Bodega Bay was discovered by Don Juan
Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra while he was exploring the Northern
California coastline in 1775. Located 65 miles north of San Francisco, it
was the location of the 1960s Alfred Hitchcock film, "The Birds".
Where to stay:
Checking all the hotel choices in Bodega Bay, we prefer
the Bodega Bay Lodge & Spa. When
you have never visited and are not sure that you'll be able
to return to this location, you want to soak in the scenery,
even just for one night. The Bodega Bay Lodge & Spa
rooms are actually suites, many with fireplaces and bay
views. There is a restaurant and conference center on site,
plus an exercise facility and spa. This place has the
Wow factor! You may pay a little more and sometimes it
can be booked but for those seeking luxury comfort, this
choice is the best we found and we'd go back again.
Fishing
The beginnings of the fishing
industry can be traced to the 1870's when rail links to
Sonoma County made trade in fresh fish with San Francisco
possible. It was not until World War I, however, that
commercial fishing developed in earnest. Salmon fishing soon
became the mainstay of the local economy and the center of
community life. The fishing fleet grew to some 300 boats by
the early `80s and the value of the catch reached more than
$15 million. Perhaps its finest moment came in 1985 with the
opening of Spud Point Marina, an $8 million state of the art
facility.
Since that peak, the salmon
fishing industry took a turn for the worse. The two years of
record catches ended in 1989, and disastrous years for the
salmon fishery followed as California plunged into a
prolonged drought. This, together with human alteration and
damage to the streams and rivers where salmon spawn took its
toll on the fish population. This turn of events sent many a
fisherman looking for other employment while those that
remained looked for short term relief and long term
solutions.
Salmon fishing aside, the
fishing industry is an important part of Bodega Bay economy,
with crab, rockfish and sole fisheries of major importance.
More recently a sea urchin industry has developed to serve
the Japanese market where the spiny creature's roe is
considered a delicacy.
Tourism The 16 miles of coastline
north of Bodega Bay that comprise the Sonoma Coast State
Beach is one of the most popular coast drives in the state
park system. It is estimated that around three million
visitors annually pass by Bodega Bay.
Bodega Bay's
popularity as a vacation destination has increased
dramatically over the past decade. In the 1980s a building
boom increased the number of motel rooms by 150%. Today,
Bodega Bay maintains a small hotel inventory for quality of
life. |
