An Important Reminder:
The information on this website is copyrighted and is the exclusive property of 976-Bite. Any reproduction or republication of the material, contents and information herein without the express written permission of 976-Bite is expressly prohibited.

The content of this website is the copyrighted work product of 976-Bite and is intended for viewers of this website only it is not for posting onto other websites or message boards.

Thanks for your cooperation.
Sincerely,

Bob Vanian

Fishing Reports for: Freebie Reports

Friday, December 14, 2018 @ 10:00 am

     Below is an announcement from the Port of San Diego that will make a lot of people happy!

     Construction of the Shelter Island Boat Launch Facility has made significant progress and is nearly complete. The Port of San Diego is pleased to announce that the boat launch will reopen to the public on Friday, December 21, 2018.     

     The contractor is anticipated to remain on site through January 2019 to complete items such as beach grading and general cleanup, but the work is not expected to impact the public’s use of the facility.     

     Once completed, the improvements will make the boat launch ramp safer and more navigable. Upgrades include enlarging the maneuvering area in the basin by 80 percent, replacing the worn-out launch ramp, increasing the lengths of the boarding floats, and installing public docks, public walkways, adjacent parking and restroom upgrades to current Americans with Disabilities Act Standards.     

     The Port of San Diego appreciates the public’s patience during completion of this important public improvement project. Please visit portofsandiego.org/sibl for more information and updates.

Sunday, August 19, 2018 @ 2:55 pm

It is  Make A Wish Tuna Challenge Time!

     The Make A Wish Tuna Challenge took a break in 2017 and was greatly missed.  The good news is that the tournament is back again this year!  This is a note to remind you that the tournament is fast approaching and is being held on Saturday, August 25, 2018 with a Captain’s meeting on Friday evening, August 24, 2018.  It is actually a three day event when you add the awards ceremony, barbecue and raffle to be held at the Portuguese Hall on Shelter Island on Sunday August 26, 2018.

This is always a fine event and in addition to being a great tuna tournament, it serves a much higher purpose in raising funds to benefit the Make A Wish charity.  Since 1994 the Tuna Challenge has raised well in excess of $3,000,000 to benefit the Make A Wish Charity and has helped fund many wishes for children with life threatening medical conditions.

The list of prizes up for the winning is truly spectacular and includes lots of fishing tackle, stays at fishing resorts and marine related and other prizes that are too numerous to list here.  You have a chance at winning prizes with the fish you catch and there are also incredible raffles and some spectacular things that are up for both silent and live auctions.

The tournament has award categories for juniors and adults with a small boat and a big boat division as well.  The cost for entry is $105.00 for adults and $40.00 for a junior.  The entry fees include a tournament t-shirt and a ticket to the awards banquet.

You can go to the Make a Wish Tuna Challenge web site and get all the details and sign up information at

https://one.bidpal.net/mawtunachallenge/welcome

Please come out and participate and enjoy this fine event!  It is a win-win situation as you can have a good time, have a chance at winning some great prizes and in the process enjoy the warm feeling of benefiting some kids who are in need of some good cheer.

Best Wishes!

Sincerely,

Bob Vanian

976-Bite Fish Reports    www.976bite.com

Thursday, August 9, 2018 @ 4:27 pm

 

Young Anglers ages 6 through 15 are invited to compete in the free 16th Annual Young Anglers’ Tournament to be held on August 11, 2018 at the Shelter Island Pier which is located at 1776 Shelter Island Drive in San Diego.  The annual tournament is put on by the San Diego Sportfishing Council and is sponsored by the San Diego Sportfishing Council, the Port of San Diego and the County of San Diego.

The tournament features a points system to allow for catch and release fishing.  There will be one winner in each age category between 6 and 15 years of age and the winner in each age category will be determined by adding up points earned for the various fish caught.  The angler with the most points overall will be also be recognized on the tournaments’ perpetual trophy.  Representatives and volunteers from various fishing clubs and organizations will be on hand to assist the young anglers and tally their points.

Anglers are encouraged to bring their own fishing gear but a limited number of loaner rods and reels will be available to use on a first come first serve basis.  The loaner tackle and bait are provided by Okuma Tackle, Friends of Rollo and Anglers Distributing.

On site registration begins at 7:30 a.m. the day of the tournament on Saturday, August 11, 2018.  The tournament fishing starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at noon.  Prizes are awarded by 1:00 p.m..  Hot dogs, chips and sodas will be served to all registered anglers courtesy of Major Market of Rancho Santa Fe, Tommy Gomes of Catalina Offshore Products and Specialty Produce!

Additional sponsors include Okuma Fishing Tackle, West Marine, Anglers Distributing, Friends of Rollo, Fisherman’s Landing, Point Loma Sportfishing, and H&M Landing.

Prizes and raffle drawing items include rods and reels, hats, t-shirts, fishing gear and deep-sea fishing trips.

For more information please call the San Diego Sportfishing Council at (619) 234-8793 or visit their web site at www.sportfishing.org

Kids 6-15 years of age should come on out, do some fishing and have some fun!

Thursday, May 17, 2018 @ 7:45 pm

     Hello All,

     For your consideration, I want to let you know about the Captain Rollo’s Reel A Week Giveaway that is being put on by Friend’s of Rollo to help raise money to help take kids out fishing.  There will be a reel given away each week to the lucky winner that gets their raffle ticket drawn.  The first giveaway is for the week of June 5, 2018 and one reel per week will be given away from the week of June 5, 2018 through the week of December 25, 2018.  This reel raffle giveaway will be followed by a grand prize drawing during the week of January 1, 2019 for a Turner Outdoorsman Gift Card.  There will be over $10,000 in prizes given away via this raffle.

The reels being raffled away are quality reels and are valued at between $250 and $700 per reel.  The reels are from makers such as Daiwa, Accurate, Okuma, Shimano, Avet and Penn.  Each raffle tickets cost $25.00 and each ticket that you might purchase stays in the pool of tickets for all 31 drawings or until such time as the ticket is drawn.  The number of tickets available is limited and a maximum of 1,500 tickets are available for purchase.

If you want to see a list of the reels being raffled off, you can see the list at www.captainrollos.org/reek-a-week/

For ticket information, email Tim at tim@rollokids.org or else call (858) 350-5870, extension 107.  Friends of Rollo is a 501C3 Non Profit Organization and their Tax ID number is #45-5624805

Thanks for considering contributing to the raffle to raise money to help take kids out fishing.  Good luck to you in the raffle should you choose to enter!

Sincerely,

Bob Vanian

976-Bite Fish Reports

Friday, April 6, 2018 @ 5:34 pm

     I am currently up in the Sierras on a trout fishing adventure to Topaz Lake.  I understand the fishing at home in the San Diego region is pretty much the same as when I left earlier this week.  I have had some success with the trout and lost what I suspect was a 4+ pound rainbow along with catching some nice  12 to 14 inch rainbows.  I am enjoying the mountains but am for sure going to be back in San Diego in plenty of time to prepare for and attend one of the fun events of the spring on Sunday, April 15 2018.  This grand event is the 39th Annual Port of San Diego’s Day At The Docks which will be held from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM on Sunday, April 15, 2018.  I hope you plan to attend as Day At The Docks is always a fun and festive outdoor celebration in anticipation of the fishing season that lies ahead with lots of things to see and do.  Information about Day At The Docks can be accessed at http://www.sportfishing.org/.

     A great thing about Day at the Docks is that admission is always free!  The Day At The Docks festival will be held at the parking lots where Point Loma Sportfishing, H&M Landing and Fisherman’s Landing are located in Point Loma.  The street address of Fisherman’s Landing at 2838 Garrison Street, San Diego, CA, 92106 will get you there. There is free parking on Shelter Island and double-decker buses will be running free shuttles between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM.

There will once again be lots of exhibitors at this year’s event and 976-Bite Fish Reports will be one of them.  The exhibitors will include tackle manufacturers, marine artists, fishing clubs, tackle retailers, food vendors and more.

I hope you can attend and be part of the celebration and if you can be there, please stop by the 976-Bite Fish Reports booth and say hello.  We will be offering show specials on 6 month and 12 month subscriptions and renewals and will also have pocket t-shirts and men’s and women’s tank tops available for sale at reasonable prices.  Even if you have time remaining on your web site subscription, we can add the renewal on to the end of what you have remaining on your existing subscription if you want to take advantage of the show promotions.

In addition to all the exhibitors, many of the boats of the San Diego sportfishing fleet will have open houses so you can go aboard and check them out and talk to their Captains and crews about their boats and the upcoming fishing season.  Some of the boats will also be offering rides around San Diego Bay for $3 a person.

There are casting contests, a knot tying competition and catch, prep and cook demos. The cooking demos will feature tips and recipes for seafood preparation and will be given by experts that include professional chefs.

Seminars will be going on throughout much of the day from expert speakers that will cover topics such as fishing techniques, knot tying, rod selection, rigging techniques and much more.

There are plenty of things for kids to do that include a Kid’s Fishing Adventure where kids from 4-12 can fish for free.

Live bands will be playing throughout much of the day and there will be some great giveaways via raffles that go on throughout the day.  The raffle prizes include fishing trips and fishing tackle.

There is free parking on Shelter Island and red double-decker buses will be running free shuttles between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM.

Day At The Docks is put on by the San Diego Sportfishing Council and their web site provides more information about the event at: http://www.sportfishing.org/

You are invited to come out and enjoy the fun.  I hope to see you there!

Bob Vanian

976-Bite Fish Reports  www.976bite.com

Tuesday, March 20, 2018 @ 8:22 pm

     The Fred Hall Show in Del Mar is certainly the best fishing tackle and boat show in the San Diego area and it begins Thursday, March 22, 2018 and runs through Sunday, March 25, 2018.  Show hours are noon until 8:00 PM on Thursday and Friday, 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM on Saturday and the show goes from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM on Sunday. 

The Fred Hall Show has something for the whole family with plenty of things for kids to do including a free trout pond.  Kids 15 years old and younger get into the show for FREE with a paid adult and can fish for free at the Mammoth Lakes Kids Free Trout Pond!  Other great kid’s activities include the Ram Truck Ultimate Air Dogs, the Great American Duck Races, the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show and the Accurate Kids Fishing Touch Tank

     976Bite.com will have a booth at the Fred Hall Show and we hope you stop by the booth to say hello and take advantage of the incentives we are offering on web site subscriptions. We will also have quality t-shirts and tanks tops for sale at reasonable prices.

     You can get all the information about the Fred Hall Show on their web site at www.fredhall.com. The web site is loaded with information including show times, directions and a schedule of seminars. You can also purchase admission tickets on the web site and save yourself the possibility of waiting in a ticket line.

     Come on out and see the latest in fishing and boating gear and let’s talk about the upcoming fishing season. I hope to see you at the show!

    Sincerely,

    Bob Vanian

   976Bite.com

Friday, March 2, 2018 @ 12:30 pm

It is that time of year and the Fred Hall Show in Long Beach begins on Wednesday, March, 7, 2018!  The show runs from Wednesday, March 7, 2018 through Sunday, March 11, 2018 and Southern California anglers will be gathering at the Long Beach Convention Center to see the latest of what there is to see in the world of fishing products, boating products, fishing vacations and a whole lot more. 

The Fred Hall Show is a family event with lots of things to see and do for kids and adults alike.  A great thing is that kids 15 years old and younger get in FREE with a paid adult.  One of the highlights for many kids attending the show is to catch a trout in the Mammoth Lakes and Shakespeare Trout Pond.  There are also lots of free seminars for adults and kids to attend in addition to all the booth displays. 

You can get all the information about the show including show times and seminar schedules at the Fred Hall Shows web site at www.fredhall.com.  You can also purchase tickets via the web site and avoid possible ticket lines.

If you come to the show, please stop by the 976-Bite booth and say hello and talk about the upcoming months of what looks like it might be another great fishing year.  There have already been big bluefin tuna caught off the Northern Baja coast!  We are usually located on aisle 300 but I never know for sure until I check in ahead of the show.  I will post our booth number once I find out where we will be located.

  We are offering special show incentives for signing up for the 6 month and 12 month subscriptions or renewals and will also be selling heavyweight cotton fish and logo T-shirts that range in size from youth medium up to 5XL.  I will also have a limited number of the original logo only “old school” 976-Bite shirts available as well.

If your membership is still current you can still take advantage of the show specials as your renewal will just add on to the end of what you have remaining from your current subscription.  It is also no problem for you to take advantage of the show specials by subscribing at the show and having your subscription start at a later date.

I hope you can come out to the Fred Hall Show in Long Beach and have some fun.  Get further details at www.fredhall.com

Best Wishes,

Bob Vanian

Thursday, August 10, 2017 @ 3:20 pm

Free!  The 15th Annual Young Anglers Tournament is Set for Saturday, August 12, 2017 at the Shelter Island Pier!

     Young Anglers ages 6 through 15 are invited to compete in the free 15th Annual Young Anglers’ Tournament to be held on August 12, 2017 at the Shelter Island Pier which is located at 1776 Shelter Island Drive in San Diego.  The annual tournament is put on by the San Diego Sportfishing Council and is sponsored by the San Diego Sportfishing Council, the IGFA and the Port of San Diego.  One thing new this year is that you can register on line at: https://form.jotform.us/71867092984169

The tournament features a points system to allow for catch and release fishing.  There will be one winner in each age category between 6 and 15 years of age and the winner in each age category will be determined by adding up points earned for the various fish caught.  The angler with the most points overall will be also be recognized on the tournaments’ perpetual trophy.  Representatives and volunteers from various fishing clubs and organizations will be on hand to assist the young anglers and tally their points.

Anglers are encouraged to bring their own fishing gear but a limited number of loaner rods and reels will be available to use on a first come first serve basis as provided by Okuma Tackle.  Bait is being provided by Squidco and Anglers Distributing.

On site registration begins at 7:30 a.m. the day of the tournament on Saturday, August 12, 2017.  The tournament fishing starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at noon.  Prizes are awarded by 1:00 p.m..  Hot dogs, chips and sodas will be served to all registered anglers courtesy of Major Market and Tommy Gomes of Catalina Offshore Products and Specialty Produce!

Sponsors include Okuma, Turner’s Outdoorsman, Anglers Distributing, Squidco, Big Hammer lures, Friends of Rollo, Costa Sunglasses, Uin Goop, Coastal Conservation of California, Three Lollies, Mustad, Everingham Brothers Bait Company, Fathom Bistro at Shelter Island Pier, Fisherman’s Landing Tackle, Booya, San Diego Marine Exchange, Seeker Rods, Point Loma Sportfishing and H&M Landing.  Prizes and raffle drawing items include rods and reels, hats, t-shirts, fishing gear and deep-sea fishing trips.

For more information please call the San Diego Sportfishing Council at (619) 234-8793 or visit their web site at www.sportfishing.org

Kids 6-15 years of age should come on out, do some fishing and have some fun!

Thursday, May 25, 2017 @ 2:40 pm

Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 2:40 PM—The Marlin Club’s Spring Shootout Is Saturday, May 27, 2017!

     The Marlin Club’s Spring Shootout Tournament is this Saturday, May, 27, 2017.  The Spring Shootout is an event that is open to the public and you are invited to participate.  There are over $5,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs and there are optional Daily Jackpots of $50, $100 and $250 to consider entering as well.  There is also an additional optional $100 High Boat Jackpot to enter for the top 3 combined fish on any boat.  Having 3 fish for weigh in is required to qualify for the High Boat Jackpot.

The species involved in the tournament are a combined tuna and halibut category as well as a combined yellowtail and white seabass category.  Calico bass and bonita can become winning fish there are no qualifying tuna or halibut.

The Captain’s Meeting is at 6:00 PM at Fiddler’s Green on Shelter Island on Friday evening, May 26, 2017 and someone from each participating boat is required to attend.  All questions will be answered and the rules will be discussed and clarified at this meeting.

There is an awards dinner at 6:00 PM the day of the event and the entry fee includes dinner and an event t-shirt.  The entry fee is $60 for adults and $20 for juniors.  Extra dinner tickets are $10 each.

The tournament flyer, rules and entry form are available at The Marlin Club’s web site at www.themarlinclub.com .  Melissa will be at The Marlin Club to receive entries between 2 and 6 PM today (5-25-17) and between 2 and 6 PM on Friday, 5-26-17.  The phone number at The Marlin Club is (619) 222-8677 and The Marlin Club is located at 2445 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, Ca 92106.

Friday, May 12, 2017 @ 3:30 pm

Friday, May 12, 2017 at 3:30 PM

     A press release from the Port of San Diego indicates that the Shelter Island Boat Ramp will be “closed” for reconstruction beginning on May 23, 2017 and the ramp is anticipated to be “closed” for about 10 months to reopen in March of 2018.

The reason I put “closed” in parenthesis is that they will reopen one lane as set forth in their press release:

” During the summer months of June 2017 through August 2017, one lane of the ten-lane boat ramp will remain open for boaters, but long wait times are anticipated. The Port of San Diego strongly encourages boaters to utilize alternate launch ramps during construction.”

The press release also says that about 25% of the parking in the area will be closed to allow for staging of construction equipment.

They suggest using alternate launch ramps and list alternatives here:

https://www.portofsandiego.org/recreation/shelter-island-boat-launch.html

Here is the link to the entirety of today’s press release.  The press release does not state the May 23, 2017 start of the closure but that date was provided in the cover letter email they sent:

https://www.portofsandiego.org/recreation/4497-shelter-island-boat-launch-ramp-improvements-underway-temporary-closure-begins.html

This closure is certainly going to be an inconvenience but hopefully it will be worth it when all is said and done and the project is complete with a brand new ramp facility for our use.  Maybe it will help ease the pain to look at the big picture and focus on how fortunate we are to have such nice ramps available for our use for free in San Diego Bay and Mission Bay.  Hopefully the new ramp will make it worth the grief of having to use other launch ramps until next spring.