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Orange, CA – February 13, 2012 — The 56th Annual Los Angeles Boat Show, which took place February 9 through 12 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, saw an increase in attendance of 10% over last year’s numbers, according to show producer Dave Geoffroy, Executive Director of the Southern California Marine Association. “We had more boats on display this year, and the exhibitors we spoke with had positive feedback and were pleased with leads and boat sales at the show” said Geoffroy. “The show was jam-packed with fun and activities for the whole family. We worked hard in our marketing and public relations to stimulate attendance and it paid off. We’re pleased that the boating industry is seeing increases in attendance at many boat shows, and that some growth is occurring in the Southern California market. This is a good sign for the economy and for boating enthusiasts.”

Presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, the Official Watercraft Insurance Provider, this annual event is the largest and most prestigious boat show in the western United States.

This year’s show featured everything from affordable family-oriented boats to the most luxurious motor yachts, speed boats, fishing boats, family cruisers and boating and marine accessories.

For more information, please call Bill Long at 949-683-4990.

Far beyond his work with the Association, Harry was our friend.  He was a gentle, kind soul who adored his wife, his family, his friends and life itself.

Congratulations Harry on a life well done.  You will be missed – you will be remembered.

-Your friends at the SCMA

Harry’s Memorial Service will held on Monday, November 28, 2011, at 10:00 AM at the San Juan Capistrano Mission.   In lieu of flowers, the Family requests a donation be made to the San Juan Capistrano Mission in Harry’s name.

Advance estimates indicate that sales will be up 1.7 percent on a rolling 12-month basis through August. That’s the first sign of growth in more than two years, the association said.  New powerboat registrations were down 7 percent on a rolling 12-month basis through June, compared with a year earlier.

Recreational boat and marine engine export volumes were up 3 percent in the second quarter of 2011 and dollars were down 4 percent from a year earlier. Corresponding import volumes were up 9 percent and dollars were up 6 percent, the NMMA said.

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There’s comments on increasing the quality of your display and even dealing with software to help you collect and sort your show and customer information. An excellent read.

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Three sportfishing boats boarded by navy; one ordered to leave waters near Cedros Island

Reprinted from Sign On San Diego 7/31/11 by Ed Zieralski

San Diego-based sportfishing boats, which have been having a tough time because of poor fishing offshore, lately have been encountering problems with the Mexican government over passports.

Last week, three sport boats — the Horizon, a dive boat out of H&M Landing, and the Royal Polaris and the Searcher out of Fisherman’s Landing — were boarded and detained by the Mexican navy off Cedros Island. Passengers were checked for passports. One of the boats, the Royal Polaris, was told to leave Cedros by the captain of a Mexican navy boat because one of the anglers did not have a U.S. passport.

Long-range boats are scrambling to make sure all of their anglers have current passports, but there also is confusion for shorter fishing trips into Mexican waters.

Carlos Luken of the San Diego-based CONAPESCA, Mexico’s national aquaculture and fishing commission, said Americans must have a yearly Mexican fishing license ($44.80) to fish in Mexico from a boat. A Mexican sportfishing license is not required for shore fishing. Luken wasn’t aware of the passport requirement and recommended anglers call the Mexican consulate general to get that information. Calls to the consulate general’s office in San Diego were not returned.

John Yamate, part owner and office manager of Seaforth Sportfishing, said his landing is telling all anglers who plan to fish in Mexico to bring a passport. But at this point, he said they’re not required for three-quarter-day or one-day trips into Mexican waters.

“I’m telling them if they have a passport to bring it,” Yamate said. “But we are not aware of any change in the regulations or policy at this point.”

Michelle Gandola, a spokeswoman for the Sportfishing Association of California, said association officials are working on the issue with Mexican officials at CONAPESCA, the fisheries representatives, and the Mexican consulate general.

“We’re trying to get some kind of official statement from the Mexican government,” Gandola said. “But as far as we know, no new Mexican regulation or policy has come out about passport requirements on sport boats. All we know is that a few of our boats were boarded, and passengers were asked to produce passports.”

Gandola said right now there “are no specific answers and nothing in writing to show anything was changed” regarding passports for U.S. anglers.

“We’ve been operating in Mexico for over 50 years and have had great relations with Mexico,” Gandola said of the sportfishing fleet’s relationship with Mexico. “Our hope is that we can work this out and that it’s just a slight hitch that can be taken care of so we can get back to operating without any additional requirements.”

Local sources said the issue began a few weeks ago when three-quarter-day boats were stopped by a Mexican navy boat around the Coronado Islands. The boat captains were asked if all the anglers had passports and if the captain had a boat permit to be in Mexico. The captains told the Mexican navy captain that passports weren’t required and that boat permits also had been done away with a few years ago. The CONAPESCA website indicates the requirement for boat permits for U.S. sport boats ended in January 2008. There also is nothing stated about anglers needing passports to fish in Mexico from a San Diego-based sportfishing boat.