OUTPOST.

Tale of the week: After battling his quarry for more than six hours, Mike Preach of Port Hueneme finally brought the mammoth billfish to gaff Sept. 22 during the Drambuie Catalina Classic marlin tournament.

``He lit up like a Christmas tree,'' Preach said of the neonlike vertical bars on the striped marlin that was fooled on a live mackerel. ``This was a granddaddy. He was a horse. We estimated him at (225 pounds).''

But as Oxnard's Skip Miser, captain of the Pacific Player out of Channel Islands Harbor, put a second gaff in the brute, it made a desperate lunge for freedom, dragging the skipper overboard with it.

``When you reach out and grab something that's moving fast and put your strength into, well, it pulled him out in the blink of the eye,'' Preach said. ``It happened all so fast. We were talking to the water, `Skip, come on back,' and there he was up again.''

Lost was the marlin, two gaffs and any shot at the tournament trophy, which was taken by a 183-pounder boated aboard the Gambler, captained by Billy Miyagawa.

But the crew of the Pacific Player came out winners, too, because Miser made it back on deck unharmed.

Bass opener: West Hills angler Aaron Martens and his fiancee Lesley McMurray collected $2,030 by topping a field of 75 teams Saturday at Castaic Lake during the 1997-98 WON BASS-Southern California Region season-opening tournament.

The couple brought in a five-fish limit of largemouths weighing 13.31 pounds.

Second place and $1,555 went to Nial ``Buck'' Bauernfeind of Castaic and Brad Haney of Val Verde for a limit weighing 12.40 pounds, while the region's defending ``Anglers of the Year,'' Jim Olivarez of Anaheim and Frank King of La Habra took home $1,315 for a limit that tilted the scales at 12.15 pounds.

The day's big fish, a 5.41-pounder, earned anglers Brian Bailey of Simi Valley and Luigi Lucas of Newbury Park $730 and a new fishing rod.

First of its kind: Bassmaster's first California fishing tournament is being held today through Saturday on the Sacramento River Delta out of Stockton.

B.A.S.S. has staged events in the West before but never in California. The event is part of the first full circuit on the left coast. Other stops include Lake Powell and Lake Havasu.

Among the area entrants in the invitational are Rich Tauber of Woodland Hills, Aaron Martens of West Hills, Mike O'Shea of Thousand Oaks, Don Iovino of Burbank, Ron Cervenka of Saugus, ``Buck'' Bauernfeind of Castaic and Harry Jioras of Oak View.

Feathered friends: Ducks Unlimited holds its annual banquet and auction Oct. 9 at the Warner Marriott in Woodland Hills.

Ducks Unlimited is the first organization to dedicate efforts to wetlands conservation in North America, starting in 1937. It has aided in the preservation of more than 7 million acres since then.

Tickets are $65 each and include dinner and participation in the silent auction, along with several drawings for prizes and a one-year membership. Information: [phone].

Powerboat Grand Prix: More than 35 West Coast teams will race in the 1997 Offshore Powerboat Grand Prix along the Ventura coastline Sunday, with a festival at Ventura Harbor Village Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The course runs from south of the Ventura Harbor to north of the Ventura Pier, and there are several ideal viewing areas where onlookers can see boats racing at speeds up to 100 mph over the 7-mile course.

Racing fans may also view the boats up close in the wet pits and check out vendor booths and displays on the Village lawn. The first race begins at 11:00 a.m. Sunday. Admission is $2 for adults; children 12 and younger are admitted free. Information: [phone] or [phone].

Rock'n Roll: The Hard Rock Cafe and the city of West Hollywood will sponsor the 13th annual Rock'n Roll run Sunday at West Hollywood Park, 720 N. San Vicente Blvd..

Donations raised in the 5K walk and 10K run will go toward Project Angel Food, which prepares and delivers more than 800 hot meals daily to persons with AIDS; The Foundation House Transition Group, which assists homeless men and women in the transition from the streets to an independent life; and OASIS, a cooperative effort dedicated to creating opportunities for older adults in the arts, humanities, health promotion and community service.

The 5K walk begins at 8:00 a.m., followed by the 10K run at 9:00. Information: [phone].