Anchovies on the Beach

Something I've never seen before. Couple days ago a school of Northern Anchovy somehow got caught in the surf at Navarro Beach. An immense feeding frenzy took place, lasting for several hours according to a couple I talked to. I estimated at least 1,000 birds were present, perhaps twice that, and two or three dozen sea lions in addition to the resident harbor seals.

I wasn't prepared, or I could have loaded up on bait. Never saw Anchovy on the beach before.

This does happen on occasion. In the distant past a large school was pushed into the surf edge off the Russian river by a school of salmon. The salmon hung around for a couple of weeks. Surf casting was fantastic for big fish.

Washed in so thick @ Davenport Landing once
Started pumping them in with the seawater at the Abalone Farm

Two different times I've seen sardines get caught inside a favorite reef over near Cape Mendo at a minus tide.  Should've had a net and a big cooler.