Noyo Harbor Confidential

The Bite Is On

by Jim Martin

NOYO SALMON. The ocean here is bursting with life and energy. From the tiny phytoplankton, to the clouds of dungeness crab larvae, the squid, the sardine, the pelagic larval rockfish. In swoop thousands upon thousands of chinook salmon at the crack of June, devouring the little babies of the denizens of the deep. The larval output collects in tidal rips, floating on top, with birds working at the surface in conjunction with the salmon boiling like bass in a millpond. Everything is feeding on the spawning biomass. The June Noyo Salmon Bite is On.

DAWN BROKE last Saturday morning, and the South Harbor was packed with trucks and departing fishermen at 5 am. With a record minus 2.1 foot low tide at 8am, a few boats got stuck in the mud going out. Forty dozen boats got out before the river closed up. Postcard perfect: rosy-fingered dawn over the town just waking up; the low light on the greasy flat water; the rush of anticipation as we rig the baits just so and send them to that depth.

BINGO. It wasn't five minutes before Brad Clark, President of the Salmon Restoration Association, hooked a large king salmon weighing 28 pounds on the scale. At first it came right to the boat. Then it woke up and sounded to the bottom. After a careful and slow crank to bring the fish to the surface, we could see its silver side and I netted the beauty on the first try. What a way to start your Saturday morning, 0615, with a near-30 pounder in the box.

CENCAL DIVE MEET AT BIG RIVER. I stopped by the weigh-in after the CENCAL spearfishers diving competition. The teams compete for points awarded for the size and variety of their fish. Bob Humphrey described getting off the a slow start after forgetting to bring some of his gear, but he ended up with a heavy stringer of black rockfish, a 26" cabezon, and a lingcod well over 30" that was close to 20 pounds. (Spearfishing, bank and shore rockfishing is open, while angling from vessels is closed until August 1st).

ABALONE POACHERS PLEAD GUILTY. Kurt Ward and Joshua Holt, arrested for possession of 468 abalone off Elk last month, have plead guilty in court. Sentencing by Judge David Nelson is scheduled for June 30th.

SB 1319 PASSES ASSEMBLY VOTE. The "California Ocean Protection Act" appears to be headed toward the Governor's desk. The bill would redirect $30 million of "clean water" bond money toward a new agency to "coordinate" ocean policy. The Schwarzenegger Administration is leaning to oppose the bill, unless significant changes are made.

FISH CHOWDER: A reader writes: "This is from John J. 'Pie' Harter of Port Royal, South Carolina. The nickname of Pie is because no pie cooling in the window or on the porch was safe from him. He later became Mayor of Port Royal and named his shrimp boat HIZZONER. This is exactly as he wrote it out for me: 'Dice 1/4 lb. of salt pork. In large pot, slowly fry salt pork in 3 tablespoons bacon grease until pork is clear. Add 1 qt water. Dice 3 medium to large Irish potatoes and add. Add two #2 cans of tomatoes — if whole break them up some. Chop and add 3-4 medium onions. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and 1/4 cup of sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves and return to simmer. Add 2 - 2 1/2 lbs. 1/2 inch fresh fish chunks — firm white flesh is best. Simmer 25 - 30 minutes; Season to taste and serve.'"

WORLD'S LARGEST SALMON BBQ BASTING SAUCE: 1 cup butter or olive oil; 1/3 cup lemon juice; 1- 1/2 tsp. soy sauce; 1- 1/2 tsp. worcestershire sauce; 2 Tbls fresh parsley; 1 tsp basil; 1 tsp oregano; 1/2 tsp garlic powder; salt & pepper to taste. Melt butter and add remaining ingredients. Baste on salmon while cooking. —from Favorite Seafood Recipes by Noyo Commercial Fishermen's Wives (highly recommended).

Got a fishing report, story, recipe, or a comment? Contact me at 707-964-8326 or www.noyoharborconfidential.com, or POB 2420, Ft. Bragg, CA 95437.