Larry Nies and Ed Parsons on the Shut Up and Fish returned with limits to 24.5 pounds. When asked where he caught them, Ed would only say, "We were all by ourselves." The water is much nicer than predicted, at least so far today.

The long-nosed lancetfish aren't the only inedible critters to wash up on the beach. This dead California gray whale washed up here after being towed out of the back bay by the Bodega Bay Marine Lab vessel, the Mussel Point. Apparently it was too stinky for the folks that live back there, but just right for us. They took a few samples before it was released to drift, as can be seen in the picture. Since this photo was taken a "whale autopsy technician" returned and disassembled the beast, making it less photogenic but slightly more aromatic. Great timing for a heat wave.