MBK 11/04 RED TIDE Persists

I decided to get one of my last days in this season and went to MBK, water was surface was perfect, light wind and swell, no one out, but immediately noticed as I was launching that the Red Tide was the worst I have ever seen it in my 30+ years on the water. Nasty red thick stuff with less than a foot of visability. Hooked about 10 fish, kept a 12" gopher and two sandabs, released upwards of 6 RF all under 10". My lady hooked a Canary and a couple of small RF too. We worked the usually "loop" from launch to the red buoy, then towards the hotel and yellow can, then all the way back out to the yellow buoy and on to the Red Channel buoy, over to the Cannary Row kelp bed, and then back to MBK-I gave it my best shot. I ran into and met Bkayaking and said hello, he was not having the best of luck that day either. It was a great day to be on the water and paddle, hopefully the water will clean up with the swell that is in and the storm that is approaching this weekend.  Cheers Mike

Ya, that red tide = gross!
Hopefully you'll fare better next time. Thanks for the report,
PK

Does that mean is it still unsafe to take Mussells at this time. I was thinking about heading up ab diving and gettin ga few of those this weekend. Is there anyway to find out when is a good time to take Mussells?

This is off the DFG website from today 11/07/07, but I can't vouch for the number as I've never called it.

You can call the toll-free Biotoxin Information line before you take any shellfish, and find out sport harvest and quarantine areas for bivalve shellfish throughout California. Their phone number is (800) 553-4133, or (510) 540-2605 if you are in Alameda or Contra Costa counties.

I believe the quarantine was lifted on Nov 1st.
Here's an old press release I received when the quarintine was enstated, back in April.
Just make sure you're picking them in an area that isn't a SMR, SMCA, LPGA, etc. And you can't use a spade or any tolls like that either...you gotta pull em with your hands. I know of some spots to get bucketfulls---PM me if interested.
PK

News Release
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
NUMBER: 07-25 DATE: April 20, 2007
CONTACT: Mike Bowman http://www.dhs.ca.gov
or Lea Brooks (916)-440-7660

ANNUAL QUARANTINE OF SPORT-HARVESTED MUSSELS IN CALIFORNIA TAKES EFFECT EARLY DUE TO ELEVATED LEVELS OF DOMOIC ACID

SACRAMENTO - The annual quarantine on sport-harvested mussels taken from the ocean waters of California for human consumption takes effect immediately because testing by the California Department of Health Services has detected elevated levels of domoic acid, State Public Health Officer Dr. Mark Horton announced today. This quarantine, which usually takes effect May 1 and continues through Oct. 31, 2007, affects all species of mussels harvested by the public anywhere on the California coast, including all bays and estuaries.

"This statewide mussel quarantine is intended to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and domoic acid poisoning (DAP)," Horton said. "The overwhelming majority of human cases of PSP illnesses occur between spring and fall. To date, no cases of human poisoning from domoic acid poisoning are known to have occurred in California.”

PSP affects the human central nervous system, producing a tingling around the mouth and fingertips within a few minutes to a few hours after eating toxic shellfish. These symptoms typically are followed by disturbed balance, lack of muscular coordination, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. In severe poisonings, complete muscular paralysis and death from asphyxiation can occur.

Symptoms of DAP can occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating toxic seafood. In mild cases, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and dizziness. These symptoms disappear completely within several days. In severe cases, the victim may experience excessive bronchial secretions, difficulty breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular instability, seizures, permanent loss of short term memory, coma and death.

"There is no known antidote to the toxins and cooking cannot be relied upon to destroy them," Horton said. "If you have any of the symptoms, you should seek immediate medical care."

Consumers of sport-harvested, bivalve (two-shelled) clams or scallops are advised to eat only the white meat, removing and discarding the dark-colored organs or viscera before cooking. Shellfish for human consumption should only be taken from areas free of sewage or chemical contamination during all times of the year.

No commercially harvested shellfish are included in the annual quarantine. All commercial shellfish harvesters in California are certified by the state and subject to strict requirements to ensure that all oysters, clams and mussels entering the marketplace are free of toxins. Commercial harvesting is stopped immediately if potentially dangerous levels of toxins are found.

The California Department of Health Services’ (CDHS) shellfish sampling and testing program for PSP and DAP issues warnings or establishes special quarantines when needed. Local health departments, various state and federal agencies and others participate in the monitoring program.

For updated information on quarantines and shellfish toxins, call the CDHS shellfish information line at (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133.

solsrf1, good to put a face w/ a name! Glad we met. Our day was similar to yours. Red
tide certainly thick. We got started mid day. Sorry for my late report... The guy I was
with (the almost deaf one..., Mike, I had to laugh listening to you just trying to say "Hey", exchange reports, etc. He just couldn't hear ya and you tried hard!!!!!!), landed
16" cabbie on cut squid. Otherwise, between us maybe a dozen, 8" to 14" assorted rockies on copper grubbs w/ orange tail. All C/R. All caught close in by Hotel. 15' to 25'.
Very calm day. Better than being on the beach! Think next time I'll fish whole anchovies
or live jack smelt off the breakwater for Lings!