Review

WL Rating

Who likes urchin gonads? I do! Known as Uni in Japanese sushi bars, sea urchin is a baby poo looking, acquired taste for the more adventurous eater. It’s also that nasty spiked thing surfers step on, or are driven into, when surfing above reefs.  While living in Japan I once had a sushi chef tell me that some of the best Uni came from Santa Barbara. I thought to myself “Wow, that’s a long way to go for some urchin gonads. I wonder how they harvest them?”  Well, I don’t wonder anymore. After reading Tom Kendrick’s excellent book Blue Water Gold Rush I now have a clear understanding of the dynamics of urchin fishing. Now, let’s be candid. The idea of urchin fishing could easily be as boring as baby crap. Fortunately, Kendrick’s 30 years of urchin harvesting is a fascinating story complete with faulty diving equipment, the bends, shark attacks, boat threatening storms, capsized vessels, poaching, and the list goes on. Kendrick, who is also a surfer, manages to catch and describe some excellent surf sessions in idyllic places like the Channel Islands, the Hollister Ranch, and most crazy of all, the Farallon Islands. Overall, the book is a quick, fun read that will leave you with a powerful appreciation of the dedication and borderline craziness required to be a successful urchin diver.   (April 2010)

Blue Water Gold Rush - Tom Kendrick

Details

Category: Non-Fiction

Reading Style: Easy

Pages: 312

Pub Date: 2006

Tags: Fishing, Sharks