Big Sur River Steelhead

Saw this video on Carmel River Steelhead Association (FB page)
Really nice fish for Big Sur system ive only seen smaller fish and only seen one dead one that was maybe close to this size. Wish this guy would have handled the fish much better considering its on a river with not the greatest amount of help. Id love to see one of the Central Coast rivers get some kind of hatchery program going.

Weve been working up at the hatchery on the river wiring pumps. They have A very good program going and some beautiful fish! ... Ive fished the river my whole life and have seen monsters but never caught one. When they finnal=y decide to blow up the dam the fisherie will be alot better..Thanks for the vid. ...And I agree the dude doesnt know how to handle A fish.

Nice fish, I think the excitement got the better of him.  I doubt that fish lasted long after that.

Well, there's a bit of work being done on the Central Coast rivers.  Check out mbstp.org.

Here's a salient quote from a news story last year:


The hatchery is a state of the art facility that is the only private, non-profit hatchery south of Smith River. The organization releases approximately 80,000 steelhead trout, 60,000 endangered coho salmon and 240,000 king salmon in Monterey Bay or local streams that flow into Monterey Bay.

"We're the only hatchery certified to handle endangered coho salmon through a section 10 permit with the National Marine Fishery Service," said Wolf. The project also has the unique distinction of preventing the Carmel River steelhead run from becoming extinct by maintaining the fish in pens during the drought of the early 1990's when the Carmel didn't flow to the ocean.

Oh, and here's recent evidence the efforts continue with some success:  (Day before yesterday San Lo)

Allen

Just some advice from a fishery biologist to those who fish for salmon or steelhead.  The video posted shows how not to handle fish you plan (or are required) to release.  First off fish do not need to be dragged onto the bank.  Please keep them in the water.  Absolutely DO NOT lift them by their tail only!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This will separate vertebrae and almost certainly result in the fish bleeding internally and dying.

Beautiful fish. That's probably average size for returning adults on the BS River. Only the strong survive.
He said it was his first steelie, so I don't fault him for mishandling the fish. Hopefully he learns the proper way to handle them in the future. Because the run's only about 100-400 fish (nobody really knows how many).
Fishing solo presents a dilemma for C&R steelhead. You want to get a picture of the fish but at what cost? Thus the reason I don't have a pic of my PB steelie from the BS River that I caught 2yrs ago. At first, I was bummed I didn't have a pic to share w/my friends...but I realize some memories last longer than the kudos I'd get from a photo. I'll never forget that fish.

Andy, this is the Big Sur, not the Carmel. Are you doing work @ Sleepy Hollow? I've always wanted to check it out.
The Carmel had it's lowest return of fish (since the 90s) through March 1st. But the recent rains have really helped a LOT. A record of 42 fish went up the San Clemente fish ladder on 3/21. With 39 more the next day!
http://www.mpwmd.dst.ca.us/fishcounter/fishcounter.htm

Ryan, there are a few hatcheries around here but steelhead can't be planted in other rivers anymore (since they're Fed-listed as threatened...no inter-basin transplanting). Because they want to preserve the unique strain of fish that live in each system. IMO it's a good idea, but somewhat futile because most of the systems have a history of introducing fish from other watersheds. For example, the Carmel is tainted with genes from the Mad River. Fish from the San Lorenzo were planted into many of the local rivers like Pajaro, Carmel, BS, etc. I wish there was a hatchery in the BS basin because it would help those fish tremendously...that river is so dynamic and changes from season to season and year to year.

My bad Pat your right I was thinking two differnt rivers...Doh! We need to do A reckon this year on my small yaks up to the dam!!!!..Weve been talking about it for years.