OneCoolTuna Receives 2013 San Diego Award..

www.onecooltuna.com

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

One Cool Tuna Receives 2013 San Diego Award

San Diego Award Program Honors the Achievement
SAN DIEGO August 29, 2013 -- One Cool Tuna has been selected for the 2013 San Diego Award in the Fishing Bait & Tackle category by the San Diego Award Program.
Each year, the San Diego Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the San Diego area a great place to live, work and play.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2013 San Diego Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the San Diego Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About San Diego Award Program

The San Diego Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the San Diego area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.
The San Diego Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.
SOURCE: San Diego Award Program

CONTACT:
San Diego Award Program
Email: PublicRelations@awardprogram.org
URL: http://www.awardprogram.org
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Lake Barret Spots go on sale 4/9 7PM - Ticket Master

Lake Fishing

On Sale 04/09/13

Barrett Lake Fishing   Tue, 04/09/13 7:00pm Barrett Lake Dulzura Wed, 05/01/13  05:00am |  more dates

Barrett Lake Fishing   Tue, 04/09/13 7:00pm Barrett Lake Dulzura Sat, 05/04/13  05:00am |  more dates

Barrett Lake Fishing   Tue, 04/09/13 7:00pm Barrett Lake Dulzura Sun, 05/05/13  05:00am |  more dates

Barrett Lake Fishing   Tue, 04/09/13 7:00pm Barrett Lake Dulzura Wed, 05/08/13  05:00am |  more dates

Marine Group Seeks Knight & Carver Boatyard Lease

Marine Group Seeks Knight & Carver Boatyard Lease

posted: 3/11/2013

The Log Newspaper Story 

By: Ambrosia Brody

SAN DIEGO – The Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners ultimately decided to allow Marine Group Boat Works to continue to work on a deal to take over a lease of the former Knight & Carver boatyard property in National City, after a lengthy, and at times heated meeting.            

The decision was counter to the port staff’s recommendation that the board deny the lease takeover. The staff had claimed Marine Group Boat Works had not complied with two of the four conditions set forth by the port.            

According to the staff report, the Chula Vista-based boatyard did not provide evidence to demonstrate it has the financial wherewithal to pay all obligations under the lease in addition to its current lease that covers its operation in Chula Vista, in addition to relocation and restoration obligations imposed by the port.            

Staff members also stated concerns that the company did not demonstrate a commitment to remove a drydock and past environmental contamination at the old Knight & Carver facility.            

Marine Group Boat Works CEO Art Engle countered that the “requirement” to remove the drydock is not a part of the existing Knight & Carver lease. Therefore, the company will not go “beyond the four corners” of the lease.            

“Marine Group Boat Works has no obligation, and the port has no right to demand that we go beyond the Knight & Carver lease,” Engle said. “Marine Group Boat Works is not asking to be released from any liabilities associated with environment contamination cleanup. Our only obligation to remove the drydock would be at the expiration of the lease -- not at the beginning."            

The drydock is on port property, “therefore, if the port wishes to take action to remove the dock, they have every right to do so -- but that has nothing to do with the Knight & Carver lease,” he added.            

The issue caused the company and port to reach an impasse. Port officials then responded with a proposal to amend the Marine Group Boat Works’ lease in Chula Vista to give the port the authority to move the boatyard’s entire operation to the National City site, according to a U-T San Diego report.            

Engle contended the amendment is an attempt by the port to move the business out of Chula Vista altogether.            

“Their true colors came forth when they made an amendment and said ‘let’s move these guys out of Chula Vista,’” Engle said. “Never mind we experienced three years of negotiations. Never mind we’ve been good tenants ... that wasn’t good enough. What they wanted was that we would cooperate to move out of Chula Vista.”            

Engle said he has been a port tenant for 40 years and has invested more than $100 million in his properties. He has never missed or been late on a payment, he added.            

Port chairwoman Ann Moore questioned whether Marine Group Boat Works was  “wiling to cure all the defaults that may be required by law.”            

Martin Taylor, an attorney representing Marine Group Boat Works, said that since Knight & Carver had declared bankruptcy, the company would submit the lease to bankruptcy court -- and if the court, not the port, determines the company is responsible for removal of the drydock, then Marine Group Boat Works would remove it.            

After much deliberation, commissioners delegated Moore, CEO Wayne Darbeau and port attorney Thomas Russell to approve Marine Group Boat Works' takeover of the Knight & Carver Maritime lease -- once the company satisfies the conditions of  the existing lease, which includes assuming all lease obligations and repayment of all debts incurred by Knight & Carver.

SeaFood Fraud - Catch your own instead of buying FAKE..

Oceana Study Reveals Seafood Fraud Nationwide

All Reports…

February 21, 2013

From 2010 to 2012, Oceana conducted one of the largest seafood fraud investigations in the world to date, collecting more than 1,200 seafood samples from 674 retail outlets in 21 states to determine if they were honestly labeled.
DNA testing found that one-third (33 percent) of the 1,215 samples analyzed nationwide were mislabeled, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines.
Of the most commonly collected fish types, samples sold as snapper and tuna had the highest mislabeling rates (87 and 59 percent, respectively), with the majority of the samples identified by DNA analysis as something other than what was found on the label. In fact, only seven of the 120 samples of red snapper purchased nationwide were actually red snapper. The other 113 samples were another fish.
Our findings demonstrate that a comprehensive and transparent traceability system – one that tracks fish from boat to plate – must be established at the national level. At the same time, increased inspection and testing of our seafood, specifically for mislabeling, and stronger federal and state enforcement of existing laws combatting fraud are needed to reverse these disturbing trends.
Our government has a responsibility to provide more information about the fish sold in the U.S., as seafood fraud harms not only consumers’ wallets, but also every honest vendor and fisherman cheated in the process--to say nothing of the health of our oceans.

Ban on Plastic Baits - Some States

 

Dear Fellow Anglers,

During the last few weeks we at KeepAmericaFishing™ sent out emails regarding a bill in Maine that would ban the use of all soft baits. This legislation is now going to a working session of the Maine Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. In order to show just how many anglers across the country are concerned by this bill we ask that you sign our petition in a show of solidarity. This petition will be presented to the Committee so that they can see that banning soft baits not only affects their own residents and anglers but also anglers nationwide.

By signing the petition you are telling the Committee that you "do not approve of unfounded bans on soft baits. Arbitrarily banning widely used tackle such as this would have a tremendous impact on everyone from individual anglers to tackle manufacturers to state wildlife management agencies that protect our resources. Further study must be conducted and decisions must be based on sound science."

Join us on this issue. Whether Maine is far from you - or near - what happens there could happen in your state as well. Sign the petition today.

Here's to tightlines,

Gordon Robertson
KeepAmericaFishing™

World Record Could Change - Yellowfin Tuna

I will be down at the docks Sunday morning and give a full report once it is weighed in.. Stay Tuned..


Petruescu's estimated 459-pound tuna biggest of all-time?


John Petruescu of La Mesa may have landed the heaviest yellowfin ever on rod and reel while fishing on the Excel sport boat out of San Diego on Monday. — Excel Sportfishing
Written by
Ed Zieralski
11:46 a.m., Dec. 8, 2012

Angler John Petruescu of La Mesa caught a tuna Monday aboard the sport boat Excel out of San Diego that has been estimated by a formula at 459 pounds. At that weight, or anything over 427.9 pounds, it will be the biggest tuna ever landed on rod and reel.

But it won’t be submitted as a world record to the International Game Fish Association because a deckhand on the Excel took Petruescu’s rod and helped him get around the boat’s anchor two times, according to Excel Capt. Justin Fleck in an interview with Phil Friedman on his radio show on Thursday. Petruescu fought the giant for 1 hour and 50 minutes, according to Fleck.

“Our crew members are programmed to keep an angler out of danger,” Fleck told Friedman in the interview via satellite phone from the wheelhouse of the Excel. “When a guy goes under the anchor, the crewman has to grab the rod. We do that for insurance purposes. That’s not to take anything away from John, because he fought his butt off on this fish. But it was done to make sure he got the fish.”

All week long the tuna was reported as a 400-pounder, but Fleck told Friedman it was the biggest tuna he ever saw in person and that it taped, based on a formula that takes into account length and girth, at 459 pounds. He said he taped it three times and had a deckhand tape it once to be sure.

He said they reported it light because they didn’t want to jinx the catch and didn’t want to suffer the embarrassment many have felt at the dock when such a catch tapes at one weight and weighs far less on the beach.

The Excel was fishing at the Hurricane Bank, about 960 miles southwest of San Diego when Petruescu caught the tuna on a live skipjack. Petruescu was fishing on his first 16-day trip. His longest previous trip was an 8-day when he landed a slug of 40-pound tuna. But this time, in addition to his estimated 400-pound plus tuna, he also has four tuna over 200 pounds and many others in the 150- to 200-puond range. Fleck said it may be the best trip the Excel has ever had for tuna over 200 pounds and expects to weigh in 40 to 50 fish over 200 pounds.

At 459 pounds, Petruescu’s catch would shatter the IGFA all-tackle world-record of c05 pounds set by Mike Livingston on the Vagabond in December of 2010. But there’s also another catch, the 427.5-pound yellowfin landed by Guy Yocom of Dana Point back in September that has yet to be approved by the IGFA as the new all-tackle record for yellowfin tuna.

But Petruescu’s catch could top the 427.9-pounder landed by Robert Pedigo last April as the heaviest ever caught on rod and reel. Pedigo’s catch also was marred and disqualified as a world record when a crewman touched the angler’s rod as he fought the fish.

Since 2010 when Livingston landed that 405-pounder, there has been an incredible run on big yellowfin. Curt Wiesenhutter set the record at 388.75 pounds back in 1977 on the Royal Polaris, which was owned by the late Bill Poole at the time. Poole also built and owned the Excel, the largest long-range boat in the fleet. Wiesenhutter’s record tuna, which was a kamikaze and attacked the boat after it was hooked, stood as the standard until Livingston’s celebrated catch in 2010.

Meantime, Petruescu’s catch has caused the usual stir in the fishing community.

The Excel is even sponsoring a contest where folks can try and guess the weight of the huge yellowfin. The Excel will award 10 percent off any trip in the 2013 season to the person who comes closest to guessing the weight of the tuna at the dock when it’s weighed in Sunday morning. The boat is due in at 4 a.m., but the tuna isn’t expected to be weighed until around 7 a.m., an Excel spokesman said. The 10 percent coupon can only be used on Open trips in 2013.

The cutoff is 11:59 Dec. 8. Your guess must be to the 10th decimal, for example, 400.4 pounds.

Email your guess to info@excelsportfishing.com. Your guess must be in the title of your email. It’s limited to one entry per person.

Click Here

Support Local Companies - 5 Star Fish Processing

Fish processors raising a stink at Point Loma

Sarah Saraspe of Five Star Fish Processing loads up fish brought in by one of her few remaining clients. She filed a lawsuit against Frank LoPreste and other captains, claiming their fish processing plant is running her out of business. — Ed Zieralski

Written by

Ed Zieralski

2:05 a.m., Oct. 19, 2012
Updated 2:06 a.m.

Also see »

• 

  Fish processors raising a stink at Point Loma

• U.S. politicos ask Mexico for relief on sportfishing regs, fees

• October, when seasons collide for fishermen, hunters

POINT LOMA — Back when Sarah and Andy Saraspe opened their Five Star Fish Processing plant on May 15, 2003 in Point Loma at the urging of their friends Tim Ekstrom and Randy Toussaint of the Royal Star sport boat, they figured they had a business that couldn’t fail.

Andy’s background as a commercial fisherman taught him how to care for fish and present his catch of the day in the best possible way for sale at the market. Ekstrom and Toussaint were the first sport captains to use refrigerated saltwater, or RSW, in fish holds to keep fish ocean-fresh on long-range trips. Saraspe was a perfect match for the Royal Star duo because he already was using RSW in his totes that held his commercial catch. Saraspe began processing sport-caught fish that came out of the Royal Star’s RSW wells, even though it had been caught days prior, looking more like it had just been gaffed from the sea and taken off a sport angler’s hook.

Soon, Frank LoPreste, owner-captain of the Royal Polaris, asked to be let in on the process for his boats, the Royal Polaris and the Shogun. That meant the Saraspes were set with three of the top long-range sportfishing boats in the fleet delivering their tuna, wahoo and other exotic fish to them after every long-range fishing trip.

But seven years later, after a series of events that has left Sarah Saraspe deeply hurt and betrayed, it all started tumbling down to a trickle of fish business for the Saraspes at the dock in 2010. That’s when LoPreste, Ekstrom and even the Saraspes’ one-time great friend, Toussaint, along with partner Sean Sebring decided to open their own sport-caught fish processing plant, Fisherman’s Processing, at Liberty Station in April of 2010. Today they not only are making thousands of dollars from each angler on their boat, but they also are making hundreds of dollars from every angler by charging them to process their sport-caught fish. They take the whole fish, process it and then sell it back to their anglers in the form of fillets, smoked fish or in cans. Instead of just getting a percentage from the processors like they did in the past, LoPreste, Ekstrom and Toussaint have, in many instances, eliminated the middle man, the Saraspes and Ghio.

It all has led to a lengthy lawsuit filed by Sarah Saraspe that names, LoPreste, Ekstrom, Toussaint and Sebring, with a long manifest of allegations that include violations of civil rights, sex discrimination, unlawful business practices, fraudulent business practices, defamation and slander, breach of contract and more. Sarah Saraspe claims in her lawsuit that Five Star lost 95 percent of its Royal Star clients, 60 percent of her Royal Polaris customers, 50 percent of her anglers from the Shogun and 40 percent of the Excel fishermen who used Five Star. She figures her business is down more than $100,000 this year alone.

Calls placed by U-T San Diego to the defendants, LoPreste, Ekstrom and Toussaint, and a lawyer representing LoPreste, were not returned.

“It’s really been an emotional battle, these last two years,” Sarah Saraspe said. “It has hurt my family. It hurts my soul. This business has been my life for 10 years. These people here who I service are my family and to not be able to have that connection with them down at Fisherman’s Landing anymore, it’s tough for me.

“They went into business. They cut me and Mario out and their goal is to make sure fishermen won’t have any choice where to go. One processor. And they’ll charge anything they want. It will be a complete monopoly because they own the boats, the landings, the fish processing, the parking lot, the fuel and part of the bait.

“With the economy the way it is, why would the big guy who is making all the money, cut out the little guy who is working so damn hard for such a little amount. The answer is LoPreste wants to be powerful and control everything. He just wants to win, win at any cost.”

Sarah Saraspe’s attorney, Scott Toothacre, said he soon will file for injunctive relief and damages for the money Sarah Saraspe has lost. Sarah has been banned from taking fish from Fisherman’s Landing’s end of the dock. Toothacre wants to change that immediately.

Ghio said he has had his own discussions with LoPreste about how unfair it is for the captains on three long-range boats to have control over so many returning fishermen. Saraspe’s lawsuit claims LoPreste, because of his stature and multiple holdings in the fishing industry, has used that influence on anglers and other captains to steer them away from Saraspe and Ghio and to use his Fisherman’s Processing.

“I still have some loyal customers who still come by, but they shanghaied a lot of my old customers,” said Ghio, who has been processing sport-caught fish for nearly 20 years. “Frank tells me he didn’t put a gun to these guys’ heads, but the whole thing over there is a racket. All those years I took care of them over there, and this is how they treat me.”