Editing Openai/696104ab-2174-8005-8aa4-6c24c2d26342 (section)

=== Assistant: Here’s the latest guidance on crab fishing from the Bodega Bay jetty and how the recent Russian River sewage overflow m… ===
Here’s the latest guidance on crab fishing from the Bodega Bay jetty and how the recent Russian River sewage overflow might affect safety:

===== Yes — in general, recreational crab fishing (e.g., Dungeness and rock crab) is allowed in the ocean waters around Bodega Bay, including from jetties and shorelines like Doran Beach and marina areas, so long as the open season and gear regulations are in effect. =====
* California’s recreational ocean fishing regulations show Dungeness crab and rock crab fisheries are open under current rules (with size and bag limits) in the San Francisco management area, which includes Sonoma County coastal waters. California Fish and Wildlife<ref>{{cite web|title=California Fish and Wildlife|url=https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Fishing-Map/San-Francisco|publisher=California Fish and Wildlife|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>
* Additionally, both Federal and State Marine Protected Areas near Bodega allow recreational take of Dungeness crab by trap where designated (e.g., Bodega Head SMCA). Wikipedia<ref>{{cite web|title=Wikipedia|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodega_Head_State_Marine_Reserve_%26_Bodega_Head_State_Marine_Conservation_Area|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>

Gear & season notes:
* Recreational Dungeness crab season typically runs from Nov. 1 through part of the following year, and gear rules (e.g., hoop nets/snares vs traditional traps) are set by CDFW and can change year-to-year. California Fish and Wildlife<ref>{{cite web|title=California Fish and Wildlife|url=https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Fishing-Map/San-Francisco|publisher=California Fish and Wildlife|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>
* Always check the latest California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) In-Season updates before heading out, as closures or advisories (e.g., for domoic acid or whale entanglement risk) can adjust what’s legal. California Fish and Wildlife<ref>{{cite web|title=California Fish and Wildlife|url=https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Inseason|publisher=California Fish and Wildlife|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>

===== The recent untreated wastewater spill from the Russian River treatment plant after heavy rainfall (latest Sonoma Water updates) released untreated sewage into portions of the Russian River and potentially downstream coastal waters. Sonoma Water and county health officials are advising the public to: =====
* Avoid all contact with the Russian River water right now due to pathogens in untreated wastewater. Sonoma Water<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonoma Water|url=https://www.sonomawater.org/rrcsd-spill|publisher=Sonoma Water|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>
* Beach access at some coastal areas (from Doran Beach toward Russian Gulch) has been restricted or signed to discourage water contact while water quality sampling continues. archive.ph<ref>{{cite web|title=archive.ph|url=https://archive.ph/2026.01.08-012618/https%3A/www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/01/07/sonoma-county-beaches-untreated-wastewater-russian-river/|publisher=archive.ph|date=2026-01-07|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>

However, key points to understand about crab fishing at Bodega Bay specifically:

🟡 Bodega Bay is part of the open ocean, not the inland Russian River system.
The sewage spill is centered on the Russian River watershed; although the river discharges near Jenner and can affect coastal water quality locally, the impact dilutes significantly in open ocean waters, and the advisory signs are focused on direct river and nearby beach contact, not ocean jetty fishing farther out. Sonoma Water<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonoma Water|url=https://www.sonomawater.org/rrcsd-spill|publisher=Sonoma Water|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>

🔎 There is ''not'' currently a formal statewide health advisory specifically prohibiting crab fishing at Bodega Bay due to the Russian River spill, according to CDFW and public health listings. Fishing regulations and health advisories (e.g., domoic acid warnings) are tracked separately through official channels like CDFW and CDPH, and right now the major closures or restrictions are related to domoic acid and entanglement risk, not sewage contamination from the Russian River reaching the open Bodega Bay crabbing grounds. California Fish and Wildlife<ref>{{cite web|title=California Fish and Wildlife|url=https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Health-Advisories|publisher=California Fish and Wildlife|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>

===== Even if crab fishing is technically allowed: =====

✅ Check local water quality and health advisories before you go — the situation can evolve as sampling results come in (especially if river plumes reach coastal waters).
* The Sonoma County Environmental Health or CDPH Shellfish Advisory page and CDFW crab closure info are good real-time references.

⚠️ Be cautious about consuming any seafood if you suspect contamination — if water looks cloudy, discolored, or smells bad, it’s safest to avoid taking home crabs from that day’s fishing.

🧼 Practice good hygiene after handling bait or catch near potentially affected waters: wash hands, rinse equipment, shower after contact.

===== - Crab fishing from the Bodega Bay jetty is generally allowed during the open recreational season under current CDFW regulations. California Fish and Wildlife<ref>{{cite web|title=California Fish and Wildlife|url=https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Fishing-Map/San-Francisco|publisher=California Fish and Wildlife|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref> =====
* The Russian River sewage overflow has health advisories focused on river contact and nearby beaches, not an explicit ban on ocean crabbing in Bodega Bay. archive.ph<ref>{{cite web|title=archive.ph|url=https://archive.ph/2026.01.08-012618/https%3A/www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/01/07/sonoma-county-beaches-untreated-wastewater-russian-river/|publisher=archive.ph|date=2026-01-07|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>
* Stay updated with CDFW/CDPH and Sonoma County advisories before fishing and especially before consuming your catch.

If you want, I can pull the latest interactive health advisories (CDPH shellfish map) or help you check today's specific water quality readings for the Bodega Bay coast.