OUTPOST.

Not camera shy: Party-boat anglers got a surprise sighting of a behemoth mako shark Sunday at Santa Barbara Island aboard the Islander out of San Pedro.

Sea lions had been spotted by people fishing for yellowtail on live squid in 185 feet of water, but when a brown shadow began chasing a pair of forktails hooked up in the 30-pound range, those on the deck began to question the pursuer.

``I saw it moving that fast, and I thought it was some huge mutant seal. But these yellowtail were too big for sea lions,'' said Huntington Beach radio and television fishing personality Ronnie Kovach, whose crew had its cameras rolling. ``(One angler) pulls the yellowtail toward the boat with two-thirds of the fish's body out of the water, all of sudden a mako has one-third of fish in its mouth, chewing. Like a dog with a bone, it's not going to let go.''

The shark, estimated at 400 to 500 pounds or larger, spent five minutes thrusting its body out of the water, biting the yellowtail and trying to engulf the whole fish, Kovach said.

``In 45 years of fishing these coastal waters, I have never seen a mako shark this big,'' he said.``You don't expect to see something that is this fearless.''

Deckhands managed to get most of the yellowtail in, which, at 19 pounds, still placed third in the jackpot.

Bass bite: Float-tube fishing for the first time proved to be a big adventure for one area angler. Phillip Ayala of San Gabriel saw and felt a bruiser bass hit, yet didn't boat anything but a story he won't soon forget.

Tossing a brown and silver tube jig near a dock around noon Sunday at Castaic Lagoon, he quickly became the game when an overprotective largemouth, estimated at 10 pounds, charged his bare legs.

``He gave me a pretty good whack,'' said Ayala, who was in view of his wife, Margie, throwing night crawlers and crawdads from shore. ``I had no waders, just cutoff shorts. I wasn't going to take the chance he was going to start chewing on me. I just wanted out. I was too close to its territory. I respect them now.''

Three other nearby float tubers also got ``attacked,'' Ayala said. ``It was a beautiful fish, but I had enough. I'm live bait now.''

Gather 'round: On Saturday beginning at 10 a.m., Kumeyaay Indian elder Jane Dumas will present a four-hour cultural workshop on native plants and other topics at the Satwiwa Native American Culture Center. The center is located in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area's Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa site, on Via Goleta Road, accessed by Lynn Road in Newbury Park. Admission is $15. Information: [phone], [phone] or [phone].

On Sunday, vendors from Southern California and Arizona will display and sell their work at the Native American Arts and Crafts Show at culture center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Running reminder: The eight annual Castaic Dam 5K and 10 mile race takes place Saturday at 8 a.m. Race day registration is from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.; the fee is $19. Information: [phone] or [phone].

Boats, boats, boats . . .: The seventh annual Orange County Boat Show is slated today through Sunday at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave. in Anaheim.

Show hours: today and Friday noon to 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission: $8 for adults, free for ages 12 and younger; $2 today only for adults. Information: [phone].

And more boats: The 26th Newport In-Water Boat Show will be held Wednesday through May 2 at the Newport Dunes Resort and Marina, 1131 Back Bay Drive in Newport Beach.

Show hours: Wednesday through April 30, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 1 10 a.m to 8 p.m. and May 2 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission: $8 for adults, free for ages 12 and younger; $2 today only for adults. Information: [phone] or www.seamag.com

Tell us a tale: The Sooky Goldman Nature Center, 2600 Franklin Canyon Road in Beverly Hills, on Saturdays hosts family storytelling sessions at the William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Information: [phone], ext 132.

- Compiled by Brett Pauly and Anel Laj

OPENER EVENTS

Among the activities slated for the first weekend of trout fishing in the Eastern Sierra:

The third annual Big Pine Opening Weekend Fishing Derby begins at sunrise Saturday and ends at noon Sunday, with winners of a share of cash awards and prizes in six categories - including largest rainbow and heaviest brown - to be announced at that time.

Entry is $12 and applications can be picked up at the Big Pine Chamber of Commerce, 126 S. Main St. in Big Pine. Information: [phone].

The traditional Opening Day Trout Fair and Bishop Lion's Club Rainbow Days Trout Display will be staged from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Tri-County Fairgrounds, at Sierra Street and Fair Drive in Bishop.

Admission to the fair is free and a drawing will feature more than $10,000 in prizes, including a boat, motor and trailer. The Rainbow Days contest will present cash awards and prizes in several categories to anglers with top catches. Information: [phone].

The June Lake Loop Monster Trout Contest once again offers more than $2,500 in prizes for a number of categories - including ugliest fish and heaviest stringer. All catches must be weighed and tagged at a June Lake Loop marina or tackle shop before 7 p.m. Saturday; winners will be announced at 7:30 p.m. at Ernie's Tackle Shop, 2604 Highway 158 in June Lake. Information: [phone] or 648-7756.

Prizes also are to be given away for the largest trout weighed at Rick's Sports Center, at Highway 203 and Center in Mammoth Lakes, [phone], and Kittredge Sports, 3218 Main St. in Mammoth Lakes, [phone].

- Daily News

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BOX: OPENER EVENTS (see text)