Avalon in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Leaping Tuna
— Thunnus Thynnus or Bluefin Tuna —
Photographed By Wyndfire, November 15, 2011
1. The Leaping Tuna Marker
Inscription.
The Leaping Tuna. . The sport of big game fishing originated in Avalon when Charles Frederick Holder caught a 183 pound Blue Fin Tuna with sport fish tackle on June 1, 1898. This angling milestone inspired him to form the Tuna Club of Santa Catalina Island, an organization dedicated to promoting conservation of our marine recourses and good sportsmanship among anglers. It was once common for vast schools of tuna to arrive in early summer within view of the island, often amazing onlookers with their ability to make spectacular leaps after flying fish. This bronze is titled “Leaping Tuna”, to honor the great game fish and to commemorate the Tuna Club’s “Centennial Years”. The base is in the outline of Santa Catalina Island, with a stripped Marlin on the upper portion in recognition of it being caught here first in 1903, and the Broadbill Swordfish below it symbolizes the worlds earliest sportfishing capture of that species in 1913.
The sport of big game fishing originated in Avalon when Charles Frederick Holder caught a 183 pound Blue Fin Tuna with sport fish tackle on June 1, 1898. This angling milestone inspired him to form the Tuna Club of Santa Catalina Island, an organization dedicated to promoting conservation of our marine recourses and good sportsmanship among anglers. It was once common for vast schools of tuna to arrive in early summer within view of the island, often amazing onlookers with their ability to make spectacular leaps after flying fish. This bronze is titled “Leaping Tuna”, to honor the great game fish and to commemorate the Tuna Club’s “Centennial Years”. The base is in the outline of Santa Catalina Island, with a stripped Marlin on the upper portion in recognition of it being caught here first in 1903, and the Broadbill Swordfish below it symbolizes the worlds earliest sportfishing capture of that species in 1913.
Erected 1998 by artist Joseph Quillan.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is June 1, 1898.
Location. 33° 20.747′ N, 118° 19.626′ W. Marker is in Avalon, California, in Los Angeles County. Marker is on Saint Catherine Way north of Crescent Avenue, on the right when
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traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 St Catherine Way, Avalon CA 90704, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Bronze statue outside of the Tuna Club, dedicated to the club's founder.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2011, by Jennifer W. of Las Cruces, New Mexico. This page has been viewed 1,106 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 20, 2011, by Jennifer W. of Las Cruces, New Mexico. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
