September 2013 Coastal Update

Hello coastal fisher/foragers, here's your Sea Forager coastal update for September 2013. And it's almost on time for a change!

1. First off a few things. Thanks to all the people who subscribed to my new Sea Forager Seafood Company!

The launch par-tay on Friday Sept 6^th, was a blast! Stay tuned for October's event!

Oh yeah, I'm looking to expand to the East Bay.  Anyone know of bars/restaurants or other businesses that would like to support a sustainable seafood company by acting as a pick up location?  I've got 6 locations in SF but nothing in the East Bay.  Also looking for South Bay locations. Personal residences will work too.  Please contact me if you have ideas about potential pick up locations in East Bay or South Bay: kirk@seaforager.com

2. As far as tours go.  I'm really focusing on my Fisherman's Wharf Tour these days.  It's fun.  It's relatively inexpensive and it's after hours so people can do it after work.  Also easy to reach by public transpo. Everything you could possibly want to know about Fisherman's Wharf and more.  Including tales of our greatest scalawags and a back-end tour of a fish warehouse!  BTW: This tour is free for members of my Seaforager Seafood biz, just e-mail if you intend to come along:  tours@seaforager.com.

3.  This just in!  My next Mega Low Tide Clam-stravaganza in HMB on Nov 4th:  Go here to sign up before it sells out:  Mega Low Tide Tour.

4. The big party at the Marin Headlands Center For The Arts on Aug 10th was a blast. Here's the movie I made to show how we caught all the food for the dinner.  The idea here was to celebrate local bounty but also to show how the fish were caught: one at a time.  The main thing was to tell the story behind the meal. 

If nothing else this may be the first under water footage of a monkeyface eel taking the bait! And I mean taking it!

Anyway, have at... to see a larger version just click the YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnYMDh-Qf8k

____________________________________________________________

Return to top and hit "Next" arrow for the rest of this update (which includes combat fishing, surf perch and more).

September 2013 Coastal Update II

(Sept 2013 Coastal Update continued)


 Now let's get down to it:

Sept 2013

Crime Against Nature? Or Great Sporting Opportunity?

A few years ago as part of the Monterey Bay Trout And Salmon Project's ongoing attempt to bolster commercial and recreational salmon fishing opportunities, many thousands of salmon smolts were dumped into Santa Cruz harbor. The idea was that in addition to increasing catch in the waters surrounding Santa Cruz, these “sea-locked” fish would eventually head back into the harbor (following the salmon's instinctive impulse) and thus offer the shore-based fishing contingent a golden opportunity at big game sport fishing. Well... guess what? The salmon have been invading the inner harbor at Santa Cruz all month. I'm talking 15 to 20 pounders catchable 15 feet from shore!

I'm not going to lie... there is something kind of off-putting about this fishery. It's great that people can go catch a salmon from shore right now, and of course that was the purpose of these fish from the ge­t go. But... but... I don't know... I can't help thinking about those poor fish. The spawning instinct is so strong in them. And we're using that instinct to sort of pervert their life cycle. In short, there's no real creek for these fish to return to. There's no gravel bed waiting for them. Yes I know this is totally irrational of me but it seems like an affront to the great salmon deity in the sky.  Even though it is essentially the same as most hatchery programs.

And at the same time, if you don't go down to Santa Cruz and kill a couple of these salmon right now, they're going to die anyway—unspawned and wasted. So by all means go get 'em. I'm just saying... on a certain level I'm ashamed of this fishery. Even if I have every intention of exploiting it myself. (Never said I wasn't conflicted).

Combat Fishing

                                Combat fishing in Alaska

The secret is out of course, so if you head down to SC be advised, it's elbow to elbow and side to side in the back end of the harbor. A tad better out on the jetty. I'm going down there next week. The guy with the elbow pads, goggles, and helmet will most likely be me. Oh, and don't bother saying hello. I won't be talking to anyone. Combat fishing is not my happy place. But if I'm going to do it, I intend to do it right—anti-social style.

One nice development is that DFG has designated all even number days as “kids only” days. Why? Not sure but I assume because they got tired of watching salty old fishermen pushing little kids out of the way to get at the fish! Oh yeah, no kayaks allowed. You have to fish from shore inside the harbor. The even/odd thing does not apply to the jetty.

_________________________________________________________________

 

Return to top and hit "Next" arrow for the rest of this update (which includes anchovies, sardines, and more).

Sept 2013 Coastal Update, part III

(Sept 2013 Coastal Update continued)

Forage Fish

                                        Bait ball

Anchovies

The big game fishing contingent may laugh, but man, August was a great anchovy month down around HMB. And I'm not talking about pinheads (juveniles) either. There was a school of lunker anchovies (did I just write, “lunker anchovies?) just outside the harbor in HMB most of this month. This was an epic school. I mean massive. Like a mile long. The funny thing was how few fish were coming up in throw nets. At this point I would have to say my throw net skills are reaching a pretty high level of excellence, (a-hem) and yet throwing a casting net into the water with anchovies literally thick as soup all around me, failed to produce a single fish. I think it has to do with water depth more than anything else. Throw nets don't to work very well in anything over 6 feet of water. That's my experience anyway. Though maybe I just need a more heavily weighted net.

                          Brown peilcans workin' the 'chovies

On the downside, one of my salmon-fisher friends expresses concern over the relative lack of baitfish along the Marin coast, (compared to former abundance). I'm also hearing lots of folks complaining about the squid take. Can the ocean really support the harvest of 200,000 tons (or whatever the quota is) of squid annually? Even given the squid's amazing ability to repopulate and the fact that a market squid's lifespan is only 11 some odd months? The official answer of course is, "Yes, the squid fishery is sustainable." But the numbers are staggering—and one has to wonder, how much better off would the food web be if we left a few more squid out there for the birds and the whales and the fishies.  And really, who does the squid fishery benefit?  How many licensees? Or is really just a private fishery for a few select millionaires?  It's the American way I guess.

I'll take my answer off the air.

I am not taking a position on this, mind you. Not yet anyway. I am only reporting on a persistent complaint that many fishermen have been expressing to me.  And since I don't see this complaint getting much press... might as well voice it here.

           

Sardines

Predictably, the boat that fishes live bait for the sporty receiver at the wharf got into the sardines two weeks ago. So there were a few fresh sardines showing up at some of the up scale seafood joints around town.

Then on Aug 14^th I watched a fellow miscreant put about 18 jumbo sized sardines into an orange five gallon bucket while fishing off the draw bridge on a certain ill-named body of water on the south side of our fair city. The next day the same fisherman reported 6 total sardines for 3 hours of fishing. The day after that: none. So, unless you are privy to some very inside information, you can put your Sabiki rig on hold until later in September. Like I've said before, big anchovy years tend to be small sardine years—and vice-versa. There are exceptions but by and large that's the rule.

Evidently San Francisco is doing some work on the Islais Creek area... thanks to Kent for sending this link along:  Islais Creek Restoration

Night Smelt

It was a truly epic season for the little guys. And although they are now officially gone from the few local beaches where I get them, the large number of fresh nighties in the

local markets proves they're still running somewhere. Up the coast near Eureka most likely. One thing to keep in mind is that night smelt don't tend to run in big numbers two years in a row. So prepare yourself for a bit of disappointment next year.

Surf Smelt 

All the usual old timers have been out on the beaches. But the surf smelt will not comply. I bypassed the crowds further north and drove all the way down to Martin's Beach which in years past was a sort of Mecca for surf smelt fishermen.

     
     Martin's back in the day.  Fun for the whole family!

_________________________________________________________________

Return to top and hit "Next" arrow for the rest of this update (which includes surf perch, Sea Beans, and more).

Sept 2013 Coastal Update, part IV

(Sept 2013 Coastal Update continued)

Martin's was closed in 2008 when this dude bought the property:

(Vinod Khosla (left) venture capitalist and beach closer-downer.  Satanic make-over courtesy of Sea Forager).

Evidently the closure pissed off the people at The Surf Rider's Foundation.

They brought the issue of coastal access to a San Mateo county court and stopped a temporary restraining order that would have shut down access to Martin's Beach. The case is still pending so, contrary to popular belief, until a decision is made one way or the other you can visit Martin's Beach  So far it's been mostly surfers.  Whassup fishermen?  Time to represent!  Just park up by the entrance on Hwy 1 and walk down.

Oh and if you're wondering... I walked the surf line for 4 hours and never saw a bird, or a seal... much less a smelt!  Nevertheless it was awesomely cool to look at the old murals!

  
            Martin's Beach mural.  Smelter blind tossing for H. pretiosus

 
Further Reflections On The Osmerid Family

I wish there was some way to fund a study of the beach spawning osmerids: surf and night smelt. I find it curious that their populations have remained relatively stable while the other osmerids have languished. Delta smelt, long fin smelt and eulachon have all gone (or are heading) the way of the dodo bird. Of course all three of those species require fresh or brackish water at some point in their life cycles. And we all know how delicate the estuarine ecosystem is. Still, it would seem to me that surf smelt and night smelt populations might be vulnerable due to the fact that they spawn on highly frequented beaches. Though Mikey reminds me that there's a lot of coastline within the surf smelt/night smelt range that isn't accessible by land. And in the case of night smelt, there's late night spawns that see no fishing pressure at all. Just thinkin' out loud here... maybe some day when i'm rich and famous, I can fund a private study on this... one can dream no?

Surf Perch

 
                       
                                Redtail (above), Calico (bottom)                                                                     

I'm told the surf perch numbers have been epic just south and north of the city. With large numbers of calico perch, barreds and walleyes reported by my operatives between Pacifica and HMB. For those who are uninspired by the culinary properties of the surf perch clan, calico perch make for a very decent ceviche. Though I can't speak for walleyes or barreds. Evidently the bait of choice is the lowly ghost shrimp but pieces of store-bought shrimp will work fine as will grass shrimp and pile/blood worms. By the way, be sure you can distinguish between a red tail and a calico since there is a size limit on red tails (10.5 in).  The main difference is in the dorsal fin--long spines in the first dorsal hard rays of the red tail, not so long in the calico.  For a complete chart of the surf perch family go here:  Kirk's perch guide.  It makes me happy to think people still use it.  Poseidon only knows how many hours, days, weeks, months it took me to make.

Salt Marsh Plants

From a foraging standpoint I haven't been doing much, and in fact, I won't be doing much till the big minus tides return in November. In the mean time I'm finding it difficult to go forward with my plans to build a tule canoe. What with child-rearing, a new business in the works, and everything else... unfortunately it's the tule canoe that gets the cut, feel me?  Thing is, if i'm going to build a tule canoe it has to be right now.  As I am given to understand, August and September are the months when tules leach sap.  This is why the Ohlone Indians built their tule canoes in Aug-September... anyone want to spearhead this thing?  Maybe for a school project?

Pickleweed (AKA: Sea Beans)

                                    
                                        Sea Beans

On another note I recently had some pickled sea beans given to me by a tour goer (thanks Cindy). Awesome stuff.  Sea beans are otherwise known as pickleweed or glasswort (salicornia).  Hank Shaw has a lot of stuff on his site about them. Click here for details. They make for an excellent salad, and like i said earlier they're awesome pickled (hence the name).  This is a plant of the salty coast.  There are miles and miles of pickleweed inside SF Bay (Pickleweed Park anyone?).  Remember you need written permission from a private landholder to pick native plants.  And also, no picking on a state beach!  Pickleweed can be tough and woody around the base of the stalks, so pick the fresh shoots at the top.

And One More Thing

Several months ago, in the June or July update, I wrote a plea for a vacuum sealer recommendation.  A couple of people e-mailed me with suggestions.  Both of these were Food Savers.  I bought one, it was a large and cumbersome affair, but still had the same problem with a lack of suction that the others had.  So I returned it after a week and started researching other choices.

Then out of the blue I was contacted by a rep from Oliso.  What can I say? I'm partial to vacuum sealer reps who also happen to read The Monkeyface News.  In any event he sent me the "Oliso Pro" and here is the happy result (see vacuum-sealed eel fillets above).

Honestly, if you live in an apartment like I do, you will appreciate the small size of this little sucker (and I mean sucker... the thing is the Marilyn Chambers of vacuum sealers).

So support your local vacuum sealer company (whose employees support the Monkeyface News).  Huzzah!

Ok.  That's going to do it for September 2013.  Don't forget I'm looking for East Bay drop off locations!

Anyhoo... Until October... see ya at, on, or in the H2O!

KIrk-out