West Coast Invasion

A true west coast invasion --- not illegals, not masked bandits, not serial beheaders -- nope, it's GIANT SQUID!!!!

This from the AP -- a few days late, ut, news nonetheless.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 16, 2009

Thousands of jumbo flying squid, aggressive 5-foot-long sea monsters with razor-sharp beaks and toothy tentacles, have invaded the shallow waters off San Diego, spooking scuba divers and washing up dead on beaches. The so-called Humboldt squid, which can grow up to 100 pounds, are native to the deep waters off Mexico, where they have been known to attack humans. Scientists are not sure why the squid are swarming off the Southern California coast, but they are concerned. In recent years, small numbers have been spotted from California to Sitka, Alaska, an alarming trend, scientists say. In 2005, a similar invasion off San Diego delighted fishermen and, in 2002, thousands of squid washed up on the beaches. This summer, the wayward squid have also been hauled up by fishermen in waters off Orange County, just north of San Diego. Research suggests the squid may have established a year-round population off California at depths of 300 to 650 feet, said Nigella Hillgarth, executive director of the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The swarms may occur when their prey moves to shallow waters and the squid follow, Ms. Hillgarth said."

next: "Invasion Of Squid Along The California Coast
MONTEREY (CBS News) ―

* Predator Jumbo Squid Feasting On NorCal Fish
(1/29/2009)

It may seem like something out of a horror movie, but giant squid have invaded key fishing areas in the Pacific, gobbling up everything they can find.

Off the California coast, its been getting harder to catch big fish like
salmon — but a whole lot easier to hook a deep sea monster, the Humboldt
Squid.

The population of the Humboldt Squid, which has huge 6-feet-long tentacles and weighs up to 100 pounds, has soared along the California coast line.

The giant Squid's usual territory from Chile to Mexico has expanded dramatically over the last seven years. Once rarely seen off California, they are now strong arming their way toward dominance.

William Gilly of Stanford University said one thing is for sure, the squid are not picky eaters and right now millions of them are consuming whatever they can find off the California coast.

For fisherman, that means the tug on the end of the line may have tentacles
instead of fins.

Some marine experts said the one defense against this giant squid invasion may be to eat them as quickly as they are eating everything else."

"now strong arming their way toward dominance"

I was unaware of this stuff until I got this months "Bassmaster Magazine" -- included was a issue of the quarterly "ESPN Outdoors Saltwater"

Not the equal of "Saltwater Sportsman", but somewhat useful.

In it was a almost 50's style article about "monster squid fishing -- if you dare, etc., etc., etc."

It seems they have greatly expanded their range in the last few years (global warming anyone?), and open, and charter boats seem to have "established a fishery".

Dosen't that tell you something about the state of our oceans? Doesn't it mean anything when native species are so scarce, gone, or no longer native?

Does anyone want to eat nothing bur Calamari and various Jellyfish in the future?

It seems finfish are on their way out, and way too many freshwater fish are way too loaded with "stuff", like Mercury, Hormones (from stuff flushed away), and other chemical crap. This doesn't even take into account some of the farmed fish that seem to eat nothing but shit (literally).

"How would you like your Calamari? Stewed, Fried, Poached, Raw, or lightly seared? We do have a special smoked squid today that resembles Michelen 235 x 55 tires -- it's delectable."