Recreation
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – On Friday, Jan. 3, and Saturday, Jan. 4, the Clear Lake Cardinals started the new year with a bang, bringing home another tournament team trophy.
The Cardinals – down a couple more wrestlers, due to the holiday break – sent 20 wrestlers, 15 boys and five girls, to compete at the Dennis Jensen Invitational Wrestling Tournament.
As the Cardinals’ first tournament of 2020 came to an end, they finished with 14 medals: two firsts, five seconds, three thirds, three fourths, one fifth and a second-place team trophy, just behind Middletown and over teams from Lower Lake (third), Arcata (fourth) and Upper Lake (fifth).
Gold medalists:
Nathan “Bubba” Pyorre (106 lbs.) went 3-0 with two pins (one of which was a takedown pin to win in the finals overtime match, in an exciting on your feet thriller, as his team and spectators cheered him on).
Hayden Fowler (138 lbs.) was 3-0 with one pin. Both freshman boys came in as underdogs and battled through their brackets taking out the number two and number one seeds along each of their paths, to win their championship titles!
Silver medalists:
Boys: Elijah Alvarez (138 lbs.) was 2-1 with one pin. Anthony Gersalia (170 lbs.) went 1-1 with one pin.
Girls: Ashley Pyorre (108 lbs.), Ximena Soto (118 lbs.) and Mavis Pyorre (wrestling up at 128 lbs.) each went 2-1 with two pins.
Bronze medalists:
Boys: Nicholas Williamson (132 lbs.) went 3-1 with two pins. Vicente Ortega (138 lbs.) was 4-1 with one pin.
Girls: Keara Alonso-Lopez (wrestling up at 108 lbs.) went 1-2.
Fourth place medalist:
Liam Davis (145 lbs.) went 4-1 with three pins (the five match rule would not allow him to wrestle for third). Ayden Williamson (126 lbs.) was 2-2 with one pin. Raymond Gonzales-Shoaf (285 lbs.) went 2-2 with two pins.
Fifth place medalist:
Boys: Mohammad Akbari (120 lbs.) was 2-2 with two pins.
Also wrestling tough for the Cardinals was Asher Reese (113 lbs.) who went 1-2 with one pin and Drake Chesebro was at (285 lbs.). Mujtaba Akbari (120 lbs.) went 1-2 and won a fastest pin award (pinning his opponent in 15 seconds).
Getting some more wins and pins during the Friday matches of the tournament were Luis Aguilar (113 lbs.) went 1-3 with one pin, Isaac Vigil (120 lbs.) was 1-4 with one pin, Christopher Krack (220 lbs.) went 1-2 with one pin and Tara Wong for the girls (wrestling up at 108 lbs.) was 1-1 with one pin.
“This team continues to shine bright and dominate on the mat while showing great character and sportsmanship all around. We are extremely excited and will be training extra hard this week as we prepare for our very own Michael Kroppmann Memorial Tournament. Come support our team on Jan. 11. A big thanks to all of our parents and coaches for all of their dedication and support to the team,” said Head Coach Nathan Powers.
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- Written by: CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
The dos and don'ts of clamming in California
Question: I am interested in clamming at some beaches in Santa Cruz County. I have seen clams on Sunset State Beach. Where can I find rules and regulations on clamming in Santa Cruz County or Monterey County? (Romeo)
Answer: Clamming is generally done from November to April during minus tide events. You'll find the general clamming regulations in the California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 29.20. That's immediately followed by additional rules and restrictions specific to certain subspecies: Gaper clams, Washington clams, littleneck clams, soft-shell clams, chiones, northern quahogs, cockles, Pismo clams, razor clams, etc.
At Sunset State Beach, it's likely that you are encountering Pismo clams. There are restrictions specific to the harvest of Pismo clams in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties (CCR Title 14, section 29.40). In this area, there is an open season between Sept. 1 and April 30, with a daily bag limit of 10 clams that are at least a minimum size of 5 inches in greatest shell diameter.
Every clammer taking Pismo clams (or any clam that has a minimum size limit) is required to carry a device or gauge that can accurately measure the minimum legal size of clams.
The area was once a popular clamming site for clam bakes as reported by an early-1990s Sunset State Beach General Plan issued by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Between 2008-2019, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) completed 21 semi-annual fishery-independent Pismo clam surveys at this location.
Among 484 clams observed, the largest ever seen measured only 3.9 inches - well short of the minimum legal size. This may be due to predation from sea otters. Occasionally 3-4 inch clamshells are found with the hinge intact and with one valve broken, a classic sign of this predation. We do not recommend sport clamming at Sunset State Beach because of the absence of legal-sized clams.
Gaper clams occur in Elkhorn Slough in Monterey County. Clamming is prohibited within the Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve, but within the Elkhorn Slough State Marine Conservation area, clamming is allowed on the north shore of the slough in the area adjacent to the Moss Landing State Wildlife Area. There is a bag limit of 10 gaper clams, but all clams dug, regardless of size or broken condition, must be retained until the bag limit is reached.
In addition to clamming restrictions, current health advisories issued by the California Department of Public Health (which monitors biotoxins caused by algal blooms in bivalves, including clams) can be accessed by calling (800) 553-4133.
An annual mussel shellfish quarantine is enforced from May 1 to Oct. 31. This is in place to protect the public against Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning and Domoic Acid Poisoning, also known as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning. Even though mussels are a different species, we recommend taking similar precautions, and discourage the harvesting of Pismo clams during the annual mussel quarantine.
Please remember that any person 16 years of age or older who is participating in clamming is required to have a valid California sport fishing license. An Ocean Enhancement Stamp is also required for ocean fishing (including clamming) south of Point Arguello (northern Santa Barbara County) except when fishing with a one-day or two-day sport fishing license.
Transporting crab home
Question: I plan to go crab fishing with my wife and daughter. The limit of Dungeness is 10 per person, so 30 for the three of us. My daughter plans to fly home, and we plan to drive transporting all the crab. How do I transport my daughter's crab legally as I may have three limits and two fishermen on hand? (Walter)
Answer: CCR Title 14, section 29.85(3) specifies the daily limit of 10 Dungeness crabs – with no mention of possession limits. When possession limits aren't specifically mentioned in the regulations, the possession limit and the daily limit for that species are the same – 10 Dungeness crabs in this instance.
Some states have laws that allow transportation of fish or game by another sportsperson, but California does not (other than Fish and Game Code, section 2345-2348, which allows the crabs to be shipped by common carrier).
Two people driving with three limits of crab are overlimit. Don't risk a citation; keep your legal limit of 10 crabs each, and return the rest to the water.
Importing bison meat?
Question: My cousin in Wyoming invited me to go bison hunting next year in November. Are there any restrictions on bringing back bison meat to California? (Seth)
Answer: As bison are not of the family Cervidae, they are not subject to chronic wasting disease import restrictions. You will, however, need to fill out a Declaration of Entry form. Keep all licenses and/or tags required in Wyoming to take bison on your person and be ready to present them as you cross over any state lines.
If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, email
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Join the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association on New Year’s Day at noon to participate in the seventh annual “First Day Hike” at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.
America's State Parks’ “First Day Hikes” program offers individuals and families an opportunity to begin the New Year by getting outside, enjoying nature and welcoming the New Year with friends and family.
This family-friendly event begins on Wednesday, Jan. 1, at noon.
Members of the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association will help lead and organize the walk.
Participants should wear sturdy shoes and a hat. Bring water, snacks, and binoculars if you have them. Children of all ages are welcome.
Because this area is a protected natural preserve, no dogs may be brought on this walk.
Hikers will experience grasslands, oak woodlands, willow and cottonwood riparian habitats and the tule marsh habitat of the Anderson Marsh Natural Preserve, and may encounter a variety of migrating and resident birds and other wildlife.
The hike will be a leisurely three and a half mile long loop over the Cache Creek Nature Trail, the Marsh Trail and the Ridge Trail, passing by a vernal pool near the end of the walk. The hike will take between two and two and a half hours.
Steady rain will cancel the walk. To confirm or check for cancellation information, call 707-995-2658, email
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
FORT BRAGG, Calif. – On Saturday, Dec. 21, the Clear Lake Cardinals wrestling team closed out its final tournament of the decade in glorious fashion.
Even with several of their top wrestlers out due to injury, illness or other reasons, the team pulled together, just as they have done all season and accomplished their goal: to bring home a Tournament Team Trophy.
The Cardinals sent 22 wrestlers – 17 boys and five girls – to compete at the Timberwolves Holiday Bash Invitational Wrestling Tournament.
As the 2019 Holiday Bash came to an end, the Cardinals team finished with 18 medals: eight firsts, three seconds, seven thirds and the first place team trophy, beating out teams like Middletown (second), Las Plumas (third) and Fort Bragg (fourth).
“Sadly we have to wait for our medals and trophy (due to holiday shipping issues), but no hardware comes close to the feeling of triumph and the roar for our Cards in the stands after being announced victorious! The last tournament victory by the Cardinals was my freshman year in 2011 so it’s nice to have our first win together. I see many more in this team’s future as we continue to raise our competitive standard,” said Head Coach Nathan Powers.
Gold medalists:
Boys: Asher Reese (113 lbs.) went 3-0 with two pins. Ayden Williamson (124 lbs.) was 3-0 with three pins. Hayden Fowler (138 lbs.) and Axel Alvarez (182 lbs.) each went 2-0 with one pin. Anthony Gersalia (170 lbs.) and Raymond Gonzales-Shoaf (245 lbs.) were each 2-0 with two pins.
Girls: Keara Alonso-Lopez (101 lbs.) and Mavis Pyorre (118 lbs.) each went 2-0 with two pins.
Silver medalists:
Boys: Elijah Alvarez (140 lbs.) and Dominic Legendre (285 lbs.) were each 1-1 with one pin.
Girls: Ashley Pyorre (wrestling in the 106 lbs. Boys bracket) went 2-1 with two pins.
Bronze medalists:
Boys: Hernan Romero (122 lbs.) went 2-1 with 1 pin. Drake Chesebro was at (245 lbs.). Mujtaba Akbari (120 lbs.), Mohammad Akbari (126 lbs.) and Nicholas Williamson (132 lbs.) each went 1-2 with one pin.
Girls: Tara Wong was at (101 lbs.) and Ximena Soto (118 lbs.).
Also battling hard for the Cardinals were Luis Aguilar, Isaac Vigil, Samuel Vanoven and Zachary Wilcox.
“We are excited to take some time to celebrate the Holiday season with our families as we gear up for our next tournament in the New Year,” Coach Powers said.
He added that 2019 has been great for the team and “2020 will be even better with all the hard work these young men and women have committed to.”
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