News and Events

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July 4th Weekend at Pete's Place on the Yuba River !!

Congratulations to BCD 2006 Abalone Cookoff winners Carol for Best Tasting and Ginny for Best Presentation!

Winning Ab Recipe by Carol Reed

Lemon Parmesan Abalone
1 abalone - pounded and diced
2 1/2 c heavy  cream
1/2 tsp salt
Juice of 5 lemons
1 c grated parmesan
1/2 c butter, cut into pieces plus what you cook the ab in.
Saute ab and set aside when done.
Combine the cream,lemon juice and 1/2 tsp salt in large sauce pan
over medium heat.
Bring to boil.
Add parmesan and butter to cream mixture
Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens, about 5 - 10 min.
Serve over pasta, rice or zucchini

New to the Newsletter!: Links to California Dive News - Dive Spots at a Glance Look for it on the Main Page below "Live Web Cam"!

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  From our Frinds and Enemies at the California Department of Fish and Game
NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      06:068  June 20, 06

Contacts:       Ed Roberts, Marine Biologist, (707) 441-5757
       Carrie Wilson, Office of Public Affairs, (831) 649-7191

DFG Announces In-season Sportfishing Regulation Changes for Key Groundfish Species

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has announced changes to take effect July 1 relaxing several of the 2006 recreational groundfish regulations. DFG approved the regulation changes following the adoption of in-season adjustments by the Pacific Fishery Management Council at its recent meeting in Foster City. The regulation changes for state and federal waters are slated to take effect on July 1.

"The Council reviewed the most recent California Recreational Fishery Survey (CRFS) data and, under the current harvest guidelines for overfished species, it was determined that even with the proposed changes, California will not exceed its allocations," said DFG Director Ryan Broddrick. "Therefore, relaxing most of the depth restrictions and extending some of the seasons will not pose a threat to overfished species. This move comes just in time for the July 1 central coast bottom-fishing season opener, and will provide anglers with access to some of the deep-water groundfish such as the popular vermilion rockfish."

Beginning July 1, the seasons and depth restrictions (listed by management area) for boat-based anglers are as follows:

Northern Management Area (Oregon border south to 40°10' north latitude):
*       Rockfish, cabezon, greenlings (RCG Complex), other federal groundfish (other than lingcod), California sheephead, ocean whitefish and California scorpionfish: Open to boat-based anglers from May 1 through Dec. 31, 2006 in waters from 0 to 30 fathoms (0 to 180 feet).

*       Lingcod: Open to boat-based anglers from May 1 through Nov. 30 in waters from 0 to 30 fathoms (0 to 180 feet).

North-Central Management Area (40°10' north latitude to 37°11' north latitude):
*       Rockfish, cabezon, greenlings (RCG Complex), other federal groundfish (other than lingcod), California sheephead, ocean whitefish and California scorpionfish: Open to boat-based anglers from July 1 through Dec. 31 in waters from 0 to 30 fathoms (0 to 180 feet).

*       Lingcod: Open to boat-based anglers from July 1 through Nov. 30 in waters from 0 to 30 fathoms (0 to 180 feet).

Monterey South-Central Management Area (37°11' north latitude to 36° degrees north latitude):
*       Rockfish, cabezon, greenlings (RCG Complex), other federal groundfish (other than lingcod), California sheephead, ocean whitefish and California scorpionfish: Open to boat-based anglers from July 1 through Dec. 31 in waters from 0 to 30 fathoms (0 to 180 feet).

*       Lingcod: Open to boat-based anglers from July 1 through Nov. 30 in waters from 0 to 30 fathoms (0 to 180 feet).

Great White Shark Rescued by Diver

It was another beautiful, sunny day at Guadalupe Island, Mexico, aboard the Solmar V. The clear, crystal blue ocean provided divers over 150 feet of visibility. A white shark slowly approached the surface, leveled off and swam directly underneath the divers’ feet on the swim-step. The shark was in trouble. Something was wrapped around the shark’s back, just forward of the dorsal fin near the gills.   

Lawrence Groth, owner and operator of Great White Adventures, suited up quickly and got in the cage for a closer look. The shark was just passing in front of the cage as he entered it. When Groth surfaced, he said that a plastic strap was caught around the shark. It looked like it was on the shark for some time and started to cause big problems for the animal. Groth identified the shark as a male, approximately five years old and eight to nine feet in length.

The shark, quickly nicknamed “Bandit,” had grown since the strap was caught on it. It had dug into the flesh around the head and gill area, like a hangman’s noose. The band grew tighter as the shark grew. Eventually, it would strangle to death.

Groth decided to make a bold move. He planned to swim out of the cage after the shark and cut the strap off. This was extremely risky and other large white sharks swam around the boat at that moment. Groth was determined to save the shark and went to work on his rescue kit. Groth attached a Dive Rite Z-knife to the wooden handle of a deck brush. He would use this line-cutter to snag the band around the shark and cut it off, without any injury to the animal. Any other knife could cut the shark and would not grab the band securely.

                               Dive Rite Z knife

Groth donned his cylinder and descended into the water between the two stern cages on the boat. The cages were about four feet apart and allowed Groth some protection to his left and right sides but nothing from the back, front, or below. Three adult white sharks circled the boat. It did not take long before he had his first opportunity. The shark swam in from the stern about 15 feet in front of Groth. Once the shark turned away he took off after him. Groth swam within inches of the shark’s right side, but just as he went for the strap the shark realized he was there and bolted away. His caudal fin smacked Groth right in the chest and abdomen nearly knocking the wind out of him. Groth slowly returned to the swim platform and exited the water. He waited patiently in his gear for “Bandit” to come back. It wasn’t a long wait.

Groth swam down and away from the cages. He disappeared deep below the cages and was gone. Someone yelled that another shark was coming in from the stern and then another shark was spotted. At that moment Bandit swam by, freed from his band. Everyone on deck cheered Groth’s success. The Z-knife had worked perfectly. The band was removed with no harm to the shark, and Groth returned safely. Bandit had a chance to live a long and happy life, thanks to the big heart of Lawrence Groth and a little knife from Dive Rite.

British Millionaire's Dolphin 'Husband' Dies; 'He Vomited and Did Not Look Good'

Jerusalem, Israel (Jun 18, 2006 19:06 EST) Cindy the dolphin, who grabbed headlines after British millionaire Sharon Tendler said 'I Do' to him last year, died on Sunday following illness and like all creatures of the deep was given a burial at sea.

"Cindy swam slowly and he had problems eating. Sometimes he didn't eat at all. He vomited and did not look good," Maya Zilber, manager at the Eilat reef's training center told 'Ynetnews'.

The dolphin body was discovered this morning by reef workers floating in its favourite place, the entrance of the diving and swimming instructors, Zilber said.

Reef workers put Cindy's body in a boat and sailed into the sea where they parted from it.

The love affair had captured the world's amused attention last December because of its sheer novelty.

At a public ceremony, Tendler wore a white dress and placed flowers on her head to tie the knot with Cindy, who escorted by his fellow best-men dolphins swam over to his bride.

The Jewish millionaire hugged him, whispered sweet nothings in his ear and kissed him in front of a cheering crowd.

Tendler, a British rock concert producer, met the Dolphin 15 years ago and developed a liking resulting in two to three annual visits every year to spend some time with her underwater love.

"The peace and tranquility underwater, and his love, would calm me down," the excited bride had said after the wedding ceremony.

  I don't make this stuff up - the editor

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