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Recreation
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- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
The data gathered through this survey will help inform the California Department of Fish and Wildlife about angler preferences for open fishing dates during the upcoming 2019 season, and will be used to develop recommended season dates that will be provided to the National Marine Fisheries Service.
The survey can be found online through Friday, Feb. 15.
The Pacific Halibut fishery takes place off Northern California.
In 2018, the fishery was open May 1 to June 15, July 1 to 15, Aug. 1 to 15 and Sept. 1 to 21.
The fishery closed Sept. 21 at 11:59 p.m. due to projected attainment of the 30,940 net pound quota.
The 2019 quota will be 39,000 net pounds, approximately 8,000 net pounds greater than the 2018 quota.
For more information, please visit the CDFW Pacific Halibut Fishery Web page.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Question: I am a Colorado resident, although I grew up in California and attended college at UC Santa Barbara. My degree is in Aquatic Biology and I am interested in the science behind waterfowl banding studies.
I hunted waterfowl in California with my out-of-state license this past weekend and shot my first goose. It had two bands, one on each leg. I recorded my information on the federal U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Bird Banding Lab website and found out that it had been banded near Nuiqsut, Alaska. I made enchiladas out of it that night.
Why the two bands? (Sam L., Westminster, Colorado)
Answer: Congratulations on your first goose – and a banded one at that! And thank you for coming all the way out to California to hunt here. California's waterfowl hunting opportunities are a huge draw for out-of-state hunters.
The band information you provided tells us that your goose was banded by one of our partners at the USGS-Alaska Science Center. Your goose is a lesser snow goose and was banded 2,500 miles away as the crow (well, actually, the goose) flies, from where you shot it.
Your goose had what we technically refer to as a band and a color marker. The band contains the number that tells us exactly when and where it was banded and by whom. The other band is the color marker.
Many researchers use other auxiliary markers (color leg bands, neck collars, radio transmitters, flags and tags) along with federal bands to allow identification of a bird at a distance. To use any of these auxiliary markers, researchers need to have federal banding permits and additional marking authorization.
Thank you for reporting the data! Hunters are a critical element of our data collection efforts. Our waterfowl banding studies have been ongoing, in one form or another, for more than 100 years.
As a biologist yourself, you are acutely aware of the importance of collecting all available data to improve the accuracy of their resource assessments. The principal investigator conducting the study involving your goose will be notified of your recovery and your data will contribute to important migration research.
We hope you enjoyed your goose enchiladas. Safe travels back to Colorado!
What's the deal with the special late goose season?
Question: I hunt a duck club in the Sacramento Valley only a few miles north of the Sutter/Sacramento County line.
Can you please explain the special goose hunt after the close of the normal waterfowl hunting season? I know I can hunt geese but can't hunt ducks. What are the limits on geese for that special season? Are they the same as the regular season? (Bob)
Answer: No, they are not the same! It is very important to check regulations for the area you wish to hunt to see if there is a late season for geese. The late goose season is for white-fronted (aka specklebellies or specks) geese and white geese only.
Your Sacramento Valley club is in the Balance of the State Zone, for which the season extends from the second Saturday in February extending for a period of five days (Feb. 9-13) except in the Sacramento Valley Special Management Area, where the white-fronted goose season is closed.
During the Late Season, hunting is not permitted on wildlife areas listed in sections 550-552 except on Type C wildlife areas in the North Central and Central regions.
Most goose populations that winter in California, including white-fronted and lesser snow geese, are at or above population goals and can remain in California through late spring.
The California Fish and Game Commission approved the late season goose hunts with the goal of reducing goose crop depredation on private lands by shifting geese onto public areas. Late season goose hunts have created a new type of hunting opportunity that is attracting both new and experienced hunters, unlike what we have seen in the past.
We are finding many waterfowl hunters are forgoing their traditional tank blinds surrounded by water and opting for dry fields with goose decoy spreads. Many are reporting incredible goose hunts.
As a side note, the late season white-fronted and snow goose hunts have motivated us to feature the lesser snow goose on this year's Warden Stamp. They are available for purchase online and the funds help pay for training, equipment and CDFW's K-9 program.
If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, email
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The trail, envisioned by Sen. Mike McGuire’s landmark law SB 1029, turns the crumbling 300-mile North Coast railroad line into the Great Redwood Trail.
“The Great Redwood Trail will be a world class destination for hikers, cyclists and nature lovers here at home and from across the globe. Stretching from San Francisco Bay to Humboldt Bay, the Trail will encompass 300 miles of the most beautiful landscapes on the planet,” Sen. McGuire said.
Trail advocates and planners from Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino and Humboldt counties participated in this four-hour initial meeting, which covered all aspects of the trail.
The North Coast Rail Authority, which currently owns the Right of Way, also participated in today’s initial planning session. McGuire’s law changed their mandate from freight rail to focusing on launching the Great Redwood Trail project.
“An enormous amount of effort from thousands of folks from all over Northern California went into the Legislation last year, and we were thrilled to see it signed into law,” McGuire said of SB 1029. “Now the real work of the Trail begins. Today’s meeting was just the beginning. Later this spring and into the summer, we will be hosting two Town Hall Meetings with the community. These important gatherings will advance critical conversations, review ideas, receive input from neighbors and residents, and talk about how the Great Redwood Trail proposal will transform into a project that will benefit generations of residents.”
While the public process advances, under SB 1029, the California Department of Finance is conducting a thorough audit of the NCRA finances and the Department of Natural Resources is examining potential trail alignment, trail construction, long-term management costs, terrain suitability, rail banking potential, property easements and the possible governance structure of the trail.
Once these studies are complete, Senator McGuire will advance legislation to enact the recommendations of the Departments.
Below is a map of the trail and surrounding areas, courtesy of Sen. McGuire’s office.
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- Written by: Napa Valley Cricket Club
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. – The Napa Valley Cricket Club, or NVCC, had its annual Player of the Year awards hosted by the club’s main sponsor Clos du Val winery recently.
The year 2018 was the club’s busiest season yet on the field which meant that that competition was again strong this year for the four statistical based awards.
In addition to these NVCC President Rob Bolch awarded an annual President’s Award to a member who has contributed to the club over and above.
The winner of the 2018 award was New Zealander Martin Mackenzie. Mackenzie, a member of the club since its founding in 2012 was honored by Bolch for his substantial behind the scenes work in 2018.
The winner of the “All Rounder” of the year award was Indian Karan Grewal, who takes the award for the second year running. Grewal contributed strongly in all three cricketing disciplines – batting, bowling, and fielding – in 2018.
Grewal’s numbers for 2018 were: batting – 14 innings for 351 runs with an average of 29.25 runs and a high of 67 runs; in the bowling department, Grewal bowled 86.2 overs at a cost of 361 runs taking 24 wickets with an average of a wicket every 15 balls bowled. In the field, Grewal took 7 catches.
The individual awards for batting, bowling, and fielding were won by Indian Sorabh Das, New Zealander Bernie Peacock and again Das for the fielding award. Das batted 15 innings for 266 runs with an average of 17.73 runs and a high of 55 runs. Peacock bowled 68.1 overs at a cost of 264 runs taking 20 wickets with an average of a wicket every 13.2 balls. Das excelled in the field in 2018 with 8 catches, and he was also involved in 1 run-out.
Bolch handed out a number of milestone awards during the evening with Club Captain Bernie Peacock receiving an award for his “Hatrick” (three wickets in consecutive balls) against Marin CC in August.
Now that the NVCC is seven years old a number of members have reached other milestones and they were recognized on the night. Phil Bourke, Peacock, and Bijoy Ojha have now all played 50 matches for the NVCC while Irishman Andrew Healy marked 2018 by taking his 50th wicket. Mackenzie becomes only the second player in the clubs’ history to score more than 1000 runs while Bourke is the first player in the history of the NVCC to pass the 50 catches / stumpings / run-outs milestone.
NVCC President Bolch paid tribute on the evening to all of those who have made 2018 such a successful year both on and off the field. The NVCC toured to Los Angeles early in 2018, playing at the famed Woodley Park, and hosted visiting teams from Malibu and Vancouver, and ran a number of very successful and well attended social events throughout the year.
As the awards drew to a close the Life Members of the NVCC - Bourke, Healy, Pete Carson, and Tim Irwin - bestowed life membership on club president Bolch in recognition of the contribution that he made since the foundation of the club.