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Recreation
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Recreational ocean salmon fishing in the Klamath Management Zone (KMZ), the area between the Oregon/California state line and Horse Mountain (40° 05’ 00” N. latitude), will open May 10 and continue through Sept. 7 with a 24-inch minimum size limit.
KMZ-area anglers should be conscious of closures at the mouths of the Klamath and Smith rivers throughout the season, as well as a closure at the mouth of the Eel River during August and September.
Fishery biologists predict moderately large numbers of Klamath and Sacramento River fall Chinook salmon along California’s coastal waters, providing substantial fishing opportunity.
In areas south of Horse Mountain, the recreational ocean salmon season opened on April 5 and continues through Nov. 9 in the Fort Bragg and San Francisco areas. In the Monterey-south area, the season ends Oct. 5.
“Along the Central Coast, ocean anglers have experienced some good fishing up until this point,” said Marci Yaremko, CDFW Environmental Program Manager with the Marine Region. “Many of the sport anglers that fished in Monterey Bay on opening weekend had their limits by 9 a.m.”
Statewide, the daily bag limit is two salmon of any species except coho. New this season, the salmon possession limit has been changed to two daily bag limits when on land; however when on a vessel in ocean waters, no person shall possess or bring ashore more than one daily bag limit.
Anglers should be aware that minimum size limits differ among management areas. In the Fort Bragg area, which extends from Horse Mountain to Point Arena (38° 57’ 30” N. latitude), there is a 20-inch minimum size limit.
In the San Francisco area, which extends from Point Arena to Pigeon Point (37° 11’ 00” N. latitude), there is a 24-inch minimum size limit through the end of June, and a 20-inch minimum size limit thereafter.
For areas south of Pigeon Point, including the Monterey Bay area, there is a 24-inch minimum size limit throughout the season.
North of Point Conception (34° 27’ 00” N. latitude), not more than two single-point, single-shank barbless hooks shall be used and no more than one rod per angler is allowed when fishing for salmon or fishing from a boat with salmon on board. When fishing with bait by any means other than trolling between Horse Mountain and Point Conception, barbless circle hooks are required.
These seasons and minimum size and bag limits were adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission and the Pacific Fishery Management Council during their public meetings held in April.
For complete ocean salmon regulations, please visit the ocean salmon Web page at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/oceansalmon.asp or call the Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline, 707-576-3429.
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – Similar to the “CSI” television series, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and university researchers have used a multidisciplinary approach they call “forensic genomics” to investigate a mysterious die-off of red abalone and other species along the Sonoma Coast in Northern California.
A paper describing this new approach was published in the April 16 issue of the scientific journal Nature Communications.
In 2011, large numbers of red abalone, sea stars, sea urchins and other marine invertebrates were found dead along 62 miles of Sonoma County coastline.
The die-off, which occurred in relatively shallow water, did not affect fish.
Like CSI detectives, environmental scientists Laura Rogers-Bennett of CDFW and Pierre De Wit of Stanford University collaborated with others to determine exactly what caused the die-off.
CDFW wildlife officers collected samples of the first dead abalone that washed ashore, and CDFW biologists, who had just completed abalone monitoring dives for the year, gathered forces to complete a new set of reconnaissance dives to assess the damage and collect water samples from the area.
CDFW Environmental Scientist Kristin Hubbard nets a plankton sample.
CDFW Senior Environmental Scientist Laura Rogers-Bennett prepares a plankton sample for testing.
An unprecedented red tide, or algae bloom, that coincided with the die-off was suspected of playing a role in the event.
At the time, Rogers-Bennett noted that, “If the cause of the die-off is linked to a harmful algae bloom, it would be the first scientifically confirmed report of such an occurrence off the Sonoma Coast.”
Samples from the dead abalone tested negative for the usual algae bloom-related suspects that occur along the California coast, including domoic acid and paralytic shellfish toxin.
Researchers did notice that Gonyaulax algae, which can sometimes produce toxins, was abundant in water samples.
However, the single time Gonyaulax toxin had been previously detected in California waters, it did not cause a die-off.
De Wit had joined Rogers-Bennett only a few months before the die-off to gather red abalone samples at Fort Ross.
The two planned to use the samples to sequence the red abalone’s whole transcriptome, genetic material that tells where genes are turned on or off at the time of sampling.
Neither researcher could have realized at the time that the transcriptome would play a key role in identifying the culprit behind the die-off.
Because scientists know which genes turn on or off when exposed to various natural toxins, they can identify the toxins that cause an animal’s illness or death through genetic examination.
After the die-off, the two researchers took samples from surviving abalone at Fort Ross, and De Wit compared the transcriptomes of abalone sampled before and after the event.
His genetic comparison showed that the surviving abalone had all been exposed to Gonyaulax toxin.
De Wit found that the genes known to be affected by the toxin were “turned on” in those abalone, said Rogers-Bennett. No other toxic fingerprints were found.
The new genetic testing provided a powerful method to finally establish the cause of the die-off, supported by other findings such as the traces of Gonyaulax toxin found in the gut tracts of dead abalone and the abundance of the algae in the water.
“Looking forward, the key to using forensic genomics successfully is to gather baseline genetic information from wildlife populations before the next mass mortality event,” said Rogers-Bennett.
Being able to identify the cause will help CDFW marine fishery managers respond to die-offs with the most appropriate regulatory adjustments.
Forensic genomics holds promise as a method for tracking not only other natural toxin events caused by algal blooms, but also tracking the effects of low-oxygen and acidification events and ocean warming.
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COBB, Calif. – The 2013 Dogs at Boggs was a bow-wowing, tail-wagging success, so Friends of Boggs Mountain is welcoming dog lovers and leashed, friendly dogs to the second annual Dogs at Boggs on Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
A fun morning of hiking at Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest in beautiful Lake County will include 30 minutes of dog handling tips specifically for forest visitors.
Hiking guides will then lead an informative, leisurely 1.5-mile exploration of Boggs trails.
The theme for this year’s hike will be, “The Edible Forest.” No leaf will remain unsniffed.
Children are welcome at this free event. Canine participants will receive an “I’m a Boggs Dog” button and a bag of delicious additive-free treats provided by co-sponsor Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Co. Inc. Refreshments will be provided for humans.
Dogless? If you would enjoy a slow dog-centered hike without bringing a dog, you are also welcome. RSVP is required. RSVP early, as space is limited, by calling Karen at 707-321-4964.
The forest is located about 1.5 miles north of Cobb off State Hwy 175. For a map and directions visit www.boggsmountain.org .
Also, the first edition Boggs Mountain Coloring Book will be offered for sale for the first time at Dogs at Boggs.
Designed and illustrated by Karen Rhoads and published by Friends of Boggs Mountain, the 7-inch by 8.5-inch booklet includes eight plant, bird, and butterfly species from Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest, identified by common and Latin names.
The coloring book is printed on acid-free art paper rather than commercial printing paper, and is suitable for crayons, colored pencil, light watercolor, pen and ink, and other media.
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MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Downtown Tennis Academy will hold sign ups for junior tennis lessons starting on Monday, May 5.
The lessons are for children ages 5 to 17.
Sign ups will take place at the Middletown tennis courts on Mondays, Quail Run Fitness in Lakeport on Tuesdays and Thursday, Riviera Hills tennis courts in Kelseyville on Wednesdays and Upper Lake tennis courts on Fridays.
Contact Don Purdy at 707-245-0443 or
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