The extreme tides this last week have made for a lot of lost gear but not too many crab caught. Beach snarers are getting a few but seem to be doing better on the beers than on the crab. Closer to the sand point has been better for the crab. The point being farther from the restrooms likely makes it less good for beers, but I cannot confirm. Over the weekend I heard boat reports of 0 to 5 Dungeness inside the bay. Today I got a better report from the Shrimp Boat: "12, probably 6 jumbos from 4 conicals with mostly squid. All near the main seal pull out. A funny detail is we were next to a boat that had all their traps in a really tight cluster, right at the confluence of the channels, I figured they were getting lots of crab since they weren't moving around at all. Finally they pulled their traps and we figured they had limits and were leaving. They passed us close enough for us to ask how they did and they said "been crabbing all morning not a single crab!" Then we felt good enough about our take to go to Nick's." The Shrimp Boat crew were soaking gear around the turn of the low tide when the current was slowest. Also, spreading the gear around a bit isn't a bad thing if you're not catching. Don't soak your gear where the crab aren't. Check your traps or rings often and move the ones that aren't catching. Also, this report lets us know that even though Nick's Cove had their shack on the end of the pier burn down a bit over a week ago, it appears that they will still welcome you if you visit from the water. 

   On a salmon note, I received this email today. I thought it couldn't hurt to pass it on: "

We still need your help to fight for salmon families – contact the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) today! Right now, the SWRCB is accepting public comments on the Phase 2 Draft Bay-Delta Plan. The deadline is Friday, January 19, 2024. Many of you took action in November and December by testifying at the Water Board’s Bay-Delta Plan hearings and we can’t THANK you enough for your impactful statements.  As the only agency with legal authority to set flow and temperature protections for Fall-run Chinook, your voice matters and, in fact, it is critical that the SWRCB hears directly from you. Whether or not you’ve already provided public testimony, now’s your chance to take action for salmon, healthy rivers and everyone who relies on this fishery. We can’t let industrial agriculture secure more water diversions and determine the future of California’s salmon and salmon families. Two Ways to Submit Your Comments (Deadline is January 19) Don’t delay as you can help GSSA restore critical salmon runs! Sign and Send a Letter to the Water Board Click HERE to read, personalize with your own comments, and send a letter urging the SWRCB to adopt an unimpaired flow approach in the Bay-Delta Plan Make a Greater Impact by Writing and Submitting Your Own Comments by Email Tell the SWRCB why salmon are important to you, your business, culture or family, and that they must adopt an unimpaired flow approach to restore salmon. Send your comments directly to SacDeltaComments@waterboards.ca.gov with the subject line: “Comment Letter – Sacramento/Delta Draft Staff Report”

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