Image: Leanne Maxwell/SFist

A scuba diver in the Cannery Row area of Monterey Bay caught a rare glimpse of an “undulating” juvenile ribbonfish, also known as “king-of-the-salmon,” which is typically found a few thousand feet below the surface.

As SFGate reports, Ted Judah, a scuba diver from Petaluma, posted some mesmerizing photos on social media of a juvenile ribbonfish he encountered at McAbee Beach in Monterey Bay Tuesday when the water was particularly clear.

“I decided to just put my face in the water and look at everything,” he told SFGate. That's when he caught a glimpse of the exotic-looking creature.

“I saw this silvery knife blade undulating thing in only about 15 feet of water moving west parallel to shore,” Judah wrote on Facebook. “I wanted to stay with it but I felt like I was harassing it.”

“It had this keen ability to orient itself so that it's narrowest profile was always facing me,” he continued. “I'd try to swim along side to get the profile and it would rotate away from me. I am so honored to see it and I hope someone can help identify it.”

Judah first thought the creature was an oarfish, but a marine biologist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium later identified it as a ribbonfish, or Trachipterus altivelis, per SFGate.

Here's a video from 2022 of another ribbonfish sighting in Monterey Bay.

Per iNaturalist, the ribbonfish’s nickname, “king-of-the-salmon,” was coined by the Makah people in Washington state, as it’s believed that the ribbonfish lead the salmon to their spawning grounds each year near the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Adult ribbonfish grow to be around six feet, and they look much different from juveniles, which have longer fins. While ribbonfish live 3,000–4,000 feet below sea level, juveniles are more commonly found in shallow waters due to the different species they feed on.

Additionally, per the Marine Detective, ribbonfish have a unique method of traversing the water. “King-of-the-Salmon swim by passing a sine wave down their dorsal fin – they can get a fair bit of speed just by doing that,” writes the Marine Detective. “They can also reverse using the same fin flutter. They slowly turn by putting a curve in the body.”

Per SFGate, ribbonfish strongly resemble oarfish, which are considered a bad omen in Japan — usually when they wash ashore dead. Japanese fishers in the 17th century referred to them as “ryugu no tsukai,” or “messenger from the sea god’s palace.” About 20 oarfish washed ashore in the months prior to the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, per SFGate.

Fortunately for Judah, there were no harbingers of doom washing ashore this week — just a healthy juvenile ribbonfish partaking in some tasty fish larvae on a clear, sunny day while vibing with a strange-looking human creature.

Top Image: Ted Judah/Facebook

This week: 1960s gems at SCRAP, Muni’s holiday wrap artist, and Deck the Halls out the wazoo. Plus, queer performer and activist Tahara, astronomy talks, queer land stewardship, the wildlife of Yosemite, and the return of the salmon.

Holiday lights in the Castro

Deck the Halls has reopened for the season in a new pop-up space at 2298 Market Street, bringing its wall-to-wall holiday décor to the Castro. The bar leans into playful cocktails — cotton-candy spritzes, matcha-mezcal blends, an espresso martini riff, and a chestnut drink finished over an open flame.

Food ranges from pumpkin soup to small bites and sandwiches, with a weekend brunch buffet added for this year. It’s open daily from 4 pm to midnight, with brunch served Friday through Sunday from 11 am to 2 pm, and runs through December 28. — Secret San Francisco

Stars over the Sycamore

Astronomy on Tap is a monthly San Francisco event where local astronomers give short talks at local bars. The Sycamore in the Mission recently hosted a full house of attendees learning about planets, galaxies, and cosmic phenomena.

Presentations are casual, with time for questions and conversation, making space science accessible without a lecture hall. The next session will be held at Blackhammer Brewing later this month. — KPIX

Sparkle in the workshop

SCRAP SF is hosting its Jewelry & Joy Pop-Up from December 9–13, showcasing vintage Swarovski crystals and rhinestones from the 1960s. The pop-up highlights pieces that are no longer in production, giving collectors and jewelry lovers a chance to see and buy rare finds.

The workshop is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm, and visitors can browse the selection and shop directly on site. — SCRAP

Thread of the city

Anton Belov grew up riding Muni, always curious about who made the artwork on the buses. Now he’s that person, and in a new video he shares his perspective on designing the Patchwork of the City holiday wrap.

Belov talks about tracing landmarks, neighborhoods, and local wildlife into a single design, and how he hopes each rider catches a moment of joy, pride, or connection when they see it. You can watch him walk through the process and his inspiration in the video. — SFMTA

Angels and rebellion

Tahara, Bay Area performer and early queer activist, will share personal stories from the city’s gay liberation era in a conversation with August Bernadicou on December 14. He reflects on the ways art, costume, and fearless identity intertwined on stage and in the streets with groups like the Cockettes and Angels of Light, shaping a movement that still resonates today.

Known for his vibrant performances and dedication to queer storytelling, Tahara traces the threads of creativity and courage that carried through the 1960s and ’70s. His recollections offer a window into a moment when culture and community collided in unexpected, transformative ways. December 14, Queer Arts Featured, 575 Castro Street. — Bay Area Reporter

Tending the land

Along the Russian River, queer communities have long made their mark on the land, from redwoods to meadows. Shelterwood Collective manages 900 acres through controlled burns and restoration, creating space for both the forest and queer gatherings. Nearby, Solar Punk Farms combines small-scale farming with climate-focused events, from drag shows to natural wine tastings.

These projects continue a history of queer presence in the region while shaping practices for land stewardship and community. Weekend visits and seasonal gatherings welcome those looking for connection and time in the woods. — KQED

River runners

After years of absence, salmon are finding their way back to South Bay streams, leaping up Guadalupe River, Los Gatos Creek, and Penitencia Creek this season. The restoration work by local groups — removing barriers, cleaning creeks, and improving fish passage — seems to be paying off.

On weekend walks, you can spot the fish slipping upstream, especially after fresh rains swell the rivers. The season continues through December, offering a rare glimpse at these survivors in the Bay Area. — Weekend Wanderers Inc.

Hidden residents

Yosemite Wildlife, the new book by Beth Pratt, dives into the park’s animals, from pikas on rocky slopes to peregrine falcons soaring over Yosemite Valley. Paired with Robb Hirsch’s photos, it updates a century-old record and gives a close look at creatures often overshadowed by the scenery.

Pratt draws on decades of experience living near the park, showing how wildlife and landscape coexist. She’ll discuss the book Sunday at Corte Madera’s Book Passage. — Marin Independent Journal

Image: Angels of Light/Facebook

Previously: Field Notes: Kenny Alley, Holiday Architecture Book Fair, and Oakland’s Last Old Redwood

A once-forgotten 1970 queer film, The Meatrack, has returned to the screen after a partial print was rescued from the trash. The film was directed by Mike Thomas, who ran several local theaters at the time — including the Presidio Theater and North Beach Movie. Often described as a San Francisco take on Midnight Cowboy, the gritty feature follows a bisexual hustler navigating life and love in the city’s underground scene.

Restored by Vinegar Syndrome and distributed by Muscle Distribution, the film captures long-gone landmarks like the Tom Kat Theatre and features local drag legends such as Vicki Marlane. — SFGate

Amy Tan finds truth and solace in birdwatching and journaling

Bay Area native and acclaimed author Amy Tan began nature journaling in 2016 to cope with the stress brought on by escalating social and political tensions. Watching and drawing backyard birds, she discovered profound mysteries and connections in the natural world, inspiring both her art and writing.

Her observations and stories are collected in The Backyard Bird Chronicles, a new book blending nature, memory, and creativity. For Tan, observing the small, intricate behaviors of birds sharpened her understanding of character and morality in fiction, while journaling became a personal act of meaning and emotional truth. — Alta Journal

Bay Area artists paid to advocate for arts community

A new initiative from Vital Arts is paying seven Bay Area artists $1,000 a month for 18 months to collect data from the arts community, host events, and advocate for housing, health care, and fair wages. Formed after the Ghost Ship fire, the nonprofit aims to center artists in policymaking. Application deadline is July 23. — KQED

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Art, beer, and community bring new life to San Jose’s Creekside

San Jose’s Creekside area is finding new life with a vibrant art corridor and spacious beer garden from a local brewery — filling the void left by Google’s scaled-back plans for the neighborhood. The installations celebrate everything from native plants and birds to San Jose’s cultural landmarks and tech heritage.

With food vendors and creative spaces nearby, the neighborhood is reaching its goal of serving as a relaxed gathering spot that blends art, nature, and neighborhood pride. — Bay Area News Group

Steelhead and salmon set to return to Alameda Creek after decades

For the past several decades, steelhead trout and Chinook salmon were blocked from their spawning grounds in Sunol’s Alameda Creek. Now, with help from a small army of biologists and a big dig to reroute a PG&E gas line, the fish are getting their creek back.

The $80 million effort — part infrastructure project, part ecological repair — is racing to finish before migration season. If all goes to plan, salmon could swim freely here for the first time since the 1970s. — Bay Area News Group

Devil’s Slide reimagined as a scenic coastal trail

Just south of SF between Pacifica and Montera, Devil’s Slide is a cliffside trail with stunning ocean views and a dramatic backstory. Once a railroad, then a stretch of Highway 1 notorious for landslides, it was finally converted into a pedestrian and bike path in 2013. The 1.3-mile trail now offers views of whales, dolphins, seals, and nesting seabirds, plus WWII-era bunkers perched above the sea.

Note: As fate would have it, this blurb was written prior to reading about the two recent incidents that occurred in the Devil’s Slide area on Thursday. Enter at your own risk — it is called Devil’s Slide after all. — Secret San Francisco

Pop star Miist finds her voice in Marin

Early in the pandemic, Tiburon resident Miist decided to give songwriting a try when she picked up learning the piano to accompany her soprano singing voice — after persistent nudging from her husband who saw her innate talent. Before she knew it, she was collaborating with Grammy-winning producer Narada Michael Walden, landing Billboard-charting singles, and starring in music videos with millions of views.

Now, with her husband as her full-time manager, she’s using her platform to launch a global kindness movement through music, a podcast, and a new nonprofit dedicated to empathy and connection. — Marin Independent Journal

A taste of Senegal at Embarcadero

Nafy Flatley’s Teranga brings the warmth of Senegalese hospitality to San Francisco’s Embarcadero Center, offering hearty dishes and vibrant drinks inspired by her heritage. What began as a college project blossomed into a thriving restaurant, overcoming early hurdles and pandemic challenges.

With support from SF’s Vacant to Vibrant program, Teranga secured a prime downtown location and continues to grow its loyal customer base. Despite rising import costs and fluctuating foot traffic, Flatley remains optimistic and inspires others to chase their dreams with courage and passion. — The Frisc

Top image: Frameline Film Festival

Previously: Field Notes: Pupusas in the Tenderloin, Trans Quilts, a Band of Librarians, and Award-Winning Beans

Over 20,000 Chinook salmon made a fall run to spawn in the Mokelumne River this year, wildlife officials say.

That’s the highest number of any year since record-keeping began in 1940, as KPIX reported.

"This year's historic return highlights EBMUD's longstanding collaboration in the region and our deep commitment to sustaining this vital fish hatchery and protecting the river's habitat," said Andy Katz, East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) board president, per an EBMUD press release.

The Mokelumne River runs for 95 miles from the central Sierra Nevadas to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River (a lot of water is used for Central Valley agriculture irrigation and also provides water for the east San Francisco Bay Area via the Mokelumne Aqueduct).

It's a main home for steelhead, rainbow trout, brown trout, and Chinook salmon, although their habitat has been damaged over the past century by damming and drought. The river is just a small tributary to the larger Sacramento-San Joaquin River (about 3% of its flow), but it represents about 50% of the entire salmon commercial catch in California, according to the Ledger-Dispatch.

Groups of conservationists have been restoring the river for salmon spawning, which happens from August through July ever year. They built a hatchery where they spawn and rear salmon and steelhead eggs, then release them below the Camanche Dam on the river, per the CA Department of Wildlife.

Additionally, in the winter of 2022, another of the dams along the river, the 8-foot concrete Hemphill Dam outside of Sacramento, was removed, which now opens another 8 miles of spawnable riverbed for salmons, according to a local conservation nonprofit.

The Chinook salmon born in the Mokelumne river spend two to five years maturing in the Pacific Ocean, then return to their home to reproduce and die.

On October 29, 2023, biologists tallied the largest one-day salmon count in 30 years: 1,941 fish, according to EBMUD.

Images of 2023 Chinook salmon population via EBMUD.

Photo: Levi Bare

The endangered coho salmon have been on a steady decline as urbanization wreaks havoc on their remaining natural habitat. But the recent demolition of an old dam and fish ladder on the former San Geronimo Valley golf course has freed up one of their important breeding passages.

One of the more unspoken side effects of unbridled construction is not only how it can level once towering tree groves, but how laying concrete and making of man-made lakes can derail spawning routes for migratory fish. In fact, 27 regional salmon runs are now either endangered or threatened by encroaching human activity. (Salmon, specifically, are one of the most relied-upon food sources for large predators like brown and black bears, wolves, and birds of prey.) These fish key players in safeguarding the biodiversity in the areas they spawn at and migrate to – which is why Friday's clearing of a 100-year-old dam along Marin County's San Geronimo creek is so necessary.

"There is so much impressive work that goes into creating a whole new environment designed to benefit both the environment and the community,” said Director of Watershed Conservation Preston Brown in a news release, citing that there's "more work ahead" as the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network (SPAWN) continues restoring some five-acres of previously destroyed floodplain habitat. “Knowing there is no fish barrier after so many years is exciting, and we are grateful to all of the organizations and individuals who are working on and supporting this long-awaited project.”

By removing the dam and fish ladder, a free-flowing 250-feet long creek channel was created to create critical habitat for young salmon; SPAWN's still-continuing project, Roy’s Pools Fish Passage and Floodplain Restoration Project, will also create valuable habitat for terrestrial wildlife and increase the number of trees for nesting birds. A new 100-foot pedestrian bridge was also fitted this past Friday that links to different trailheads and provides safe fish viewing over a wider, more complex (and now stable) creek channel.

“Everything looks amazing, from water flowing through the site to willow stakes sprouting,” said biologist Ayano Hayes, who continues to help overlook the project, in the release. “The next part of the project will be completed next summer and involves creating a side channel, inset floodplains, and an enlarged riparian forest that will provide winter refuge and additional feeding habitat for juvenile salmon.”

SPAWN is currently planting "trees, grasses, shrubs, and other native plants" found in the area that will help create a more systemic environment for the area's wildlife.

The coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) remains one of the rarest salmon species anywhere in the world after being deemed an endangered species in 1996, with the population in Marin among the strongest remaining in California — and critical to the recovery of the species.

You can read more about the restoration project here.

Related: Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Will Start December 23 — After Whales Have Migrated to Breeding Grounds

Giant Bluefin Tuna Are Showing Up Near Half Moon Bay, Thrilling Sport Fishermen

Image: Coho salmon, courtesy of Getty Images via mlharing

That's thousands of baby king salmon 🐟🎣 about to be unloaded into the ocean - part of @CaliforniaDFW @ebmud study of survival. @CBSSF 11 pm pic.twitter.com/z7Sr7lzo56

— Betty Yu (@BettyKPIX) May 1, 2017

It's so mesmerizing that you almost don't need context, just the information that that is a pipe full of baby fish who will soon head out to sea.

But where would we be without context? According to ABC 7, that pipe of fish is a massive — slow down and count 'em, there's 200,000 — batch of adolescent salmon that was loaded onto a Sausalito fishing boat called the Merva Sunday before heading out to be released in the Pacific.

It's all part of an effort to bolster up California's salmon population, which has been endangered by rising water temperatures that, as NPR reported in 2015, "has caused high mortality for the young salmon, which are very temperature sensitive in their early life stages." Salmon born in 2014 and 2015 has a survival rate of about five percent, which, Yale Environment reports, has spurred scientists to worry that "the Chinook salmon will be unable to tolerate future conditions and will all but vanish from California’s landscape" as "climate change is emerging as the next great threat to California’s remaining salmon runs."

The Merva is trying to stave off that environmental disaster, ABC 7 reports, by transporting the young salmon "from a couple state hatcheries out to the ocean." This is basically a helping hand to send them on their way, as "In their natural setting, they are spawned in fresh water rivers and then swim out to salt water through the Golden Gate Bridge." Think of it as hitching a ride.

It's hoped that when these kids grow up, they'll eventually make their way back into the Bay and into the rivers in the Delta to spawn. In an effort to track the success of the project, all the young salmon have been tagged for later identification.

"We're trying to show that barging salmon, these smelts down the river will increase their survival rate, we think significantly," former salmon fisherman Rob Tillitz tells ABC 7. Here's hoping it works. Good luck, little guys!

Previously: This Rain Is Messing Up Our Salmon Migration

Per the rangers at Muir Woods, one Coho made it up Redwood Creek this month. Another Coho tried, but was intercepted and eaten by a hungry river otter. Oh well.

Godspeed endangered fishies.

Does anyone else cry at the end of the movie when Jesse bids farewell to Willy? Gets us every time. Every time!