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APR- 2014

DDAACC RREEEELL TTIIMMEESS

2014 DAC BOAT SHOW AND DOCK PARTY SATURDAY, MAY 17th

ALOHA!! Join us for one of the best parties of the year. Celebrate the fishing season with music, games, food and drinks for our boat show and dock LUAU! Wear a Hawaiian shirt or accessory! Kids are encouraged to join in the fun. Annual kids casting contest and crab catching contest for prizes. New members are encouraged to showcase their boats and all members are encouraged to bring interested guests.

DAC will host our annual boat show and dock party at the Guest Slips in Dana West Marina. We are still looking for member boats UNDER 38' to show their boat and participate. Food, Beverage, games, raffle and fun will be provided for this great event. All members are encouraged to bring guests.

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Dana Angling Club – Fishing News:

22001144 DDAACC FFIIRRSSTT FFLLAAGGSS ((AAss ooff 44//3300//1144)) Species: YELLOWTAIL 28.8 lbs. Angler: Pat Holmes Date: 01/11/2014 Location: Coronados – North Island Tackle: 50#, Yo-Yo Iron Species: WHITE SEABASS 54.19 lbs. Angler: Dan Gorman Date: 02/17/2014 Location: San Onofre Tackle: 80#, Squid

DAC Note: 1st Flags for Junior Yellowtail and White Sea Bass are still open. With the near-shore and Islands producing quality fish, now is the time to get your Junior Anglers out on the water and on a fish!!!

FFIISSHHIINNGG SSUUMMMMAARRYY::

The Coronado Islands are STILL producing some nice quality early season Yellowtails for those making the trip down below the boarder……. On for a couple days, then off for a couple days. Wind, Weather and Crowds play into the action.

Catalina has produced White Sea Bass and Yellowtail on the backside, live squid being key.

AAllll--SSppeecciieess TToouurrnnaammeenntt AApprriill 1122tthh--2277tthh Tough fishing during the 3 Weeks of the DAC All Species Tournament, Several boats fished from Newport Reef, Catalina, Salt Creek, San O and the Barn.

Official Results of the All-Species Tournament

are as follows:

1st Place: Chris Bailey 35.6lb Halibut

Top Boat: Hattaboy

This is also a Club Record catch on 16# test.

Congrats

CCOOMMIINNGG UUPP NNEEXXTT:: DDAACC WWhhiittee SSeeaa BBaassss TToouurrnnaammeenntt

MMaayy 2244tthh tthhrruu JJuunnee 88tthh

DDAACC TToouurrnnaammeenntt HHiinntt:: TThhee DDAACC WWhhiittee SSeeaa BBaassss

TToouurrnnaammeenntt iiss aa lliinnee ccllaassss ttoouurrnnaammeenntt.. HHeeaavviieesstt

ffiisshh oonn tthhee lliigghhtteesstt lliinnee wwiinnss tthhee mmoosstt ppooiinnttss!!

PPooiinnttss aarree aawwaarrddeedd bbaasseedd oonn LLiinnee CCllaassss aanndd ffiisshh

wweeiigghhtt.. IInn tthhee JJaannuuaarryy iissssuueess ooff DDAACC RReeeell TTiimmeess,,

yyoouu aallll hhaavvee ggoooodd iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn aanndd ssttrraatteeggiieess ttoo

ccaattcchh tthhee wwiinnnniinngg ffiisshh.. GGoo ffiinndd tthhaatt wwiinnnniinngg WWhhiittee SSeeaa BBaassss,, ttaakkee ppiiccttuurreess aanndd ppoosstt rreeppoorrttss dduurriinngg tthhiiss

ttoouurrnnaammeenntt..

Have any GoPro editing or set up questions? Ask Geoff @ Heldoorn

Productions

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NEW WEBSITE SUMMARY: What’s new, membership access, pictures and current Fish

Reports!!!!! If you are having any issues accessing the website, reading or posting

reports, contact Mike Webster

TTHHEE DDAACC FFIISSHH LLOOGG:: HHeerree iiss tthhee ssuummmmaarryy ooff tthhee ffiisshh ppoosstteedd oonn tthhee DDAACC WWeebbssiittee..

PPlleeaassee mmaakkee ssuurree ttoo ttuurrnn iinn aa DDAACC WWeeiigghh SSlliipp ((oonnlliinnee)),, tthheessee wwiillll bbee uusseedd ttoo aauuttoo--

ppooppuullaattee tthhee DDAACC FFiisshh LLoogg.. IIff yyoouu hhaavvee aannyy iissssuueess wwiitthh tthhee oonnlliinnee wweeiigghh sslliippss,, ccoonnttaacctt

GGeeooffff HHeerrsscchh –– DDAACC FFiisshh CChhaaiirr

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UUppccoommiinngg EEvveennttss // CCaalleennddaarr:: DDAACC HHaalliibbuutt TToouurrnnaammeenntt –– MMaayy 33rrdd -- 44tthh

DDAACC BBooaatt SShhooww –– MMaayy 1177tthh

DDAACC WWhhiittee SSeeaa BBaassss TToouurrnnaammeenntt –– MMaayy 2244tthh –– JJuunn 88tthh

2014 DAC Calendar of Events

2013 Awards Banquet March 1, 2014 General Membership Meeting March 20th

Nearshore Species: Guest Speaker(s): Artificials Tournament March 22 & 23 All Species Tournament April 12 – 27 Pre-Tournament Social: April 10th Halibut Tournament May 3-4 Pre-Tournament Social: May 1st DAC Boat Show May 17 White Sea Bass Tournament May 24 – June 8 Pre-Tournament Social: May 22nd 3-B Tournament and Picnic June 22 General Membership Meeting June 26

Offshore Species / Guest Speaker(s): Yellowtail Tournament July 12 & 13 Pre-Tournament Social: July 10th Shark Tournament July 26 & 27 Pre-Tournament Social: July 24th Albacore / Tuna Tournament August 2 & 3 Pre-Tournament Social: July 31st General Membership Meeting Aug 7

Marlin / Guest Speaker(s): Ladies Tournament / Junior Tournament August 16 & 17 Pre-Tournament Social: August 14th Cherry / El Niño Tournament August 23 & 24 Pre-Tournament Social: August 21st Dick Tonks Memorial Tournament September 6 & 7 Pre-Tournament Social: September 4th Masters Tournament September 12 & 13 Pesky’s Tournament (estimated) September 19 & 20 DAC Marlin Tournament September 27 & 28 Pre-Tournament Social: September 25th

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DAC Angling Rules, Tournament Tackle, Line Samples & Testing Requirements

Please make sure you know and understand the DAC Angling Regulations and Tackle Specifications, refer to your DAC Yearbook for details. If you have any questions or need clarifications on DAC Angling Rules or Tournament Regulations, please contact Geoff Hersch – 2014 DAC Fish Chair.

Remember not all lines will break at the rated Line Classification. DAC follows the IGFA Tackle Regulation for all Line Classifications as follows 2#, 4#, 6#, 8#, 12#, 16#, 20#, 30#, 50#, 80# and 130#. Prior to any DAC Tournaments if you need to verify the line classification, submit clean 15’ sample of the line for testing. Identify the Line Class and note “For Testing Only” and we’ll confirm the Line Class for you. All fish entered into competition for button awards, trophies, tournaments and club records must be weighed using a Certified Scale and recorded by submitting a Weigh Slip. DAC maintains a Certified Scale for use by the DAC Membership located at the Dana Point Fuel Dock. Line Samples must be submitted as required, submit clean 15’ sample of the line for testing. Remember Weigh Slips must be submitted via the website or postmarked by the date specified on the DAC Tournament Flyer.

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WWhheenn aatt tthhee DDaannaa PPooiinntt FFuueell DDoocckk aanndd wweeiigghhiinngg iinn yyoouurr ccaattcchh,,

mmaakkee ssuurree ttoo uussee tthhee DDAACC WWeeiigghh SSccaallee aanndd WWeeiigghh SSttaattiioonn BBooaarrdd

ttoo rreeccoorrdd ccaattcchh..

PPoosstt aa rreeppoorrtt wwiitthh tthhee ddeettaaiillss ooff yyoouurr ccaattcchh aalloonngg wwiitthh aa pphhoottoo oonn

tthhee DDAACC WWeebbssiittee –– FFiisshh BBooaarrdd 22001144..

BBee tthhee ffiirrsstt aanngglleerr iinn 22001144 ttoo wweeiigghh iinn ffiisshh uussiinngg tthhee DDAACC WWeeiigghh

SSccaallee aanndd WWeeiigghh SSttaattiioonn BBooaarrdd ttoo rreeccoorrdd ccaattcchh aanndd wwiinn aa DDAACC TT--

SShhiirrtt.. WWeebbssiittee ppoosstteedd rreeppoorrtt aanndd pphhoottoo rreeqquuiirreedd..

DAC BUTTON AWARDS

TTaakkee tthhee cchhaalllleennggee,, mmaakkee 22001144 tthhee yyeeaarr ttoo wwoorrkk oonn DDAACC

BBuuttttoonn FFiisshh!!

WWiitthh 4477 BBuuttttoonnss ttoo bbee aawwaarrddeedd ffoorr ffiisshh ccaauugghhtt oonn

ssppeecciiffiieedd lliinnee tteesstt aanndd wweeiigghhiinngg oovveerr tthhee ssppeecciiffiieedd mmiinniimmuumm

wweeiigghhtt ffoorr tthhaatt lliinnee tteesstt.. TThhee uullttiimmaattee ggooaall ooff tthhiiss lliiffeettiimmee

ccoommppeettiittiioonn iiss ttoo rreecceeiivvee aallll 4477 bbuuttttoonnss..

RReeffeerr ttoo tthhee DDAACC YYeeaarrbbooookk ffoorr BBuuttttoonn AAwwaarrdd

rreeqquuiirreemmeennttss aanndd ssppeecciiffiieedd mmiinniimmuumm wweeiigghhttss.. IIff yyoouu hhaavvee aannyy

qquueessttiioonnss,, GGeeooffff HHeerrsscchh –– 22001144 DDAACC FFiisshh CChhaaiirr..

Dana Angling Club – New Member Profiles:

Member Name: Scott Blaydes – Member since 2014 Boat Make Length & Name: Rodger Healy's Lobster boat Blue Monster? Favorite Species: WSB Proudest Catch: 32lb Dorado Loreto Mex Species you’d like to learn to fish better: halibut Who introduced you to fishing and when: Grandfather. 6 years old (1967) Why you joined DAC: Fishing comraderie

Member Name: Jim Davis – Membmer since 2014 Boat Make Length & Name: Black Fin Favorite Species: Human (Female) Proudest Catch: Wife Species you’d like to learn to fish better: The Tasty Ones Who introduced you to fishing and when: Jeff Tom Why you joined DAC: Jeff said he would not take me fishing with him if I didn’t and I have been to one of the banquets and everyone seemed to be awesome.

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Dana Angling Club – New Member Profiles: Continued

Member Name: Ron Field – Member since 2014 Boat Make Length & Name: Bertram 28 - The Office Favorite Species: Yellowtail Proudest Catch: 38# Halibut Species you’d like to learn to fish better: White Sea Bass Who introduced you to fishing and when: Chuck Oltman Why you joined DAC: To learn more about fishing in Dana Point and get connected with other likeminded people.

Member Name: Jim Francis – Member since 2014 Boat Make Length & Name: Bertram 28 – The Office Favorite Species: Proudest Catch: Species you’d like to learn to fish better: Who introduced you to fishing and when: Why you joined DAC:

Member Name: Dave Guyot – Member since 2014 Boat Make Length & Name: 29’ Topaz - Backlash Favorite Species: Dorado. Fun to catch and eat Proudest Catch: Marlin and sailfish released on the same day out of Cabo Species you’d like to learn to fish better: White seabass

Who introduced you to fishing and when: My uncle Al Trainor back in the 70’s Why you joined DAC: Chris came by and welcomed me to the harbor right after I took over the Backlash. He is a great ambassador for DAC. Member Name: Mike Ellinger – Member since 2014 Boat Make Length & Name: Pursuit, 30', Fish Tales Favorite Species: Dorado Proudest Catch: Bluefin tuna on a 135mi run to Mex in 4-6ft seas from Dana Point Species you’d like to learn to fish better: All of them, especially Halibut and White Sea Bass Who introduced you to fishing and when: Dad and Grandfather 3 years old Why you joined DAC: Excuse to fish more and learn techniques around here since I seem to suck at fishing So Cal

PPlleeaassee mmaakkee ssuurree ttoo mmeeeett tthheessee nneeww DDAACC MMeemmbbeerrss aanndd

wweellccoommee ttoo tthhee CClluubb!!

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CCrreeaattuurree FFeeaattuurree:: TTHHRREESSHHEERR SSHHAARRKK

Family: Alopiidae (Thresher sharks) Genus and Species: Alopias vulpinus Description: The body of the common thresher shark is moderately elongate. The snout is rather short, and the mouth crescent shaped. The first dorsal fin is large, and located midway between the pectoral and ventral fins. The second dorsal and anal fins are very small. The tail is distinctive since it is very long, almost as long as the rest of the body. The coloration may vary from brownish gray, bluish or blackish above to silvery, bluish or golden below. The dorsal, pectoral and ventral fins are blackish and sometimes the pectoral and ventral fins have a white dot in the lip. The bigeye thresher also occurs off the California coast. It can be distinguished by its large eye; however, if you can count the teeth in the upper jaw, the common thresher has 21 - 22 on each side while the bigeye thresher has 10 - 11 on each side. Range: The common thresher shark occurs worldwide in warmer seas. In the eastern North Pacific, it is found from central Baja California, to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, British Columbia. The common thresher is an inhabitant of the upper layers of deep offshore waters and is most abundant in areas of steep bottom contour along the edges of the continental shelf. During the spring and summer months smaller threshers may occur near shore where they are often seen leaping completely out of the water. Natural History: The food habits of the thresher are not well known, but on the California coast they feed mostly upon small fish such as sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and squid. They are said to use their long tail as a flail to frighten or stun their prey. The common thresher shark bears live young and appears to become sexually mature in 6 or 7 years. Four pups are produced annually. A 18 foot female contained four young that weighed 13.5 pounds each and were 4 to 4.5 feet long. Fishing Information: Most thresher sharks caught off California have been taken on live sardines, anchovies, or mackerel. Best localities have been the San Francisco Bay area, the inshore coastal water between Point Conception and Port Hueneme, and Santa Monica Bay, especially around Malibu and Paradise Cove. They are most abundant during the summer months. Considered a fine game species on light or medium tackle, they often put on an aerial demonstration. At other times the battle is entirely beneath the surface and consists of brute strength and shift-towing tactics. An angler would do well to bait a live mackerel on a 9/0 hook attached to 10 or so feet of heavy wire leader. Other Common Names: thresher, blue thresher, green thresher, longtail shark, swiveltail, fox shark, sea fox.

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Largest Recorded: 20 feet; 1,000 pounds. Largest taken off California by a recreational angler: 575 pounds. Habitat: Pelagic Environment

Common threshers vary in color from coppery-brown to bronze color above, with metallic blue and

purple hues. The undersides are white. The meat is considered to be very good table-fare and has

become increasingly pressured by directed and incidental commercial take as well as a growing interest

in this species as a sport and big game target for recreational anglers

The common thresher shark off Southern California is a miracle adaptation. Its compact, thickly-muscled

body and elongated scythe-shape tail are perfectly designed for its unique method of feeding. Thresher

sharks whip their tails — which can equal their overall body length — with pinpoint accuracy to stun

sardines, anchovies, mackerel and other prey. Then they circle around to gulp down baitfish injured,

killed or addled by the sudden concussion. When threshers feed in groups near the surface, you can

often see and hear the commotion created by their fleshy bullwhips in action.

Go out and look for the birds on the deep water drop off. Watch the current breaks. Meter for bait. Slow

troll on the tidal change or slack tide. Stay with the bait balls. There are anchovies this year, threshers

love them. If you see masses of scales of the surface, you are in the right area. Survive the first run.

Heads, You Win

It takes some effort to hook threshers in the mouth on a regular basis. It’s certainly worth it, for several

reasons. Of course, there is the feeling of sportsmanship and fair play that comes with properly hooking

and beating one of these majestic sharks on rod and reel. For tournament anglers and record seekers,

there is the added benefit of keeping to IGFA rules. The best reason, however, is the undeniable fact

that a mouth-hooked thresher shark puts up a much more fun and spirited fight.

Threshers jump a lot and tend to stay on the surface when they’re hooked in the mouth. Some Southern

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California thresher shark aficionados have refined bait-and-switch slow-trolling techniques that

successfully attract trophy thresher sharks, minimize foul-hooking and get the sharks to inhale the bait

— often right behind the boat. These techniques also increase the likelihood of a healthy release.

Where, When and What

Southern California anglers enjoy an excellent recreational fishery for thresher sharks, with bona fide

big-game action close to home. When smaller 50- to 100-pound threshers gather to feed outside the

kelp line, it’s even possible for many anglers to get in on the excitement.

Although primarily a spring and fall fishery, threshers can be caught anytime conditions are favorable.

Look for water of 59 to 63 degrees with a greenish-blue tinge that locals refer to as “dirty.” If there is a

pronounced edge between green and blue water, fish the green side.

The other key factor in locating thresher sharks is the presence of bait. It could be schools of anchovies,

sardines or mackerel — it doesn’t matter much as long as you’re metering good concentrations of

forage. If you’re in the right color of water and marking suspended bait on the fish finder, you are where

you want to be.

Although conditions change from day to day, some areas of the Orange County coast tend to be

thresher feeding zones. Among these are the southern portions of Laguna Beach and the Newport

Canyon area off the Newport Pier. Depending on where the bite has been happening, fish along the 50-

fathom curve or the 100-fathom curve farther offshore. Although it’s not written in stone, usually the

sub-100-pound fish are found tighter to the beach. The bigger fish usually work deeper feeding zones,

where you are more likely to encounter a typical 100- to 150-pound thresher — with a shot at the

occasional 250-pound monster.

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Handle with Care You need to handle these fish carefully when you get them alongside the boat, paying particular attention to the rear end. Threshers don’t have the snaggletooth mouth and bad attitude that define makos, Southern California’s other popular game shark. What they do have is a five-foot tail that can slap you silly. To successfully and safely release a thresher, you want to keep the boat moving forward and the fish swimming as you bring him alongside. When you have control of the leader, you want to either remove the hook with an ARC dehooker or cut the wire as close as possible to the fish’s mouth. Six Steps to Bait-and-Switch

Threshers attack a bait with their tail, and as long as it keeps moving away from them, they’ll keep whacking at it. So if you’re slow-trolling a rigged bait or diving plug, they will usually keep tail-slapping it until they get foul-hooked. When they see the bait drop as if it is stunned, this often triggers them to turn and gulp it down. It’s as if the shark thinks to itself, “OK, my tail has done its job and killed that bait — now I can eat.” The bait-and-switch techniques are designed to take advantage of this feeding behavior and instinctive reaction. Here’s how to employ them. 1. Slow-troll a teaser outfit designed to attract — but not hook — threshers with flash, action and the smell of real bait. A large 16-ounce Bait-O-Matic with a whole fresh-dead mackerel using a modified 6/0 snap swivel, passing the swivel clip through the eye sockets of the bait. With the bait secured this way, the thresher can whack it repeatedly while getting the hooked bait into position. 2. Slow-troll one rigged Bait-O-Matic at 1 to 3 knots. At slower speeds, the larger 16-ounce Bait-O-Matic should get down to 30 feet. 3. At the same trolling a Bait-O-Matic teaser, a fly-lined skipbait about 50 to 75 feet behind the boat. This consists of a tail-on mackerel fillet rigged on a 4/0 hook so it flutters as it’s pulled through the water. If you see a tail or notices the skipbait getting whacked by a shark, immediately pull the throttles into neutral so the bait drops in the water column. 4. Most times, the first indicators of a thresher shark in the vicinity are telltale raps on the teaser rod. When you see this, pull the boat out of gear and have one angler retrieve the teaser at roughly trolling speed. This keeps the thresher interested in and attacking the teaser as it’s brought closer to the boat. A thresher will often whack the teaser right to the side of the boat. 5. As this is going on, a second angler slowly retrieves the skipbait until it’s in sight about 30 feet behind the boat. This should be coordinated so the bait gets in position about the time you are ready to pull the teaser from the water. When the teaser comes out, the person working the other rod should give the skipbait a quick twitch and then let it fall naturally, with the reel in free-spool. If everything works right, the thresher will turn on the stunned mackerel fillet and chow down. 6. Sometimes the shark will bite the bait a few times before really taking it. Wait till he really rolls away with it, then put the reel in gear and set him up.

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California Thresher Sharks Tackle Recommendations Rods: 5 1/2-foot stand-up tuna trolling rod for teaser outfit; 7-foot live-bait-action rod rated for 30- to 50-pound-test for skipbait. Reels: Accurate ATD 30 for teaser outfit; Shimano TLD 15/20 or equivalent for bait outfit. Lines: 30- to 50-pound-test monofilament for bait outfit. Lures: For teaser rig, 16-ounce Bait-O-Matic rigged without hooks to hold a whole dead mackerel. Other: For the terminal rig, use 12 feet of 100-pound-test leader attached to the main line with a snap swivel, with 12 to 18 inches of single-strand wire, and a heavy-wire 4/0 live-bait hook. A mackerel fillet is used for bait.

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Get your 2014 DAC Gear!

Dana Angling Club T-Shirts with front pocket w/ DAC Logo front and back. Available in White, Grey, Navy and Black: Short Sleeve: Medium – XL: $15.00 XXL $18.00 Long Sleeve: Medium – XL: $20.00 XXL: $24.00

Dana Angling Club Sweatshirts (Hooded or Crew) w/ DAC Logo front and back. Available in White, Grey, Navy and Black: Hooded: Medium – XL: $45.00 XXL $48.00 Crew: Medium – XL: $35.00 XXL $38.00 DAC Burgees: $25

To order any DAC gear go to the website under DAC Clothing, post a request or email to: info@danaanglingclub.org

From the 2014 Dana Angling Club Board of Directors: We thank you all for your participation during the 2013 Season. We look forward to seeing you all out on the water in 2014.