The history of Catalina Island’s Tuna Club is legendary. World-record catches of big-game fish, famous members, and concerns about conservation encompassed the original charter of the club.
The history of Catalina Island’s Tuna Club is legendary. World-record catches of big-game fish, famous members, and concerns about conservation encompassed the original charter of the club.
One day each year the Tuna Club’s historic clubhouse opens its doors to the public.
Only 10 tickets were still available at press time.
All proceeds directly benefit the day-to-day operations of the Catalina Island Museum.
This year’s experience takes place Saturday, Aug. 1, with Rock Gosselin and Bart Glass, lifelong fishermen, Avalon residents and active members of the Tuna Club, conducting the tours.
Its clubhouse features a unique display of artifacts, trophies and photographs, which document the birth of big-game fishing and the first rod and reel catches of tuna, marlin and broadbill swordfish. Founded in 1898, the Tuna Club and its members have been advocates for the strict conservation of the waters surrounding Catalina Island for well over one hundred years.
Its history is riddled with angling milestones, colorful stories, famous members and impressive guests.
Movie directors Hal Roach and Cecil B. DeMille belonged to the club. Other members included actors Stan Laurel, Tom Mix, Charlie Chaplin and Bing Crosby. General George S. Patton was a guest, as were a number of U.S. Presidents.
Best known for his popular novels of the 1920s, Zane Grey often wrote about his adventures fishing in exotic locations around the world.
He was concerned about conservation, and the Tuna Club on Catalina Island was a perfect fit. He was a boisterous member, who loved to regale other members with the details of his catches.
In 1920 he caught a 418-pound broadbill swordfish—a real trophy and the largest catch of the season thus far. His record stood until the wife of the club’s president decided to try her hand at broadbill fishing and quickly brought in a swordfish two pounds heavier than Grey’s catch.
Grey was suspicious and announced publicly that such a petite lady could not have reeled in the fish without help—a clear breach of club rules.
Arguments ensued and considerable tension invaded the normally gentlemanly atmosphere of the clubhouse.
Grey was asked to either apologize to the lady or submit his resignation. He did both.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was an avid reader of the battles taking place between angler and fish off the coast of Catalina Island.
In 1929 he arrived at the club ready for combat. The trip went perfectly.
With the uncanny luck that Churchill enjoyed throughout his life, he hooked a large marlin within 20 minutes of leaving the shore.
The fish put on an acrobatic display but soon gave up. It was inexplicable.
By the time Churchill returned to the clubhouse, the entire trip had taken less than two hours.
The future Prime Minister was bewildered, and announced over drinks that he couldn’t understand all the fuss about a sport that was over so quickly and seemed so effortless. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience the birthplace of sport fishing. The Tuna Club Experience is offered at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1. Only 10 tickets are available.
Tickets are $30 for members of the museum—a savings of 15 percent—and general admission tickets are $35.
Experience the sportsmanship. The museum, its digital theater and store are located on the ground floor of Avalon’s historic Casino and are open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call the museum at 310-510-2414 or visit CatalinaMuseum.org.
