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."

Krippled Anchovies

I think it is time to show you how to hook up some rigs for salmon fishing. A cheap and reliable starting rig is the green Krippled Anchovy. The package you want is shown below.

Ideally, an anchovy is put in the head and the red pin sticks all the way through. A finished product is shown right here, as well as a diagram of how to do it. More on rigging lures later.

Unfortunately, it appears there will probably be some mid-season closures for salmon. Apparently, there aren't enough winter run salmon. This news is especially disappointing because a very bountiful season has been forecasted. Closures in past years have included closing salmon on certain days of the week (for example, no salmon fishing on Mondays or Tuesdays). Or, they might just close the whole season halfway through. So, enjoy the salmon fishing while you can get it.

Fishing Spots

 With salmon season just around the corner (April 6), I feel like I should give a glossary of fishing spots you will hear the regular fishermen talk about. When in doubt, consult any of the wise- looking fishermen folk sitting in front of the boathouse. However, whatever they tell you might be difficult to understand because they could say, for example, "I caught a 20-pound salmon off of Bird yesterday." Hopefully you can figure most of that out, but you might not know what Bird is. That brings us to the subject of this post: fishing spots. "Bird" is short for Bird Rock, a barren rock located to the east of the northern tip of Tomales Point. There are many others and it would take a lot more posts to describe them all. That's why I created this handy chart.

Esteros

Day Beach

The Bar*

Hog Island (Hog)

Bird Rock

The Trees (east or west of should be specified)

McClure's

Ten-Mile Beach

Point Reyes

*The bar can be highly dangerous to the inexperienced. For an example of the results of foolish boating and bad weather, click here. 

No offense intended, but I'm afraid I can't tell you my favorite spots just off of principle. However, my chart covers most of them. Use this information wisely!

Clam Quarantine News

I've got news on the clam quarantine. We have tested eight gaper (horseneck) clams for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning. The gapers do not have harmful levels of the toxin. However, Washington, Geoduck, and cockles have not been tested. Washingtons and cockles are on the watch list. If I get another update, I will let you know as soon as possible.

Crabbing

      If you're not interested in clamming, crabbing is also a viable recreation choice. This is the low point in the crabbing season. However, some folks are still managing to get dinner and sometimes more. Just like clamming, you're more likely to get dinner if you do. No matter how you do it, you need to know some things about crabbing. If you want to go crabbing, you're probably looking for Dungeness crab. They are few and far between this time of year. If you're going to find them, you are going to want to look for them near underwater rocks, but not in them. They like the shelter rocks have to offer, but their main diet, shellfish, live in the sand. Don't be discouraged though; the bait available at the Landing will be sufficient. If you happen to be looking for red crab, which are more plentiful, you will want to look in said rocks. Both, however, can be found at the Landing's pier. For both species, we should be coming out of the low point soon. Any time now is when they should perform their spring molt and more will become legal-sized. Dungeness crab size limit: 5 ¾ “ along the longest point on the shell, not counting the horns. Limited to ten per license (or child under 16). Red crab is 4” and 35 apiece. If anyone tells you otherwise, just smile and nod. Trust me; I've seen some dirty “discussions” resulting from limit disagreements. Other than that, good luck!

     Left: My personal favorite crab pot (Crabs have no way out). Priced at $79. Right: Hoop net; most commonly used off the pier so crabs can get in quickly and be pulled up at 15 minute intervals to prevent escape. Priced at $30.

Clamming

     This time of year is the overall low point in the fishing year. With salmon and rockfish out of season, halibut AWOL, and the crabs starting to run thin, the only thing to look for is low tides for clams.

     Clamming is an exhausting, filthy, and incredibly fun sport involving going out onto exposed seafloor and digging holes to look for clams. Anyone who wants to clam must wait for a low tide and walk out onto the previously underwater mud. Then you find a hole that fits your index and middle fingers. Start digging! Move quickly, as clams can't move side to side, but they can sink. Make sure someone sifts through the mud you dig to check for clams. One prevents the hole from collapsing in on itself with a “clam pipe”, a device available at the boathouse. Finally, a sportsman will fill in the hole so no one else has to trip in the hole. Boats are preferable to travelling on foot because boaters can get to the main clam island that shows itself to the south of Lawson's Landing on low tides. The clamming is generally better there than anywhere else. I should also mention that in recent months, the California Department of Fish and Game has been cracking down on those of us who don't want to stick to the ten per license limit. I have heard of wardens discovering clams in the pants of some determined clammers. Hopefully, everyone reading this isn't going to go that far. Clamming, however some may try to disgrace it, is one of Lawson's Landing's oldest and most famous traditions.

Blue: sub-optimal clam zone

Red: ideal clam zone

     However, I must warn you, the CDPH is warning folks not to eat recreationally caught shellfish in Marin County for fear of PSP (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning). Click here for their press release. However, I ate clams (and they were delicious) not long before the quarantine began and I can move my fingers to type and my voice isn't slurred. However, they could be right.  Take this warning as you will. Keep looking for the next post because clams are being tested in the near future and I will alert you to any changes.

Just one example of a good day brought forth by experience, hard work, and a whole lot of luck.

     So, this would be my first post. I'm writing this blog because it's to my understanding that many people do not know a lot about fishing in the Dillon Beach, CA area and would if they possessed the know-how. In this blog, I will share fishing expertise, recommend good setups, and let you know what is biting at Lawson's Landing. Everything in my power will be done to make an archive of fishing knowledge to any who want to pick up a rod and give it a shot. I am going to try to write up new posts often enough to keep fresh material on the page. You are welcome to comment on posts to request clarification. If you do happen to be a more knowledgeable fisherman (or woman), constructive criticism is accepted, as long as it is good-natured.