by George Lauer

   Despite undercurrents of mercury and PCB contamination and the prospect of tighter regulations, fishermen predict a good salmon season this year off the Sonoma coast.

   Sport salmon season opens Saturday, and party boat captains in Bodega Bay are ready.

   "We've been seeing a lot of krill blossom recently and one of our captains on a whale watching trip last week saw salmon jumping out of the water, so it looks like conditions are pretty good," said Wil Morrow of Wil's Fishing Adventures in Bodega Bay.

   Krill, small, shrimp-like crustaceans that travel in large, dense masses called "swarms" or "blossoms," are a staple in the diet of many ocean fish, including salmon.  In large numbers, krill turn areas of the ocean's surface pink or brown and serve as an indicator that fish may be near.

   Other conditions also point to a good season.

   "We've been checking the water temperature and it's been right around 53 degrees, which is perfect for salmon," said Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing Center.  "And we're seeing a lot of off-color patches on the ocean surface which means there's lots of feed out there."

   Depending on which fishing lore you buy into, salmon seasons tend to run in cycles ranging from two to several years.

   "I've heard it's a four-year cycle and that this is  supposed to be a peak year," said Jason Herum at Bodega Bay Sport Fishing Center.

   Party boat operators would love a good salmon season to help offset several recent blows to the sport fishing industry.  Last month, the federal government issued new warnings about mercury levels in ocean fish.  Some fish, according to guidelines released by the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, should be avoided by pregnant women, women of child-bearing age and children because of their high mercury content.  They  are shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish.

   Several other fish were listed as containing low-mercury levels and the government said their consumption should be limited.  That group includes salmon, shrimp, pollock, catfish and tuna, including canned tuna.

   For salmon eaters, the mercury warning was the second in a one-two punch this year.  Two months before the government warning, a study by scientists found the farm-raised salmon contains high levels of PCBs, dioxins and other chemicals and may be harmful to people.

   While merits and drawbacks of farmed salmon are still being debated, last month's government report recommended eating as much as 12 ounces of wild salmon a week, despite low levels of mercury.

   That's enough to keep sport fishermen busy, say party boat operators.

   Sport limits for salmon are two fish per fisherman, meaning a party boat with six people can bring back 12 fish.  Maximum limit for the first two weeks of the season is 24 inches.  After May 1, the limit is 20 inches.

   Prices for a day of salmon fishing on a Bodega Bay charter boat range from $55 to $100.

   Commercial salmon season will probably open May 1, along with the groundfish or rock fish season, "but nothing is in writing yet," said a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Game.

   "We'll know all the new dates and regulations on April 22 when the council releases them," the spokesman said.

   The Pacific Fishery Management Council met last week and this week in Sacramento to formulate guidelines aimed at better managing ocean fisheries.

Sport Fishing For Salmon On Bodega Bay

Wil's Fishing Adventures
Number of boats:  Four
Price:  $55 to $90
Contact:  875.2323 or www.bodegabayfishing.com

Bodega Bay Sport Fishing Center
Number of boats:  Four
Price:  Starting at $65 per day
Contact:  875.3344 or http://usafishing.com/bodegabaysportfishing.html

Calico Charter
Number of boats:  One
Price:  $100 per day
Contact:  829.4728