May 18, 2012 Cowlitz Bay 16:00
Notes from Julie L and Glen R:
Present: Russel Barsh and Madrona Murphy of KWIAHT. Gretchen W; Heather, Cora, and Lonni G; Peter, Carmela, and Greg A; David and Julie L; Bob S; Barry M; Glen R; Sharon and Kiddo.
At 16:00, there was hazy sunshine. Air temperature 66ºF/19ºC, water temperature (at the dock) 52ºf/11ºC
Glen took two readings at 18" at the dock and got the same results: salinity 1.020, density 27 ppt.
The wind was 0 - 5 mph, sea rippled, water dark green, water visibility 2 m.
By 18:00, the wind had picked up to over 10 mph, there were small wavelets, and water visibility dropped to zero-ish. People shivered.
Present: Russel Barsh and Madrona Murphy of KWIAHT. Gretchen W; Heather, Cora, and Lonni G; Peter, Carmela, and Greg A; David and Julie L; Bob S; Barry M; Glen R; Sharon and Kiddo.
At 16:00, there was hazy sunshine. Air temperature 66ºF/19ºC, water temperature (at the dock) 52ºf/11ºC
Glen took two readings at 18" at the dock and got the same results: salinity 1.020, density 27 ppt.
The wind was 0 - 5 mph, sea rippled, water dark green, water visibility 2 m.
By 18:00, the wind had picked up to over 10 mph, there were small wavelets, and water visibility dropped to zero-ish. People shivered.
May 18 Seine
We pulled one net, at about 16:30. There was a log and a rock in the net, but nevertheless we caught thousands of juvenile chum and pinks, all about 2 inches long.
1 gunnel
1 herring @112 mm
1 pipefish
1 copper rockfish @ 120 mm
1 sand lance @ 116 mm
3 smelts @ 70 mm, 150 mm
1 stickleback @64 mm
1 tubesnout @153 mm
Salmon:
4579 mixed chums and pinks. By Glen's estimate, there were about 60% chum, 40% pinks, ranging from 50 - 110 mm, with average size about 75 mm
57 chinook plus some in the net pen that I didn't get a count of. These were measured during the lavage process, and ranged from 98 - 141 mm. The larger ones probably overwintered in an estuary before coming out to sea this spring, and the smaller ones probably were born this year.
1 dungeness crab
1 kelp crab
1 gunnel
1 herring @112 mm
1 pipefish
1 copper rockfish @ 120 mm
1 sand lance @ 116 mm
3 smelts @ 70 mm, 150 mm
1 stickleback @64 mm
1 tubesnout @153 mm
Salmon:
4579 mixed chums and pinks. By Glen's estimate, there were about 60% chum, 40% pinks, ranging from 50 - 110 mm, with average size about 75 mm
57 chinook plus some in the net pen that I didn't get a count of. These were measured during the lavage process, and ranged from 98 - 141 mm. The larger ones probably overwintered in an estuary before coming out to sea this spring, and the smaller ones probably were born this year.
1 dungeness crab
1 kelp crab
May 18 Lavage
We lavaged 50 juvenile chinook, which is allowed by the permit KWIAHT holds. Six were hatchery fish, two had parasites, and a very few had empty stomachs. There were no deaths.
As we have seen before, individual fish show definite preferences for certain types of lunch. Most of ours were full of crab megalopes (baby crabs). Several had eaten half-a-dozen or so translucent larval fish with cute little black eyes. One had eaten a herring, another a sand lance. And there were some disgustingly digested morsels that I do not care to speculate about.
As we have seen before, individual fish show definite preferences for certain types of lunch. Most of ours were full of crab megalopes (baby crabs). Several had eaten half-a-dozen or so translucent larval fish with cute little black eyes. One had eaten a herring, another a sand lance. And there were some disgustingly digested morsels that I do not care to speculate about.