Salmon Regulations and How to Report Poaching

Currently, salmon have been spotty. There was a bite a couple days ago and people landed a few salmon. However, the fact that they are biting at all this early in the season bodes very well for the season.

Here are the official Department of Fish and "Wildlife" king salmon limits:

Point Arena to Pigeon Point (San Francisco)

April 6 - November 10, 2013

• Seven days per week except June 1 – July 9 when closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
• 2 salmon per day of any species except coho
• Minimum size limit: 24 inches total length through July 31; 20 inches total length thereafter

In completely unrelated news, the clam tides were extraordinarily low. The Landing was completely slammed for the weekend. I heard various complaints of poachers carrying entire backpacks of clams off of the clam beds even though the limit is ten apiece. Eventually I started handing out the following number. It's the number used to report poachers to Fish and "Wildlife." Later on, wardens did come and performed "courtesy" checks on a few folks. But it isn't enough. I think we need more people reporting. The lowest tides of the year are on May 25th through the 30th. It will be one of the busiest weeks of the year. If you are coming and witness poaching, call this number. Please, I hate clichés just as much as the next guy, but it's for the future generations.

Here's DFW again:

To report unlawful activity, call CalTIP at (888) DFG-CALTIP ((888) 334-2258) or Contact the CalTIP program via e-mail.

More Quarantine News

I recently ate 24 cockle clams. Now, these are the ones that are supposed to have much higher levels of PSP. Again, take that as you will.

Hook Types

Weather is significantly better, but it is still iffy. No one has tried salmon because they weren't able to get past the bar. However, the ospreys have done very well on surfperch. For humans; a bit less impressive. I tried at 6:00 Wednesday for them. Met some fellows who caught two in an hour. Shortly thereafter, I got some nibbles and lost my gear on a rock. But, you'll never know if you don't try.

There are several distinctive types of hooks and it is very important to know them. Some are more effective than others, but more importantly, you don't want your friendly local warden to write you up for "poaching" with the wrong hooks.

Barbless circle hooks with the tip  pointing to the shank are required for salmon drifting. However, for trolling you don't have to doom yourself by pointing the tip to the shank. Pulling the tip to the left slightly and attaching it about a foot behind your leader can hook those frustrating fish who keep their distance and eyeball it. 

Your basic jay hook. Barbed ones aren't permitted for salmon and aren't allowed at all if you're drifting.

Ah, admire the beauty of being able to hook a fish from literally any angle. These babies aren't allowed for use on salmon, but they haunt the nightmares of most other fish. Also make terrific trailing hooks.

Salmon season started off on a good note. The bar has been nasty recently, preventing many from going out. Those who did were not disappointed, however; I know of two parties who went out on opening day. One limited out and the others were one short. The limits on salmon are two apiece and 24 inches from the head to the triangle of the tail.

Here's the weather right now. The bar is keeping everyone in the bay for now.

 

Abalone season started on April 1. One group went out on the Point and did all right. Water was murky which is great for fishing, but not abalone diving. Abalone, according to Fish and "Wildlife",  "is open from April 1 through June 30, 2013; and from Aug. 1 through Nov. 30, 2013. The daily bag and possession limit is three abalone, with a maximum of 24 abalone per year. The minimum size limit is 7 inches along the longest shell diameter."