Since my last State of The Project report to you in the June 2003 Newsletter, some significant progress has been accomplished between MBSTP, NMFS, & CDFG regarding our continuation of the restoration and augmentation of steelhead populations in many of the Central Coastal Region streams. As most of you know, the steelhead restoration and augmentation component of our program mission and goals is every bit as important to us and our supporters as the other three major components of coho salmon restoration, Salmon & Trout Education Program (STEP), and our Chinook Salmon Enhancement Program.

In order for the steelhead component of our activities to remain viable in the future, it is highly probable that a much broader and more detailed stream monitoring and observation program will be necessary. This activity will provide input to the regulatory agencies in order to determine future steelhead permit allocations and fish quantities for our regional streams. Much of this increased stream monitoring will most likely have to be performed by volunteer organizations such as ours as well as fishing organizations & clubs, colleges & universities, and other volunteer human resources groups. This scenario is likely to occur due to the severe economic dilemma with the State of California funding resources which is having a significant negative effect on CDFG human resources availability. I will keep you advised of future volunteer help needs in this area.

Presently we have two major construction projects in process at our rearing facility. We are finishing the reconstruction of the raceways which sustained damage in the severe storms of 1998. This was made feasible by the salmonid restoration and augmentation progress/decisions made between MBSTP, NMFS, & CDFG this year. The other construction project involves the building of a new facility adjacent to the discharge end of the raceways. This facility is being funded by NMFS to provide rearing capability for our joint MBSTP/NMFS Coho Captive Rearing Brood-stock Program. Completion of both construction projects is expected sometime in December of this year.
At the time of this writing, we are working with the Moss Landing Harbor District regarding the feasibility of reestablishing our Chinook Enhancement Program sea pen presence at Moss Landing.

Again I want to thank all of the great organizations, groups, businesses, and individuals who continue to support our salmonid programs. Our continuing thanks to The David & Lucile Packard Foundation; Fish & Game Advisory Commissions of Monterey, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties; commercial Salmon Stamp Committee; Scott Creek Watershed Council; Monterey City Harbor District; Santa Cruz Port District; Moss Landing Harbor District; and all of you who continue to provide your very essential support which allows us to continue with our salmon and steelhead restoration mission.

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Since July 2003, we have been very busy with meetings with National Marine Fisheries Service personnel and Dept. of Fish & Game Regional Office for permits for the upcoming season. Again we are trying to satisfy both agenciesí goals and that we can reasonably accomplish. Completion of the 1998 storm damage repairs and the construction of the new NMFS funded Coho Captive Brood-Stock Facilities began in August. All this work is being accomplished by Al Smith, Bob Eustice, and me, leaving very little time to do anything else. When we are not building new structures, we still have to take care of 52,500 San Lorenzo River steelhead and 3,700 Scotts Creek steelhead.

The annual fin clip to mark these fish has been scheduled for Saturday, December 6th beginning at 9:00 AM.

We are still in need of new volunteers, especially a volunteer coordinator or coordinators to take on the scheduling of volunteers. The Board of Directors and I are way overworked. We have to find some new people to help share the load. If you like to work outdoors and you have an interest in fish and where and how they live, this is a great place to help out. You will learn a lot about our local watersheds and where to find these elusive fish. Call the hatchery at 831-458-3095 if you can help or are interested in what we do. Thanks again. I hope to see all of you soon.

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We did it! Yes, our STEP Team of volunteers successfully completed all required STEP Egg Deliveries to Classrooms. Many thanks are in order to these dedicated members who volunteered their personal time to this challenging, important part of our STEP activities. For a moment, now, it's time for them to step back and appreciate the enormity, success and fun of their efforts. The STEP students, for sure, showed their appreciation for the efforts of the delivery-team…with their smiles and exclamations (like "cool!") as the they witnessed a delivery-member enter a classroom with a delivery of steelhead trout eggs. We can expect, as in past years, that "Thank-you" letters from the students will follow. For sure, the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project, STEP students…and STEP fish…all say a sincere "thanks" to the Delivery-Team. (Special thanks are in order for the many members of GE Elfuns and San Jose Flycasters who helped in this effort).

A total of 100 State Fish and Game incubation permits, for 100 classrooms, were processed this year. So, you can appreciate the challenge the team had in processing the permits, bagging up to 30 eggs per classroom (in cool stream water along with oxygen) and distributing them to classes during three days (April 10, 15, 22nd). As always, there were uncertainties, beforehand, about Mother-Nature's schedule regarding the exact availability of the eggs. Then, the different Spring-break vacation periods for different schools played a part in the challenging schedule. In total, the team, with so many great support members, delivered packs of eyed steelhead trout eggs and permits to each classroom in a large geographical area, stretching from South San Francisco to Carmel and from Santa Cruz to Santa Clara and Salinas.

During the delivery periods, we remember certain…call them "stellar" moments. One team member, met others at 5 AM, one morning, then went to the Hatchery to help bag eggs. Later, that day, he drove as far as Salinas to deliver eggs. And, on another day, he met team-members near 9 AM for a "hand off of eggs and, then, drove off to San Juan Bautista and Hollister with more deliveries. Another member, spent most of one day delivering eggs to 18 different classes (13 schools). One member handled the pipette at the Hatchery, early in the morning, on two separate mornings, and counted out "'thousands" of eggs into freezer bags. Another member found a class with a chiller not working properly at a classroom setup. The temperature there was at a reported 60 degrees F....too warm. So, with many phone calls, he managed to find another, good chiller available that night…picked it up at 8PM and installed it early the next morning. Two important members, from the North Coast, coordinated communications, and "hand-offs" to a large number of STEP teachers. Let us not forget that there were a number of team-members on the phone during this time period coordinating and making the individual deliveries. Again, we say….many thanks to all!

It seems that we don't get much rest between events, especially at this time of the year.. Now, we are getting ready for the different releases of fry from the STEP class incubations. We are, currently, working with State Parks management to get a permit to allow releasing San Lorenzo STEP fry into San Lorenzo River waters associated with Henry Cowell State Park….should a STEP teacher with permitted San Lorenzo eggs wish to release into San Lorenzo waters associated with a State Park. As recognized, releases into Fall Creek will not be permitted this year. As last year, all STEP fry from San Lorezo eggs need to be released into the San Lorenzo Watershed. We do have a number of STEP classes from the North Coast area, who have "permitted" STEP eggs from Scotts Creek. In this case, the fry from Scotts Creek eggs need to be released into Scott's Creek. As in years past, a number of the STEP classes will be conducting stream field trips, in addition to releases, during the coming weeks, doing such activities as water quality testing, aquatic insect study and habitat examination.

If you haven't, as yet, gotten involved with some of our STEP activities…and you wish to do so…please contact STEP Coordinator Hugh Miller, email HMiller334@aol.com

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At this time of year, we look forward to the coming busy months of our STEP activities. Certainly, we have a lot of planning and organizing to do at this time. We do know that we will be having a STEP Workshop for new STEP teachers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, scheduled February 7th and 8th. We certainly look forward to being partners with such a well-respected environmental organization. There's a possibility, that we will conduct a second Workshop in January at a Felton/Boulder Creek site. There's been a lot of work done on a new STEP curriculum. This demanding curriculum work has been going on for approximately two years. It is our hope that the new curriculum will be ready for our Workshop/s. Beyond that, we need to process several permits for both the intended Workshops and for the expected distribution of steelhead trout eggs to certified STEP classes. You will recall that we had a busy time, last year, distributing eggs to 100 classes in six counties.

If you wish to get involved in any of these activities, please contact either Becky Fitch 408-379-4679, email rebeccafitch@yahoo.com .or Hugh Miller 408-268-3945, email HMiller334@aol.com
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Twice this year Dave and I have ventured south to Baja California Sur, Mexico for good fishing, good food and great weather. Both times we stayed at Hotel Buena Vista Spa & Beach Resort. This is the seventh year for Dave and the fourth year for me. Once again we had a great time. The fishing was good to excellent. Boats are well kept, and clean and the crews are very attentive. I recommend any of their 29 ft. cruisers. My favorite was the Iliana. The captain Marcos and Santiago, his deck hand of seven years, are an experienced crew who know where to find the fish.

We just recently returned from our last trip. The five people on this adventure included Deever Jenkins and his son Jeremiah, Dave Parker, my girl friend Kathy Robbins and me. We basically targeted tuna and dorado for four days. One sailfish was caught while fishing for tuna among the dolphins. Our best day was our last day. We headed out over 40 miles without seeing any schools of fish. A sailfish was spotted, but it wasn't hungry. Marlin lures were being prepared when we got a call that a large school of dolphin and tuna were sighted six miles to the south. So off we ran. Fifteen minutes later we were into miles of fish. For the first hour live bait was used, after which we used leaded hootchies with large bait hooks. The second fish I hooked spooled me in less then 15 seconds. Many were lost after long fights due to broken lines. I can say I was on the rail with Dave for four hours straight. No lunch and only water breaks. Kathy caught her first yellow fin tuna and fought 3 more fish into submission. Overall I have never seen that many fish spread out on the bite all day long. We put 15 tuna and 15 large white bonita on the boat . Many more were lost. With our coolers full we headed back to port.

One of the nice things about Buena Vista is that each afternoon we would send our catch of the day directly to the kitchen where it was prepared to order for our dinner. It was absolutely delicious and the service was great. Try the limonada (limeade!)

I highly recommend going to this resort if you have never fished in Mexico before or are tired of fishing in Cabo. Itís a great place to hang out for a week, swim, snorkel, sightsee. Golf is near by. We drove up to La Paz one day. The roads were good, no traffic and the views tremendous.

For additional information about this wonderful resort and fishing vacation, please contact Dave Parker (831/475-3355) or Larry Wolf (831-688-4257). You may also contact the hotel directly at 800-752-3555. Hortencia, Erendida or any of their dedicated staff will be happy to answer your questions.

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Once again the Castroville Rotary Club cooked up a feast for almost 300 people at the Castroville Community Center on November 8th, 2003. The annual evening event is a major fundraiser for the Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project. The Rotarians have been throwing this event for 26 years, which must be a record. The meal included albacore tuna cooked with a secret sauce, rice pilaf, mixed green salad and garlic bread. For dessert we enjoyed cake and coffee.

Bidding for the Silent Auction was brisk and continued through dinner. A raffle followed. There were over 100 items presented in the Silent Auction, and 100 prizes given away at the raffle, all donated by our generous supporters. In total the Rotary Club and the Hatchery volunteers raised $10,500.00.

A heartfelt thanks to all who attended the dinner, to the Castroville Rotary Club, the Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project volunteers, as well as to the many donors who contributed prizes for the Silent Auction and the raffle. Without your support none of this would have happened. A special thanks goes out to Penn Reels and Gordon Cummings, Shamrock Charters and to Matt McCaslin, who was our MC for the evening. Matt has just returned from San Diego County where he led a 5-truck fire crew to help fight the fires in Southern California.

Once again, thanks to all for your great efforts.