I like getting pictures of successful fishermen on here but I usually don't have to crane my neck so much to get the photo. This guy was having a hard time flying with the perch he caught. He was almost as proud as Gage but less lippy about it. Some guys went out yesterday evening and caught quite a few perch, so it's not just Gage and the ospreys; regular people can catch them, too.

     If you want to catch a surfperch, better hurry before Gage catches them all. He thinks he can do it. The bite was around the top of the tide and the perch liked Berkeley Gulp! Saltwater Sandworms. According to the pro here, the fish bit on every cast; getting them to stick was a bit trickier. 

     The latest crab results posted on Friday. If I'm reading them correctly, Crescent City, Eureka, and Bodega Bay (Salt Point) have passed and probably will receive no further testing. Unfortunately, Trinidad (South), Fort Bragg, and Bodega Bay (Russian River) each had a bad crab or three. A second good test from Trinidad (North) and Bodega Bay (Bodega Bay) will clear them. We're getting awfully close to an opener in most places. Looking at the summary sheet, though, it seems that most of the places that have passed or are close to passing had readings like Fort Bragg's current numbers back in November and December. That could mean two months until Fort Bragg passes. At least that would give us a two month season....

     When life gives you lemons you're supposed to make lemonade. I'm not sure what we're supposed to make with these jacksmelt....

     They're biting well, though.

    So, firstly, I didn't go crabbing. I thought about a lot, but there was too much other stuff to get done. Luckily for me my wife was busy too, or she'd just make me go. If another weather window comes by I'll have to see if we can sneak that trip in, but it better be a good window. According to Google Earth it's about 23 miles to open water on the East side of Chimney Rock. That's a little closer than an albacore trip, but not much.
    Also in crabbing, the new test results this week are the usual mix of hope and disappointment. If I read it correctly, Crescent City and Eureka may be in the clear with two sets of good tests. Trinidad, Fort Bragg and Bodega Bay are the only hold outs and it's not by much that they're failing. 13 out of 42 crabs were over the limit and most of those were just barely over. Of course, it only takes one to mess it up for everybody.
    There have been a few questions regarding cottons. Here's the actual regulation wording:
 (2) Starting August 1, 2016, crab traps shall contain at least one destruct device of a single strand of untreated cotton twine size No. 120 or less that creates an unobstructed escape opening in the top or upper half of the trap of at least five inches in diameter when the destruct attachment material corrodes or fails.
 What they are talking about is that piece of cotton string that held the door closed or the escape ring in place in your trap. You know, the one that rotted out and you replaced it with a tie strap? Gotta go back to the string. Good bait shops will be stocking the appropriate material by summer. We will, too.
    Salmon season may be coming up soon. When, where, and even if is to be determined. On March 2 there will be an informational meeting at the Sonoma County Water Agency office at 404 Aviation Blvd. in Santa Rosa from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. I think it might be an interesting meeting. Almost surely not good or happy, but interesting.
    If you'd like to hang out with some salmon fishermen and have a good meal in the process, the 6th Annual Golden Gate Salmon Association Dinner is being held on April 1st. If you fish for salmon, or if you ever hope to fish for salmon in California, you should probably join the club. They need the bodies. http://www.goldengatesalmon.org/
 

Just in case you were wondering what the crabs were up to while you weren't chasing them....



Looks like the crabs are getting ready for the cottons. Just be careful when the season finally opens for us.