California oil spill: Surfing, swimming OK but fishing out

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Four weeks after an oil spill washed blobs of crude onto Southern California's coast, surfers have returned to the waves and people play in the surf.

But fishermen still can't drop lines in the same waters.

California has prohibited fishing in an area that ranges about 6 to 12 miles (9.7 to 19.3 kilometers) off the shores of Orange County since an undersea pipeline leaked at least about 25,000 gallons (94,635 liters) of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean.

State environmental health experts are conducting studies to determine whether shellfish and fish are safe for human consumption — a process expected to take weeks or longer.

Scott Breneman, owner of West Caught Fish, said he still fishes for tuna and black cod well beyond the prohibited area. He said he's been able to keep selling his catch to restaurants but customers aren't buying like they usually do at a popular Newport Beach fish market because of concerns about the state fishing ban.

“People assume that local fish is contaminated, and we're fishing like 90 miles (145 kilometers) off the beach here, a long ways away,” Breneman said, adding that he's heading out fishing about half as much as usual. “I don't want to take the resource when I can't sell it.”

While life along the coast is returning to normal, commercial fishermen and charter operators have been hit especially hard by the closures. Some have joined lawsuits against pipeline owner Amplify Energy of Houston and say their biggest fear is that the spill's stigma will drive away tourists even after the oily tar that washed up on the beaches is long gone.

Eric Zelien, owner of EZ Sportfishing in Huntington Beach, said clients have cancelled fishing trips even though there are plenty of areas where fishing is allowed. Instead of running daily trips, he's now...