Winter is here! In the Bay Area (for most people) that means one thing: crab. Or I should say it's always meant crab until now. Now it means something else. Not sure what that is, exactly. I'm open to herring becoming the banner winter resource, but the rest of the populace seems to be lagging on this. In any case, I have a lot of thoughts/feelings/opinions on the current state of the crab fishery which I'll share in my next post. I'm putting together a nuanced message about the current furor over whale entanglements. But as for the sporty season....
Sporty Crab: The number of huge commercial grade crab caught in 150--180 feet of water has been truly astounding. The inshore numbers have been higher than usual, for those going to the right locations. Ocean Beach seems to be the spot. Taraval. I've made one trip out to about 150 feet, outside Princeton Harbor and the average pot had 21 keepers in it. All of them commercial grade. Try to get out there in the next few days before commercial opens! And hey, I'm still selling the best crab snares on earth. Made by Champion de la Banana himself. Available HERE (or on the web store for CSF members).
Now as to our favorite local winter run forage fish...
Herring
I haven't really been following herring news as much as I ought to. I did however read the FMP. If you guys need a cure for insomnia go here:
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=174532&inline
Seriously though, there are a few interesting things in it. For the first time in decades they (DFW) are actually proposing a bag limit of 0-100 pounds (or an estimated two buckets of herring per person). My fear here is that they are going to move closer to 0 than to 100 pounds. Various herring happy friends of mine are in a sort of panic about this. I personally feel that two buckets of herring (approx 70 pounds) is a reasonable limit, and that it will weed out the imbeciles who insist on filling up the beds of their pick-up trucks with thousands of pounds.
I want to also point out how strange it is that despite historically low numbers, it appears that the commercial herring season is going ahead as planned. Is that not strange? If things are so bad that they need to put a cap on the sport fishery, why allow gill netters to fish at all? I do support that fishery. I just don't understand the reasoning.
Another interesting thing is that the limited, small-scale throw net fishery (that for decades I have been pushing for) was actually mentioned in the FMP (!) It seems like someone heard me at the Commission meeting last year. Huzzah. I can't imagine that they will ever allow it, but at least it got mentioned. That alone is cause for a clinking of beer mugs. So... clink! My idea was this: gill net herring tend to be quite nasty from a fish mongering point of view. They are choked, beaten, packed tons deep, occasionally stepped on, un-iced (yes un-iced) and vacuum-sucked out of the hold. No wonder there's never been a local market for them. They show up at the dock looking like garbage: bellies blown out, soft, stinky, and generally gross.
Because they are only targeted for their roe sacks (extracted, salted and shipped to Japan) no one particularly cares about the other 90 percent of their body mass (male fish and female carcasses are turned into fertilizer, cat food, bait, or just thrown away). A limited entry throw net fishery with a substantial license price and specific regulations governing daily/weekly catch would bring a higher grade fish to market and provide the local citizenry with a product far superior to the cat food grade herring that come to Pier 45 during the season. It would also ultimately create more demand for herring and improve the price. I'm talking about very low quantities of fish. Maybe a thousand pounds total for one month, January. That's it. But every time I bring this idea up it either gets shouted down or ignored. Go figya. At least they mentioned it this time.
Anyway, if you have never experienced a herring spawn in the bay. Please please (please) follow me on twitter @seaforager. Even if you ain't a fan of small fish, then just come out to behold the awesome natural spectacle that a herring spawn always is. Seriously. Seals and sea lions gorging themselves, cormorants and gulls in the thousands. It's like a scene out of pre-Columbian California. And the good news is, herring like to spawn in shore, on rocks and sea weed and eel grass, and they do this all over the bay, from the San Mateo Bridge to San Quentin to Point Richmond. So get on my twitter feed and come watch a millions-year old spawning event that will fill your heart with fishy wonderment, and appreciation for the magical journey of this incredible silver clupeid.
ALSO!
1. NEW COASTAL FORAGING TOUR DATES! 
In Half Moon Bay and San Francisco, I've got tours from November - February. Hosting friends/family for the holiday? Take them on my tour and explore our local bounty! *TICKETS* & gift certificates.
2. SUSTAINABLE GIFTS!
The Sea Forager's Holiday Gift Pack is the perfect gift for your coastal foraging friend, and foodies will love CSF gift certificates, 
The Sea Forager's Guide book, hats, aprons, and more on the STORE.
3. SUSTAINABLE FISH, SUSTAINABLY PACKAGED: Huzzah! We're the only CSF with fish and planet-friendly packaging: 60% will biodegrade in 90 days and 40% will completely break down in 5-10 years.
4. Mark your calendars for a few fun EVENTS! Join The Fishwives for some holiday cheer, serenading lighthouses, harbors, and YOU! INFO
5. KNOW YOUR FISHERMAN:
If you're still looking for a delicious, ethical seafood source, check out my sustainable seafood CSF with even more SF Bay Area pickup locations, and drop me a line if you'd like to host (and enjoy free fish.) Never dragged, we support hook and line fishermen and the fisheries that we love so much. You get a better product, they get a better price, and the fisheries are treated with respect.
Thanks for your support (and please tell your friends)!
Until next time, fish on!
Kirk-out
And if that's not your cup of tea, no harm done, I promise, and my next email will be about fish.
Dig the colorful cover art by Leighton Kelly (“the Leonardo of Oakland” who did all the illustrations in The Sea Forager's Guide to the Northern California Coast from Heyday Books). 
notes (which, honestly, are worth the price of admission!) But this isn't a pitch for cash in the ol' tip jar. I really just want people to hear the healing madness that Cary Kirk and I invented in the garage. And tell your friends! In these dark times the power of rock and roll might just save us.
Although trends in the herring population indicate that the biomass is as low as ever, herring populations have fluctuated throughout history, so we may just be in a natural dip. Regardless, everyone should witness at least one herring spawn in the SF bay, so follow me on twitter 
and instagram for herring updates and regulatory changes @seaforager. And join me at the 
and singing sea songs with The Fishwives at the Spaulding Marine Center in Sausalito on Saturday, September 7th (family-friendly outdoor gig!) 
on Sunday, September 22nd. Of course, we'll bring the music too! 
If you're still looking for a delicious, ethical seafood source, check out my 
As a fisherman and fishmonger, I'm deeply happy to say that winter is behind us. Join me on a tour, enjoy fresh local seafood in my CSF, or if you're looking to get on a charter boat, check out my friend Adam on 
And I'll be providing the seafood and music for a special "Mindful Supper" with local producers at Scoma's in San Francisco, May 15th. Details & tickets 
If you're still looking for a delicious, ethical seafood source, check out my 
If you're still looking for a delicious, ethical seafood source, check out my 
Follow me on twitter and instagram for herring updates @seaforager, and join me at he 
