OCEANSIDE —- Despite opposition from a San Diego activist, a local nudism club plans to proceed with a nude whale-watching trip out of Oceanside Harbor.

Brian Spence, owner of Naturally California, the San Diego-based nudist club that has chartered a Helgren's Sportfishing boat for March 20, said Friday that the trip is still in the works.

"I'm a business person and my business will continue," Spence said.

Naturally California has come under fire from Hillcrest-based activist James Hartline who recently sent a mass e-mail to North County churches and media deriding the organization for planning the event.

Hartline said Friday that he opposes the group's trip because its past events have included nude adults and children.

"We will continue to make a public outcry to make everyone in San Diego County aware of this," Hartline said.

Spence said that while children could come along, that will not happen on this trip.

Hartline countered that he has seen pictures of naked children at other Naturally California events posted to the group's Web site.

"That is not the traditional position of their group," Hartline said. "He may be stating that children will not be there, but that is a purely political statement."

Don Surowiec, a manager at Helgren's Sportfishing, declined to discuss the trip.

"We're just not making any comments," Surowiec said. "The group that is protesting has no right to do so."

Hartline said he has filed complaints with the Oceanside Police Department, the Harbor Police and individual city council members. It was unclear late Friday whether the city will get involved in the event.

A Naturally California flier advertising the event advises all participants to keep their clothes on until after the charter boat is far enough out to sea to be immune from city bans on public nudity.

Hartline has pressured other businesses to cancel Naturally California events in North County.

The nudist group had held swimming parties at the Iceoplex in Escondido for the last five years. But that arrangement ended suddenly after Hartline complained to Escondido Councilwoman Marie Waldron in late February.

Police officials said in February they had no evidence of criminal activity occurring during the parties at the Iceoplex.

Spence said that, since Naturally California has been in the headlines, he has had universal public support —- other than from Hartline.

"We are involved in wholesome nude recreation," Spence said.

He noted that there is no law against being nude on a boat outside city limits. He said that, since he has received so much publicity for the Iceoplex event the whale-watching trip has become more popular.

"I can't sell memberships fast enough," he said. "I've got a line of people standing at my door."

Naturally California is affiliated with the American Association of Nude Recreation, which claims 50,000 members across the country.

Contact staff writer Paul Sisson at (760) 901-4087 or psisson@nctimes.com.