Images From The Harbor

Over the years I have seen much life in the Channel Islands Harbor. In the following paragraphs I've attempted to name and identify the majority of the varied creatures I regularly and not so regularly come into contact with. The Windows Movie to the right is a compilation of pictures I've taken over the years with a simple $12.00 35mm camera equipped with an underwater housing I purchased at the local WalMart.

Spring time in the harbor is when I see the largest variety of marine life. Of the most impressive to see are schools of a half dozen or so small juvenile Bat Rays swimming slowly in large circles under docks or adult rays of 50lbs or more resting on the bottom. Spring and summer is when Sand Bass and small juvenile Calico or Kelp Bass are abundant. Rare to see but present are Spotted Bay Bass and Halibut. Opaleye are often found around the rocky perimeters of the individual marinas. In 11 years I've seen 2 Moray Eels. One while poking around some rocks, another of about six inches in length swimming about a foot beneath the surface on an incoming tide. Very common though often mistaken for an eel are Pipefish, a relative of the Seahorse. Occasionally while cleaning the running gear of a boat a small Gobiesocidae or "Cling Fish" will dart out from places that provide a cave like home for them. Small Kelpfish are often seen hanging out under boats and docks and like the pipefish, sometimes need to be gently moved out the way as you work. I've captured and released one Midshipman and one Pistol Shrimp. Once in awhile I'll encounter small juvenile Spiny Lobster.

Numerous during the spring and summer are Sea Hares and Nudibranchs such as the colorful Hermmisenda Crassicornis. Common is the Diaulula sandiegenisis or "Sea Lemon". Another variety of sea lemon I see is the Anisodoris montereyensis. One variety I hadn't seen until about 2008 is the White dendronotid - Dendronotus albus. Even rarer for me to see is the Moon Snail of which I have 3 prized shells I keep in my garden at home. See Euspira lewisii to learn more about this large predatory Gastropod. Another predator of the same family I commonly encounter is the Navanax inermis, see this picture also. Welks are common as are limpits.

Another interesting creature I'll see only once in a while are Flatworms such as this Polyclad Pseudoceros luteus. Other marine worms I've identified include Annelids and Nemerteas.  Nemerteans range in size from 5 mm to over 30 meters long in the case of the European Lineus longissimus. There are also reports of specimens up to 50 m or 60 m long, which would make it the longest animal in the world.

Ever present during the spring and summer are the Sargo and Top Smelt which swim around you feasting on the displaced Skeleton Shrimp and Amphipods as you clean boat hulls. There are a few California Sheephead that make their home in Channel Islands Harbor. They can be found in particular locations and will hang out below you while you work. During these times I'll grab some mussels off the docks and feed these beautiful big fish I estimate weigh up to 20 pounds. With patience I've gotten a couple individuals to eat directly from my hand.

On one occasion while cleaning the running gear of a power boat, a large male sea lion of about 400 pounds passed by me under the docks. It was luck that I happened to be looking in the right direction at the right time. He appeared out of the gloomy distance as silent as a submarine while completing a power stroke of his flippers, disappearing as eerily as he arrived. One clear day I watched a harbor seal do lazy loops under a large boat while on another occasion was startled to have a young harbor seal holding on to one of my fins and using it to scratch his self.