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.