Biologist is fishing for information on sharks
Friday, December 24, 2004 7:52 AM PST
By Chuck Downer
Printable version
E-mail this articleLast week I received a telephone call from Debbie Farrer, who is a biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Farrer is studying sevengill sharks in Willapa Bay, and would like to hear from anyone who has had experience with them.
According to my trusty fish-identification book, "The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fishes, Whales, and Dolphins," sevengill sharks (and a related species sixgill sharks) commonly inhabit soft-bottom bays on the west coast of the Americas, from northern British Columbia to Chile. They are commonly called cow sharks.
Sevengill sharks reach a maximum length of 9 feet and top out at approximately 330 pounds. Members of the cow shark family have only one dorsal (back) fin, located approximately where the adipose fin is on a salmonid such as trout, steelhead or salmon. Many shark species have two dorsal fins.
It's interesting to note that cow sharks are ovoviviparous, which means that they give birth to live young, from eggs that have been held within the adult shark's body. A large specimen of cow shark may give birth to up to 85 young each time, and the young fend for themselves from the moment of birth.
Sevengill sharks are terrific fighters on sport tackle, according to the Audubon Handbook, and are often taken accidentally when fishing for other species.
Perhaps you, or someone you know, has caught a sevengill shark in Willapa Bay while fishing for sturgeon or salmon. If so, Farrer would like to hear from you. You can reach her by phoning (360) 676-2030 and leaving a message.
Razor clam dig in January
I won't have another column until Jan. 7, which is scheduled to be the opening day of the next three-day clam dig on the Washington coastal beaches. As is always the case, this dig is contingent on the results of ongoing marine toxin tests. Provided domoic acid levels remain below 20 parts per million, the dig will go forward.
Here are the scheduled times and tides, so you clam diggers will have a little jump on it. Remember, the best digging time is approximately two hours prior to the scheduled low tide. All tides are p.m. tides (noon to midnight).
At Long Beach, on Friday, Jan. 7, the afternoon low tide, a -0.4 is scheduled for approximately 4:15 p.m. On Saturday, Jan. 8, the -1.0 low tide will be at approximately 5:10 p.m., and on Sunday the evening low tide, a -1.4, will take place at approximately 6 p.m.
In past years, marine toxin levels have improved as the winter has progressed, and hopefully such will be the case this time. You can phone the WDFW Shellfish Hotline toll-free at 1-866-880-5431 for the latest information.
Besides Long Beach, Twin Harbors beaches, Copalis and Mocrocks are scheduled to be open. Kalaloch, which has been plagued with marine toxins this winter, will open, according to DFW sources, if toxin levels drop into the safe range.
Columbia River sturgeon
In case you missed it, there was an interesting news bit on a Portland television station a week or so ago. It seems that Oregon State Patrol officers have been issuing an average of 40 tickets a month in the Bonneville Dam area, for sturgeon violations. The most common violations were exceeding the daily limit, and exceeding the annual limit.
Regulations for Oregon and Washington mirror one another - anglers are allowed a daily limit of one fish, 42 to 60 inches long. The yearly limit is five such fish. In Washington, anglers may continue to catch and release sturgeon, after the daily or yearly limit has been taken, but only on days when the season is open.
If you lose your catch record card, accidentally or otherwise, you can purchase a duplicate at a license dealer. This does not mean that you are allowed to start over, however. In the case of sturgeon, you are allowed a yearly total of five fish combined, on both cards, not five more in addition to however many you caught before you lost the first catch record card.
It's my understanding that the fines are substantial for retaining more than the five fish allotted annually. In addition, violators face the loss of their fishing license, and possible forfeiture of fishing gear, as well as impoundment of their boat or vehicle.
Fishing report
This week's fishing report is virtually the same as last. There is a scattering of steelhead in nearly all of our local tributaries. There are a lot of fishermen out looking for fish, but few are being caught.
A good friend spent a day last weekend, fishing from his boat near Blue Creek. He told me that there were a lot of boats in the area, but he only saw two fish caught the entire day.
There are a few fish being caught on the Elochoman, and a few on the Kalama River, but be prepared for company, especially on the weekends.
A number of people have asked me recently, at work, when Kress Lake is due to be planted with trout.
DFW biologists couldn't be reached Thursday, but last year, stocking of keeper-size trout started in January and continued through the spring. Big triploid trout went into Kress in late spring.
You'll have to beat the cormorants to the trout. These big, fish-eating birds seem to have an early-warning network that goes into high gear when the local lakes are planted.
Sturgeon fishermen are catching a keeper here and there, but there really isn't any place you can point to and say, go there. Seals are present near the mouth of the Cowlitz, according to fishermen, so there might be some fresh smelt. Dipping is legal beginning Jan. 1, Tuesdays and Saturdays only, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Chuck Downer works in the fishing department at Bob's Merchandise in Longview. He can be reached there at 425-3870.
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