Mendocino Fun » Ocean Safety

Did Anyone See Shark Swarm?

dff — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:33:21 +0000

Last summer, they filmed the movie Shark Swarm here in the Mendocino area. It finally aired for the first time yesterday on the Hallmark Channel, but we don’t get that channel in Mendocino. The movie stars Darryl Hannah and John Schneider. Here is a review of the movie — thanks to Debra DeGraw for the pointer. It’s pretty fun when the film crews come to town — they were shooting all around the area last year. It’s a hoot to see places you know in a movie…. I was just watching “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming” recently, which was filmed all around the area. I even know someone who got to be an extra in the film as a young boy. Fun stuff! Check out the Chamber Visitor Center when you come up here — they have a lot of information about the many movies filmed here over the last 100 years.

2008 Abalone Season Opens on April 1

dff — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:20:41 +0000

With the advent of Spring comes the opening of the 2008 abalone season on the Mendocino Coast. Beginning April 1st, the waters north of San Francisco Bay are open for abalone fishing. There’s a new tagging requirement for abalone this year, on top of all of the previous regulations. Free divers and shore pickers are now required to tag their catches as soon as they exit the water.

Here are the 2008 California regulations for abalone:

Red abalone can be taken from April 1 through June 30, and from August 1 through November 30. The waters are closed during July for a recovery period during the high-take season.
The daily limit per person is 3 per day, with a maximum of 24 per year.
Abalone have to be at least 7 inches in diameter.
They can only be taken by hand or with abalone irons. Scuba gear is prohibited.
All persons 16 and older must have a California fishing license, as well as an abalone report card.
Abalone must be tagged with a tag from the report card immediately upon exiting the water (to the shore or a motorized boat). People in kayaks can wait until they reach shore.
Abalone must remain in the shell with tags attached until being prepared for immediate consumption.

You can find out more on the Web site for the CA Department of Fish and Game, including a video on how to use the new tags.

Have fun, and be safe! Check out our page on Ocean Safety for some tips on remaining safe around the ocean.

National Safe Boating Week Coming

bruce — Fri, 11 May 2007 21:36:47 +0000

Deaths on the Coast from drownings and accidents continue to mount this year: five abalone divers in a week and a fisherman swept away by a sneaker wave while his family watched helplessly from the cliffs above. Then there was a man from Georgia, who slipped off the cliff and into the icy 54-degree Mendocino Coast sea while taking photos.

Not to dwell on the negative, but I wanted to draw your attention to National Safe Boating Week, May 19-26. The local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 87 (of which I am a member), is leading the effort. One important safety message being delivered: wear a life vest while on or in the water.

The Auxiliary will also provide vessel safety checks in Noyo Harbor and Lake Mendocino. You can get all the details at this link.

Wearing a life vest while walking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking or tidepooling along the ocean probably could save lives. Perhaps your own.