End of Month in Sonoma

I think it's been raining for 7 days. What a nice change. It looks like it's done today and 2 days after that, we'll look for some hatchery steelhead on the Russian river. Also taking a look at Tomales Bay this week for leopard sharks and crab bait and to see if the dungeness are crawling. Lastley, we have 5 days of extreme low tide. If the surf lays down from this morning's 19 feet, we'll gather mussels. A big bowl of mussels steamed in marinara broth makes great winter food and cioppino too. Lots of opportunities not mentioned, we just need a weather break.

San Francisco Cioppino Recipe
3/4 cup butter
2 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch fresh parsley leaves, minced
2 (14.5-ounce) cans plum tomatoes, undrained and cup up*
2 (8-ounce) bottles clam juice
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1 1/2 cup dry red or white wine (whichever you prefer)
12 small hard-shell clams in shell
12 mussels in shell
1 1/2 pounds raw extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined**
1 1/2 pounds bay scallops
1 1/2 pounds fish fillets (halibut, cod, or salmon), cut into bite-size chunks
1 1/2 cups flaked Dungeness crab meat
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Add the seafood last, eat it for a week.