voiceofsandiego.org: Letters... Keep Fishin' in Mission

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008 | If a tourist went to the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau website searching for sport fishing, they would find descriptions of a "sport fishing paradise, an ever-growing fleet equipped with state-of-the-art gear and staffed by expert crew,trips lasting from half-day to multi-day excursions." They list fishing trips and special events for fishing enthusiasts "trying to reel in the 'big one' off San Diego's coast."

Apparently no one's informed them that most of those fishing trips they list might not be available much longer if the Mission Bay Hyatt has its way. Yesterday, the owners and operators of the San Diego Sport Fishing Fleet at the Mission Bay marina were all served with 30-day eviction notices. Apparently, the new operators of the Hyatt don't want any part of that sport fishing "paradise in "their" marina. Somehow I don't think getting evicted from the Mission Bay marina is compatible with the city of San Diego's general plan.

Our fishing resources are very respected by fishermen all over the United States and the world. Many of our retired citizens moved here in the first place because they loved to fish. This industry provides wholesome recreation for local families and is an important part of the lives of many inhabitants of San Diego County.

In terms of jobs provided, both in running and servicing the boats, many thousands of people are involved. The bad news is that neither the City of San Diego nor their Hotel cronies seem to have any perception of the value of this resource or their responsibility to encourage it. So once again the little guy gets shafted by local development interests.

What else is new in America's Finest City? It does seem shameful that some of our coastline can't be salvaged for the fishing industry, for the beachgoer who can't afford a luxury hotel, or the folks who like to sit on the shore and just sunbathe. Our coastline is already mostly marinas, bars, artsy boutiques, and hotels. Soon we'll have to drive miles to even get a glimpse of the water.

I have both a personal and vested interest in this industry. My entire family used to be in the tuna fishing industry until the city let it die. Now, a new generation of fisherman has emerged from our family. You can be sure of one thing; this time around we will not just sit back and let this industry die from empty promises and useless plans. The sport fishing industry in San Diego is well known and respected throughout this country and it is about time for the city to treat it as such.

Here is yet another example of the hotels controlling our waterfront. These fishing boats have been here for decades and follow the rules and regulations of the water. They are also a part of San Diego history. My husband caught his first fish out of this marina about 40 years ago. His brother was a deck hand. I am sick and tired of having the hotels and other development interests dictating (with the help of our city's "deal makers") what will and won't happen here in San Diego. San Diegans have a chance in November to take back their power. Vote for Lightner, Whitburn, and Emerald.

Posted by Linda J. Wilson | reply to this comment
October 16, 2008 7:55 am

with a strong mayor that doesn't fish, it doesn't matter. this guy is power and money hungry. He will let most anyone take over those areas for money. We had our chance to vote. This fall's vote will not bring any relief to this effort. Our politicians are corrupt and money hungry. It is beyond my understanding why they would agree to something that would further eliminate jobs in San Diego. And a way to make a decent living. And a tourist drawing sport. Oh yea, again, money. The big Hotels have it, we don't. There goes the fishing industry. What next?

Posted by Frank | reply to this comment
October 17, 2008 12:15 pm

i can't agree with you more. it is a shame but isn't this the way our whole society is going with no change in sight? it was always about the ol' mighty dollar. the fishing community cannot generate enough $$$ to fulfill the hungry giants and is going to the wayside. it will be come a sport of the elite who can afford to pay it. either way the big fish will find a way to get his. it is depressing and only going to get worse with our deteriorating economy and degrading ethics and values. i feel for the people with children who will be missing out on the sportfishing industry, but then how can they miss what they never had? life will go on with or without us. it's just a matter of a generation of change....

Posted by pito | reply to this comment
October 17, 2008 3:22 pm

how did the city let the fishing industry die?

Posted by the truth | reply to this comment
October 16, 2008 8:57 am

As recently as 1980, San Diego was home to the world's largest and most successful tuna fishing fleet which employed over 40,000 people in the City of San Diego. During that time, the industry was getting attacked on all sides, mostly by enviromentalist groups fighting to save the porpoise. The City of San Diego did nothing to protect this industry from these attacks. They sat idly by while a 100 year tradition faded into a distant memory. Would they do that if it was the hotel industry that was under attack??

Posted by Sal D'Anna | reply to this comment
October 16, 2008 11:10 am

It appears that the new lease that was approved by the City in 2005 deleted the previous Sport Fishing provision. While those that work for the City think they pulled one over on us once again, they would be wrong. The Trust controls, not their Lease. As Grantee of tidelands property, the City acquired this property as trustee ("Trustee") under an express statutory trust in addition to the common law public trust. The relevant portions of the legislation reads as follows: Whereas, since the admission of California into the Union, all tidelands along the navigable waters of this state and all lands lying beneath the navigable waters of the state have been and now are held in trust by the state for the benefit of all the inhabitants thereof for the purposes of navigation, commerce and fishing.

Posted by Sal D'Anna | reply to this comment
October 16, 2008 9:24 am

You are correct. All reclaimed tidelands in Mission Bay, San Diego Bay, and along the San Diego River are held by Trust for all the citizens of California subject to California's State Land Commission (http://www.slc.ca.gov/). Also City Charter Section 219 - Pueblo Land link says that: No lease shall be valid for a period of time exceeding fifteen years for Pueblo Lands owned by the city North of Interstate 8, which includes all of Mission Bay. Since the City regularly does not follow Charter Section 219, if the 2005 lease is for 16 years or more, then the lease is not valid. Captain Manuel Freitas house built in 1931 in La Playa is the first Historically designed home for Tuna boat captains in San Diego. link San Diego did let the Tuny industry die.

Posted by La Playa Heritage | reply to this comment
October 16, 2008 7:44 pm

Why does the Hyatt have it in for sports fishing? Last time I checked, their clientele order fish and they host fancy fish restaurants. Do they get to move in their own concessions there, or what?

Posted by Carolyn Chase | reply to this comment
October 17, 2008 6:39 am

According to the U-T, Hyatt wants to remove the sportfishing docks so they can expand the marina. Renting slips to the private boaters is a cash cow for the hotel. I've gone fishing on these sportfishing boats many times, and contrary to public opinion, the majority of the passengers are not tourists. Most of the fishermen are locals and regular customers. This is really about who will control access to the ocean for the residents who are fortunate enough to own a boat. I hope we can see to it that Mission Bay Sportfishing at least finds another location in Mission Bay.

Posted by Brian T. Peterson, DVM | reply to this comment
October 17, 2008 1:36 pm

It's not entirely true regarding mostly locals fishing these boats. I run a website dedicated to the very unique and enormous San Diego sportfishing fleet since 1999 and have fished and worked boats in the past. The biggest part of my website (SportfishSanDiego.c if it's relavent) is the countless emails I receive from all over the USA and as far as New Zealand and UK people requesting private charter info . The trips you speak of are open party (open to the public) which do have a "local regulars" following. However, year round and especially the June - November tuna season are visiting fisherman and their families who charter these trips and spend countless dollars in area restaraunts, hotels and business. It churns my stomach to see big business wanting to turn this great City into a Miami or Waikiki.

Posted by Rob Mailly | reply to this comment
October 31, 2008 2:58 pm

The Hyatt hotel has decided to shut down an icon in San Dieog sportfishing. What a shame and shortsighted move. Do they not know that people who visit their hotel do things other than go to Sea World and look out the window? All the boats are basically small businesses that have no where to go, they cannont just rent space down the street like a stip mall business. All the pieces were in place for that landing to compete well (parking, location) except support of the owners. I've been a regular for years at the Hyatt, using banquet facilities, and restaurants for various functions. If this is the way they treat hardworking partner business people I'll be taking my business elsewhere. The Dominator was "asked" to come there and barely completed their first season and suddenly are out on the street.

Posted by Rick McPherson | reply to this comment
October 17, 2008 2:00 pm

I work as a deckhand on the Sportboat Dolphin (out of Mission Bay Sportfishing), and before that have been a loyal customer there for over 6 years, fishing at least twice or three times a month. I have seen the workings of this landing, inside and out, and am personal friends with almost every employee at Mission Bay SF, (formerly Islandia Sportfishing) . I think it is absolutely unacceptable for a hotel to destroy this landing simply over a matter of greed. This industry, and this landing, are a major part of San Diego's culture and history, just like the commercial tuna fleet were years ago, and as San Diegans, we need to unite together and keep hotels ad other big businesses from destroying our lifestyles. It is this, here and now that will decide whether San Diegans control their city, or the wheels of big business.

Posted by Mark Korte | reply to this comment
October 17, 2008 2:59 pm

This is indeed sad news. With the price of fuel now, these guys in the fishing industry and their customers have gotten hammered this year. The city should do something to save that landing. I'm not sure what options there are but we are talking about a part of the tourist industry, and the city should make sure it doesn't get killed off. Maybe the city should take over the landing from the Hyatt by using their power of eminent domain.

Posted by Doal Miller | reply to this comment
October 17, 2008 3:39 pm

I've grown up here in San Diego, 46 years. My grandfather started taking me fishing when I was 5. The local sportfishing operations carried me and many friends to our beginnings in this sport we love. For the city to allow these actions to take place is appaling. It's the "I've got mine" attitude that really stinks. I'll bet if some hotel was gonna buy beachfront property and close down Donna Frye's husbands' surf spot, there would be a helluva fight. This industry supports ALOT of people, not just the captains and their crew. They buy bait, fuel, groceries, and god knows what else from local vendors. It will all suffer. Contact councilman Faulconers office (kevinfaulconer@sand express your views to him as well. Dave Gilmore

Posted by Dave Gilmore | reply to this comment
October 17, 2008 4:18 pm

I called the Real Estate Assets Department yesterday to find out where they were located because I wanted to get a copy of a city lease. The city employee on the other end told me I had to call first and I could not just drop in because "We can't just drop everything we are doing just to get you a copy of a lease".Today, when I went to their office, I was told I had to submit a written request, get it approved, and then I will get my request in a few days. When I told her I knew my rights, another employee intervened and blamed it on 911. They went to get their boss who said we just disagree on the way we read the law. He agreed to email the file and he did. I sent him Cal Gov Code § 6253.

Posted by Sal D'Anna | reply to this comment
October 17, 2008 4:55 pm

One other issue is being overlooked hear. 3 of the 4 remaining landings in the San Diego area are majority owned and controlled be the same people. This means that if they want to raise what they charge the independent boat owners they can and the boats will now be at their mercy with little or no recourse. These same owners where found in collusion for price fixing by the states attorney's office once. The independent boat owners are being forced out and being replaced by the landing owned boats. As a former crew member and part owner of a small charter boat I would like to see a landing for the Independent operators Chris Becker

Posted by chris | reply to this comment
October 17, 2008 7:08 pm

What a sham! Fishing in all forms is a huge component of San Diego. Anglers come here from all over the world to experience fishing in the healthy waters off of San Diego. I guess they will have one less option in where to fish from! Presently, it can be almost impossible to get on a boat during the peak summer months. Not to mention find parking at any one of the four other landings! Mission Bay Sortfishing offered another option to anglers. I hope and pray for the boat owners and their crews Maybe they can find an open spot at another landing. I hope so because I will continue to fish on the Mission Bay Sortfishing Boats no matter where they are!

Posted by jimm | reply to this comment
October 17, 2008 8:41 pm

Im currently 17 years old and have been working on the 3/4 day boat Chubasco 2 since I was 15. This is one of the many boats that is being told to leave by the hotel. These past couple of seasons that i have worked with the sportfishing fleet been the best years of my life. I didn't want this job because I needed the money. I am lucky enough to have a family the provides financially for me. I got this job because fishing is my passion. I work 14+ hour days because I would rather be on the water than anywhere else in the world. Is it fair that these oppurtunities are being ripped away from us? And what about the captains? They have been in the industry their entire life and now they are told to take a hike.

Posted by Cory Gilmore | reply to this comment
October 17, 2008 9:14 pm

Doesn't the Hyatt hotel realize what kind of mistake their making by cutting out sportfishing. How much of their revenue comes in from the sportfishing. 1) the restaruant fishing people go their to eat after a day of fishing or even before How many out of towners use the hotel to rest the night before going home the next day. The entire economy of San Diego is based on sportfishing so how can the Hyatt be so cold as to dent as down going economy

Posted by DOUG | reply to this comment
October 17, 2008 11:19 pm

I have done business with, been a deck hand for and fished with Mission Bay Sportfishing since 1959. It started as a small concern, and grew quickly. It provided an alternative to Seaforth Sportfishing and the big dominant owners of the other big landings. The agreement for using the shore areas is provided for by state law to use for navigation, leisure and fishing by the people of the area. If we allow the small businessmen to be railroaded by big hotel concerns, we will be destroying what our country has nurtured, small business. I caught my first fish on a boat from Mission Bay in 1959, and I have done the same with my kids and I wish to do the same with my Grandkids. It is possible to have a not so great an experience with fishing, it is fishing not catching, the captains can't make the fish bite! Bait sometimes is not so good, especially in the summer. The big multiday Sportboats in San Diego Bay and Mission Bay get all the good bait, because they buy so much. Smaller boats get the chafe, left over bait. And, sometimes the fish are in American waters when the boat heads out, and Mexican permits were purchased. But, if they need to go to Mexico, those permits are essential, the owners could lose their boats, with all aboard being towed to Ensenada!! I have worked, Chartered with my business, boat owned buy Ernie Prieto, Gary Abbamonte and Jason, who runs the 1/2 day boat Dolphin, at Mission Bay Sportfishing. I have had great service from these boats and owners, even though they operate on a much tighter budget than boats at Seaforth. I use boats from Seaforth, Point Loma Sportfishing, H & M Landing and Fisherman's Landing. I am expressing my support for these boat owners At Mission Bay Sportfishing and their right to provide fishing alternatives for the people of California, and to provide a viable profitable business to provide for their families and meet their boat investment expenses.

Posted by Michael NIchols | reply to this comment
October 18, 2008 8:16 am

This is a trajedy not just for sportfishers in general but for the whole city of san diego. I will never forget the days when my father would take me sportfishing out of mission bay(islandia sportfishing) since i was 8 years old. I am now 31 and still fish there at least once per week.. The memories,comradorie, and thrills while fishing there are some of the most memorable times of my life. I believe like hundreds of others that this is a very selfish and inconsiderate act of greed by the all mighty dollar and financial gain. While all of these decisions are made behind close doors, whith people who dress in suits and ties and probably have never been fishing before in their lives, they for some reason have the right to not just damage the employees lives at the landing but the next generation of sportfisherman.

Posted by anthony | reply to this comment
October 18, 2008 12:15 pm

As we watch the debates no matter which side your rooting for they both constantly claim the value of small business. Politicians always claim that they value small business and what they do for the local economy. Each of these boats is a small business along with the landing operation. Like it was written earlier they employ people and support so many industry related people with the price of one ticket. All of these boats and its landing provide one of the greatest and most unique recreational opportunites anywhere in the world. On these boats we can fish anywhere from our local kelp beds to offshore banks. Providing its customers with better than Sea World experience. For me like many who grew up in San Diego it gave us an opportunity to experience the beauty of the ocean enviromnemt. Save Mission Bay Sportfishing.

Posted by JTAP | reply to this comment
October 18, 2008 1:08 pm

why can't you just rent a slip from the hyatt?

Posted by Joe Fisherman | reply to this comment
October 18, 2008 4:22 pm

I have been an avid fisherman for over 50 years. I have never known a better skipper personally than Jason Coz of the Dolphin. That the Hyatt would even consider removing the sportfishing operation is a gross example of the owners blind greed over a friendly family oriented operation that has become a San Diego tradition. I am crushed by this horrendous news. Please contact the mayor and and councilman Faulconer's office and let them know what a disastrous mistake is about to be perpetrated in the name of progress.

Posted by Timothy Kubota | reply to this comment
October 19, 2008 1:39 pm

All I can say is what a shame. To see a huge corporation take over and eliminate the smaller independent businesses. This ongoing trend is sickening and sad, to say the least. I have been fishing all my life and have worked in the fishing industry my whole career. I have many friends within the industry and good friends that make their living on the sportboats, including captains and deckhands that operate out of Mission Bay Sportfishing. Sportfishing in Mission Bay provides a relaxed atmosphere for families and visitors wanting to enjoy the experience of the outdoors. To take this opportunity away should be a crime. The Hyatt will no longer get any of my business. I was considering recommending this hotel for consideration for future corporate meetings but I guess this will never happen now...

Posted by daiwa2 | reply to this comment
October 20, 2008 4:00 am

I am a fisherman, ex deck hand, and a person that has used Mission Bay Sportfishing for personal sportfishing for 51 years, and use them also for business, chartering boats for clients. I have found that having a fishing landing separate from the other landing in San Diego has been beneficial to my business. The other landings ae dominated by one big group of owners, and if the independent owners at Mission Bay Sportfishing are allowed to be railroaded by The Hyatt, there will be total monopoly of the sportfishing by this group of owners. The tidelands are for the use of the people for commerce, navigation and fishing. Why would the Hyatt destroy these five small business/owners and destroy their livelyhood and our (fishermen) choice of a less crowded and more friendly fishing option? I support these owners! Boycott Hyatt!

Posted by MIKE NICHOLS | reply to this comment
October 21, 2008 10:48 am

If the local fishing industry wants to survive, you all have to chip in and give the mayor and city council members bigger bribes than the hotel owners are giving them. Its that simple.

Posted by Watcher | reply to this comment
October 21, 2008 5:12 pm

The Coastal Act states that the economic, commercial, and recreational importance of fishing activities shall be recognized and protected, and that facilities serving the commercial fishing and recreational boating industries shall be protected, and where feasible, upgraded. The Coastal Act requires that coastal-dependent developments shall have priority over other developments on or near the shoreline. Recreational boating use is encouraged by providing for the development of berthing space, increasing facilities and limiting non-water-dependent uses. Existing space shall not be reduced unless demand no longer exists or substitute space has been provided. The needs of the commercial fishing industry have priority over recreational boating. Recreational boating facilities should be designed and sited so as not to interfere with the needs of the commercial fishing industry. Additionally, uses of the marine environment shall be carried out in a manner that will maintain healthy populations of all species of marine organisms.

Posted by Sal D'Anna | reply to this comment
October 21, 2008 10:53 pm

Who cares about Mission Bay Sportfishing..There just waste of space, anyways the New Seaforth is way better than that wannabe RJ captain [Jason]

Posted by Annoynmous | reply to this comment
October 25, 2008 3:04 pm

Anyone who doesn't want to see San Diego turn into a Miami or Waikiki with hotels littering the marinas, beaches and sooner or later Fiesta Island should care. Who's to say at some point the big 3 on SD Bay aren't a target of big money.

Posted by Rob Mailly | reply to this comment
October 31, 2008 4:17 pm

Keep Fishin' in Mission

By Sal D'Anna, Spring Valley