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User: Is crab fishing allowed from the bodega bay jetty, and is it Ill-advised with the recent sewage overflow from the Russi…

Is crab fishing allowed from the bodega bay jetty, and is it Ill-advised with the recent sewage overflow from the Russian river?

https://www.sonomawater.org/rrcsd-spill

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
• 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

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
• 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

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
• 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

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

🔎 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

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

• 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
• 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.

User: Please check today’s specific water quality readings from the Bodega Bay Coast

Please check today’s specific water quality readings from the Bodega Bay Coast

Assistant: Here’s what the most up-to-date information available today shows about Bodega Bay coastal water quality specifically r…

Here’s what the most up-to-date information available today shows about Bodega Bay coastal water quality (specifically relevant to recreational waters like beach swimming, fishing, and crab fishing):

📊 Official Water Quality Monitoring

• **California’s “Safe to Swim” interactive water quality map is the authoritative source for recent bacterial sampling data (e.g., enterococci, E. coli) for coastal beaches — including those near Bodega Bay — and updates daily on weekdays. It shows whether sites meet state bacterial objectives. mywaterquality.ca.gov - However, I can’t directly fetch the live sample values at specific stations right now — you can check them here: California Safe to Swim Interactive Map (search for “Bodega” on the map). mywaterquality.ca.gov
• Sonoma County Environmental Health conducts weekly ocean water quality sampling at multiple county beaches (including Bodega Bay area beaches) during their regular monitoring season and posts the results. Sonoma County

🧪 General Recent Water Quality Status

• As of the most recent official public testing posted (late 2025) there are no active beach water quality advisories currently listed for Sonoma County beaches — meaning sampled beaches were not flagged as exceeding bacterial thresholds at the last published test. scceh.com - Note: this county report is from December 15, 2025, so it may not reflect impacts from the latest Russian River sewage spill or recent storms.

🌧️ Rain & Sewage Spill Impacts

• After recent heavy storms, the Russian River experienced a sewage treatment plant overflow, which led county officials to advise avoiding all contact with Russian River waters and some nearby coastal beaches (e.g., Doran Beach toward Russian Gulch area) while water quality sampling continues. KQED - These advisories were focused on direct river water contact and adjacent beaches, not explicit oceanwide bacterial closures for all of Bodega Bay. - Coastal monitoring stations in Sonoma County generally sample weekly for indicator bacteria and will post advisories if levels are elevated. Sonoma County

🦀 What This Means for Today

✅ There is no current statewide or county-posted advisory specifically listing Bodega Bay’s coastal ocean water as unsafe for recreational contact based on recent bacterial sampling. scceh.com

⚠️ But because of the recent sewage overflow, local officials have:

• Posted avoidance advisories downstream and on some beaches nearer the Russian River mouth until ongoing tests confirm that bacteria levels are safe. KQED
• Warned that stormwater runoff can elevate bacteria levels in coastal waters after rainfall — even if not yet reflected in tests. scceh.com

📌 Live/Today action you can take:

1. Open the “Safe to Swim” interactive map here: → Safe to Swim Maps — California Water Quality Monitoring Council and search for Bodega Bay stations. mywaterquality.ca.gov
2. Check Sonoma County Environmental Health’s latest ocean water quality postings (often updated weekly). Sonoma County

🧠 Bottom Line

• Current official sampling doesn’t show a posted water quality advisory at Bodega Bay beaches right now. scceh.com
• But because of recent storms + the Russian River sewage overflow, water quality could be temporarily elevated with bacteria or other pathogens — especially near the river plume — before the next round of test results are posted.
• Using the official Safe-to-Swim map and Sonoma County postings will give you the latest readings for specific sites today before you go out. mywaterquality.ca.gov

If you tell me the specific beach or sampling location you’re planning to fish/crab from (e.g., Doran Beach, Westside Rd beach, Bodega Head), I can help you look up the most recent sample values for that exact spot.

User: I plan to crab the Bodega Bay jetty at Doran beach

I plan to crab the Bodega Bay jetty at Doran beach

Assistant: Here’s what today’s actual water quality situation looks like for Doran Beach / Bodega Bay — the area where you plan to…

Here’s what today’s actual water quality situation looks like for Doran Beach / Bodega Bay — the area where you plan to crab from the jetty:

📍 Current Official Advisory Status

Following the Russian River wastewater spill, Sonoma Water and county authorities posted signs advising people to avoid contact with water at certain beaches, including from Doran Beach to Russian Gulch* because of the untreated sewage and ongoing testing. Sonoma Water

• The spill has been stopped recently, but sampling is still in progress and officials are still urging people to stay out of the water until results confirm it’s safe. KQED

The local emergency alert system confirms that posted signs at the coast* remain in place advising people to stay away from the water while testing continues. socoemergency.org

This advisory isn’t specific lab data (e.g., enterococci counts), but it’s the most recent actionable guidance from public health and county emergency sources available today.

🧪 Is there recent lab sampling data?

• The Sonoma County Environmental Health ocean water quality page (from late 2025) shows no active bacterial alerts in the typical monitoring season, but that data is from October 2025 and does not include this recent spill event or winter sampling. Sonoma County
• Statewide real-time sampling (Safe to Swim interactive map) exists, but I can’t fetch live readings directly — you can check the California Water Quality Monitoring Council’s Safe to Swim map and search for Doran / Bodega Bay sites to see the latest enterococci or other bacterial readings. mywaterquality.ca.gov

📌 What this means for you today

There currently are advisories against entering the water* at Doran Beach and nearby coastal beaches while water quality testing is ongoing after the Russian River sewage spill. Sonoma Water

• This advisory extends to general water contact, which includes activities like swimming, wading, or touching the water — and crab fishing from the jetty can expose you to spray, bait water contact, and handling crab meat. So it’s a precautionary health concern, even if crabbing itself isn’t explicitly “closed.” KQED
• No official real-time bacterial numbers are currently posted online that confirm safety yet — the public health agencies are still collecting and analyzing samples.

🦀 Your safety considerations

✅ If you do go to crab at the jetty:

• Treat any contact with saltwater as potentially contaminated.
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, or mouth after handling bait or crabs without washing hands.
• Rinse gear thoroughly with clean water, and wash your hands/clothes after the trip.

⚠️ Wash and cook thoroughly:

• If you harvest crabs today, consider waiting for official clearance or at least clean them thoroughly, as pathogens from water (even diluted ocean water) can cling to shells or gear.

📍 Best action before you go:

• Check Sonoma County Environmental Health’s Beach & Water Quality Advisories page — if Doran or coastal sites are still flagged today, that’s your most direct confirmation.
• Check the Safe to Swim interactive map and search for Doran/Bodega Bay sampling points to see the latest bacterial data.

Would you like me to guide you step-by-step on how to check the live Safe-to-Swim map readings right now for Doran Beach? (I can walk you through finding the exact current enterococci levels.)