THE HARBOR COLUMN:Still time to see the boat show

Ahoy.

The 51st annual Los Angeles Boat Show will batten the hatches at 6 p.m. this Sunday, so you still have a few days to plot a course to the show. This year’s show is huge, and I am impressed with the number and size of boats being displayed in this indoor venue at the Los Angeles Convention Center. I still do not logistically know how Bayport Yachts of Newport Beach was able to bring its new 55 Marquis LS to the show from the harbor. This boat has to be one of the largest yachts for people to walk aboard in the show.

I don’t think many of the boat show’s visitors understand how much it costs dealers to show their boats. It’s steep when you throw in the costs of the exhibitor space, transporting the vessels, staff hours, marketing materials, space design and setup, advertising, etc. Boat sales, like the housing market, have cooled down, but boating is still the top family recreational activity in the nation. Your second home might be a boat, or your teenage kids might want to water ski, or you have the need to find yellowtail — in any case you’ll need a boat. You can cruise to www.losangelesboatshow.com for more information on the convention.

I just opened my new 2007 California Department of Boating and Waterways’ calendar, and it is kids groovy. This year’s calendar displays the drawings of the winners from the 14th annual boating safety poster contest. Kindergarteners through eighth-graders submitted artwork.

I did not see any winners from our harbor area, and I wonder how kids participated from our Newport-Mesa schools. Still, the children’s creativity is amazing, and my favorite was drawn by Daisy, a kindergartener from Taylor Skills School.

The poster shows three kids wearing lifejackets with the admonition: “Simon says wear life jackets — kids under 12, it’s the law.” All of the kids turned in remarkable work, and what a perfect way to introduce boating safety to our future captains.

The tip of the week is from Dave Meyers with Davey’s Sportfishing Locker, which is in the Balboa Pavilion. Did I mention yellowtail earlier? Well, Freelance is heading to Catalina Island on the hunt for yellowtail, and there is plenty of live squid to help lure the fish to your hook. This time of year, yellowtail is a treat, and I am hearing reports that the giant squid are abundant — just be ready to be inked.

I know that Freelance’s Capt. Norris Tapp will loathe me for mentioning the second option, but you either want to join the Freelance onboard, or if you have your own boat to go where Freelance is heading to catch fish. Most recreational boaters who fish know to keep a sharp eye on where the professional skippers stop for their passengers to drop hooks in the water. Every skipper, though, whether recreational or professional, must respect the space around another vessel that is engaged in fishing.

For example, do not run or float by close enough to affect another boat actively fishing, and please do not slide in to try to compete for the spot. Too often I’ve seen an amateur or rude boater cruise up to boats fishing and then hit the seaweed or kick up a wake to spook the fish.

It is a small ocean when everyone gathers at the same fishing spot to bring home dinner. Remember, it’s first-come, first-served, and never disrupt any other group fishing the spot. You will at times see professional captains slide their boats together fishing, but remember, the captains are communicating with each other. I predict that this fishing season is going to be good, so let’s be courteous on the water.

Tune in to the No. 1 boating radio talk show in the nation, “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” on our new station, KLAA-AM (830), from noon to 1 p.m. Saturdays. So join me with my motley crew, Chandler Bell and Eric Hovland, as we talk about all things boating, and set your waypoint for www.BoathouseTV.com

Safe voyages.