Big winds yesterday and huge swells today made crabbing difficult from a boat on this end of the bay. One large wave set broke all the way down the bar in the middle of the bay, about five feet high. Awesome. A bit scary if you were in one of the small boats crabbing very near there. Nor enough to make them quit, but enough to get their attention for sure. They may have had to unpucker their undergarments. I would have needed it. Breakers down the middle of a "protected" bay mean bad things are running amok. Pucker time. We ended up with a little water in the store (a gallon? Maybe?) because I didn't close the door fast enough when a surge came in. I figured it out for the next ones. Here's a slightly after photo of the beach:

   About an hour's work with rakes and a tractor cleared it up. Ready for tomorrow's tide! Blank canvas prepared. After watching the evening news, I have to say, not much here to see. We  got off easy. This has happened here since well before I was born and it will continue. Life at the beach. Get ready for change. 

   I was sent some video of a tiny boat with two guys aboard sinking while crabbing off of Doran Beach. A guy in a tiny inflatable saved them. I couldn't get the video to load, unfortunately, or I'd show you, too. Thank you, Steve Humphrey, but I couldn't get Blogger to load it. It was good, and I'm sorry for all of us. If you read this and you were one of the guys, lawsonslanding@gmail.com, please and let us know what happened. Anonymity is part of the package, especially if your info can help other people to make better decisions. Kudos, in that case.

   So, the weather has been rough. The crabbing, better, when you can actually crab. Shore snare guys were catching today. Not many, but some short action among the seaweed. And there was a lot of seaweed. I should bold "a lot" but I won't because I'm lazy. 

   In other news, crabbing inside Tomales Bay has been mostly meh. Outside, better, but Ten Mile has been better and outer bay, not so much.  There's more happiness near Point Reyes, but the outer bay has had some quick limits for the lucky and good.. 

  The big tides here now, the bad ones around the full moon, are making crabbing difficult. As the tides have increased the catch has decreased, for most. The ones that work their gear smartly around the tide changes (inside the bay) have done very well, but everyone around mid-tide have had a hard time. Getting out of the bay has been even harder with the big swell. Breakers suck.

    Also, Merry Christmas! Or, happy whatever solstice holiday you prefer. May you all get the fishing gear that you've wished for, and may the fish act the way you dream of them while you use that new gear. Except that I catch one more.

    The CDFW has spoken, and commercial crab will open, but only above Point Arena and not until January 5. Here in Area 3, no commercial fishing and no traps yet. Maybe next month. We still have hundreds of pelicans feeding here and 57º+ water just offshore, so conditions now seem like there wight still be quite a bit of food out there, and whales, like any heavyset mammal, really like their food. They may not be leaving if there's still food on the table. But, all it takes is a few days of west wind and all bets are off. El Nino is pretty tough, but probably not as tough as our northwest wind. If the Nino dude lets it blow. I guess we'll find out later. 

     The crabbing inside Tomales Bay has been.....challenging, but I can't say it's bad. Most guys in boats are catching a few and some guys are still limiting out, mostly in the channel across from the Landing and south for a mile or so. Some jockeying around within that general area is necessary, and where a guy caught a bunch one day may not produce the next day. Fish have fins and crabs have legs, and they use them, but the crabs usually can't go quite as far as fast as the finned ones. Patience, calculated movement and good bait are the keys. Shore guys are getting a few with snares but going over limit really hasn't been a consideration. Outer bay inside the reef has been mostly slow with good spots. Outside of the reef is better, but deeper, and again, there's places you can't yet drop a net. If you're not aware, click that link. 

     Mixed reviews from inside Tomales Bay. A few guys have done very, very well, and many others have only scratched up a few Dungeness. My guess is that it means that the right bait in the right place at the right time, while always important, is even more so now. The guys that are catching are dropping nets very close to the guys that aren't, yet somehow their hoops have more crab. Squid and rockfish heads seem to be good, but the right spot is even more key. The bite has also been better around the turn of the tide, unsurprisingly, as the ripping tides we have the rest of the day aren't good for much but losing gear. But, those currents are REALLY good at gear theft.  Even if you weight your hoop enough to stay put in the current, the buoys can sink under, and even better, the dunes in the channel can drift over your hoop and bury it. Stick to the slower water, where ever and whenever that might be. Speed kills. Outside of Tomales Bay proper, the outer bay has mostly been slow but a guy yesterday caught 60 crab in less than two hours. So there's crab, but you probably won't catch them. Ten Mile has been similar with a better minimum catch but not a consistent good result. It's mostly just okay. But often okay is good enough. Actually, that's the definition, isn't it?

   Also, a report from nearby: "Hi Willy:

Monday I was at the west side of Bodeqa Bay Harbor entrance snare crabbing. There were about 15 lines in the water and for the 1.5 hours I was there only 1 small (and kept) rock crab was pulled in.

At noon on Tuesday, I checked out he south side (Doran Beach Park) of the harbor entrance. About 20 shore based rigs were in the water. A fellow said he had 1 keeper and didn't see any others caught. Most were pulling in tons of sea weed. And the bank was littered with piles of seaweed.

Near that spot, there were several kayakers crabbing not far off the beach. They were having success.

While crabbing on the west side, I met a very nice fellow named Darin who said he fishes lots for stripers and snare crabs at Lawson's. I wish I had gotten his email/text. But he left before I thought of getting it. He said he was a contractor and living in Sebastopol. By chance do you know of him? . If so, I would sure like to connect with him.

Best,

Ron." I don't have his contact info, Ron, but if he emails me at lawsonslanding@gmail.com I will forward it to you. Your report reminds me of the title of a Cheech and Chong movie: Things Are Tough All Over. But, unlike in the movie, there are some Dungeness out there if you are lucky, smart and determined. And lucky. 

 

I was sent this picture this morning, asking "Whatcha think of this?" Then I saw this: "CDFW is seeking public review of a proposed 20-fathom Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) boundary line. The proposed line will allow commercial and recreational groundfish fishing in shallow waters, providing access to most nearshore rockfish while also minimizing catch and release of quillback rockfish, which may not be retained in California as of 2023.

The Draft Groundfish Management Boundaries web page provides access to a zoomable map with the proposed 20-fathom RCA boundary line, and instructions on how to provide comments. The comment period is open until Saturday December 23, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

An RCA line is a series of individual waypoints defined by latitude and longitude. When connected, the waypoints create a boundary line that approximates a specific depth contour.  The proposed RCA boundary line will extend over waters that are both shallower and deeper than 20 fathoms, but should generally approximate that depth.

This 20-fathom RCA boundary line will be implemented through upcoming state rulemaking in anticipation of new 2024 recreational and commercial regulations being developed for groundfish fisheries. While the proposed boundary line is being developed statewide, it will likely be implemented in Groundfish Management Areas where quillback rockfish most commonly occur.

Currently, the shallowest available RCA boundary line off California is the federal 30-fathom RCA boundary line. The new, proposed 20-fathom RCA boundary line for state regulations has been developed so that it does not cross or intersect with the federal 30-fathom boundary line.

CDFW is asking recreational anglers and commercial fishermen to review and recommend any needed revisions to waypoints that could provide access to shallow nearshore fishing grounds while also generally approximating the 20-fathom depth contour. The waypoints for the proposed 20-fathom RCA boundary line must also fall entirely within state waters (which is depicted in the map viewer). It is also desirable to have fewer waypoints to reduce regulatory complexity and increase ease of use.

Your review and input concerning this proposed line is very much appreciated. With feedback from the fishing community, CDFW hopes the new 20-fathom RCA boundary line will allow commercial and recreational groundfish fishing in shallower waters in the new year."

   So, what do I think? If it gives us a nearshore season, I'm for it. Anybody that boohoos about it must be too young to remember when we could only fish in 120 feet of water or less. It wasn't that long ago. This millennium. It sucked, but not fishing sucks more (ask a salmon fisherman). So, I'm for it, if it means I get to fish. I found a few spots way back when, and I can work them again. Will it suck? Yes. Will it suck and still be better than not fishing? Yes, yes, yes. There's places where you can catch inside of 120 feet. It takes some searching and effort. Probably you'll only catch a few. But it's better than sitting on a couch.

 I didn't post yesterday when these came out, but since nothing changes here, I didn't feel the need to post, post Christmas party. My posts are barely coherent as it is, no reason to push the envelope to reinforce the same-old, same-old. So, now, here's the info that's nothing new to us: "

Media Contacts: Ryan Bartling, CDFW Marine Region, (415) 238-2638 Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352

CDFW Continues Partial Recreational Crab Trap Restriction and Delays Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Due to Entanglement Risk The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is continuing the temporary recreational crab trap restriction from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to Lopez Point, Monterey County, (Fishing Zones 3 and 4) due to the presence of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement of humpback whales and leatherback sea turtles with trap gear. The recreational trap restriction will be in effect until at least the next risk assessment. The temporary trap restriction currently in effect in Fishing Zone 1 (Cape Mendocino to the Oregon state line) will be lifted at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at which time the use of recreational crab traps in Fishing Zones 1, 2, 5 and 6 will be allowed. A Fleet Advisory remains in effect for the recreational fishery for all Fishing Zones (1-6). CDFW reminds recreational crabbers that take of Dungeness crab by other methods, including hoop nets and crab snares, is allowed during a temporary trap restriction. CDFW also encourages recreational crabbers to implement best practices, as described in the Best Practices Guide. The commercial Dungeness crab fishery in all Fishing Zones (1-6) will remain delayed due to high numbers of humpback whales and a recent confirmed entanglement of a leatherback sea turtle in commercial Dungeness crab fishing gear lost in a previous season. CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment will take place on or around Dec. 21, 2023, at which time Director Charlton H. Bonham will re-evaluate available data to inform the potential for a commercial fishery opener and modification of the recreational trap restriction. For more information related to the risk assessment process, please visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page. For more information on the Dungeness crab fishery, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/crab. ###

Persons with disabilities needing reasonable accommodation to participate in public meetings or other CDFW activities are invited to contact CDFW's Accessibility Coordinator in the EEO Office at (916) 902-9097, or send an email to EEO@wildlife.ca.gov. Reasonable Accommodation requests for facility and/or meeting accessibility should be received at least 21 days prior to the event. Requests for American Sign Language Interpreters should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event, and requests for Real-Time Captioning at least four weeks prior to the event. These timeframes are to help ensure that the requested accommodation is met. If a request for an accommodation has been submitted but due to circumstances is no longer needed, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator immediately.

" So, no traps, and no way for commercial guys to pay their bills. Got it. Situation normal. Message received. Thank your deity of choice for conicals, as without them our crabbing would suck. Hard. I've tried both kinds of hoops, head to head, and the ones that Promar lobbied for, the conicals, really work better. Thanks, guys. 

  Also, a bit back, I mentioned that there was a salmon caught in San Diego in  a river. A river in San Diego? I think I said. Anyhoo, this : "

" Not proof, but social media, so.... make your own decision. Along with the reports of excessive fish in every river (save the one that counts. How weird?} it seems plausible. Just know that the sea will be swarming with salmon next year, built for you to catch them,  but because of...... reasons, natural fish are pretty much extinct, so the ones that were made for you to catch will still be off limits, and there's lots of them. LOTS. Makes perfect sense. Anyways, halibut! Who's ready for next year? 

Dammit.

 Only a couple of crabbers today, but inside the bay beat outside. Just as well, as the bar was not too cool today with many breakers in the afternoon. I saw one jumbo Dungeness caught off of the shore in front of the Boathouse this morning, but from the way all of the other crabbers hollered and gathered around, my guess is that it was the only one of its caliber landed. Over the weekend the crabbers in boats did pretty well inside the bay and out.

    I hear that there's salmon overflowing all of the creeks and rivers (even one caught in a river in Sand Diego! I know! There's a river in San Diego! Who knew?) except for the Sacramento River. It has almost none, I hear. If that is true, then it looks like no salmon season next year. The only salmon that survived, it seems, were the hatchery fish that were escorted past the warm, dry river. Go figure. And there's so many of them that they're going up any old creek looking to spawn, even ones with almost no chance of success. Like in San Diego and up the Sacramento. I guess we'll just fish for halibut next year in a sea full of salmon. Look away, everybody. You did it this year. Just consider it as practice for next year.