08-12-2021, 08:14 PM
I deck handed on several party boats in so Cal in my earlier years. A big problem with "fly-lining" live anchovies was having seagulls snarf them. So we would catch one, bring it in and tie a partially inflated pink balloon to one of its legs and turn it loose. As it flew off with the purty pink "goodies" all the other gulls would follow...and it would be semi quiet for a few minutes.
For the sea lions, we kept some cherry bombs and M-80 firecrackers. (Not legal...but necessary) One of those lit and tossed out with a 3 oz. weight would go off underwater and hurt some poor sea lion eardrums. Thinned the herd and oh so therapeutic.
Since sea lions became the protected darlings of the tree huggers it greatly effected several California and north coast fisheries. Anyone who has ever witnessed the wholesale slaughter of returning steelhead and salmon below the upriver dams will not have any love for the marauding sea lions. And anyone who has paid good money to get on a fishing boat...only to lose every fish they hook...doesn't get the warm fuzzies when discussion those pinnipeds either. Many of them have learned to follow the sound of the boat engines to their fishing spots...and then to follow them to wherever they go to get away.
For the sea lions, we kept some cherry bombs and M-80 firecrackers. (Not legal...but necessary) One of those lit and tossed out with a 3 oz. weight would go off underwater and hurt some poor sea lion eardrums. Thinned the herd and oh so therapeutic.
Since sea lions became the protected darlings of the tree huggers it greatly effected several California and north coast fisheries. Anyone who has ever witnessed the wholesale slaughter of returning steelhead and salmon below the upriver dams will not have any love for the marauding sea lions. And anyone who has paid good money to get on a fishing boat...only to lose every fish they hook...doesn't get the warm fuzzies when discussion those pinnipeds either. Many of them have learned to follow the sound of the boat engines to their fishing spots...and then to follow them to wherever they go to get away.