3/27/03

Abalone! The season opens on April 1st north of the Golden Gate. April's Abalone Fools will be trying to hide their hairy hineys behind the cars parked along the side of Highway One as they struggle into their wetsuits. The northcoast's intrepid and active squad of game wardens will be out in force, checking licenses, measuring abs, and generally making damn sure everyone follows the rules.

They will be aided by a large number of private locals who have the warden's cell phone number on speed-dial and keep a jealous eye on the resource for any signs of abuse.

Divers will also be on the lookout for Al-Qaeda frogmen saboteurs. Last year the FBI was contacting dive shops and dive instructors to find out if any terrorists had recently taken SCUBA lessons and warned of plots to use extremists in wetsuits for underwater demolitions attacks. If anyone pops up in the water next to you and says "Asalaam Alaikum" - take no chances and get the drop on 'em with your spear gun. Ask questions later.

On second thought, we aren't allowed to take rockfish until July 1st (while commercial fishing continues) so leave the speargun home. You can use your dive knife, though, in submarine hand-to-hand frogman combat like in the James Bond movie.

Abalone punch cards are required along with a saltwater sportfishing license. Three abs may be taken per day, with an annual limit of 24 abalone. You must punch out a hole for each ab on your card -immediately after exiting the water. The wardens are emphasizing that it's not acceptable to wander back to your car and fill out the paperwork, since it's too easy to "forget" to account for your catch once you're back on the road. You will get a ticket if you push the envelope.

I use a small waterproof eyeglass case and put my license in it with a pen, and tuck it in my dive tube. When I'm done diving and haul out, I punch my card as soon as I've got my flippers and weights off.
Not much ocean salmon fishing happened last week due to the high surf and south winds.

Further to the South, this Saturday, March 29th marks the salmon opener at Moss Landing. Each year, hundreds of Bay Area saltwater salmon anglers converge at the launch ramp parking lot on Friday night and have a block party and salmon derby on Saturday. What I've notice changed over the years with these fishing derbies is a move away from the "Biggest Fish Big-Money Prize" to smaller prizes for random weight targets in the interest of conservation. Folks set up outdoor grills and roast wild game and seafood - it's said these feasts are legendary.
Steelhead fishing on all coastal streams, except the Russian and the Klamath, closes March 31. Budget cuts have closed the steelhead hatchery on the Mad. Only hatchery fish may be kept.

RFA-NorCal was pleased to announce that longtime RFA member, Darrell Ticehurst, has been nominated by Governor Gray Davis as his first choice to fill the obligatory California seat on the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC). The PFMC sets fishing regulations for federally-managed species. Ticehurst still needs to be approved by NMFS and NOAA. Letters of support are needed; drop by www.rfancalifornia.org for more information.

Bill Beebe of Western Outdoors News is reporting that the Channel Islands no-fishing zones - which were supposed to have been in effect on January 1 - have not been implemented and may not be as a judge hears the evidence that the vote for the marine reserves was conducted illegally.

Larry Emerson was pretty busy when I went down to his Emerson's Marine Service shop on Monday to pick up my repaired boat. This engine is a Volvo 4-banger that has been chugging along since Jimmy Carter was President. It's not surprising Larry was busy because he does excellent work. He even had a slightly used propeller for me that he let me steal for $40. His shop is down at the back end of South Harbor Drive in Noyo Harbor, just across from Dolphin Isle Marina.

Speaking of Dolphin Isle Marina, it has been nearly vacated of tenants partly because of the rockfish closures and partly because of management troubles. A bustling marina back there, full of fishermen, would seem to be a big revenue generator for the struggling coastal community.
Comedian Steven Wright on fishing: "Last year, I went fishing with Salvador Dali. He was using a dotted line. He caught every other fish."