The Coto de Caza News
The Only Weekly Newspaper Exclusively for the Rancho Santa Margarita and Coto de Caza Area
September 6, 2013
Deep-Sea Fishing in Southern California for Beginners By Sylvia Cochran A California vacation would be incomplete without a few deep-sea fishing trips. If you are following in the footsteps of your fishing buddies, there are at least three facts they forgot to tell you. What should you know about Southern California deep-sea charters before setting foot on deck? Deep-Sea Fishing Trips Follow Peak Seasons As noted by Sportfish San Diego, deep-sea charters usually target fish species by following a calendar denoting seasonal peaks. For example, if you have your heart set on yellowfin tuna, schedule your California vacation between the months of July and October. Conversely, if big eye tuna is your game, then August and September are the months that charter boat operators predict greatest success. Deep-sea Fishing in Southern California Is Regulated The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) provides up-to-date information on open, closed, and partially closed fisheries. Check the listing frequently, as ocean conditions or dips in the fish populations may lead to early fishery closures. Moreover, fishing for some species from shore is governed by rules
that greatly differentiate from regulations applying to deep-sea charters. Case in point are rockfish, which may be caught by divers and shore anglers year-round, but may only be caught by boat anglers between March 1 and December 31. The changing rules, bag limits, tackle restrictions, and depth constraints are the reasons why tourists going on deep-sea fishing trips prefer to use the services of deep-sea charters. Not All Deep-sea Charters Operate and Cost the Same - Newport Landing (309 Palm St. #A in Balboa, CA 92661; 949-675-0550) will charge you extra if the cost of marine diesel goes above the $4 per gallon mark. Rod rentals start at $12.50, and a half-day deep-sea fishing charter costs $41.50 for anyone 13 and older; the cost is $34 for anyone 12 and under. - Davey’s Locker (400 Main St. in Newport Beach, CA 92661; 949673-1434) offers an adult package price for half-day charters, which includes not only the $46.50 ticket
price, but also a rod rental, one-day fishing license, and tackle. The company charges extra for onboard fish cleaning. - Marina del Rey Sportfishing (Dock 52 Fiji Way in Marina del Rey, CA 90292; 310-822-3625) specializes in twilight charters. These deep-sea fishing trips last from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and cost $39 for each adult. In this case, adult pricing also applies to youngsters 12 and older. Those under
the age of 12 pay $25. - Dana Wharf (34675 Golden Lantern in Dana Point, CA 92629; 949-496-5794) offers a special deal for Tuesday anglers: 50 percent off ticket prices. Good on half-day and three-quarter-day trips, this yearround promotion makes it affordable to go deep-sea fishing if $44 or $59 respectively for an adult ticket is a bit steep. Youngsters over the age of 14 pay the adult ticket cost.
Turn Good Lunchboxes into Great Lunchboxes While moms want to make sure their kids eat a healthier lunch at school, it’s not always easy packing lunches that are good for them. Food and lifestyle expert Evette Rios has five easy tips to help families pack a healthier lunch, and turn a good lunchbox into a great lunchbox: Subtract the fat. Remove unnecessary fat with fat-free deli meats – your kids won’t know the difference. Avoid temptation with snacks. Children who eat a poor quality breakfast or lunch may give in to temptation, so offer healthier snacks like nuts and dried fruit, or sneak 20 percent of your kid’s daily fiber into the lunchbox by packing a Nature Valley granola bar or Fiber One bar. It’s not juice if it’s not 100 percent. If you are going to serve juice make sure its 100 percent fruit juice. Don’t be afraid to give them a sweet treat. Instead of a candy bar or cookies, try packing Go-GURT® Portable Lowfat Yogurt. With a fun tube and smooth, creamy texture, these treats are specially made to freeze and thaw by lunchtime. If kids help select it or cook it, they’ll eat it. Give them a choice and involve them, but guide their choices. Let them cruise the produce aisle and
pick out the fruit they want to eat. Show your children how to cut veggies into bite-sized pieces that they can dip into a favorite sauce. Also, have them make trail mix with low-salt nuts and dried fruits, and portion it into single serving bags. When shopping for healthier ingredients to feed your family, Rios
recommends looking for the Great for You seal on Walmart produce available in stores now and on select Great Value and Marketside products beginning this fall. “As part of their healthier food initiative, Walmart is making it easier than ever to make healthier food choices. This seal lets you instantly identify food options that
are both great for you and affordable,” said Rios. Get more ideas for great school lunches at www.walmart.com. You can also download the free Walmart mobile app that lets you create grocery lists and get coupons at www.walmart.com/mobile.
The Coto de Caza News
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