Got to go ashore in Nootka today. It’s the point of first contact between Eropeans and Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation. Pretty cool lighthouse. The highlight was visiting Sandford Williams wood carving studio. His work is world renowned, and pretty incredible to see in person. Seems like he uses few to no power tools and does everything by hand. He had few pieces for sale as he reported spending a lot of time on commissioned totem poles for fishing lodges.

He was working on a beautiful paddle with a salmon pattern when we visited. On the way out, we got invited to join a cougar hunt. It was getting a bit too interested in some of the young campers last night, a shot scared it off, but all of the little ones were waiting on tue dock to get ferried out as a precaution. As we were leaving, one of the year round residents was heading off to find it and finish it off. If only I had the right footwear 

https://hashilthsa.com/news/2019-08-23/guided-spirits-master-carver-finds-inspiration-ancestral-home

This brings back memories.  Probably 15 years ago, we got on ferried over to Yuquot, Nootka with 3 kayaks, camped there and fished from there.  Good times.

-Allen

The general rule of thumb is to be cautious of swells with a short period between sets. For example; swell height of 6’ with a period of 3 seconds or less between sets, (swell being “X” and the period being 0.5X or less).

Not sure you got that ratio right, so I'm gonna check this as it feels like dangerous info to me.  6' at 3 seconds is extremely steep and dangerous.  I don't think you see this steep very often.  I don't think I've ever seen 2:1 ratio.  I find 6' at 6 seconds to also be steep and uncomfortable but doable depending on my mood and the wind and windchop.  1:1.5 (6' at 9s) is ok.  1:2 (6' at 12s) is good on the water, but start minding the surf break as these are starting to be long period swells.  1:3 (6' at 18s) is going to be booming surf and you'd probably barely notice it on the water.  All at 6', so scale a bit for smaller or larger waves.

-Allen

Oh shit, that's our Etienne.  Too funny.

-Allen

Quote from: polepole on May 08, 2024, 10:25:21 AM

What do the different color bands mean?  How do I interpret this data?

-Allen

The higher the "mean" the more mercury accumulated.   Of course this data is not "perfect"  due to the different sample size but it gives you the idea about mercury accumulated in these species.

I get that part, the more mercury accumulated.  At what color does it go from ok to bad?  And what is the units of measurement?

-Allen

Quote from: polepole on May 01, 2024, 03:56:32 PM

Quote from: AlsHobieOutback on May 01, 2024, 12:56:36 PM

Quote from: Bulldog---Alex on May 01, 2024, 12:20:34 PM

Has anyone tested retrieving what might be a larger fish at slower retrieval from deeper water? I will try and report when the time arises.

I have not had issues with barotrauma at inshore  because most of my inshore fishing in a kayak is usually no more than 80 ft in places I frequent around the Monterey bay

According to this PDF from the DFG on barotrauma: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=36345

Myth: Reeling a fish in slowly prevents barotrauma.
Fact: Rockfish cannot acclimate to the pressure drop even when reeled in slowly.

Quote

Myth: You can tell by looking whether a fish will survive or die.

According to published results of a Sea Grant
study led by researchers at Cal State Long Beach:
The degree of barotrauma in a fish is not a reliable
predictor of its survival. The most significant
predictor of post-release survivorship is the time a
fish spends at the surface.

Descend them all please, regardless of what they look like.

-Allen

If a fish can go down on it's own, lets say quick release at the water line, does that also mean that it's being less subjugated to the stress of barotrauma?

The studies don't distinguish.  Descend them all for maximum benefit.  Also, how many times have you released a rockfish only to have it pop up 30 seconds later?  That 30 seconds could mean the difference between life and death.

-Allen

I have not had issues with barotrauma at inshore  because most of my inshore fishing in a kayak is usually no more than 80 ft in places I frequent around the Monterey bay

You have had problems with inshore baraotrauma in less than 80 feet.  You just don't see it.  I'm going to keep beating this drum. All rockfish that are released should be descended whether or not you observe barotrauma.

-Allen

I pulled up this 28" yelloweye from 120 ft. I had to keep adding weights to the descender. It took over four pounds of lead to finally descend her. Since then, I pack a 5 lb lead ball with me and it works 100% of the time.

Barotrauma varies with each individual fish. Some come up bloated, others seem to swim back down on their own. Yelloweye seem to suffer barotrauma the most frequently, even when reeled up from 90-100 ft. Reeling them up slowly will not make a difference. Rockfish have a physoclistous swim bladder. The gas exchange occurs via the bloodstream.

Pack a 5 lb lead ball with you, and you'll be set. Pack less at your own/the fish's risk.

This.  And, descend all rockfish you are releasing, whether it appears like it needs to or not.  It’s best for ALL fish.

-Allen