I was reading on a discussion board a few days ago that the bluefin bite is over in December, so when there appeared to be a small weather window this morning we figured that we better go before it was over. Wrybread (captain of Shrimp Boat), Gage and I hit the water before 6:00 AM and headed for Cordell. We were lucky enough to catch two on their way south, both before 9:30 AM. The second one bit a Halco 190 Max in Hot Sardine at 55 seconds back and weighed, according to the formula, 136 pounds. The first one bit a Nomad 240 in Sardine at 75 seconds back and weighed 154. Trolling was done at 12 knots. Not another boat in sight. The ride back was a bit abusive as the east wind hadn't quit yet and we pounded into the chop for 20 miles, but hey, we'd happily do it again. It was interesting to be going tuna fishing with frost on the deck of the boat. It was like Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks in miniature. The fish bit in the warmest water of the day, 54º F. And I guess in a couple of hours from this writing the bluefin will be gone.

   Or not.

 

       There were a few Dungeness snared off of the beach over the weekend, not many, but a few. More crab were caught from the boats but not a whole lot. One boat worked the outer bay for a total of five Dungeness for one crabber. The south end of Ten Mile has been good; north of Bodega Bay has been even better. Traps will be off the table until the whales leave, and there's quite a few ten miles out. That's been the story of crab season so far.

      The other story this weekend was of kayakers being swept out to sea by the strong outgoing current. The possibility of crab and the extreme tides combined for two afternoons of paddlers being sucked out of the bay. Saturday's foursome were "rescued" from Tomales Point by Henry One, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Helicopter. Today's kayakers got retrieved from Tomales Point by Cameron after he "borrowed" Shrimp Boat from Alec (he was cool with it). Not that anyone who needs to will read this, but check the tides before you decide to come out. Getting dragged out into the surf and dying is a great way to feed the crabs but not a good memory for anybody else. Let's remember, we eat them, not vice versa. 

      Crabbing in the bay remains only okay for most. I heard of a couple of guys that did pretty well. One beach snarer had six Dungeness in the morning. Most beach snarers had far, far less. The big swell that moved in last night may have swept a few Dungeness into the bay. They won't last long, though, not with all the effort. Even with those extra crab the majority of the crabbers went home with less than they expected. The outer bay had some crab yesterday but was unavailable from Tomales Bay today as the bar was impassable. 

    

    Here's a report from yesterday: "Hey Willy, 

Trolled for bluefin from the weather buoy out to the canyon and struck out. Beautiful day on the water. Saw two schools of tuna on top, lots of dolphins, and a few whales. Headed in at 2 and stopped at elephant to make sure I still knew how to fish. Caught some expensive bottom dwellers. Can't wait to try again if the fish hang around. 

Best,

Nate Baker" Gage and I saw you troll by yesterday. We were south of you, trolling north around 11:00. We saw one fish bust the surface and we had one hookup for maybe five seconds before it came off. Our hookup was on the shorter line (50 seconds back) on a Hot Sardine Halco 190. A second boat in the same area hooked and landed two bluefin on Madmacs. The area was just outside of the Bodega Bay weather buoy, with other fish landed near Cordell. The current carrying warm, offshore water continues to push in towards Bodega Bay and Cordell and theoretically the bluefin should continue to hang around until the current quits and/or the anchovies leave. A couple of good storms could do that. So, troll 'em while you can, because like all good things it will soon come to an end.

    Crabbing results were not awesome. The outer bay had some crab for those that worked it hard. I heard the northern part of the bay was full, not so much with crab but with crabbers. Sounds like fun. Inside Tomales Bay the king tides have made for, I guess, king currents? Whatever they're called, the strong currents between the higher high and lower low are making for lots of lost gear. Lots. The high tides also make launching for us impossible, as we wont get our tractors in the salt water. Some folks are deciding to go it on their own. The low tide in the afternoon is making it difficult for both them and us to pull the boats out. A rising tide floats all boats, as they say, but the falling tide seems to make it difficult for everybody, too. 

   Also, it's official; still no traps here (Zone 3): "

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program Update

November 21, 2022

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) and continued the temporary trap restriction for the recreational crab fishery in Fishing Zones 3-6 due to elevated entanglement risk. However, the recreational crab trap restriction for Fishing Zones 1 and 2 will be lifted on Nov. 28, 2022 at 9 a.m. CDFW reminds crabbers that take of Dungeness crab by other methods, including hoop nets and crab snares, is allowed during a temporary trap restriction. The commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zones 3-6 is further delayed due to continued presence of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement. The commercial Dungeness crab fishery opener has also been delayed in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 due to poor meat quality results. The next risk assessment and round of quality testing is expected to occur on or before December 7, 2022. This will inform a potential December 16, 2022 opener. The full news release can be found at the CDFW News Room and for more information, please visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries Webpage.

"

 

    Nick Nichols sent over a report and pictures from yesterday: "Hey Willy,

Greg, Sam and myself

went out of Westside yesterday.

Crabbed down by the towers near Point Reyes. 40-50 foot of water.

Two hoops

30 dungies.

Fished the point for 21 rockfish and 1 Lingcod.

Hope all is well and see ya soon."  All is well, thanks, Nick. Even better knowing that there's some crab on Ten Mile. Sad crabbing stories were mostly what I heard from inside the bay today, so I'm glad to hear your happy story. 

    The Bodega Bay weather buoy as a set of cameras on it that take a set of photos every hour. I was thinking, what if the camera showed some tuna, or feeding birds? Well, today, no birds feeding but there's this picture from around 1:00 PM. That's either a dolphin or a tuna. There were more bluefin caught out there today, so tuna in the photo aren't out of the question. It makes me think that if there's so many bluefin out there that they're randomly photobombing the weather buoy page then maybe I have a shot at catching one. 

    Yeah, it's probably a dolphin.