SF Bay Area

[rusty]

Hey People,

Who's out there? Just moved from the FL gulf coast, and want to keep spearing, help a buddy out...

Dove monterey last weekend, temp wasn't bad 57 degrees, 66 min.

rusty

[promethean_spar]

I'm in the east bay. I mostly fish from my kayak but the recent rockfish closures (our reef fish) have pretty much shut down nearshore boat fishing. However you can still spear them so I'd like to do alot more spearfishing. I only have a polespear, but the vis is usually such that it's sufficient. I'll probably upgrade to a gun this year.

From fishing off the kayak in the area I have a good idea what areas hold fish and which do not. I'm also good at the abalone thing (which any freediver the in bay area is required to participate in).

I've got a single and a tandem sea kayak to dive and/or fish from, so there's plenty of room for company.

My next trip is slotted for nov 27-28, up to fort ross for the end of abalone season, weather permitting of course. I'll probably spend one night at a campground. That area is also the motherlode of rockfish, so the spearfishing will be the best you can find around. Last time there a guy stuck a 30lb lingcod in 25ft water, those are closed to all method of take until Jan, unfortunately, but it gives you an idea of the quality of fish there.

Generally the deeper you go, the bigger the rockfish get, so the best bet for them would be to dive with tanks to 50 or 60ft. May find some rock scallops too. You have to freedive for the abalone though, so I could go either way.

Let me know if you'd like to get in on that.

-Josh

[Newhunter]

Man...

Every time I hear about diving up north and abalone in the same senetence runs shivers down my spine. Is it just that you get used to diving in one area that puts you at ease or do you just have to stomache the fact that fishing is better around GWs.

I've been diving a year now in L.A. Still look over my shoulder...like it would make a difference.

I keep hearing about a lot of good fishing
up north too.

[promethean_spar]

As long as sharks aren't the number 1 killer of abalone divers, I don't worry much, and they're not even close. Still you won't find me hanging out on the surface in the open. I usually keep to the kelp like an otter. That's where the fish and abalone are anyway. In more open areas and deeper water I much prefer to scuba dive. Floating around in deep water with low visibility isn't very fun, sharks or no sharks.

The rockfish are pretty dumb, and for the most part you can shoot them off the reef with a polespear just like shoveling hay with a pitchfork.