Trout:

LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Belvedere Lake, Cerritos Lake, Downey Lake, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lake, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Kenneth Hahn Lake, La Mirada Lake, Legg Lake and Lincoln Park Lake.

ORANGE: Laguna Lake.

RIVERSIDE: Hemet Lake, Perris Lake and Rancho Jurupa Park Pond.

SAN BERNARDINO: Cucamonga-Guasti Park Lake, Prado Park Lake, Seccombe Park Lake and Silverwood Lake.

SAN DIEGO: Chollas Park Lake, Lindo Lake and Murray Lake. 

INYO: Pleasant Valley Reservoir.

Catfish:

LOS ANGELES: Cerritos Park Lake, Downey Lake, El Dorado Park Lake, Ford Park Lake, La Mirada Lake, Legg Lake, Peck Road Park Lake, Puddingstone Lake and Santa Fe Reservoir.

Photo credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times

A Florida man is facing criminal charges for staging the capture of a 14-foot Burmese python.

Justin Matthews, of Bradenton, Fla., was arrested this week following a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigation into a July incident.

Matthews, a professional nuisance animal trapper, called media to his neighborhood to witness the capture of a large Burmese python from a drainage pipe. Turns out, Matthews put the snake there in the first place and staged the whole event.

Matthews apparently purchased the reptile a month before from a licensed reptile dealer and released it to set up its capture to "bring attention to a growing problem of irresponsible pet ownership," according to an FWC news release.

His releasing of the reptile is a big no-no in Florida, which is having a huge problem with the invasive species and even held a state-sanctioned hunting program in an effort to eradicate the non-native pythons.

The snakes, believed to have been released by owners when they became too large to manage, are reproducing in the wild and have become a threat to native wildlife (and probably to cats and small dogs) in South Florida.

Matthews is being charged with one third-degree felony count of misusing a 911 emergency system and one second-degree misdemeanor charge of maintaining captive wildlife in an unsafe manner, resulting in threats to public safety. The penalties that Matthews is facing if guilty are not yet known.

With wildlife officials estimating the number of loose snakes in the tens of thousands in the South Florida region (mostly in the Everglades), it seems that with a little legwork Matthews could have found a rogue reptile, rather than planting one.  Of course, he may not have generated the media attention he seemed to be seeking, though his actions have led to plenty of that now.

--Kelly Burgess

Photo: A Burmese python captured in the Everglades. Credit: Associated Press

Related:

Florida python hunt ends with 37 of the invasive reptiles being killed

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The trout season opens today at Irvine Lake, with more than 20,000 pounds of newly released trout awaiting anglers.

Closed since Monday, the lake has been stocked with rainbows ranging in the 1- to 6-pound range, although there were also a decent number of fish released that weigh from 8 to 12 pounds and also some lunkers weighing in at more than 20-pounds.

Longtime angler and outdoor writer Steve Carson offers the following trout angling tips:

Gates open at 6 a.m. daily at the privately run, paid-entry lake, where no state fishing license is required.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Jenn Ngyuen of Yorba Linda shows off the 15-pound, 4-ounce rainbow she landed near the boat docks at Irvine Lake last year. Credit: Irvine Lake

I missed the now-famous "South Park" episode that premiered last week and offered a satirical portrayal of Japanese whaling and dolphin-killing tactics. But I did view a few short clips.

(Your thoughts? Was it insensitive or accurate? Did you laugh your head off?)

Of course, no such episode could be complete without controversial Captain Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which annually takes on Japanese whalers in the Antarctic (see above video and image below).

And I did not miss Watson's response to how he -- with his belly hanging exposed beneath his untucked shirt -- and his merry crew of vegan whale lovers were portrayed.

In the episode, Watson takes a harpoon to the head.

"I could not care less how I was personally ridiculed, lampooned and insulted," the captain added. "Hell, being ridiculed, lampooned and insulted on 'South Park' is a declaration to the world that Sea Shepherd and 'Whale Wars' are effective and have cracked through to the other side of the media culture curtain."

"Whale Wars" is an Animal Planet TV series based on Watson's annual harassment of the whaling fleet in the Antarctic Ocean. Sea Shepherd will embark on a sixth campaign next month. An Animal Planet crew will be aboard to gather material for a third "Whale Wars" season.

Stan, unfortunately, will have to be left behind.

Video and Image: A scene from "South Park." Credit: South Park Studios

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In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday afternoon or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: We were hunting doves in Imperial County recently when the game wardens came in asking for inspections. I set my 12-gauge shotgun on the hood of the car, gave the officer my hunting license, and then went back to check the guns to make sure they were unloaded. The officer stopped me and told me not to touch any gun at that point. He then checked the guns and found both my gun on top of the hood and another gun leaning on the front hood were loaded. I was given a ticket for Fish and Game Code Section 2006 ”loaded gun in a vehicle.” I tried to argue that my gun was not “IN” the vehicle but “ON” the vehicle, but the officer declined to argue and said I have to argue in court.

Is this a valid citation? Was the officer in a position not to allow me to have a chance to unload our firearms before his inspection? Do you have any court cases regarding loaded guns on top of the hood/vehicle? I plan to plead not guilty on the charge. (Grace C.)

Answer: The situation you describe did warrant a citation. According to game warden Todd Tognazzini, when a vehicle is upon or along a public roadway, guns placed in or on a vehicle or its attachments may not be loaded.

The origin of this law came from a March 15, 1972, Attorney General’s Opinion No. SO 71-38. There is much discourse within the opinion, but the final paragraph sums the information as follows: “… a violation does occur under Section 2006 Fish and Game Code when a person in possession of a loaded rifle or shotgun places such loaded weapon on the hood, fender or top of a motor vehicle, or in the bed or cargo carrying space or a pickup truck or its attachments thereto, when such vehicle is standing on or along a public highway or other way open to the public.”

Placing the loaded gun on the hood of the car is very dangerous and could lead to an accidental discharge if the gun were to slip off the hood. Game wardens must always consider their own safety during a contact and are trained not to allow a person to handle their firearms again until they are confirmed to be unloaded. Yours were loaded.

The warden followed the law in writing the citation.

Q: Can you please describe the legal and proper way to measure a fish, particularly largemouth bass? Is it with an open mouth, closed mouth, fanned tail or pinched tail? I would appreciate some fish-measuring guidelines to determine whether a catch is legal. Thank you. (Rick B.)

A: The first rule when measuring fish is to lay the fish flat on its side and always pinch the mouth closed. All freshwater fish, including largemouth bass, are measured to total length. This is the longest straight-line distance from the tip of the head to the end of the longest lobe of the tail (CCR Section 1.62). The most accurate method is to place the fish’s snout against a perpendicular surface and then measure along the intersecting horizontal surface to the end of the tail. Don’t measure using a flexible “tape” over the fish itself or you will be given a longer, false reading. All freshwater fish with a minimum size limit are measured this way.

On the ocean side, most saltwater fish with minimum size limits are measured to total length, but there are some that are measured to fork length instead (e.g. bonito, albacore, barracuda and yellowtail). Fork length is the straight-line distance from the tip of the head to the center of the tail fin (CCR Section 1.62). So again, lay the fish flat on its side, pinch the mouth closed and take your measurement from the tip of the head to the center of the fork of the tail. These are the only two measurements that you will need to know for the purposes of the regulations when measuring whole fish.

Q: While hunting pheasants, once I shoot my limit, can I give one of my birds to another hunter in the group and continue hunting? (Jerry)

A: No. Once you reach your bag limit you are finished hunting for the day. You can give your birds away to other hunters but that does not then allow you to continue hunting that day.

Photo: A hunter takes aim on the opening day of dove season in Imperial County. Credit: George Wilhelm / Los Angeles Times

Santa Claus is making his annual visit to Bass Pro Shops. Giving his reindeer the afternoon off, Santa will be arriving at 3 p.m. Sunday, riding in a boat being hauled by a pickup truck. There will be a special tree lighting ceremony, a ribbon-cutting to Santa's Wonderland and also a chance to win one of many Bass Pro Shops gift cards.

All sorts of activities will be taking place to get young and old geared up for Christmas, including the opportunity for children to visit Santa and get their photo taken,  a Red Ryder laser arcade (reminiscent of the popular holiday movie "A Christmas Story" except you can't shoot your eye out), and the chance to play the new fishing video game, "The Strike."

On weekends beginning Nov. 14, kids can take part in making Christmas cookies, candy cane reindeer and craft items, including Santa bobbers and moose and reindeer ornaments.

"Santa's Wonderland -- A Classic Christmas" will be at the Bass Pro Shop store in Rancho Cucamonga through Dec. 24.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Santa's Wonderland. Credit: Bass Pro Shops

What better place than the wide-open spaces within a national park or wildlife refuge to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy and the sacrifices made by members of the armed services to protect those freedoms?

In honor of these heroes, all public recreation land managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation will waive entrance fees for them and the general public on Veterans Day next Wednesday.

(This was reported previously by colleague Jane Engle in the L.A. Times travel blog.)

“The Department of the Interior is honored to offer this fee-free day to thank our nation’s service men and women,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a news release. “The sacrifices and achievements of the brave men and women of our armed forces can never be understated. We invite all of our visitors to enjoy this fee-free day and take time out on this national holiday to remember our service men and women who are currently serving overseas in harms way. ”

Only entrance fees are waived. Fees associated with camping, lodging or other activities will be collected.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of Yosemite's El Capitan and the Merced River by © Darrell Gulin/CORBIS

Mitchell was hiking alone at Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada, when she was savagely attacked by two coyotes.

The 19-year-old Toronto resident was airlifted to a Halifax hospital in critical condition. She died the following day.

The coyote tested was killed by park officials and is believed to have been one of the two that had bitten Mitchell. Its carcass was sent to the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island to try to determine why the animals attacked.

Sadly, it may never be known why the coyotes attacked Mitchell, nor what individuals should do if confronted by the animals. The Parks Canada website describes the eastern coyote as a species that has interbred with wolves, which may give some insight as to the predatory behavior exhibited rather than the shy nature usually seen in coyotes.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Taylor Mitchell. Credit: city of Toronto

Related:

Coyote attack on musician Taylor Mitchell puts critters in new perspective

Musician Taylor Mitchell dies after coyote attack while hiking

Note: To follow this blog on Twitter please visit @latimesoutposts

She's currently passing the Tonga islands, heading toward American Samoa. After a brief sail north of the equator -- which she'll reach in about two weeks -- she'll pilot her 34-foot boat due south and then east toward South America and the treacherous Cape Horn, which she must negotiate before entering the Atlantic. Her eight-month journey will span 23,000 miles.

But that's getting ahead of the situation. Watson, 16, is enjoying remarkably smooth sailing and is ahead of her planned schedule of logging 100 miles a day.

Jessica celebrated reaching the 2,000-mile mark by baking chocolate cupcakes. 

-- Pete Thomas

Rob Machado, the wild-haired iconic free surfer from Cardiff, does not refer to his recent six-month soul-searching odyssey in Indonesia as a midlife crisis, but as a journey of self-discovery far beyond his  comfort zone.

Indonesia was the theater, and "The Drifter" is the result. The film, directed by Taylor Steele and produced by Hurley and Warner Bros. Records, has opened to rave reviews in Japan, Hawaii and Australia, and is making its domestic tour this week, with a premier at the La Paloma Theater tonight in Encinitas (7 and 9 p.m.) and at the Ricardo Montalban Theater in Los Angeles (8 p.m.) on Thursday night.

Machado, a stylish surfer and renowned humanitarian, just needed to get away, and during his travels he helped fund and construct a well for poor villagers. One scene shows Machado striking out on a lonesome road aboard a motorcycle he buys roadside on a whim, after he'd emerged from a taxi.

Machado spent three weeks in Bali, much of it surfing, but he also explored the outer islands of Indonesia. He missed home, but something inside wouldn't let him leave. He found ultimate solace on the island of Sumba, where he camped and surfed beautiful waves.

From a hilltop vista he remarks in the film, "A few months ago this might have felt lonely, but sometimes when you're most alone, you're not alone at all."

Sumba villagers embraced Machado and even posted a sentry near his tent during the night. He developed a special relationship with his new friends, who teach him the importance of family and people. Hence, the discovery:

"I thought that being completely isolated would bring me peace of mind, but now I realize that it is the people around us who bring our expectations to life," Machado says. "We dream of the perfect wave, the perfect job, the perfect house, the perfect love, and when we get there, we dream of something else, and the journey goes on."

Machado will attend the showings and answer questions afterward. A live webcast will begin at 8 p.m. Thursday for the Los Angeles showing. For more information and a schedule of showings, visit "The Drifter" website.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of Machado in classic discovery mode courtesy of Dustin Humphrey / Reel Sessions ©

A female great white shark that had lived in the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Outer Bay exhibit since August was tagged and released today.

The young predator, which was captured off Malibu, was set free offshore beyond the southern edge of Monterey Bay. She measured 5 feet, 5 inches, and weighed 100 pounds.

She was released because she had begun to exhibit aggressive behavior toward other sharks in the 1-million-gallon tank.

"I’ve always said that these animals will tell us when it’s time to put them back to the ocean. Now was clearly the time,” said Randy Hamilton, vice president of husbandry for the aquarium. “Her health is excellent, and we learned a lot while she was with us. Based on past experience, we have every expectation that she’ll do well after release.”

Tracking tags will enable scientists to monitor the shark's movements and habits. Previously, two of the released sharks traveled beyond Baja California's tip. The other two ventured to the Santa Barbara area.

The aquarium, with its research partners, also is part of a Juvenile White Shark Program, which involves tagging and tracking of sharks that utilize California and Mexico waters as nurseries. Real-time data and published research can be found on the Tagging of Pacific Predators website.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Great white shark is released after two months of captivity in Monterey Bay Aquarium. Credit: © Monterey Bay Aquarium/Randy Wilder

It has to be an unsettling situation for parents of small children and owners of small pets in South Florida, where thousands of Burmese pythons are slithering amok.

A state-sanctioned pilot hunting program aimed at determining location and formulating an eradication plan ended Saturday with 37 of the invasive reptiles being killed. 

"This was more about finding where they are and seeing if we can contain their expansion,'' Scott Hardin, exotic species coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told the Miami Herald.

The constrictors can measure 18 feet long and weigh 160 pounds, and wildlife officials say they could number in the tens of thousands in the South Florida region -- mostly in the Everglades.

Snake owners who released pythons when they became too large to manage are believed largely responsible for this troubling phenomenon. The snakes, which are reproducing in the wild, have become a threat to native wildlife.

The wildlife commission is collecting data from the snakes killed so far and will expand the hunting program next year. Meanwhile, licensed hunters after other species can continue to kill pythons in designated areas, including parts of the Everglades around Big Cypress National Preserve.

"If you're in there hunting, and you see a python, you can kill it,"' Hardin said.

Hunters have used nets and snares and guns to subdue the reptiles, but all legal hunting methods are allowed, including bang sticks, harpoons and spear guns.

In a letter encouraging the harvesting of pythons, posted on the commission website, Chairman Rodney Barreto wrote, "You can even have some fancy cowboy boots made from python, but I don't recommend eating the meat because testing revealed high levels of mercury in the meat -- levels well above that considered safe to eat."

The Miami Herald notes that a bill is in the works aimed at banning the trade and import of pythons and other invasive snakes into the United States.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigators remove an unlicensed Burmese python from a west central Florida home in September. Credit: George Skene / Orlando Sentinel

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Daily Wrapup	Boats	Anglers	Fish	Audio
H&M Landing	1	11	2 Calico Bass 2 Sand Bass 3 Sheephead 44 Rockfish 1 Lingcod 3 Sculpin
Seaforth	3	57	125 Yellowfin Tuna 20 Yellowtail 1 Sand Bass 6 Sheephead 6 Whitefish 123 Rockfish 3 Lingcod 7 Sculpin 23 Red Snapper
Dana Wharf	2	62	3 Calico Bass 6 Sand Bass 5 Sheephead 5 Bocaccio 130 Rockfish 79 Sculpin 20 Red Snapper
Davey's Locker	1	15	1 Sand Bass 1 Sheephead 1 Whitefish 30 Rockfish 1 Bonito 2 Sculpin
Pierpoint Landing	2	33	1 Calico Bass 19 Sand Bass 32 Sheephead 8 Whitefish 25 Rockfish 14 Sculpin 110 Perch
Redondo	2	20	14 Bocaccio 144 Rockfish 1 Lingcod
Marina Del Rey	3	43	6 Sheephead 33 Whitefish 251 Rockfish 2 Bonito 24 Sculpin
Patriot	2	43	2 Bocaccio 50 Rockfish 34 Lingcod 3 Red Snapper 373 Bolina 2 Cabazon
Captain Hook's Sportfishing	1	20	72 Rockfish 40 Lingcod 60 Red Snapper

Outtakes from a progress report posted Tuesday by Australia's Jessica Watson, 16, who is attempting to sail alone around the world, on her blog:

-- "It's been a quieter day today, a bit too quiet actually. For most of the day the wind has been a bit non-existent."

-- "I kept busy doing some schoolwork and I finally put the fishing line out. No luck catching anything but there's always tomorrow. I also didn't have much luck with school work. After completing the first English assignment I sent it off to discover that I'd opened the wrong bag and have been working on next year's assignments, oops!"

-- "To cheer myself up I had scrambled eggs for lunch, made with powdered eggs and cream, really yummy!"

-- "Last night I brought my sleeping bag out in the cockpit and managed to get a bit of sleep under the full moon. It was a pretty cool sight with the moonlight making the waves sparkle and lighting up the sails. I have to keep reminding myself to make the most of nights like this as things are certainly going to change when we head back south and into the Southern Ocean."

Watson, who is attempting her voyage alone and unassisted aboard a 34-foot sailboat, left Sydney on Oct. 18 and plans to be at sea for about eight months. Outposts will keep tabs on her odyssey and provide periodic updates.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Teenage adventurer Jessica Watson heads off on her solo global circumnavigation on her boat Ella's Pink Lady from Sydney's Middle Harbor on Oct. 18. Credit: EPA/Dean Lewins

Note: To follow this blog on Twitter please visit @latimesoutposts

Renowned Australian surfer Dave Rastovich and three others are nearing completion of a monthlong kayaking expedition with humpback whales and their calves in an attempt to bring attention to the dangers marine mammals face as they migrate past Australia en route to the Southern Ocean for the Antarctic summer.

Commercial fishing methods, industrial runoff, noise pollution, ship strikes and human interaction are some of the dangers. Other whales, notably minke whales, also are migrating and they'll soon be targeted by Japanese whalers, who in turn will be harassed by Capt. Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Rastovich, co-founder of the group Surfers for Cetaceans, spearheaded a 435-mile journey that includes San Diego's Chris Del Moro. Musician Will Conner and photographer Hilton Dawe are also part of the odyssey.

Said Rastovich: “The primary intention of our journey has been to highlight the plight of whales that are destined for the Southern Ocean and the inevitable visits by Japanese whaling fleets. As surfers, we have a direct connection with these amazing creatures and during the past 30 days, we’ve had the fortune of interacting with them, almost on a daily basis.
 
“Now we are calling on people to show their support and to join us in putting pressure on the Australian government, lead by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and our Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett, to uphold their pre-election promise to challenge Japanese whaling in international court and to protect the Southern Ocean sanctuary.”

The surfer and his group plan to celebrate with Sea Shepherd crew members, who are in Australia preparing for their sixth campaign against the Japanese whalers. Japan's whaling effort is carried out under a research loophole in the wording of an international moratorium on whaling.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Transparentsea environmental campaigners protest the actions of Japanese whalers from aboard kayaks in Sydney Harbor. Credit: Fetch/Transparentsea