I just heard that the 250,000 baby chinook may not be released in Bodega Bay this year due to concerns from some local environmental groups. I haven't got any independent confirmation on that but from my experience it sounds pretty believable. Apparently, the concerns are that a few of the released chinook may end up spawning in Lagunitas Creek, an important breeding spot for cohos. From what I read, they've already had a few chinook spawning in the creek. What kills me is that, if the creek had the ideal conditions for chinook it would already be full of chinook. They would have colonized it years ago. Sometimes salmon don't return to the same place from which they were spawned. That's why they live in more than one river. Successful species have a bit of a bit of fudge factor built into their programming to compensate for change. If they returned to only one river and that river was fouled by a volcano or landslide, bye-bye fishies. It's why chinooks spend one to eight years in the ocean instead of a fixed three year tour. They will go where the conditions allow, and if the conditions change to allow it, they'll be there, whether they were hatchery raised and released in a bay or naturally spawned in a river.
I hope I just have some bad info, though.
This just in: If you know the owner of this weather buoy (BBML, I'm looking at you) please contact us at Lawson's Landing (707)878-2443 to arrange pickup. We're kinda scared to move it since it looks expensive.
The Marine Lab said to haul it up, so we did. Apparently everybody likes coming to the Landing to relax.
Maybe someone at Lawson's can contact the Coast Guard about the buoy? Most likely some one has.
ReplyDeleteMarine Lab informed.
ReplyDeleteThat explains the recent screwy weather reports! :)
ReplyDeleteNow we have something new to bitch about... thank god!
Peace, love and harmony to all fishermen!
Please, somebody stir the pot. You dorks were entertaining to check in on every day or so. Willy can probably benefit with the increase in sight traffic.
ReplyDeleteIf they don't release those 250k babies then I'm going to use this as an excuse for any skunks over the next 5 years.
ReplyDelete"Man if they'd've just ignored the envirowhackos and released those smolts, we'd prolly have 3 in the box by now!"
You have not heard wrong. The Lagunitas Creek Technical Advisory Committee has "opposed" the release, citing concerns that hatchery released fish will compete with wild Coho in Lagunitas Creek for spawning habitat. Whether at this point they want to stop the release all together, I do not know. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they tried.
ReplyDeleteOutlaw
Buoy retrieved, Marine Lab informed, happiness all the way around.
ReplyDeleteHey Willy, How's the butt scene out there?
ReplyDeleteI hope you're asking about halibut. If so, it isn't very good. I've only heard of one short and one keeper in the last month. If anyone else knows more I hope they chip in. Last year around this time there were a few showing in Bodega Bay harbor. If you are asking about a different scene I can't help you....
ReplyDeleteYou have the right scene, thanks. lol
ReplyDeleteSome action out at the Alameda Rock Wall.
FYI if you want net pens call gregory andrews fishery biologist with marin municipal water dept. Lets bombard them with hate mail and harassing phone calls. 415 945 1191
ReplyDeleteWe drifted for hours a few days ago from Hog almost to The Bar and for nuthin! I'd of thought the Halibut would be in by now, maybe the cold water from the upwelling is keeping them away. Willy?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the cold water is definitely a factor as you move toward the mouth of the bay. The outer bay water is about 49º but the water behind Hog (South) is pushing 62º. The water inside should be plenty warm for halibut to bite if there's any around. There's a theory that they follow schools of bait into the bay but I haven't seen or heard of any bait schools passing by, so...? I'm going to guess, in the absence of school bait, the best bet would be to work the edges of the eelgrass beds closer to Hog. There may be a flatty trying for a shiner laying in there.
ReplyDeleteThings in this state get screwier by the day...our, once thriving, King Salmon fishery is on the verge of collapse....a group of concerned anglers get together and donate 1000's of hours and who knows how many $$ to establish a viable means of aiding in Ki g Salmon restoration...and what happens, they get a big stop sign thrown up in front of them by a group of environmentally concerned citizens...I can empathize with the concerns of the Lagunitas group, but don't quite understand why....are they absolutely positive that the Chinooks 'may' encroach on the Coho? Do the Chinook and Coho spawn at the same time? Numerous streams on the Oregon and Washington coast support both Chinook and Coho...meanwhile, amidst all of the uncertainty of the planned Chinook Smolt release, this state has a clown sitting in the governors chair, that has claimed numerous times to be a champion for the environment....what does he do? He turns his back on the Northern California environment, and the salmon industry, by endorsing the Delta Tunnel fiasco, and guaranteeing Cent. Valley farmers they'll get all the water they want, in spite of the impending collapse of California's Chinook Salmon.....
ReplyDeleteOne last thought....why did the group from Lagunitas wait until the last minute to express their concerns? This event has been in the planning stages for some time now.....this is the frustrating and almost maddening thing with 'environmentally concerned' groups...it seems that the always wait till the last minute to state their concerns...
ReplyDeleteWho are the Lagunitas Creek technical advisory? History, names, how did they form this organization?
ReplyDeleteThey formed the same way the multitude of organizations, coalitions and "friends of" groups form out here. A few people with a lot of time and money get together, undoubtedly over wine, probably one or more of them is or has been an attorney, they find something they don't like happening in the community, and they decide they are going to challenge, stop or change it. Tomales Bay itself is beholding to no less than 9 organizations claiming some sort of jurisdiction over some part of the bay. Numbers? Recently over 290 Coho redds were counted in Lagunitas Creek. How many Chinook redds? 2. That's two, mind ya. The Advisory "advises" the MMWD. The members include reps from the NPS and Farralones Marine Sanctuary. They have requested a full environmental review. All they have to do is convince the MMWD and Fish and Wildlife (and maybe a judge) that the review MUST be completed before the release can happen.
ReplyDeleteDepartment of fish and wackos just uthenized 250,000 smolt from a pump failure. Its such a shame people cant use there power to do something positive. Funny how marin municipal water wont return my call.
ReplyDeleteJust show up to their office ab fish, call em googones, and be as annoying as you generally are. Yea...I'm sure that'll work!
ReplyDelete