Official Newsletter of Marina Del Rey Anglers fishing club September 2012

L to R: Ed McGovern, Ron Smothers, and Wayne Pecot keep the rivalry alive, and represent for the MDRA at the 31st Annual King Harbor Marlin Tournament

The 2012 KHMT was a fun tournament as

usual. The MDRA team on Big Moma con-

sisted of Ed McGovern, Wayne Pecot and my-

self. We finished third out of eleven teams.

First place was won by the boat Jewel Lure

with second by Ruckus. They each caught one

marlin which were the only marlins caught

during the tournament. We won 3rd place

based on our 2 dorado which totaled 35

pounds. Ed won 3rd place in the individual

angler category with his 19.38 pound dorado.

We did have the distinction of hooking a

marlin while dorado fishing. I was fighting a

dorado when a marlin jumped out of the

water just behind my dorado. I thought the

marlin was after my dorado but soon I real-

ized there was no dorado just the marlin on

my line. The fish came unbuttoned after a

brief fight during which I was nearly spooled.

Ed was readying Big Mama to give chase just

before the marlin came off.

Tight Lines,

Ron Smothers

Celebration of Life for Paul Simon Saturday Oct 6th

Marina del Rey Day Sunday Oct 7th 11am Burton Chace Park

Volunteers Needed

Club Meeting in Chace Park clubhouse Thursday Oct 11th

Guest speaker will be United Anglers Treasurer John Riordan

Paul Simon was a true giant among California’s conservation and recreational fishing com-

munity. Paul worked tirelessly as a key player on California’s Ocean Resources Enhance-

ment and Hatchery Program, on the UASC White Seabass Committee in addition to his con-

sistent and persistent leadership at Marine Del Rey Anglers. He had that incredible combi-

nation of being fearless, yet always the diplomat. He just got things done. It’s impossible to

even think of white seabass restoration efforts in southern California without Paul’s smiling

face coming to mind. I will miss him as a friend and mentor. -Tom Raftican

Boats will depart from Dock 52 at 10AM and return about noon, Saturday Oct. 6. If you bring flowers re-

move the stems in advance, flower lei's are a nice touch. There will be a reception on the Betty O and re-

freshments between 12 and 1 PM

Parking and boarding for the scattering of ashes is at Dock 52. Guests will be returned there by the boat and

will proceed in their vehicles, or walk to the reception on the Betty O at the berth/bait dock in Fisherman's

Village. The bait dock can validate 2 hrs of Fisherman's Village Parking.

Come out! Bring the wife and kids! Volunteer to help set up or work the

club booth, white seabass pen or fish with the kids on the fishing dock.

Contact Keith Lambert for more information (310) 998-1963

Member Fish Report MDRA members Lee Alpern, Darrell Pickford, Stan Zisser and

Larry Brown aboard the Rooster III

Red Rooster 3 - Larry Brown Charter MDRA members Lee Alpern, Darrell Pickford, Stan

Zisser and Larry Brown teamed up on one of Larry's

long range charters and experienced world class fish-

ing for bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna and yellowtail in

late August on the Red Rooster 3.

On day one we enjoyed really good fishing for mixed

YFT, BFT, yellowtail and dorado in open water. Several

anglers scored the 4 species slam. These were mostly

smaller fish with about 15% nice fat 30 pounders just to

keep it interesting. After a slow 2nd day Captain Andy

Cates decided to make a move and indicated we may have

an early morning wake up call to catch squid. A few of

us woke up when the engines stopped at 2AM and

brought a few squid over the rail but then Andy an-

nounced a large school of large yellowtail were gathering

under the boat. Within minutes total chaos pre-

vailed. Every bait dropped down was

inhaled by a big yellowtail. Every

bait!!! It was insane. In total darkness,

every angler was bendo, yells of help and gaff were heard

everywhere and constantly, gnarly tangles and frequent

losses were common along with sore arms and backs at the

end of the 3 hour slug fest capped by a gorgeous sunrise

and cessation of the jack family feeding frenzy. Limits or

near limits in 3 hours of brute yellowtail 25 - 48 pounds.

The rest of the day was just spent relaxing and catching

and releasing big yellowtail or to fill limits for anybody

wanting to take home that many fish. For lunch we were

treated to the most incredibly delicious salad topped with

fresh yellowtail caught minutes before.

This is the life.

We could have headed home there and many would have

claimed a trip of a lifetime. But the crew of the Red

Rooster 3 wanted to put the icing on the cake.

At 4PM Cates headed the boat offshore again to look for

some bigger model tuna for our final day. Most of us

wanting to sleep in heard him ask for a chum line at 6AM

and bolted out of bed for additional wear, tear and pain on

our bodies and came outside to flat calm seas and bent

rods. This was just a warm up. We found the main body

of fish an hour later and settled into a 7 hour drift which

provided limit style fishing for yellowfin tuna. Anglers

patient enough to weed through and release the 10 - 15

pound models were rewarded with a full stringer of

30 - 45 pound tuna. Stan Zisser had an epic one hour battle

with a 43 pound tuna. Darrell put on a clinic until his

arms begged for mercy. And Lee was all smiles catching

his share of trophies while introducing his girlfriend,

Josephine Rochester, to the pleasures of long range

angling. Welcome to the club Josephine.

Stan's big tuna earned him the 3rd place jack pot

position aced out of 2nd place by Larry with his

46 pound ahi. Two club members in the jackpot -

not a bad showing for team MDRA.

Wow! What a great trip. Long Range fishing still has phenomenal

opportunities just over the border.

Larry Brown

New Member

Loc Tran,

joined thanks

to the

Ocean Odyssey

Tuna trip.

We are cer-

tainly glad he

did.

If you are like

me, you can’t

get enough fish

porn.

Thanks

for sharing

the photos,

Loc

Members, be like my new hero Loc.

Send in your photos and fish tales to be included in the Full Scoop Send them to mdraeditor@gmail.com

Remember to fill out and submit your weight slips to compete for

Fish of the Month, Catch of the Month, and accumulate points

toward Angler of the Year

To get a weight slip click here

It’s that time again!

PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION FOR

THE NEW TERM BEGAN ON

SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

Participants will be required to register or

re-register for the new term at

www.ralphs.com or by using the scanbar

Simply scan this bar at check out, and a percentage of any future purchases will be

donated to the club when you swipe your Ralphs Reward card.