Friday, March 8, 2013

Still a few Dungeness coming in on the pier and anywhere from two crabs to two limits of crab caught across the bay in the "Marker 5 hole." Currently, there is a quarantine in effect on clams, mussels, and cockles in Marin County due to paralytic shellfish poisoning so plan your clamming trips for another time. We have collected a clam sample for testing by the State, so we should know for certain about our clams pretty soon.  Also, today the wind was really bad. After noon we refused to launch any boats due to the dangerous conditions. Several boats launched anyhow, safety and possible poisonous food notwithstanding. One of the boats ended up flipped over in the channel between Clam and Seal Islands. A true gentleman that was clamming nearby responded quickly and was able to rescue the boat operator. The too-small-of-boat was left behind. Upon his arrival back on the mainland the gentleman was called names by the person he saved and his group because he refused to retrieve the boat. For the record, sir, you saved the one guy's life twice and his two buddies' lives once because they weren't able to get back into their suicide craft.

8 comments:

Tomales Outlaw said...

There is no quarrantine. Only an "advisory" from the State Health Dept. And that was on mussels tested "from Marin County." That leaves a lot of latitude. The report stated that clams and scallops from this area "may" also carry higher than normal levels of toxins. Dug 70 or so cockles last Saturday. We ate em all and no tingly lips or fingers or difficulty swallowing. I do strongly advise that people strictly adhere to this warning however and do not under any circumstances attempt to harvest any shellfish until the government says it's ok for you to do so.

Outlaw

Anonymous said...

We were hoping to go clamming tomorrow.. this is extremely upsetting

Anonymous said...

What's upsetting is the fact that people don't understand the rules of the ocean. This is an incredibly dangerous area, and you're lucky if you survive your own ignorance. If there is a red tide making shellfish even slightly more toxic, do something else. It is a beautiful place with plenty of rewarding activities. Enjoy yourself.

Tomales Outlaw said...

I did enjoy myself. Nothing said about a red tide, just that "some mussels from Marin County" were recently tested and contained higher than usual levels of PSP. That is saying that they ALL contain SOME levels of PSP at ALL times. Keep listening to the government and the media, and soon enough you'll be eating grass pellet food subsidized by the feds. They want us all as vegetarians.

Nuff Said!!

Outlaw

Anonymous said...

I am curious what kind of boat it was that sank.

Anonymous said...

It was a 10' St Johns bay pram w/4hp ob.the boat was rated for 400lb max. The wind was blowing about 25 knots. Had 3 grown men and clamming gear. Under any conditions it was seriously overloaded.

I'm the gentleman

Willy Vogler said...

It's about time we had a gentleman on here.

Anonymous said...

Wow! That is a tiny boat for three guys...I have a 15 footer and I will only go out with one other person.