-8
Monster Tuna (Arez, Brandon, Clint)............................................................................ 9-14
New Personal Best WSB, Neptunes Fathers day Gift)................................................. 15-22
Report (Hot Bite, Southern & Northern) ..................................................................... 23-25
Where are the fish?? (Chart) ............................................................................................ 26
Water Temperature & Chlorophyll .............................................................................. 27-28
Tides / Currents & Grunion Runs (Best UWH Tides) ................................................... 29-30
Feature Article of the Month (My King Neptune) ........................................................ 31-36
All-time Largest WSB 70+ lbs. ......................................................................................... 37
Bargains (Detecto Stainless Steel Digital Scales) ............................................................. 38
I Services (Best Dentist in the World) .............................................................................. 39
Please Send Photos & Stories ........................................................................................... 40
Contributing Editors
Web & Report Admin:
Competition:
Photography:
Photography:
Marine Science:
Offshore Adventures:
Presentation:
Safety:
Cisco Serret
Terry Lentz
Nate Baker
Ed Glass MD
Dr. Mark Steele
Brad Moungeau
Anthony Funiciello
Doug Van Mullem
The above editors helped immeasurably to bring this report to life. The
goal of this report is to provide quality, current information to the readers.
The editors above and I appreciate your input and sincerely hope you enjoy
reading this report as much as we do bringing it to you each month.
Issue #26
Page 2 of 40
California Edition
Disclaimer
This report is issued to enhance the local underwater hunters experience
with the hope that it will make your water time more productive. It is not the
intent of this report to infringe on anyone’s privacy or compromise favorite
hunting spots. I attempt to disseminate fairly general information, which will
help make your ocean experience more enjoyable.
The sport of underwater hunting and or fishing can be dangerous and can
cause injury and/or death. Although these reports emphasize safety while
fishing or hunting, no person should rely on this information for his or her
own safety. It is each individual personally responsibility to fish and/or hunt
safely.
The information contained in this report is designed as a reference and is not
designed to be a substitute for formal training and or instruction by a
qualified instructor or institution. Misunderstanding any information or
strategies outlined in this report may result in serious injury and/or death
and not the responsibility of the author. Each underwater hunter or
fisherman is responsible for exercising sound judgment when making
decisions about their own abilities and limitations relating to underwater
hunting and or fishing.
The author provides no guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied. The
information contained in this report is accurate and or correct to the best of
the author’s knowledge.
You agree to assume all responsibilities and risk for all related activities and
outcomes while using any of the strategies and/or information contained in
this report. You and your heirs agree to release the author and his estate
from all liability now and forever for information contained herein.
Issue #26
Page 3 of 40
California Edition
Photos of the Month
Names L-R:
Hank Nunakawa, Skip Hellen, Gerald Lim, Terry Maas, Rene Rojas,
Jay Riffe
Legendary Group of Underwater Hunters
This is perhaps the last photos taken of Hank Nunakawa (far left) before he past away, who is the only
underwater hunter to land two 70+ lb. WSB in California. Gerald Lim (middle top) is a multiple
National Spearfishing Champion. Terry Maas (2nd right top) is a multiple National Spearfishing
Champion and world record holder. Rene Rojas (far right) is a multiple National and Pacific Coast
Champion. Jay Riffe (front middle) is a Pacific Coast Champion and world record holder. This group
has roughly 200 years of underwater hunting experience, over 70 tournament titles and more than 10
world spearfishing records.
Issue #26
Page 4 of 40
California Edition
Web Links of the Month
The following links are extremely important tools you will need to find and catch the
big ones. Terrafin is a subscription web site and the images you see in this report in the
surface water temperature section are great examples of the Terrafin service.
http://www.terrafin.com/sstview/index.htm
Terrafin water temperature and Chlorophyll reports not only help me determine where to
find the big ones here in California but also give me the same information on areas in
Mexico and other hunting areas around the world.
Terrafin is a must have tool if you want to be on the cutting edge and catch the record fish.
http://www.hookup690.com/
Let’s Talk Hook-up with Pete Gray and Rick Maxa is the #1 Fishing Radio Talk Show in
the West! Let’s Talk Hook-up airs every Saturday and Sunday from 7-9AM on the mighty
1090 on your AM radio dial. Let’s Talk Hook-up has a wide variety of quality products and
services sponsors and I encourage folks to check them out when planning an offshore
adventure or fishing trip.
I was fortunate enough to be the first (underwater or blue water hunter) guest ever on this
show which aired on Sunday 6-19. For those of you who want to hear the show log onto the
link below. You can download both 2 hour shows or just listen on line.
http://www.976-tuna.com/download.php?view.24
I have received many calls from folks who heard the show and really enjoyed it. Evidently
there were lots of listener interest in underwater hunting the underwater fishing perspective I
bring to the show. Terry Maas and I will be guests on a future show scheduled to air on
October 16th later this year.
If you want all the best fish reports, weather, water temp, and tide and current links, go to
Underwater Hunters web site below.
http://www.underwaterhunters.com/links/
Issue #26
Page 5 of 40
California Edition
Catch of the Month
Issue #26
Page 6 of 40
California Edition
283.2 lbs. Yellowfin Tuna
Congratulations, Richard for landing this pending IUSA World record Yellowfin tuna.
Hopefully this will be just the first of many to come.
Catch / Story By:
Story Title:
Species:
Weight:
Spot:
Richard Balta
New IUSA World Record
Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)
283.2 lbs.
Mexico
New IUSA World Record
After landing a 150 lb. Yellowfin tuna on the first day of our trip I am ready for the monster
tuna, “cows are what many call them.” Day two was very slow, I had not had a tuna sighting all
day. However I knew the best time of the day is yet to come. As afternoon and prime tuna time
approached I get more focused and serious so I can be prepared for any monster tuna
opportunity. I asked the pangaro to drop me up currant of the high spot to start my hunt. As
soon as I hit the water, my senses grew, and it was like I could feel the tuna coming in for the
afternoon run. During my drift, while watching the bait, I noticed the bait fidgeting on the edge
of the 50’ or so foot of visibility. I dropped down to a comfortable spot and hovered around the
bait, after a while, I noticed three big tuna swimming fast in front of me and about thirty feet
below.
I started closing as they moved at a steady pace; shortly I was close enough for a long shot. At
that time I had to make a choice weather to go for it, or wait for another opportunity. Although
all the fish looked over two hundred pounds, they didn’t look like the cows I was after, so I
decided to pass. Shortly after, while on the surface, I noticed movement way down at the edge
of visibility, after seeing little yellow dots I knew it was a tuna.
I dropped down taking a parallel angle approach to the fish while trying not to be too aggressive
as I had a lot of distance to close. I got down to about the same depth as the fish, still swimming
parallel and closed in a little at a time. I finally got to the point where I could start getting ready
to extend my gun to prepare for the shot. Around twenty five feet from my target I extended my
gun carefully into position preparing for the shot. As I got within about fifteen feet of the fish, I
aimed really good for a kill shot which for me is right behind the head where the gill plate ends
on top right on the spine. Baaaam! I let the shaft fly. The fish exploded into the deeps taking
much of the float gear with it. The fish was evidently a little further away than it looked. By the
time the shaft hit the fish, it was about a foot further back than I had aimed and about two
inches lower, not a kill shot; butt still a solid mid body shot.
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California Edition
The fish fought for about twenty minutes without taking much more than my first float down.
After twenty minutes the bungee line froze still straight down, with one of my Rob Allen floats
about twenty feet below the surface, I grabbed the other float and connected it to the bungee
line while stretching the line as much as possible. At first I wasn’t able to gain anything on the
fish, no matter how much I pulled on the line. At that time I am guessing the fish is about a
hundred and fifty feet down. For a minute I said to myself, “man is this thing wrapped up on the
bottom or what?” But little by little I started gaining and was able to start bringing it up. I
finally got it up to where I could see the shooting line. I dove down, inspected the shot and then
came back up. The shot was solid with no signs of tearing. The fish was pretty well spent, but
still making a couple of kicks every few seconds.
I called for a gun and a friend of mine through me a gun from the ponga. I loaded the gun, went
down, and placed a second shot in the head stoning it cold. I tied a rope around the tail which
was attached securely to the ponga. It took all four of us to pull this monster in the boat. I
looked at the fish and didn’t know how to feel, it was one of the best feelings in my life. The
official registered weight is an amazing 283.2 lbs. and a new pending IUSA world record for
Yellowfin tuna.
Richard Balta
Blend with the Sea
Issue #26
Page 8 of 40
California Edition
Congratulations, Erez for landing your biggest fish ever!
247 lbs. Yellowfin Tuna
I shot this Yellowfin tuna in Mexico, The water temp was 84 degree and up to 80 feet visibility, I use
my new Matt Alexander tuna gun and shot the fish in 40-45 feet of water.
Erez
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California Edition
Issue #26
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California Edition
Congratulations, Brandon does it again by landing your biggest fish ever.
Catch / Story By:
Story Title:
Species:
Weight:
Spot:
Brandon Wahlers
My Biggest Fish Ever
220 lbs.
Mexico
My Biggest Fish Ever
It was the last hour and a half of the trip and I hadn’t yet shot one of these monster tuna. I had
just seen 2 schools of smaller tuns swimming against the current so I oriented myself to drift
with the current and look in the direction I saw the tuna coming from. As I was ascending from
a dive, I saw a group of tuna swimming under me and to my side about 30 feet away. I quickly
turned around and as the fish started getting out of range, I picked the closest one and fired my
11/32 shaft and spectra tip right into its spine, stoning the fish.
I could hear my shaft hit the fish's spine solidly, and saw the fish quivering. However, I knew
that my tip didn't penetrate the fish beyond the spine. So I got a second gun from my buddy and
went down to secure my catch. When we got it back to the dock it weighed in at 220lbs, my
biggest fish ever I will never forget those moments!!!
Brandon Wahlers
Issue #26
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California Edition
Issue #26
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California Edition
Congratulations, Clint for landing your personal best Yellowfin tuna.
Catch / Story By:
Story Title:
Species:
Weight:
Spot:
Clint Koberstein
My Personal Best Yellowfin Tuna
190 lbs.
Mexico
My Personal Best Yellowfin Tuna
This is my story.
This trip is one that I have long prepared for. My expectations where not as high as the others: Richard,
Brandon, & Erez. I have been to La Paz, it was a great trip, but I only saw one record size fish that was
out of range.
Next, I went to Kauai, on vacation with the wife; where I met up with some locals and went offshore in
there boat. No one got a fish that day. We did get chased out of the water by some huge Galapagos
Sharks! This was definitely exciting!
Then I scheduled a trip months in advance to Turtle Bay. Brandon and his friends went down a week
before me and score BIG with a record Grouper. By the time I got there RED TIDE had moved in. We
went out on the first day to explore its limits to no end. So, we tried to dive it anyway, only get 5 to 7
feet of visibility.
We packed up and went to Bay of LA. This was a fun trip, but NO great monster fish seen.
Maui, I went on a vacation here again with the wife. I had contacted a local to go offshore, but the
conditions would not allow it. We where only able to shore dive, no big fish but, yet these fish are very
challenging. I think the above sets up the mind set that I was in. Not overconfident, yet ready for it to
happen.
On the morning of the first day the anticipation and excitement is running high. We had jumped in on a
spot off shore that we were trying to figure out. Big Tunas had been sighted but, be were not able to
work the area do to low visibility and ripping current. By now we are all at our peak of awareness.
The next spot is better. The current is still going at a good pace. I can barely keep my position on the
surface while swimming against the current. I make my dive, my Heart is beating rapidly, I make
several dives like this. I signal for the Ponga to pick me up. I drift and dive several more times. I've
seen many Wahoo but I have never shot one. I make the decision to change from my tuna rig (100 foot
Bungee, and three floats) to my small game rig (70 foot float-line & 1 inflatable float).
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California Edition
I get dropped off and make a couple of dives. I'm down on a dive and to my amazement 3 Huge Tuna
are to my right. I know they are large by the shear size of there streamers. Overwhelmed by the size
they barely twitch a muscle to propel their massive bodies. The yellow fin lets seam to glow as I swim
up current to intersect. I instinctively know that I need to get closer. This may be my only sighting
during the trip. I'm careful not to look directly at them or to be too aggressive with my movement.
I line up the shot; I'm thinking this is amazing I didn't think I would be seeing such a Cow! I know I
need a good shot; I'M NOT SET UP FOR THIS!!!! The arrow flies! Thump!!! It's a SOLID shot at 10
or 12 feet away. I'm SURPRISED the Tuna takes off and down he goes and up I go!! Staying close to
the float line to catch the buoy rushing by bye! I hit the surface and hold on.
Next thing you know my inflatable is going down and I'm GOING WITH IT! The float is
imploding!!! Swimming against the fish I think to myself, "there's no stopping it now,” I just lost my
gear!!!!" About then me and the float are come back up!! I have a chance, as long as the sharks don't
get it!
I yell to the guys, “150 lb. Tuna I'm ON!” As I'm towed across the surface, the boat comes over. I let
the Ponga captain know there is nothing we can do right now until it quits dragging me, go pick up the
other guys. By the time the ponga returns I have pulled the tuna up to the shooting line. I see the shot is
solid; tip is toggled on the other side with no ripping. The situation is extremely dangerous!!! The
Tuna is swimming circles around me ON THE SURFACE!!! Each time the tuna comes around I
have to swim over the 1/16 SS Cable. I'm holding on to my float, tuna gun, & float-line. I yell to
Brandon, "through me the KILLGUN!!" (This is my 110cm Euro gun with no flopper) The gun is
unloaded. While holding onto the float line I try to load the gun, the fish takes off as I'm pulling back
on the band and I can't load it. I finally get it loaded. The Tuna is swimming so fast it takes several
minutes to line up the shot. Whack!! I get a good head shot. NOW THERE IS ANOTHER LINE IN
THE WATER. Not only do I have to go over the 1/16 SS cable shooting line I have to keep the
shooting line from the kill gun from getting tangled. I do this once more. WHACK!! Another good
shot, only an inch away from the last. This one I can tell hurts him as he makes a desperate attempt to
fight once more. I can't get the shaft out, it's swimming to fast and it’s bending the shaft over from the
water pressure. I finally get the shaft out. The Tuna has a solid stream of blood trailing from is head
as he takes off on a short run and dies.
What a Dramatic Experience this has been. This May well be the best story I ever have!
The Fish weighed in at 190 lbs
CLINT KOBERSTEIN
Issue #26
Page 14 of 40
California Edition
New Personal Best #1
Twin 36 lbs. Catalina WSB
Issue #26
Page 15 of 40
California Edition
Congratulations! Anthony for landing this 36.5 lbs. WSB at Catalina on July 11th.
Catch / Story By:
Story Title:
Species:
Weight:
Spot:
Mr. & Anthony Funiciello
New Personal Best
White Sea Bass (Atractoscion nobilis)
36 lbs.
Catalina
Skip and I were able to score on a couple of beautiful fish. The conditions were pretty good.
About 10-20' visibility with little to no current or wind chop.
I got mine 10 minutes after our first stop on my 2nd dive! I swam to the outside kelp bed and
dived down about 15-20'. I was cruising slowly through the kelp when out of my left this single
male was cruising through the kelp channel almost parallel with me. I stopped swimming and
waited for him to cross my path. I fired, grabbed my float line, and nothing! There was no
fight and I thought I missed that huge target. As I retrieved my shaft, I noticed it was a little
heavier than just a bare shaft. Then, I saw the shining silver fish as it came floating from the
deep. It was a kill shot that entered the right side of the fish about 6 inches behind the gill plate
and exited just behind its left eye. I was back to the boat with this beautiful fish within 15
minutes of leaving the swim step! It weighed just over 36lbs.
Skip then came through and scored on another beautiful fish later in the day just before we were
going to leave. It was another beautiful male that ironically weighed just over 36lbs!
What a day!
Anthony
Issue #26
Page 16 of 40
California Edition
New Personal Best #2
Personal best 52 lbs. WSB
Issue #26
Page 17 of 40
California Edition
Congratulations Erik, for landing this new personal best 52 lbs. WSB.
Catch / Story By:
Story Title:
Species:
Weight:
Spot:
Erik Hodge
New Personal Best
White Sea Bass (Atractoscion nobilis)
52 lbs.
Channel Islands
Every thing is under control now
Issue #26
Page 18 of 40
California Edition
There was a "small craft advisory" that day, but the winds didn't look too bad in the
morning. There were three of us on board, and we decided to go for it, heading to Santa Cruz
Island on "Malolo," my trusty 28-foot Luhrs. After a brief stop to photograph an 80-pound dead
pig floating in the water, we headed for our first dive spot.
The water temperature was only 58 degrees--a little disappointing--but we pulled up to the kelp
bed to see about 100 white sea bass catching rays on the surface. We looked at each
other, forgot how cold the water was, suited up and jumped in.
In the first 10 minutes, I saw two fish over 50 pounds, but I couldn't get a shot. Wanting to land
my first fish over 50 pounds, I passed over a lot of fish in the 15- to 20- pound range. After an
hour of diving and not seeing any monsters, we headed for dive spot number two.
The water was 62 degrees and the kelp was straight up when we dropped the anchor. Two
weeks ago I had shot one in the 40-pound range at this spot, so I had a good feeling the fish
were going to be here and be big.
I jumped in the water and slowly swam to the outer edge of the kelp bed. I was on the surface
and pulled the kelp back to see a half dozen sea bass between 35 to 60 pounds. One of the
bigger ones swam right under me. I dropped down a few feet, took aim and fired. I got her! The
fish took off and took 80 feet of float line with her. She ended up at the bottom in 65 feet of
water. After 30 minutes and 8 dives, I got her back to the boat. She was my biggest sea bass yet
52 pounds!
The wind never did come up that day, and we had a smooth ride home--me, my friends and the
one that didn't get away!
Eric Hodge
Issue #26
Page 19 of 40
California Edition
King Neptune’s Fathers Day Present
Doug Van Mullem 40 lbs. Fathers Day WSB
Catch / Story By:
Image folks
Doug Van Mullem
Father, Doug, Tory, & Hanna Van Mullem
I had been watching the dive conditions all week. I knew I had a very busy work schedule and I
also knew the only time to get out when there would be fair to good dive conditions would be
Thursday after work. The problem was that I also had to go to UCLA to pack up my daughter's
stuff from her dorm room. That would fill up the Explorer 100% leaving no room to take my dive
Issue #26
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California Edition
gear and no time to go home to Huntington Beach to drop off her stuff and pick up my gear. My
close friend, Skip Hellen, took pity on me and offered to help me out. Skip was nice enough to go
over to my house that afternoon and pack up my gear and bring it to PV while I was up North
loading my daughter's dorm stuff into my explorer.
After meeting me at the cliffs and suggesting to me where to head {keep in mind, this is the world
record holder in the White Sea Bass (WSB) giving me suggestions}, Skip then drove the explorer
home and left me with my other car, complete with 150 quart ice chest in it, just large enough to
curl a big fish into. So, with Skip's help, I got out diving last night and shot a beautiful WSB.
Getting this fish was especially important to me since this was my birthday dive plus my 89 year
old father who loves fish was coming down from Santa Barbara the next day to celebrate Father's
Day and my birthday. I'll serve him fresh fish for his Father's Day present - which was my goal for
that dive. What an honor to have such a great catch to serve to my Dad, who taught me to dive in
1961. I couldn't have done this without Skip's help. What a great friend to have.
The dive conditions were calm surf but choppy wind waves of 1-2 foot. I found 5 foot of visibility
on the surface and down to 15 feet where the red tide stopped. Below 15 feet there was 10-25 foot
visibility. That forced me to do all my hunting on the bottom in 20 to 25 foot water. I entered the
water after 4:00 and dove for a couple of hours. With the fog coming in, the sun getting low, the
red tide and kelp on top all restricting visibility, it was getting dark on the bottom. I was a long way
from the exit point and knew this was going to be my last dive before heading for home. I dove
down and leveled off on the bottom and started my slow & silent stalking first scanning to the right
and then to the left. As I turned left, I saw this large WSB was coming in on me and passing
diagonally just 3 feet in front of my gun. I saw that he was the leader of a large school of big WSB
but I was afraid that with him being so close I could spook the school if I held on the sure shot to
look for the biggest one.
I took the shot just behind the gill plate in the center of the fish grazing the backbone and going out
the other side's gill plate. The fish had a small fight left in it, just enough to get tied up in tons of
kelp. I swam the fish back to shore and decided to gut it since it wasn't in contention for the club's
biggest fish of the year and I needed to lighten the load. Being significantly over weight and having
to wear 30 pounds of lead to get down made that cliff hike look real challenging. I added it all up
to an extra 120 pounds of gear, fish, weight and fat to get up that cliff. My thought was, could I
make it up in one trip? Just then, my buddy, a fellow Fathomier, Phil Labastida, a mail carrier for
the last 16 years and in great shape, just happened to come out of the water right behind me and
with no fish. My hopes were up but my pride wouldn't allow me to ask for help. What a great
Issue #26
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California Edition
friend, he asked if he could carry my weight-belt up the cliff. I swallowed my pride and said YES!
What a pal. What a great day and great dive.
Safe hunting
Doug Van Mullem
Issue #26
Page 22 of 40
California Edition
Report
Water temperatures have finally inched above 60 degrees in most of our favorite fishing
holes. Big White Sea Bass have made a very strong showing with many 60+ lb. fish already
landed. Last month the largest WSB of the year, a monster 75.8 lb. taken by Andy Taylor of
Santa Barbara.
HOTBITES:
ALBACORE: The bite is still going strong for the 1½ and 2 day trips. Fish are averaging 1520 lbs. Some Bluefin tuna are mixed in. There are some fish inside Clemente but scattered.
YELLOWFIN TUNA: The Yellowfin tuna that were down below a few weeks ago have not
been showing the last few weeks.
YELLOWTAIL: Yellowtail fishing has been steadily good at Catalina and San Clemente
Island with fish to 40-0 taken at both islands. Lots of smaller yellowtail have been seen on
kelp patties in the channel. Patty fish have not been biting yet.
WHITE SEA BASS: The bite at Catalina and Clemente Islands has been sporadic but lots of
fish in both areas.
CALICO BASS: Calico bass fishing is great along the coast and at all the local islands.
Issue #26
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California Edition
Southern Areas
SOUTHERN COAST (SC): There continues to be an excellent WSB presence along the
coast this year but red tide has made hunting then extremely difficult.
CATALINA ISLAND (CI): The WSB have been difficult this year with a few nice fish
being landed recently. Large Yellowtail have appeared in the last few weeks especially on
the lee side of the island.
SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND (SCI): Some good (20-40 lbs.) Yellowtail have arrived
recently. WSB are beginning to thin as their spawning cycle is nearing the end.
CORTEZ and TANNER BANKS (TB & CB): Water temperature has finally raised above
60 degrees in the last two weeks. No reports yet but it is a good bet that there are YT and
WSB there as well.
SANTA BARBARA ISLAND (SBI): Water temperature has jumped above 65 degrees in
the lat two weeks but there are no reports yet. However it is a good bet that there are plenty
of fish at SBI as well.
Issue #26
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California Edition
Northern Areas
SANTA ROSA ISLAND (SRI): There have been many excellent WSB catch reports from
SRI and the water temperature is over 65 degrees. Halibut, WSB and perhaps even big YT
may be in the catch at SRI over the next few weeks.
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND (SCZI): There are scattered WSB all over the back side. However
the average size has dropped as the large females are dropping out of the radar screen.
ANACAPA ISLAND (ACI): Water temps have settled in above 65 degrees with some YT
and WSB till being taken.
SAN NICHOLAS ISLAND (SNI): Water temps are still below or right at 60 degrees. The
magic number is 64 degrees at SNI so we are still in a holding pattern.
NORTHERN COAST (NC): Water temps are up in the mid 60’s now but most have been
going to the islands for the more consistent results.
http://www.underwaterhunters.com/history/index.php?id=11
Summery
Water temperatures have gone up rapidly in the last two weeks in areas which have been
cool most of this early season. This has triggered another late season round of spawning for
WSB. Along with the late season spawn the yellowtail have moved north on this latest water
temperature rise with some very large YT in the mix right now.
Issue #26
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California Edition
Where are the fish?? (Chart)
The above chart appears on the web site below and is the report for June 2005. This chart indicates
where the fishermen are having some success. This chart shows San Clemente Island with Catalina
Island in the middle, LA harbor at the top middle and the PV peninsula on the top left.
http://www.pacificedgetackle.com/fishreport.aspx
Issue #26
Page 26 of 40
California Edition
Water Temperature (Surface)
One of the most important factors of fish behavior is water temperature. It’s important to
monitor not only the temperature but the temperature trend. Up trends usually promote fish
activity and cooling tends usually promote fish inactivity. Keep these trend rules in mind when
trying to predict fish patterns and activities.
Issue #26
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California Edition
Chlorophyll (Water Clarity)
The above image was taken by satellite and shows the chlorophyll content in the surface water
off southern California. This is a new service offered by Terrafin and is a valuable asset when
trying to determine water clarity in diving locations off shore. Terrafin is a subscription service
and the link is featured in the links of the month in this report.
Issue #26
Page 28 of 40
California Edition
Tides / Currents & Grunion runs
Look at the following tide days & wave charts for favorable underwater hunting tide/current
conditions for hunting species like White Seabass;
Remember different species favor different current conditions so not all tide cycles and
currents conditions are desirable for all species.
Grunion runs are predicted to be from August 6th – 9th and the 21st – 24th. It is important to
understand that hunting some species like Halibut, WSB and other inshore species could be
more rewarding during a Grunion run period. Reference the following web site for future
Grunion runs. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/gruschd.html#runs
August 8th through August 10th
The key with tide/current patterns is the lack of inner tidal change trend. Even large tidal
swings usually produce little currents if there is little or no trend. The above chart tide waves
has some relatively large tide changes but little tidal trend. Notice the relatively small
difference of the tops of the highs and bottom of the lows. Large relatively even reversals
tend to cancel out each other when they are equal and produce little or no trend. Keep in
mind that understanding how to recognize tidal wave trend is perhaps the most important
factor when attempting to predict current flow and intensity.
Issue #26
Page 29 of 40
California Edition
August 22nd through August 24th
This tide pattern is similar to the one earlier this month while there is a relatively large tide
change there is little trend which is favorable to little current production. This tide pattern is
even better that the earlier pattern this month for producing little or no current. Log onto the
web link below where I have a lists of all the favorable tide/current cycles for underwater
hunters interested in low currents for the entire 2005 year.
http://www.underwaterhunters.com/information/index.php?id=14
Issue #26
Page 30 of 40
California Edition
My King Neptune (Al Schneppershoff Jr.)
Article By:
Title:
Skip Hellen
My King Neptune
Al at Ship Rock Catalina 1963
Al on big wave Laguna Beach 1970
Al liked to shoot lots of fish (Yellowtail)
Al, Terry, Carl large Gulf Grouper
As a youngster I loved watching Sea Hunt on TV, I dreaming of exploring the wonders of the
undersea world some day. I always had a tremendous fascination for the sea all though I had never
explored it first hand. My dad insisted I get scuba certified before he would allow me to go diving. I
Issue #26
Page 31 of 40
California Edition
Al & Me 1967
Al 40+ lb. YT Catalina 1966
Al & Garry 1972
I signed up for the scuba certification class in Feb. 1964 at the Ski & Dive shop owned by George and
Don Brawer on Lakewood Blvd. in Bellflower, home of the original M&B farmer john wet suit. I
remember listening to the first Cassius Clay, Sonny Liston World heavyweight title fight on a
transistor radio while in scuba class. Clay won by TKO in the seventh round and became the
heavyweight boxing champion on February 25, 1964.
I used to hitch hiked down to the dive shop and hang out hoping to meet some divers with a boat or a
car. I had been walking and hitchhiking to Laguna Beach, Divers Cove with my mask, fins, snorkel,
and little rock speargun for my deep-sea adventures. I had no money to buy a wet suit. The water was
so cold, my skinny 130 lb. body had little fat to keep me warm, I stayed in the water for about an hour
before I began slipped into hypothermia. I would come out of the water teeth chattering and knees
shaking but I loved every minute. The diving experience was all I had imagined and much, much
more.
Over time I convinced my dad to help me buy a wet suit from an ad in the paper for about $20. The
suit didn't fit so I bought a can of wet-suit glue, cut and glued until it fit. I was ready to get out there
with the "Big Guns." I spent hours reading all of the Skin Diver magazines and the Pacific Underwater
Newspapers over and over again to get my "underwater adventure fix." I could hardly wait for the next
issue. I got to know people like Al Schneppershoff Jr. (game fish editor of the Pacific Underwater
News) Don Evers, Ron Hill, the A competitive team (Squid Diddlers) for the Ski & Dive shop in
Bellflower, by reading the Pacific Underwater News. I felt like I knew all these people through the
stories of them in the paper seemingly every month, shooting big game fish or winning a tournament.
Issue #26
Page 32 of 40
California Edition
Bob, Yas, Al Avalon Catalina late 1971
Skip & Al at Barn Kelp YT 1967
Somehow, they seemed like gods appearing in my imagination, on the pages of newspapers,
magazines, and in my dreams. I had to become part of this group of elite underwater adventurers. But
how do I get to meet these super divers?
One day I was hanging out at the dive shop when a call came in! Dave Piet, the store manager,
answered the phone. I eavesdropped on the call; it seemed to be one of the people I had been reading
so much about. The dive shop was sponsoring an A class competitive spearfishing team of Al
Schneppershoff, Don Evers, and Ron Hill. They were being sponsored with free dive equipment in
exchange for advertising during the competition dive season. Al apparently needed some 5/8" band
rubber for his big game gun. Dave didn't know if they had the right size, he told Al he would have to
check in the back. I asked Dave if I could talk to Al while he was checking, he handed me the phone. I
told Al that I had been reading all about his spearfishing in the Underwater News and would really
love to go diving with him some time. He said, "I'll give you a call." I don't think he was aware that of
my young age or he may never have called me. About two weeks later Al called me and invited me on
a dive trip, I informed him that I didn't have a car and I was not old enough to drive yet.
Issue #26
Page 33 of 40
California Edition
Al’s 524 lbs. IUSA World Record Black Seabass Sept. 1968
Issue #26
Page 34 of 40
California Edition
Now, here's where Al showed his big heart. He said, "Where do you live?" "Lynwood," I answered,
some 15 miles out of his way. He said, "I'll pick you up at 4:30 AM." We made arraignments for him
to pick me up at the corner of Atlantic and Century in the city of Lynwood, a couple of blocks from
my house.
On an early morning in March 1965, I got to meet for the first time, a man who became my hero, my
King Neptune, Al Schneppershoff Jr. To me Al was one of the greatest all around spearfishermen of
all time. His energy, enthusiasm, and charisma made him the hart and soul of spearfishing in
California of his time. Al was the Mohamed Ali of California spearfishing of his day.
King Neptune was an ancient Roman God of the sea, identified with the Greek god Poseidon who
presided over all the creatures in the sea. The Neptune’s Dive club of Long Beach California has an
(King Neptune) award, reserved for only the finest spearfishermen of their club. In the clubs 45+ year
history only a handful of members have earned the title “King Neptune.” It normally takes many years
to earn a King Neptune award. Al earned his King Neptune in one day, less than two weeks after
becoming a club member. King Neptune and Poseidon were mythological, but Al was my real King
Neptune.
I remember my first trip with Al to Anacapa Island where we dove a spot he called Quarter Acres in
the morning then later dove Cat Rock where Al speared a 390 lb. Black Sea Bass. I sat on the boat
totally in awe of this mammoth fish that was more than three times my size. Al had a name for
newcomers like me, "mucky muck." I didn't mind the tag I was diving with the best, who better to
learn from. Al hunted by moving aggressively, he would always said, "If the fish aren't in front of you,
move until they are. “ He employed this formula in his hunting as well as his trip planning. It wasn't
unusual for him to hunt two different Islands on the same weekend or even in one day. I remember
one weekend; we went to Anacapa on Saturday and the Coronado's on Sunday. One day we went to
the Barn kelp off Oceanside on Saturday morning and finished up the day at the Coronado Island
Mexico that same afternoon, where I speared and landed my first 30+ lb. Yellowtail. I got my first
Black Sea Bass, White Sea bass, Yellowtail and Grouper on Al's boat. I can still remember how proud
I was after I won my first spearfishing tournament, the Water Festival Pole Spearfishing Meet held in
Santa Barbara in 1967, and Al said that's my protégée. I had earned some respect, no more "mucky
muck."
My baseball carrier separated me from the sea in 1968 when I signed a professional baseball contract
with the LA Dodgers. Between Feb. - Oct. 1968-1975, while I was on the road playing baseball, was
some of the best underwater game fishing years ever. I missed most of the hot summer fish runs
because of my baseball travel schedule. I dove commercial abalone and lived in Avalon Catalina
Island with Al, little Al and Linda Schneppershoff after the 1969 baseball season. Al was a great
abalone diver as well nearly doubling my daily catch most of the time. I doubt there was anything he
Issue #26
Page 35 of 40
California Edition
didn’t do extremely well in the sea. I wonder how much different the evolution of spearfishing would
have been if Al hadn't been so tragically taken by a great White Shark at Guadalupe Isl. in 1973.
The Key is to be with the Sea
Issue #26
Page 36 of 40
California Edition
All time largest WSB 70+ lbs. 1950-2005
All Time Largest Speared WSB
#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Name
WW Skip Hellen
Yas Ikeda
John Modugno
Sid Campbell
Todd Bergenbring
Andy Taylor
Bart Hwang
Blair Smith
Sam Ichikawa
Tom Lally
Ron Merker
Mike Ocsenas
Harry Davis
Mark Mayeda
Mark Mayeda
1 Hank Nunakawa
1st Ken Torasheba
2 Hank Nunakawa
Gene Emory
Bob Shea
Mark Stowe
Mark Stowe
Weight lbs.
80
79.4
78.8
78
76.6
75.8
75.4
74.12
74.8
74
73
73
72
72
72
72
71.12
71
71
71
71
71
Location
Palos Verdes
Catalina Island
Catalina Island
Catalina Island
Palos Verdes
Santa Barbara
Palos Verdes
Catalina Island
Catalina Island
Catalina Island
Catalina Island
Catalina Island
Catalina Island
Mexico
Mexico
Catalina Island
Santa Cruz Island
Catalina Island
San Diego
San Diego
Mexico
Mexico
Date
3-12-94
7-12-71
6-15-63
1963
2-28-99
5-13-05
1-9-00
6-5-63
7-15-76
1971
1964
5-65
7-92
6-98
5-05
6-14-72
9-9-59
1962
6-24-03
7-69
6-98
6-98
Catches with no documented weights 70+ lbs.
23
Al Schneppershoff
70.12 lbs.
Catalina Island
1969
24
Mike Oshita
70 lbs.
Palos Verdes
6-12-80
25
Mark Barville
70 lbs.
Palos Verdes
1990
26
Bill McNair
70 lbs.
Catalina Island
10-9-97
The total confirmed 70+ lbs. WSB ever speared stands at 22 as of 7-22-05.
WW Skip Hellen has the current IUSA world record with an 80 lb. taken on March 12, 1994.
Ken Torasheba landed the 1st 70+ lb. WSB #17 in September 1959.
Multiple 70+ lb. WSB speared in a career;
California
1. Hank Nunakawa 72,71 lbs.
Out of USA
1. Mark Stow 71, 71 lbs.
2. Mark Mayeda 72, 72 lbs.
Issue #26
Page 37 of 40
California Edition
Bargains
Detecto Stainless Steel Digital Hanging Scale
Like New
I have a line on Detecto stainless steel digital hanging scales. I own one of these scales myself and
they are ideal for getting accurate weights on record fish in out of the way places. I have attached
the images below for your review. The photos are of my scale in a Pelican case with a few clips
and ropes for hanging the scale and weighing anything.
Detecto Digital Hanging Scale
Detecto Scale in Pelican Case with Rigging
New comparable scales sells for well over $850 online. Used scales like this sell for $500-700 if
you can find them. See following link); http://www.scalesgalore.com/detecto_hsdc_hanging_scales.htm
I get these scales occasionally. These scales work perfectly and look like new. The price will vary
depending on the scale range. The last one I sold was purchased in lasted less than an hour so if
you are interested in one of these scales notify me immediately by phone or email and I will put
you on the buy list when they come available. Hurry! Get on the list! Scales at these prices won’t
last long.
Skip
714-969-1681 H
714-724-8366 Cell
Issue #26
Page 38 of 40
California Edition
Services
***Best Dentist in the World***
Dr. Charles P. Tozzer DDS
Dr. Tozzers staff sets the standard with a relaxed family like office
atmosphere. At Dr. Tozzers office you are treated like a friend or
family member rather than a patent. This unique relaxed
atmosphere makes for a pleasant dental experience. Dr. Tozzer has
been my dentist for years, I never knew how pleasant a dental visit
could be until Dr. Tozzer became my dentist. Call Dr. Tozzer for
your next dentist appointment. You never had it so good at the
dentist until you see Dr. Tozzer.
Contact Dr. Tozzer at;
949-857-1270
New Patient Special
FREE Exam
FREE X-Rays
FREE Consultation
FREE Second Opinion
New Patient
$25 OFF
First Procedure
(Fillings & Crowns Only)
(A $187 Value)
Coupon
Coupon
Family + Cosmetic + Sedation Dentistry
Issue #26
Page 39 of 40
California Edition
***** Please send Photos / Stories *****
Underwater photos are especially nice
If you have any ideas or want to add anything to this report please contact me at
714-969-1681 or skiphellen@earthlink.net
I will keep your information as confidential as you wish
I would like to extend a special thanks to all who have contributed to this report. Your
input has been greatly appreciated. Because of your contribution this report continues
to improve each month. I believe this report is the best report thus far. Rest assured we
are making every effort to produce the finest report of its kind in the world today.
With your help we will accomplish our goal.
ENJOY!
Be safe, good luck, good hunting and good fishing
The key is to be with the sea
Skip Hellen
Issue #26
Page 40 of 40
California Edition

Open

Transcription

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