Aside from some crab in the bay and a very few surfperch there's not much catching to report on. It sounds like the herring spawned in Richardson Bay last weekend but I haven't heard about a spawn here in Tomales Bay.
On February 21 the California Fish and Game Commission will consider rules about using hand-operated water pumps for clams. Here's what those pumps look like:
Their use is at least a two-person operation with one person operating the pump and another laying down using the "wand" to liquefy the sand over and around a clam and allow the clammer to reach into the sand and pull out the clam. It isn't quite as easy as it sounds but it is quicker than digging a hole. The water intake on the bottom of the pump requires it to be used in the water, so actually having the clam beds submerged by 4 inches to a foot of water is a necessity. Many of the days that don't have tides low enough to dig a clam have tides low enough to pump clams. That, to me, is the biggest problem. The clams get hit pretty hard by shovel-wielding clammers but the tides low enough to dig clams only happen on maybe 160 days per year. How many clams will be left if everyone can get clams 300 days per year? It seems to me that a gear restriction or a season would be a good thing for all of us. If you feel strongly about it, either way, send your comments to:
- E-mail to fgc@fgc.ca.gov
- Mail to California Fish and Game Commission, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
Also on February 21 there is a petition to shorten the grunion season and place a limit of ten on them. I only know of a couple of guys that get grunion up here, but wrybread, please note that the proposed closed season here would only include the months in which you could actually get a grunion. The rest of the year is wide open.
26 comments:
More restrictions for California sportsmen. Just wait for it. Wait until we need to have a stamp ($$$) for crabbing and then clamming. Sad
Nice how that picture of the targeted pump is right next to a DFW warden truck. Almost every poacher I have seen ticketed has had multiple water pumps in their possession, in addition to multiple over-limits of clams. Most wardens confiscate the pumps as well. I will be sending emails. I want them gone.
Outlaw
Any idea how this rule on these water pumps will effect the use of a shrimp pump for clams?
Not at this time. The rules have yet to be written, if they write them at all. Helpful public comment can assist in directing, however. A few years back the rules changed on crab nets with two definitions added to the law. Those definitions were made by CDFW working with net manufacturers and public input. They're actually pretty good. Unless you have a Crab Hawk.
The effect on shrimp pumps will be in how the commission defines "hand operated pump".
Outlaw
Outlaw
You got a keen eye.
So does DFW pay to enter the landing or what?
Nope. Not sure we could tell them no and don't want to, either. Off duty, we charge them.
Got it. They only get in free if they are working for ya. That's the way I remember y'all doin things. Remember Chief?
The hornet
Sting
Green hornet
I'll be back.
Punch cards for salmon and crab is a good idea.
Blogger Local legend said...
Punch cards for salmon and crab is a good idea.
And why do you say that? Please explain.
i need to get about 5 rivets on my boat replaced. Anyone recommend a place to bring it? Thanks
Information purposes, so sport and commercial landings are recorded. It will help dfw more effectively manage seasons with more realistic abundance figures.
Why would a punch card for legal Dungeness matter if they take all of the legal males out of the ecosystem every year?
Chief
You think all the legal crab are taken? That would be wrong. My traps had 11-14 crab per trap yesterday. All big clean comm grade to jumbos. It would be a good source of dfg revenue to create more warden positions.
Local legend them crab in the bay?
Outside bodega bay.....How much rope you got?
Thanks ll, 100 ft I was looking to see if the crab and was any good at Tomales but thanks for the report on Bodega
The season is not over. The size limit is designed to let the five and a half inch males spawn with the females. There is no quota of legal Dungeness.
I thought I would give a report from Pyramid Lake NV. The fly fishing has been awesome this winter, the biggest out of the group I fish with is 15# with a couple more good months to go!
I just got home from fishing Thursday threw Saturday and had a 25 or so fish couple days!
Check out Pyramid fly company website sit to see some of these amazing Cutthroats, all caught from shore on flys.
When it slows down on the coast it picks up in the desert.
It's pretty warm, any cali hali yet?
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