Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/94108
2B Daily News – Saturday, November 17, 2012 Outdoorlife living Steelhead migrate as adults from the Pacific Ocean into freshwater streams and rivers to spawn. The dam at Bear Creek was on private property in Wood- side and blocked fish passage for more than 60 years. Area, fish barriers have been identified as a limiting factor for the steelhead population. The removal of this dam on Bear Creek, a tributary to San Francis- quito Creek, will allow steelhead for the first time in decades to access historic habitat for spawn- ing and rearing, and improve ecological connectivity for other fish and wildlife resources. "With few streams left in the Bay Area that support self-sus- taining steelhead populations, protecting and enhancing these watersheds is vital for the con- tinued existence of these fish," said DFG Environmental Scien- tist Kristine Atkinson. native to Bear Creek, the Central California Coastal Evolutionari- ly Significant Unit was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1997. DFG and NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement worked collabora- tively with the property owner to remedy the situation. "Habitat loss and degradation is a high priority for us under ESA, and this case is a good example of how providing com- pliance assistance helps us solve problems collaboratively," said Martina Sagapolu, acting Special Agent in Charge for NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement's Southwest Division. "Partnering with landowners as well as agen- The population of steelhead & Federal, state and non-profit organizations partner to open 6 miles of fish habitat in San Mateo County NOAA Fisheries, the Califor- nia Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and the Fishery Foundation of California recent- ly completed removal of a 7-foot dam, re-opening more than six miles of spawning habitat for federally protected steelhead. In the San Francisco Bay cies such as DFG and NOAA Fisheries Restoration Center is critical to our success." The removal of the dam took two years to complete and cost approximately $30,000. Funding for the project was provided by both the private landowner and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's San Francisco Bay Salmonid Habitat Restoration Fund. To view a time-lapse video of the project, visit http://youtu.be/00O17tSE6Ak. "Recovery of threatened and endangered species is a tremen- dous, long-term challenge that offers lasting benefits to the health of our environment and communities," said biologist Joe Pecharich, of the NOAA Fish- eries Restoration Center. "Our work is far from over in the San Francisquito Creek watershed. There are still a number of barri- ers that DFG and NOAA are looking into for enhancement opportunities." California Outdoors Q&A When Fishing with Kids, What's Required? Question: I was always taught as a kid fishing in the streams in the high Sierras and Mother Lode lakes that a child under 16 had to count their catches under their licensed parent's or other adult's license on site. My question is, can a child capable of catching their own fish without assistance from an adult catch a limit of trout, for example, Carrie Wilson separate from a licensed adult? I see this come up with parents who want to take their kids fishing (and the kids really want to learn how to fish!), but the parents are not interested enough to buy a fishing license. I'm interested in taking a group of kids fishing but can't figure out how many licenses we'll need and how many fish we can legally take. Some of these kids are too young for a license but really want to catch their own fish. Can you please clarify this for me? (Doug M.) Answer: A child or young adult 15 years of age or younger does not need a fishing license to catch their own limit of fish. They also do not need to put their catches under an adult guardian's license limit. All of the same regulations apply for them except the require- ment to purchase a fishing license. However, if fishing for sturgeon, abalone, lobster or steelhead (which all need additional report cards), then they will have to purchase those. Courtesy Department of Fish and Game The commercial Dungeness crab season will be delayed to allow crabs to grow to suitable quality. Commercial Dungeness crab season delayed off north coast The commercial Dungeness crab season north of Sonoma Coun- ty will be delayed at least two weeks to allow crabs more time to grow to ensure they are of suitable quality. at least two weeks and possibly longer if the crabs need more time to mature. The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) delayed the opening of the commercial Dunge- ness crab season after tests showed crabs in the area lacked the required body mass. The decision means the scheduled Dec. 1 open- ing will be pushed back The central Califor- nia commercial Dunge- ness crab season is set to open on schedule Nov. 15. fishery is subject to tests to ensure the crabs are not harvested pre- maturely. "Tests are routinely performed each year by the commercial fishing industry and market buyers to determine if The North Coast crab Softball Fusion Baseball the crabs are mature enough for harvest," said DFG Environmen- tal Scientist Christy Juhasz. vest should contain 25 percent of their body weight as meat. In tests performed two weeks ago, crabs from the North Coast contained only 16-18 percent body mass," Juhasz added. "Crabs ready for har- Additional testing will be done in Decem- ber, and depending on those results a further delay could be ordered. A similar delay was implemented last year off the North Coast. "Crabs from the Cen- tral Coast do not fall under the same restric- tions and so their sea- son will open as normal on Nov. 15. Fresh crab should then be immedi- ately available to con- sumers, provided the fishermen and the mar- kets can agree on mar- ket prices," Juhasz said. DFG stocks Bass Lake Take your game to the next level with this sport specific training camp! 2 Camps Gain speed, coordination, agility, and power in this 4 week camp! Camp 1 Dates: Nov. 27th - Dec. 20th Camp 2 Dates: Jan. 29th-Feb. 22th Days: Tues., Thurs. Time: 4-5pm Location: Tehama Family Fitness Center Gymnasium Instructed by: Strength and Conditioning Specialist Troy Lalaguna Cost $ 90 per Camp or $ 150 for Both and Division 1 Softball Player and Coach Aubrie Stroman 2498 South Main St, Red Bluff • 528-8656 www.tehamafamilyfitness.com with 5,000 pounds of trout Who: The Department of Fish and Game When: Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. Where: Ducey's Ramp on the east side of Bass Lake What: The Department of Fish of Game (DFG) will plant 5,000 pounds of rain- bow trout at Bass Lake. The fish stocking caps PG&E's two–year dam retrofit pro- ject completed in coopera- tion with DFG. "Working together with outside organizations to reach a common goal where natural resources can be pre- served while ensuring public safety needs are met is a win-win to me. I could not be happier with this cooper- ative effort and outcome," said Dr. Andy Gordus, DFG Staff Toxicologist. This is first of several trout stockings planned to enhance fishing opportuni- ties at the lake. DFG will plant another 4,000 pounds of trout in December. Addi- tionally, PG&E will be stocking trophy fish near the Christmas holiday. Throughout the retrofit, DFG worked closely with PG&E to monitor water quality and ensure fisheries were not impacted. DFG also helped the company develop its own trout stock- ing plan to help with lost fishing opportunities over the last two years. Question: What are the rules for hunting wild pigs and where can I find maps or private farms were I can go to hunt them? (Isaac G.) Answer: According to Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Wild Pig Program Manager Marc Keny- on, "I am asked this same question all the time!" Before going into the field, Kenyon suggests you first read the California Mammal Hunting Regulations, especially sections 352-355 and 368 (www.fgc.ca.gov/regula- tions/current/mammalregs.aspx). A good reference publication is DFG's "Guide to Hunting Wild Pigs in California." It details some of the finer points of hunting pigs and provides hunting infor- mation for public lands. To download, go to:https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?Documen- tID=23231. DFG also offers some special pig hunts, some of which are on private lands (seewww.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/pig/special- hunts.html). In addition, commercial hunting club information can be found at:https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?Documen- tID=38624&inline=true. Lastly, you may benefit from attending an advanced pig hunting education clinic. These clinics take basic hunter education to the next level by having experi- enced hunters teach advanced techniques, pig behavior, hunter ethics and more. They also provide a discussion of places to go and a demonstration of cleaning and butchering a pig. More information and a schedule of upcoming classes are available at: www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/advanced/. Tips for pig hunting Storing abalone in the freezer Question: Regulations literally say abalone must remain in the shell until ready for immediate consump- tion. Does an abalone stored at home in the freezer real- ly have to remain in the shell? If so, if intestines and guts are still attached, isn't there a possibility of food poisoning occurring? (Anonymous) Answer: The law does require that abalone remain attached to the shell until ready for immediate con- sumption. If you freeze the entire abalone whole and intact until ready for immediate consumption, the flesh and the guts are both preserved by freezing and should offer no health risks. California or Arizona license required? Question: I'm going camping in Buckskin Moun- tain State Park in Arizona. Am I allowed to fish on the Colorado River there with a California fishing license since the river is split with California? Would I have to be on the other side of the river with my current license or would I need a fish- ing stamp (Colorado River Validation)? (Aye F.) Answer: Your California fishing license is only valid when fishing from shore on the California side of the Colorado River. In order to fish from a boat in the Colorado River, you must have both a California sport fishing license and an Arizona special use stamp or val- idation. The required Colorado river stamp must be purchased through a California DFG license agent in the area. Arizona licensees must buy their stamps through Arizona Game and Fish Department license agents. For more information, please review the 2012-2013 Mar2012/. Carrie Wilson is a marine biologist with the Freshwater Sportfishing Regulation booklet (page 7) available wherever sportfishing licenses are sold or online at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/FreshFish- California Department of Fish and Game. While she cannot personally answer everyone's questions, she will select a few to answer each week. Please contact her at CalOutdoors@dfg.ca.gov.