Thanks to those who have written to the MLPA. It may not help, but it sure can't hurt. If you're still thinking of writing, you might tell them you support option 2 in subregion 3. That option allows the best access on Ten Mile Beach, leaves the lingcod hole at Point Reyes in the clear and has no Clam Island closure. It's not great but we need to take what we can get.
In other news, two guys from the Landing went out crabbing today and returned with 10 dungeness in four hours and never left the bay. One boat did go outside today. The boat looked very new, about a 24' Boulton Explorer with a nice cabin. The bar was breaking big enough to break all three front windows. I didn't speak to the guys in the boat but I hope that they're OK. Gentlemen, size may be important in many things, but those breakers can kill you just as dead in a 30' boat as a 15' boat. A kid on the dock caught three dungeness today. Maybe the next time the bar is breaking you crab with the kid.

This is a picture of the proposed Clam Island Marine Recreational Management Area. This could be coming to Tomales Bay courtesy of the Marine Life Protection Act. It is planned to be a "no take" zone, meaning no fishing, clamming or crabbing inside the box. How do you know if you're in the box? Just use your trusty GPS that you always take clamming and crabbing on the bay and make sure you're not between 38 13.00 and 38 13.25. Don't know what that means? Don't worry, I'm sure the friendly wardens and rangers will kindly educate you to the errors of your ways. Or, since this is only part of one of the five proposals being looked at by the MLPA team, you can contact them and tell them that the clams and seals don't need any more protection than they have currently. I'm sure they'd appreciate any comments you may have on Point Reyes' closure and Bodega Head's closure. Send to: MLPAComments@resources.ca.gov

Being that winter is still upon us the fishing report is a bit short. Crabbing is still OK for reds and lousy for dungeness. The surfperch are biting on the incoming tide. The salmon forecast is grim for this season. Of those 3 things the salmon forecast has me the most excited. The salmon forecast I heard the last two years was that there would be many salmon caught. The reality was not that many salmon being caught here. Now they say it'll be a bad year. If the opposite rule still applies then we will be in fat city, salmonwise, as long as they give us a season that is open when the salmon happen to be here. I realize that the chances of Fish and Game and the fish doing the right thing by us fisherman is close to the chances of being struck by lightning while buying the winning lotto ticket, but hey, I'm a fisherman. if I'm not optomistic, I don't fish.

Just a rumor, but I hear that the clamming may be spared from the MLPA for now. I hope that it's true. As I hear it, Point Reyes and Bodega Head are out, but that was expected. Remember, Point Reyes National Seashore is obviously centered on Point Reyes and the Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory is on Bodega Head. It's probably not coincidence. It makes me thankful that the University of the Pacific Marine Station in Dillon Beach closed up in the early 80's. Knowledge is good, but I like to fish too.

Nothing going with the fishing I'm afraid. Dungeness is still slow, but a gentleman dropped off a new crab pot puller at the Lawson's Landing shop to be installed on his boat since he heard "on good authority" that there were crabs out in 250'. Big crabs. Five crabs to fill a five gallon bucket if I heard the story correctly. I personally haven't caught five crabs this season, but the story has got me thinking about giving it a try. The red crab are still doing well at least, especially if you try when the tides are slow.
On another note, the MLPA Public Workshops are coming up. The closest one to Lawson's Landing is at the Sheraton Sonoma County, 745 Baywood Drive, Petaluma, at 6:00PM on February 4th. We will get to see maps of the proposed closed and restricted areas and comment on them in a very calm and well-managed manner, likely with big easels and large felt markers to write down our feelings. Plainly, it will suck, but you can't complain if you don't contribute. Also, we know they're taking Point Reyes away. We know they are also taking alot from Bodega Head. The exact lines, though, are yet to be determined. That is what we need to be there for. Maybe we can save the cove on this side of Point Reyes for halibut fishing. Maybe we can save that 60' high rock off the point as well. I'm also hoping to save the clamming areas just south of Lawson's. A man needs some way to burn off his frustration at the spring wind and digging in the mud is as good as any I've found. Anyway, I'll be there. Hope you will too.