Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project

Slippery Speckled Specimens!
Volunteer Coordinator

First of all I need to acknowledge Jeff Scargill, who came to our need and aid when our biologist, Dave Streig, had surgery last October to repair his broken ankle. As Dave was away from the hatchery recuperating for three months, Jeff, who had some winter slow-time in his occupation, stepped in and took up daily duties needed to keep our fish alive and in the swim. Thank you Jeff! You'll never know how much you helped! Your arrival was truly "at the right time in the right place"! And others filled in as well.

Carla Moss, an intern with Dr. Sean Hayes and Dr. Erick Sturm of NMFS, picked up more slack as did Sean and Erick. And when you begin to name names, it gets tricky because someone’s name always gets lost in the shuffle! In fact, the name of “Hulse” comes to mind! Sorry if others (such as Rice, St. Bruce, Jerry, Scott, Mark) aren’t listed, but we’re all contributing to the same goal: replenishing and and sustaining the fish runs. It doesn’t happen without conscious effort and a little help from the alarm clock (speaking for myself!).

Speaking of “fish runs”, in a conversation last March with Todd Smith, one of our “week-enders”, he told of watching spawning steelhead in the creek up from the hatchery. It was exciting to hear about nature doing something on its own, especially when the fish were of fair size! Those are also part of the perks of being on our volunteer staff – you get to go walking up the streamside, looking for slippery speckled specimens. Do I hear a slightly subliminal suggestion surfacing? Could it be the successive sound of scuffling shoes scrambling of new villing VOLUNTEERS???!!! How vunderfill!!

It was also a great experience to have other like-and-kind organizations, the “Carmel River Steelhead Association” and our local “Santa Cruz Fly Fishermen” make an appearance at our Annual Fin Clip last December. Everyone has the same interest at heart with newsletter event announcements and participation. Another BIG T-Y (thank you) to Tim Loomis, the President of Santa Cruz Fly Fishermen. He brought his contingent to help out, as did the Bay Area Sportfishers Club, the Golden West Women FlyFishers, and the usual sly suspects salivating for Seth’s slavishly steamed sausage and sauerkraut OH! WRONG MENU! Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, Oreo’s and plain plain PLAIN water! (and don’t forget the secret ingredient! see definition of “viticulture”).

Our itinerant volunteer, Jerry Baker, stood on a chair, a bumper, a ledge, a table, literally anywhere he could make a directive, a speech, an announcement, or an observation. And guess what?! We followed that moose horn call everywhere! We were yours Jerry! Check out the photos sent by Scott Holtslander and Todd Cary. It was a great time! One other thing, we are always looking for new people to feed, burp, and change our fish. Then you can take them for a walk and sit by the stream and talk to them, you know, in fish talk. But remember, they don’t like to be startled! Call Us! We’ll be having a “Training Day” soon! 831- 331-5586 leave your name and best time to return you call. I thank you. We thank you. The fish thank you!

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