Top 10 Most Polluted Beaches In State Include 6 From San Mateo Co.

https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/Top-10-Most-Polluted-Beaches-In-State-Include-6-15379929.php

San Mateo County's Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach was deemed the most polluted beach in the state due to polluted runoff from San Vicente Creek, according to Heal the Bay. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve has never appeared on a Beach Bummer list until this year.

Pillar Point Harbor at Capistrano Avenue in Half Moon Bay, Erckenbrack Park in Foster City, Pillar Point Harbor Beach, Linda Mar Beach at San Pedro Creek and Pillar Point Harbor at Westpoint Avenue were also listed among the 10 most polluted beaches in the state.

The group noted that the Pillar Point Harbor locations were all affected by pollutants from multiple storm drains that flow into the enclosed harbor.

No Campbell Cove in Bodega Bay?

Seems like it was always #2 or 3 every year back in the day.

My friend ended up in the hospital twice from fishing there. Once from eating a sandwich there and once from scraping his leg pretty bad on a rock there. E. Coli both times.

Yeah shits out there, I remember fishing Fitzgerald before it was closed, really stinky runoff near the launch.

Seems like Piller Point, Bodega and Linda Mar always top the list of most pollution...... mostly organic.

San Mateo needs to get their stuff together:

There were 18 sewage spills into bodies of water summing to 273,862 gallons. One spill sent 247,000 gallons of raw sewage into San Francisco Bay. No beaches were reported as impacted and most of the spills occurred on the bay side.

Gross.

No Campbell Cove in Bodega Bay?

Seems like it was always #2 or 3 every year back in the day.

That would suck!  Campbell pops up when you google "bodega clamming."  Its proximity to the mouth of the bay seems like a mitigating factor??

On the other hand, Santa Cruz:
https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2020/06/30/santa-cruzs-cowell-beach-falls-off-annual-beach-bummer-report/

No Campbell Cove in Bodega Bay?

Seems like it was always #2 or 3 every year back in the day.

That would suck!  Campbell pops up when you google "bodega clamming."  Its proximity to the mouth of the bay seems like a mitigating factor??

I believe it is mostly organic matter (aka bird and seal shit) that gets washed off of the rocks in the area and deposited in that bend of the harbor on high tides.

We always refer to it as Contaminated Cove.

FWIW, I've fished there a lot of times in the past and haven't had any problems. Just clean your hands good after and don't cut your fingers on clam shells!