FISH & FEATHERS
CAPT. RON MALAST
How lucky can we get?
PENINSULA -- A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine, Don Ireland, and
myself were discussing the places we had lived and the attributes of each.
The conversation covered a wide range of locations including Fresno, New
York, Hawaii, Tri-cities, Seattle, Newport Beach and Mexico. Then we started
reflecting on the Long Beach Peninsula. The Peninsula, being what it is, is
unique because it is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Willapa
Bay to the east and north and the Columbia River to the south -- three very
different bodies of water that foster many diverse aquatic and animal species.
The Pacific Ocean with its cooling breezes of summer and savage fury of
winter storms with enormous breaking swells is a spectacle to behold. For
those who choose, Dungeness crab, bottom-fish, salmon, tuna and halibut provide
many meals that people in less desirable locations can only dream about.
For those who wish to observe, the migration of the gray whale, the flight
of the albatross or the clarity of blue water are at your fingertips be it
by power or sail.
The beach is home to thousands of seabirds, seagulls, eagles, osprey,
Chinese ringneck pheasant and black bears and deer that roam the length of
the Peninsula. Not to speak of the many treasures of the sea, which are
washed up daily and provide amusement for so many. Surf fishing for ocean
perch offers a unique challenge, as do the rip tides that annually claim
their toll.
Willapa Bay offers its own world this time of the year, with flocks of
teal, widgeon and pintails rafting and feeding in the shallows, while strings
of Canada geese circle looking for a field in which to feed. The blue herons
sift the ponds and ditches for food while the coyotes wait for their chance
to spring. We also have magnificent Long Island, with its towering stands
of trees, herds of elk, solitary bears and ever-present deer. In addition,
oysters, sturgeon, salmon and clams abound in their seasonal times.
The mighty Columbia River is a recreational magnet to boaters with its
historical runs of salmon, sockeye, Chinook, chum and coho which all call
it home. The steelhead, smelt, shad and sturgeon also flourish in these waters.
The predators are abundant, the sea lions, seals, Caspian terns, porpoise,
seagulls, eagles and pelicans capture their share of nature.
The Columbia Bar can be an efficient killer of boats and men at any given time. Known as the
"graveyard of the Pacific," it can turn in a minute and prove dangerous for anyone, recreational or
commercial boater alike. Its long documented history attests to its ferocity.
We are blessed to have the U.S. Coast Guard at Cape Disappointment as
part of our community, whose members serve without hesitation on the darkest
of nights.
I want to thank my longtime friend Butch Hacker for opening my eyes to
the Long Beach Peninsula and its pristine way of life and to Don Ireland
for reminding me what's all about. How lucky can we get?
From the Chinook Observer, Nov 6, 2002