OUTPOST.

Byline: Daily News

Bizarre tail: A pair of deckhands readying a Long Beach vessel for a whale-watching trip on Saturday morning got a thrill after spotting what they thought was a shark swimming around the dock.

When the denizen vaulted toward the boat's stern, the men gaffed what turned out to be a 93-pound yellowfin tuna. No hook, no line, no sinker.

"It was weird, a once in a lifetime occurrence," said T.K. Lawson of Redondo Beach, who had help from Upland's Barron Matlock aboard the Aztec out of Long Beach Sportfishing. "We're like, 'This didn't happen.' "

Bass master: When 17-year-old Bryan Haley of Ventura hooked into a huge Castaic Lake largemouth bass Feb. 17, he become the California leader in the national Plano Big Bass Junior Championship.

The fish, boated on a Castaic Lure, measured 25-1/4 inches in length and 21-1/2 inches in girth - the criteria used for the contest.

If Haley holds the top spot through Aug. 15, he will be California's champion, earn $250 and be eligible to win a $10,000 college scholarship.

Anglers ages 10 to 17 can enter the contest. Information: call [phone].

Street luging: The second event in the 1996 international Luge Road Racing series will be held Saturday in Castaic.

In street luging participants fly down steep, windy pavement atop skateboard-like vehicles at speeds of 65 to 75 mph.

The Castaic time trials will pit 40 racers, or pilots, against the clock and a mile-long course that consists of eight turns. Top finishers will qualify for the series championship, dubbed the X Games, to be held in Providence, R.I. this June.

The Castaic times trials will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; practice runs take place before and after.

To reach the event, take the Golden State Freeway (5) north, exit at Lake Hughes Road and turn right. Turn left at Ridge Route Road, and follow signs to the race track. Parking costs $6. Information: call the Road Racers Association for International Luge at [phone].

Rod and reel show: Representatives from a dozen rod and reel manufacturers will demonstrate their new line of gear Saturday at Fishermen's Spot, 14423 Burbank Blvd., Van Nuys.

The fly-fishing tackle demonstration, along with casting instruction, will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: [phone].

Fisherwomen's class: Maggie Merriman, a nationally renowned fly-fishing author and instructor, is teaching the class "Women's Introduction to Fly-fishing" Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Wildwood Park in San Bernardino. The cost is $30; preregistration is necessary. For more information and directions, contact Lou Fawley at [phone].

Talking turkey: Turner's Outdoorsman stores are hosting two free turkey hunting seminars this month that will cover all aspects of hunting the big birds, including scouting, calling, use of decoys and field care. Jimmy Rizzo, a turkey-hunting product representative, will conduct both seminars, assisted by Department of Fish and Game staff.

The first seminar is 2 p.m. Saturday at Turner's, 18808 S. Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley. Seating is limited to the first 85 people who register by calling the store at [phone].

The second, which had an attendance of 200 last year, will be held 10 a.m. March 16, at Raahauge's Shotgun Sports Sporting Clays range in Norco. For more information, call [phone].

Salmon seminar: To mark the opening of salmon season, the fifth annual free Salmon Fishing Seminar will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 15 at the Morro Bay Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay.

Speakers will discuss various gear, techniques and updates on new salmon fishing laws. Salmon season opened Saturday.

For further details, call event sponsor Virg's Landing at [phone].

Derby time: The annual Blake Jones Trout Derby will be held Saturday in Bishop, with more than $500 worth of fishing gear to be awarded to the angler catching the trout nearest in size to a secret "blind bogey" weigRht.

The entry fee is $5 for adults, $1 for children. Pleasant Valley Reservoir, 7 miles north of Bishop, will be stocked with Alpers' rainbows prior to the derby. There will also be kid's fishing seminars at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

For more information, contact the Bishop Chamber of Commerce at [phone].

Bully for you: The third stop of the Wrangler Bull Riders Only series will buck of the chutes at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Long Beach Arena, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach.

Cowboys will vie for a $25,000 payout by taking wild 8-second rides atop the ornery bovine. Watch for the unenvious rider who draws Grasshopper, the unpredictable 1,800-pound "Cadillac of bulls" with a buck-off rate of 98 percent.

Tickets are available at the arena box office and all Ticketmaster outlets.

Ski report: Bear Mountain - 2 to 3 inches new powder, 25- to 54-inch base, 35 trails, eight lifts, 99 percent open; Mountain High - 2 to 3 inches new snow, 36- to 60-inch base, six lifts; Mount Baldy - 3 to 6 inches new packed powder, 18- to 30-inch base, four lifts; Snow Summit - packed powder, 18- to 42-inch base, 32 trails, 11 lifts, 100 percent open; Snow Valley - packed powder, 30- to 52-inch base, 22 trails, seven lifts; Heavenly - 24 inches new packed powder, 84- to 144-inch base, 79 trails, 22 lifts, 100 percent open; Kirkwood - 34 to 36 inches new powder, 168- to 264-inch base, five lifts, 50 percent open; Mammoth Mountain - 18 to 24 inches new powder, 114- to 180-inch base, 150 trails, 16 lifts, 100 percent open; Squaw Valley - 24 to 36 new powder, 96- to 216-inch base, 15 lifts, 100 percent open.