Phil Friedman Outdoors

Video: See gray whale fluke, tons of dolphin and a whole lot of rockfish

The final weekend of rockfishing was a fun and productive one for many anglers as the bite remained good for most. The season is closed form Janiuary 1, through March 1. Besides a chance to see gray whales and huge pods of dolphin, anglers were able to catch some fresh delicious fish for their New Years celebration too,

 

On board the Westerly out of Long Beach Sportfishing, anglers were treated to some incredible spectacles of nature over the past week. Besides gray whales and lots of dolphin, there were some smaller fin whales lunge feeding out near the oil rigs off Huntington Beach.

 

Fishing for rockfish was productive for a variety of the over 50 different species of bottom dwellers that inhabit our coast. Lost of great eating rockfish should make for a Happy New Year.

 

The New Year brings with it Southern California’s newly established marine protected areas. They go in to effect on January 1, and it will be up to anglers to know where and where they cannot fish.

The Department of Fish and Game, in a news release, stated that wardens will be on the water and "will take appropriate enforcement actions, which could include education, warning, citation or arrest, depending on the violation."

Anglers can find maps at www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/scmpas_list.asp. They can also access information about the closed and restricted on their iPhones, iPads and Android devices by visitinghttp://www.dfg.ca.gov/m/MPA and following instructions on the MPA mobile website.

With the App they can look up marine parks, reserves and conservation areas by name, or find these areas by county. They can look up maps and regulations, and can also track their location using the GPS on their mobile device, to see if they've crossed an MPA boundary.

Ignorance of the law will be no excuse. 

 

 

Happy Holidays for Southern California Whale Watchers

 

Southern California whale watchers are being treated to perfect weather as well as record numbers of gray whales passing by the coast. The ACS-LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project at Point Vicente on the Palos Verdes Peninsula have logged over 150 sightings of southbound gray whales in the month of December. The previous high for December sightings occured in 1996 with 133 of the leviathans being counted. 

On Monday, 27 gray whales were logged passing by Point Vicente; more gray whales than had ever been logged before on any December day. The journey from the Bering and Chukchi seas to the lagoons in Baja California and back averages between 10,000 to 14,000 miles.

Tuesday was a marvellous day out of Harbor Breeze Cruises  on the Christopher as whale watchers saw 10 gray whales on two trips out of Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach. On the Monday morning trip whale watchers saw 5 gray whales along with a pod of dolphin 500 strong. "We have been seeing lots of gray whales with a lot of other life too," said Scout Louie from Harbor Breeze. 

On Sunday, the Christopher came across 3 gray whales, 8 fin whales, a mess of dolphin and a Humpback whale. "It was an extraordinary day," said Louie.

Gray whales feed on small crustaceans on the bottom of the ocean by rolling on their sides and drawing up bottom sediments and lots of seawater.

The whale then closes its mouth expelling the water and sediment through its baleen plates and leaving a tasty meal inside. Adult males can reach 46 feet, and while adult females can reach 50 feet. They weigh between 30 to 40 tons.

Besides a whale watch trip another way to track whales this year is on your computer. The Marine Mammal Institute within Oregon State University has tagged two gray whales that you can track online. Vavara and Agent are presently making their way across the Bering Sea but taking very different routes.

If you plan on whale watching from your own boat, make sure you are aware of NOAA’s Marine Mammal Viewing Guidelines and Regulations—federal law prohibits harassment of these whales so please remain at least 100 yards from the migrating whales. Do not attempt to touch or swim with these creatures as their behavior can be unpredictable.

Gray whales were given full protection in 1947 by the International Whaling Commission. Since that time, the eastern north Pacific gray whale population has rebounded to near its original population size somewhere between 19,000 and 23,000 whales.

 A Dec. 18 post on YouTube by RIPproductions9 off Laguna Beach shows three divers interacting with a  gray whale. The whale makes a u-turn towards the camera and gives these divers a Christmas present they will have for a lifetime.

These are truly Happy Holidays for Southern California whale watchers and there is nothing like an up close and personal encounter with one of these truly remarkable creatures. 

Photo Credit: A gray whale spyhops in one of the Baja lagoons where the species spends their winters calving and nursing every year.   Alisa Shulman-Janiger

 

 

 

 

Reindeer drops in on Utah home for Christmas Eve

A reindeer dropped in on Christmas Eve to the surprise of a Utah family. According to Deseret News, a five-foot buck crashed through the family's basement window, presumably having tripped, falling into the well. The deer then made its way through the house, and ended up in a bedroom where the presents were being stored.

"I heard crashing, I heard the window go," Marla Keller said. "I looked down through the big window behind the Christmas tree, and couldn't see anything. Then all of a sudden, I heard hooves — and antlers.

The family called the Division of Wildlife Resources who arrived at the home but were unable to remove the animal and had to euthanize it. 

Deseret News reported Casey Keller said,

"When you're waiting for Santa and his sleigh and his reindeer to come and land on your roof, and he comes through your basement window, we're not gonna forget it."

 

 

(Video) Dr. Gnyandev Patel, Anglers, Volunteers and Stars provide gifts for battered women's shelter

The Holiday Spirit was alive and well in Pico Rivera on Thursday at the Angel Step Inn Youth and family Services. Over 100 families had gathered for a Christmas party made possible by so many loving and caring people. One of those people was Dr. Gnyandev Patel from the Neha Medical Clinic in Lakewood. A few weeks ago, Dr. Patel held his annual Holiday Party and Toy Drive.

  

Among the stars in attendance were the Laker Girls, Rex Linn from CSI Miami, Adam Kennedy from the Los Angles Dodgers and a host of other caring and giving people who all brought a toy to be donated. Philip Friedman Outdoors put out an invitation to the fishing community and they responded in force. Hundreds of fishermen and outdoorsmen showed up and brought a gift. “Not only was that a rocking party, but it felt good helping out even if it was just a little,” said Enterprise Captain Frank Savino.

 

Captain Larry Moore spent hours and days gathering items for a raffle and live auction. The funds raises as a result of Moore’s hard work will be used to take over 300 inner city children fishing with the Philip Friedman Outdoors Youth Program in February.

 

Angel Step Inn is a Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter and safe haven for battered women with a history of alcohol or other drug use. Services include shelter, a 24 hour hotline with crisis counseling, education for substance addiction, individual support for the women and their children and as the Led Zeppelin song title reads, "A Whole Lot Of Love".

 

Program Director Marijke Pantus works tirelessly to make sure women can escape abusive relationships and seek safety for their children. Her goal and the goal of Angel Step Inn is to educate battered, substance abusing women so that they can learn to rebuild their lives and the lives of their children.

 

The joy, love and the Christmas Spirit were palpable at the Angels Step Inn on Thursday. The women and children there were so grateful and thankful to everyone who made this day a peaceful and wonderful time. And for the volunteers and others who made this all possible, I don’t have to tell them that it is in giving that we receive more than anyone could imagine.  

 

Will Ebersman from Philip Friedman Outdoors Radio on AM 830 was one of the fishermen at the Thursday party. “It restores my faith in human nature that there are still people who willingly dig into their pockets and help other people because they feel it's the right thing to do. These include Dr. Dave Patel ,Marijke Pantus who is a is a great lady doing good stuff for people and operating on a shoestring budget. Lastly, Gustavo Camacho, Mayor Pro Tem of Pico Rivera, also dug into his own pocket to buy presents for the mothers of the kids. Thank you all!”

 

The joy, love and the Christmas Spirit were palpable at the Angels Step Inn on Thursday. The women and children there were so grateful and thankful to everyone who made this day a peaceful and wonderful time. And for the volunteers and others who made this all possible, I don’t have to tell them that it is in giving that we receive more than anyone could imagine.  

 

 

 

 

 

Video: Kids gone wild fishing and the latest Southern California bite

Any time is a great time to get more kids out on the water. A group of great children from Long Beach and Wilmington recently joined Cruz Soto, Alex Hernandez and Philip Friedman Outdoors for a special time on the water.

Brandon and Josh Vaca joined Kayla Terrones, 10; Angel Perez, 9; Sonny Soto, 8; and Adrian Perez, 4, on the half-day boat Southern Cal for some fun times.

 

While many anglers consider mackerel a nuisance, the kids had the time of their lives catching the hard-fighting little fish. At one point, three of the kids' lines came together as they lifted five mackerel over the rail.

Quick bites

• Rockfishing continued to be good for Southern California anglers from San Clemente to the Santa Monica Bay this week. The rockfish season closes on Jan. 1, so now would be a great time to get out and catch these fine-eating fish.

• The Dominguez Channel off the 405 freeway was full of trash headed for our precious seas. It’s a sad reminder that anything that gets thrown in our storm drains ends up polluting the ocean. Do the right thing and don’t toss anything in the storm drains.

Video: Henry Winkler, The Fonz on Philip Friedman Outdoors Radio

Henry Winker spent 20 minutes on the Philip Friedman Outdoors Radio Show on AM 830 Radio live from Angel Stadium. Winker has just written a new book called, "I've Never Met an Idiot on the River."

Winker talks about the wonderful people he has met while fly-fishing and the ethos that most fly fishermen hold dear. Conservation, catch and release, peaceful and caring are what most anglers on the river are like and care about.

Winkler describes his most comical day on the water, and why he does not like to engage in saltwater fly-fishing. He also talks about his days on Happy Days as well as the actors he is still in touch with. 

It's a delightful 20 minutes with the Fonz and a glimpse into a part of his life you may not have know existed.

Video: Spectacular underwater video of a baby gray whale off Laguna Beach

A December 18th post on You Tube by RIPproductions9 off Laguna Beach shows 3 divers interacting with a baby gray whale. The baby gray whale makes a u-turn towards the camera and gives these divers a Christmas present they will have for a lifetime.

 

The gray whale migration is underway now as the leviathans are headed south from the Bering Sea to the warm water lagoons of Baja California for calving. The season is just starting to hit it's peak for Southern California whale watchers as more and more grays have been seen passing through recently.

Kurt Lieber posted this response after viewing this video. "That was a dive encounter of a lifetime. I have over 1,500 dives in So Cal and have NEVER seen a whale while diving. That 51 second interaction will live within you for the rest of your life. Congrats! And thanks for sharing."

 

 

A Christmas winter wonderland in Baja California

Photo credit: Gonzalo de Leon

One hardly thinks of snow, pine trees and freezing temperatures when thinking of Baja California but that is exactly the scene just a few hundred miles south of San Diego in the San Pedro Martir National Park. Over 18 inches of snow last week blanketed the park at an altitude of 8,200 feet leaving a Baja winter wonderland.

Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park is one of the few pine forests that exists on the Baja California peninsula that is important habitat for native Bighorn Sheep. In addition the park is home to the California condor through re-introduction program by several international agencies.

The National Astronomical Observatory, built in 1971 on a neighboring peak, Cerro del la Cúpula, is home to Mexico's largest optical telescope, with a diameter of 2.12 meters, and a weight of 40 tons in total. The observatory is the second most important in Latin America. On a clear day, one can see the Sea of Cortez and the pacific Ocean from the observatory.

 The Meling Ranch is nearby and offers great accommodations. The ranch house, rebuilt after the ranch was destroyed during the 1911 revolution, is a model example of the structures of that era. The 10,000 acre cattle ranch offers its guests comfortable rooms, family-style meals, a swimming pool and horseback riding; Sierra San Pedro Mátir National Park is about a 45 min drive.

The San Pedro Mátir National Park is another Baja gem and a great reason for you to see a part of Baja that you may not know existed.

 

Henry Winkler (the Fonz) on Philip Friedman Outdoors Radio with a new book about fly-fishing

Hear The Fonz with Phil Friedman Outdoors

 

Henry Winkler, actor, producer and best-selling author of 17 children's books is best known for his role as the Fonz on Happy Days. 

What you probably don't know is that he is an avid fly-fisherman who favorite spots to fish are Montana and Idaho.

 

In I've Never Met an Idiot on the River, a delightful collection of humorous anecdotes and heartfelt observations.

 Henry shares the joy and wisdom he's accumulated while honing his skills as a fly-fisherman.

 

An accomplished sportsman who meticulously records the measurements of every fish he hooks, Henry learned that his yearly trips to the river are not just about catching trout.  More importantly they are about adopting the proper perspective on life.  Or as he puts it "the river acts like a washing machine for my brain," recharging him and reminding him that anything is possible. 

 

This book is about life, family, relaxation and love. Henry shares his love of angling with his wife, Stacey, and their three children, Jed, Zoe and Max.  On the river, Henry developed the confidence to publish his outdoor photography in this, his first non-fiction book.

 

I've Never Met an Idiot on the River is an invitation to share in the realizations and achievements Henry has found while fishing.  Hopefully it will help you catch a few of your own.

 

This book is the perfect gift for the man in your life - husband, brother, grandfather, son -whether they are a sportsman or not.

Winkler will be on Fish Talk Radio with Philip Friedman Outdoors this Thursday evening from 10-11pm. The show will air live from Angel Stadium on AM 830 Radio.

Video: Laker Girls, Rex Linn from CSI Miami, LA Dodger Adam Kennedy at Dr. Patel's Holiday Toy Drive

What a joyous night as hundreds of giving folks attended the 2011 Dr. Dave Patel/ PFO Holiday Party and Toy Drive last Friday. The stars came out for this event with the Laker Girls, Rex Linn from CSI Miami and Los Angeles Dodger Adam Kennedy all in attendance.

 

 

Funds were also raises to get more kids outdoors. Over 300 children will get a day's fishing in February out of Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach with the Philip Friedman Outdoors Youth Program. 

Also, thanks to a generous donation from Friends of Rollo, the girls from the Casa Estrella Orphanage in Rosarito Beach will be headed out on the high seas too for a days fishing on Gamefisher Ensenada.

 

It was a great night thanks to all of the wonderful people who attended and the many behind the scenes workers who made this party one for the ages. Most of all, thanks to Dr. Gnyandev Patel for bringing so much joy to so many children during the holiday season.