Author: BD STAFF

2015 Make Wish Tuna Challenge We are now only a little over four weeks away from the 26th Make-A-Wish Tuna Challenge. Time flies when you are having fun, and with the catch reports that are being posted, it looks like everybody is having a lot of fishing fun! There are big, big bluefin tuna pushing 200-pounds being caught just offshore, well within reach of all boats, big and small, and now a very good grade of yellowfin tuna and even some bigeye tuna are being caught, again very close to shore. Big yellowtail continue to be caught and marlin and…

The California Fish and Game Commission recently adopted changes to recreational Pacific Bluefin Tuna regulations. The new regulations are effective as of today, July 30, 2015. The changes include a statewide two-fish recreational daily bag limit for Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis), which applies to all bluefin tuna possessed in California waters, regardless of where they were taken. Additionally, there are new requirements for filleting sport-caught tuna on vessels south of Point Conception. Changes to fillet rules for all tuna species south of Point Conception were needed to allow for identification of species by California Department of Fish and Wildlife…

This great little video breaks down the simple step that can make your voice heard and help stop these needless closures.

Bob Berry Wildlife Artist – Father Of Fish Carving Bob Berry is considered by many to be the “father of fish carving”, but he is that and so much more. A self-taught wildlife artist with more than forty years experience, he has risen to the top of whichever medium he has focused on. At the age of 12, Bob sent off for a ten-dollar mail-order taxidermy kit. This became his passion, and he turned it into a career after high school. He apprenticed at Lyons and O’Haver Taxidermy Studio until he was called to serve two years in the Army.…

Biil Dance is a bass fishing legend and has had a camera trained on him for decades. The result of that is many bloopers being captured on tape. I just saw this video compilation of some of them and it is a classic. Bill Dance is a great sport to share these bloopers with us.

It might be the smallest of detail, but it can also mean the difference between separating a successful search and rescue case from a missing person report or worse. Coast Guard Pacific Area is launching Operation Paddle Smart, and the campaign, distributed broadly and aimed at reaching small craft owners enjoying the waterways, begins simply with a free sticker. The weather-proof sticker, self-applied to the small craft, is intended to return property, reduce the number of Coast Guard resources spent on unnecessary search and rescue cases, and foster voluntary small craft owner assistance. “This is a win-win program for the…

Big congrats go out to Guy Kitaoka and Darrell Omori on the Dayna a 21-foot skiff fishing in Kona, Hawaii.  They hooked and caught this giant from their small boat and got help bringing it to the dock from the well-known charter captain Bomboy Llanes. The fish weighed it at 1368-pounds. It is truly a feat to behold and we hope to bring you more details as they come to light. Congrats! Photo Credit: Capt. Bomboy Llane’s Facebook Skiff Catches Grander Marlin

Young Anglers Tourney Young anglers ages six through 15 are invited to compete in the free 13th Annual Young Angler Tournament this summer at the Shelter Island Pier, located at 1776 Shelter Island Drive on Saturday August 8th. The San Diego Sportfishing Council, the International Game Fish Association and the Port of San Diego sponsor this saltwater event. The tournament will feature a points system to allow for catch and release. Winners, one in each age category between six and 15, will be determined by adding up the points for various fish caught. The angler with the most points overall…

Turner’s Outdoorsman is SoCal’s source for great deals on fishing and hunting gear.  On August 1st, Turner’s will present seminars by local experts at several of their locations in southern California. At the San Marcos store at 2085 Montiel Road, Turner’s will feature Gary Quon, member of Team Tady.  He will cover the basics on fishing surface iron and yoyo with emphasis on colors, lure selection and catching more fish.  He will also discuss the best rods and reels for this style of fishing. For reservations for the San Marcos Seminar call 760-741-1570. On the same Saturday, August 1st, the…

Starting November 2015, a new limited edition Hobie will be fishing in waters all over the world. In celebration of the 15th birthday of Hobie’s iconic Mirage Outback, a limited edition model with visually distinct special features was just introduced at ICAST…the Hobie Mirage Outback Limited Edition. Each of them will be individually numbered one to 500. The Outback, Hobie’s first boat with molded-in rod holders, is what kicked off Hobie’s entry into the kayak fishing market and is now being used by anglers across the globe. Over the past 15 years, the 12’ Outback has medalled consistently on the sales…

BD would like to introduce Dallas Clifton, our next BD Fishin’ Chick Q:Where do you live? Dallas Clifton: I live in San Clemente, California. BD: What is your occupation? Dallas Clifton: At 16 years old I became a licensed cosmetologist.  I am now 20 and have been doing hair full-time ever since. Q:What are your other hobbies? Dallas Clifton: I come from a very outdoorsy family and, being so blessed to live in southern California, I take advantage of my surroundings and have an active lifestyle.  I was on horse before I could walk and on a surfboard before I…

Costa Kenny – Costa Sunglasses Check out what Costa and Kenny Chesney have been doing and see how you can help. With the purchase of any Kenny Chesney series of Costa’s premium performance sunglasses, a portion of your money will go directly into the production and placement of artificial reefs. Its a Win/Win situation; You get great fishing glasses and improve the habitat for the fish you love to chase.

ICAST 2015 All of the industry’s biggest stars were here in force with new products and designs for outdoor lovers of types.  The International Fly Tackle Dealer show shares the crowds at the Convention Center.  The BD team spent three days meeting with our partners and more checking out the many new offerings that will become available to the sporting public.  Here is your sneak peak and many of our favorites.  Stay tuned for BD’s gear reviews as we get a chance to put many of these products through the test of real life Shimano Team Shimano kicked off the show with…

Cousins Tackle Month Cousins Tackle Corp. and leading Southern California fishing tackle dealer Sav-On Tackle have teamed up to make this July “Cousins Month” at the popular Santa Fe Springs store. The centerpiece of this event will be a series of weekly seminars by Cousins Tackle Pro Staff anglers, each an expert in a particular Southern California fishing style.   These experts will share their knowledge during free 90-minute seminars full of great information fishermen can put to use the very next time they hit the water. Seminars are scheduled to make it easy for fishermen to attend after work, and…

One day each year the Catalina Island Museum partners with the Tuna Club of Avalon to reveal the rich history and traditions of Catalina Island’s most private club to the public. On Saturday, August 1st you have the opportunity to tour the world famous Tuna Club, a nationally registered historic landmark and the oldest fishing club in the United States. Access to the historic clubhouse founded in 1898 is restricted to club members only, but once a year, when it opens its doors to the public to benefit the Catalina Island Museum. It is the birthplace of sportfishing. Trophies, artifacts…

The California Chapter of Coastal Conservation Association (CCA California) has announced that Wayne Kotow will serve as executive director of the new CCA state chapter. Kotow brings an extensive background in business and fundraising experience to CCA California, which was launched earlier this year with widespread support and enthusiasm from the sportfishing community. “We are very excited to have someone with Wayne’s skill set onboard to focus on building our organization at this critical point in our chapter’s development,” said Bill Shedd, chairman of CCA California and president of AFTCO. Shedd and his family have been involved in marine resource…

The weekend’s action remained hot. Excellent opportunities abound, even on a local level, up and down the coast. It’s just this side of wide open, but you will have your opportunities. Let’s get to it! The big headline is that after one of the more amazing runs I have ever seen, one where the San Diego was averaging about 200 yellowtails a day for roughly 2 weeks, has ended. Conditions have changed at the islands. Effective immediately, the San Diego will now be joining the Malihini running offshore. The Mission Belle will probably follow suit before too long. The good…

Paxson Headley Offield 1951 – 2015 To immortalize a great leader in ancient times, the people left behind would acknowledge their passing then add a rousing chorus of “Long Live the King.” While Paxson would never accept such exalted recognition, the reality is he was a natural leader who inspired and improved the lives of countless people by his own example. He loved his family above all else. His wife Susan, two sons Chase (Jena), Calen (Amber), and three grandchildren Capri, Christian and Owen, daughter Kelsey, his brother James and stepson Rex, survive him. His heritage of belonging to one of…

Local angler Carl Torresson topped a tournament-record fleet of 170 kayaks last Saturday to win the Extreme Kayak Fishing Summer Slam Part 1 out of Pompano Beach. Champion Carl Torresson hit the scale at 40.5-pound and took home a BIG $4,000 check from Turbo USA and $3,300.00 from the Calcutta’s!!! TOTAL PAYOUT $7,300.00! Second place went to Adam Roeck who swooped up a Hobie Outback from Nautical Ventures, Costa Del Mar Sunglasses and the $500 YakAttack Jumbo Tuna division with his nice 18.9-pound blackfin tuna. Lance Irvine earned 3rd place and his stripes with his 17.2-pound wahoo winning a Hobie…

HOW TO ENTER: No purchase necessary to win. Follow the guidelines set forth in the contest instructions. Limit one entry per person. Multiple entries by the same person using one or more e-mail accounts will not be accepted. No, mechanically or electronically reproduced entries will be accepted. All entries must be submitted from a valid e-mail account, which may be identified by reverse domain name search. In the event of any dispute, entries will be deemed to have been submitted by the owner of the e-mail address from which the e-mail was sent. The Penn Contest will run from 12/9/15 to…