Moss Landing fishermen enjoy themselves despite salmon season
closure
The weather wasn’t too bad; sunny but cold. The ocean was
choppy, and there was the occasional strong gust of wind, but there
were still a few brave souls who chose to take their boats out on
the water. There was live music, plenty of food and good friends
sharing laughs out on the dockside.
Moss Landing fishermen enjoy themselves despite salmon season closure
The weather wasn’t too bad; sunny but cold. The ocean was choppy, and there was the occasional strong gust of wind, but there were still a few brave souls who chose to take their boats out on the water. There was live music, plenty of food and good friends sharing laughs out on the dockside.
In fact, there was only one thing missing from the 2008 Salmon Season Opener Party at Moss Landing Harbor – fishing for salmon.
After the Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to close the annual sport salmon season due to low water levels, Moss Landing Harbor Master Linda McIntyre thought about canceling events planned for the season opening celebration. She quickly decided against it.
“We wanted them to come out anyway,” McIntyre said. “Everyone is extremely sad (about the season’s cancellation). We were hoping to lift their spirits.”
The Moss Landing Harbor is a rather unique place, full of fun things to do besides fishing. There are antique stores, fresh fish markets, flower and fruit stands and charming restaurants. There is a full access RV campground where guests can stay overnight to enjoy activities such as bird watching, surfing, kayaking, checking out the area’s sea otters, walking natural trails, boating and beachcombing. There is, McIntyre said, something for everyone.
“There is so much to do here; it really is a hidden treasure,” she said. “It’s so beautiful here; sometimes I can’t believe I get paid to work here.”
It was that beauty, and all of the great activities and places Moss Landing has to offer, that McIntyre was hoping would bring in guests to what she dubbed the “Non-Opener Party.” She wasn’t disappointed – more than 100 people showed up to camp, enjoy the area and hang out with family and friends.
“Well, we were hoping right ’till the last moment it would open up,” said Ned Nuddleman, 67, of Livermore, referring to the season’s closure. “But we figured we could cook a little, eat a little, fish a little anyway.”
Although it is also halibut season, the choppy ocean and cool weather kept most guests from putting their boats into the water. A few people, such as Lloyd Perceval, from Fremont, tried a bit of fishing, but quickly ended up back at camp.
“I didn’t catch any, but I didn’t try too hard,” Perceval said, about his attempt to catch some halibut. “It’s getting rough out there. We didn’t come here to get beat up, we came here to party.”
Perceval, 50, has been coming out to Moss Landing with his friends for the salmon season opener for almost 14 years, and says this was the first time he didn’t bring his boat. The lack of fishing didn’t ruin his good time, however. Perceval’s group arrived in Moss Landing on Friday, and spent the weekend camping and reminiscing about past trips to the harbor.
“I don’t think any of us will make it out fishing today after a party like last night,” he said the next morning.
Partying into the late hours is just one part of the salmon season tradition, McIntyre said, and one that was kept alive in spite of the season’s cancellation. Like Perceval, many of the guests this weekend were regulars who came to the harbor anyway because they didn’t want to miss out on the fun.
“Most of us are the original ones. We’ve been coming here since it was a dirt lot,” said Andi Clarke, 40, of Los Banos, referring to the harbor’s newly paved parking area. “These people aren’t even friends. They are family.”
A small salmon population, as well as low water levels and lower than normal water temperatures, prompted the Pacific Fishery Management Council to shut down this year’s sport salmon season in California and Oregon, the first time in the federal agency’s 22-year existence the season has been cancelled. Salmon fishing season traditionally runs from April through mid-November. The decision not only hurts an estimated 2.4 million anglers in California, but almost 1,000 commercial fishermen as well, which could drive up the price of wild salmon here on the west coast. The American Sportfishing Association estimates sport salmon fishing brings in about $4 billion to the state each year.
Although she is saddened by the council’s decision, McIntyre said she understands why council members felt the need to cancel the season.
“The projected number of salmon swimming up river to spawn is between 68,000 and 70,000, which is extremely low,” she said. “Normally there is as many as 189,000 salmon right now. Any salmon anybody caught right now would deplete the adult population.”
Additionally, the number of 2-year-old fish returning to spawn – called jacks – is down, from an expected 157,000 to just 6,000.
The cancellation has already impacted Moss Landing Harbor District – quite a few of the harbor’s 600 slips for both recreational and commercial ships are sitting empty, and McIntyre said she will not be hiring any seasonal employees this year.
“We’ve seen a reduction in customers and a reduction in staffing, because we aren’t going to need any extra help. The local economy will be hurt as well, because campers go into town to eat and buy goods. There will definitely be a domino effect,” she said. “But it would be very irresponsible of me to say ‘go ahead and fish’ because we would only be hurting the future of salmon fishing.”
McIntyre said she hopes guests will continue to visit Moss Landing even without the lure of salmon fishing, and most of the fishermen camping out near the harbor this weekend said they had a good time just hanging out and swapping fish tales.
“I’ve been coming to this event for probably seven years now, and we all know each other and like seeing each other,” Richard Kent, 65, of Sunnyvale, said. “We get together four or six times a year. We have very strong feelings for each other.”
Where to go:
Moss Landing Harbor District’s North Harbor is located at 2400 Hwy. 1. Recreational activities available include nature tours, kayaking, wildlife viewing, walking trails, beachcombing, camping, surfing and boating. The harbor also offers a fuel dock, boat yard, marine welder, sail maker, dry storage, fresh fish markets, restaurants, coffee shop, deli, a bed and breakfast inn, post office, convenience store, RV Park and a community park with barbecue pits. Shower and laundry facilities are available on site. For more information about the harbor’s facilities, services and slip availability, visit the harbor’s Web site at www.mosslandingharbor.dst.ca.us.
