Tag: Santa Monica Bay

SANTA MONICA—On September 8, warmer waters off the coast of Santa Monica have local fishermen and anglers reeling in fish that normally occupy the waters off the coast of Mexico. Marine heat waves brought larger fish such as, bass, perch, mackerel, halibut… The fish normally caught further south are swimming closer to the shore. Water temperatures at the Santa Monica Pier were reportedly between 74 and 75 degrees, well above the normal range this time of year. ABC first reported about local Sea Captain, Tony Villanueva, who caught, “The biggest yellowtail I’ve ever seen up here.” “During an El Niño event, the tropical Pacific Ocean experiences a large pool of warm water that shifts and expands. According to atmospheric scientists at UCLA, coastal currents carry this warmth up along the Pacific coastline, heating subsurface and surface waters off Southern California. Normally, coastal winds drive an ‘upwelling’ process that pulls cold, nutrient-rich water up to the surface. El Niño disrupts this mechanism, leaving the water significantly warmer than the typical seasonal average (such as reaching 75°F off the Santa Monica Pier instead of the mid-60s),” Sunrise Surf Academy stated. “Hi guys, haven’t been posting for a while, figure I dig up the account and post something worthwhile, that something is Yellowtail!!! They are showing up at Oceanside pier, along with too many Bonito, this year fishing is crazy I tell ya. People getting stringer full of Bonito and I got a small Yellowtail on Sabiki rig. I saw them last week and a fishing friend of mine lost one of his Sabiki also. They are chasing bait and are mixed in with the Bonito school.” And the local fisherman closed with some words of encouragement. “Get out there,” was reported on the Pier and Surfing Fishing message board September 7. YouTube says a sabiki, is a multi-hook fishing rig used to catch small baitfish like mackerel, sardines, and anchovies. This fisherman was using his rig, to catch much bigger fish. The SM Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report announced the best quality surf is September 9 at 2 a.m. PST. Most Powerful Swell is September 10 at 2 p.m. PST at an estimated 2.5 feet. The largest open ocean swell is expected on Friday, September 11, at 8 a.m. PST. By Sharon

MALIBU—On Thursday, March 21, the city of Malibu announced that community members are invited to attend the 2nd annual North Santa Monica Bay (NSMB) State of the Watershed 2024 event on Thursday, April 25. The event will occur at Malibu City Hall from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“Protecting our beautiful natural surroundings is a big part of life in our community and Malibu is committed to securing the future of our watersheds and marine ecosystems,” said Mayor Steve Uhring. “The North Santa Monica Bay State of the Watershed provides a rare opportunity for residents and multiple public agencies to come together to discuss the challenges our local ecosystems face and how we can address them.”

The city of Malibu announced on its website that the event is a collaborative effort with Watershed Coordinator Melina Sempill Watts and the NSMB Watershed Area Steering Committee, including the cities of Calabasas, Westlake Village, and Agoura Hills, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, and Los Angeles County Flood Control District, along with other local organizations.

Participants will be able to learn about each jurisdiction’s efforts to enhance water quality, increase access to local water supply, and preserve the wildlife and habitats within our shared ecosystem. Speakers will be available for questions on water quality issues, ongoing initiatives, and actions for a healthy and pollution-free watershed.

Seating is limited and RSVPs are required for the free event. RSVP online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/north-santa-monica-bay-state-of-the-watershed-2024-tickets-861204083597?aff=oddtdtcreator. For those who can’t attend in person, virtual participation options will be available.

For more details on the event, including virtual meeting links, visit: https://malibucity.org/EarthMonth. To learn more about the North Santa Monica Bay Watershed Area at visit: https://safecleanwaterla.org/north-santa-monica-bay-watershed-area/

By Trevor