The people of Malibu have the privilege of living in the most beautiful place in the world. Here nature is constantly providing wonderous, awesome and exciting events to those who are aware. The squid run is a yearly occurrence. Bait squid run in huge schools and even up to 20 boats, which is the number we counted on many nights, cannot make a dent in the world’s or Malibu’s squid population. The boats, when viewed apart from their mission, are a source of beauty with the dancing green, blue and amber mast and deck lights shining across the dark water. What possible harm can these fisher persons be doing to shore dwellers?
We have lived in Malibu for 26 years and when El Nino (1983 and 1985) took out 2/3 of Paradise Cove pier, the sport fishing boat, Gentleman, was forced to retire from the cove. We miss the daily departure information we could hear from our window each morning and each afternoon as the boat went to sea; announcements about what fish was running in what area and the condition of the sea, and the daily activity planned for the boat. We miss the bait barge and the 87 sea lions that made it their basking place.
The presence of some squid boats adds a little reality to life. It’s not a TV travel show and it allows us, even in this dot.com world, to conjure up thoughts of Ahab or the Old Man of the Sea.
We are grateful for the rush of tiny orange scallop shells that still
show up on a certain 100-feet stretch of beach twice a year … always faithful for, at least, the last 25 years. The kelp beds have regrown from their El Nino beating and a waving forest is again present along our coast — how lucky we are.
Do my neighbors intend to harvest bait squid? Do they own the harvest?
We say lighten up and enjoy the marvelous palette Malibu paints for you.
And, you are right, most people in Malibu probably don’t know such a happening happened and I feel sad for their loss.
I. D. and Gayle Weiner