SpearFishing in San Diego?

[SharpShooter JR]

New member here. Let me give a brief description about myself and then my question. Im 20 years old and am stationed at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado. I am orginally from St. Pete FLA; and have been boating all my life. Started learning how to dive when i was 7, spearfishing since i was 13. Ive lived out here for a little over a year now and still have not done any sport diving since ive been here and i am anxious to go this summer. Im not familiar with any dive spots out here and really some of the fish too. Im used to the Gulf fish. So my question, any one here spearfish in san diego and if so where? i would be interested in going on a trip. any recommendations? is it mainly blue water type spearfishing. I really dont have that big of equip. to go for huge tuna and so on remember in the gulf waters i usally go for grouper, snapper, etc... so my equip. reflects that.

[Steel Shootin']

Welcome to the board! Given that you're a Navy Seal I will assume you are in better physical shape than anyone on my boat, including me. :D There have been about 5 or 6 guys who have registered from San Diego, but they seem to all be freedivers. They target the Yellowtail, which looks like an AJ but I am told is much better meat. Anyway, if you have your AJ gun out there with you, it should do the trick. Hopefully, one of those guys will reply with some suggestions.

[SharpShooter JR]

yea thats from what ive seen around here alot of guys do freediving and deep blue water hunting around here. I dont even know of any wrecks around here or what. Ive heard of guys diving the kelp beds and what not...are there even any reefs around here?

[Rick Dawg]

What up bro? Finally someone else in S.D that spearfishes. My cousin and I spear every weekend out in La Jolla. All freedivimg though. If your interested in us showing you some good spots let me Know whats up. There are some good reefs and the best kelp diving. The yellowtail are showing up and so are the big ass white seabass.

[O2fsh]

Hey!! I was stationed in Coronado, about twelve years ago. I was in Special Boat Unit Twelve. I operated a SEAFOX.

I am now in Los Angeles and an avid spear hunter. Any time you're up this way I would like to go diving with you and maybe show you some places to go. I have information on several of the local dive boats and some up in Ventura too.

Mike

[SharpShooter JR]

yea i will definetly take you up on that rick...ill let you know when probably this summer. 02fish i have a few friends at SBU12 right now they actually finished SWCC school a couple months ago. And if i every head up that way to your area i will def. give you a ring.

[Rick Dawg]

No prob bro. Summer is gonna be goin off with fish.
Im also just finishing up at SWC. Im finishing up my last year of eligibility of Water polo then im done.

[O2fsh]

What unit are you with? I may still know some of the guys in the unit.


Mike

[SharpShooter JR]

im over at EODMU-3 with Det 85/ MK-5 Marine Mammal Systems

[M-yoda-1]

Hey guys, I am a new guy here. I live in Point Loma, and am trying to find other divers in the area to freedive with. I have been a certified diver for years now, but I perfer just the simple act of holding my breath. Last year I started spearfishing, and lobsterdiving-I am so friggin hooked on it. So if any of you want to go dive anytime the waters clear... e-mail me. Oh yeah I have worked on local lobsterboats/fishingboats in the area, I know my way around the coast pretty well.

[Rick Dawg]

Whats up yoda? My cousin And I freedive every weekend out in la Jolla. We went this weekend but the water was 58 degrees, too cold for any fish. What kind of gun do you have? Where do you spear usually?

[M-yoda-1]

Hi Rick. Well, I have had the majority of my limmited spearfishing experiences in massachussetts, last summer-Although I have done a bit out here off point loma reefs, and kelp. Right now I am using a Biller speargun- It does the job. I went to la jolla on sunday, and heck ya the water was cold, It was the coldest day I can remember this year(maybe the waters warmer down here in pl).. I did not go to shoot, just went for a dive to practice my breathhold. I was in the reserve, saw tons of bugs, no fish. I really want to start venturing out to the kelp up there, I feel a bit wierds going out there(la jolla kelp) myself at this point. Do you guys swim from boomers beach, or do you have a boat/kayak/paddleboard?

[Rick Dawg]

we used to shore dive from Boomers but we got better equipment now and dont enjoy thrashing it on the rocks when boomers is big. We usually rent a Diveyak and launch from the shores. Takes about a half hour to get to the kelp, but it beats swimming. Last time I went to the pt. loma kelp a big ass thresher shark scared the shit out of me. the vis was like 5 ft. swam right under my fins.

[M-yoda-1]

Ya, point loma is rearly clear, But when it is it is great. I live right on the point, so I can stay on the conditions. If there is any swell, it goes to hell fast. There is good lobster diving-wedged ledges(if you know where to go), and there are spots where you can find white seabass/large sheephead. I think the fact that it is less frequently clear gives a bit of advantage. I have seen more fish down here on the good days then up there-then again I have not been way out to the kelp up there. How long have you been spearfishing? What got you into it?

[SharpShooter JR]

Originally posted by M-yoda-1
Ya, point loma is rearly clear, But when it is it is great. I live right on the point, so I can stay on the conditions. If there is any swell, it goes to hell fast. There is good lobster diving-wedged ledges(if you know where to go), and there are spots where you can find white seabass/large sheephead. I think the fact that it is less frequently clear gives a bit of advantage. I have seen more fish down here on the good days then up there-then again I have not been way out to the kelp up there. How long have you been spearfishing? What got you into it?

your right about those ledges. me and some friends last year in the summer went off point loma by sunset cliffs where there are tons of those ledges and just about every single one had lobster. as the season drew on they got smaller and smaller though. cant wait to go this year now that i know where they are. high tide its only like 15-20 ft max. low tide you can stand and be waist high in some parts.

[Rick Dawg]

This year sucked for lobster. Those commercial trappers take them all. I've been spearfishing for about 3 years in San Diego. After I lost my JBL 38 special on a white seabass i got a riffe and been hitting up the kelp/bluewater ever since. Cant wait for the water to heat up and bring the yellows in close.

[M-yoda-1]

Hey all The water is crap,-on top of it, I saw a ton of bird activity off la jolla this morning. There are huge bird schools feeding on bait-there's got to be fish.

Sharp shooter: Be aware the season for lobster just ended. If you are going to poach, be carefull about it-people get poped all the time around here. The clam cops are pretty on the ball around SD.

Rick: In defense of the trappers, they cant really get in tight, and it was actually a bit better of a season for them this year then last (I worked on a boat last season) If you are bugging outside in the kelp, then ya the trappers may have the advantage. Although outside of point loma, in the kelp in spite of the trappers I have seen holes wedged with legals at the end of this season. La jolla I think has been hit to hard for to long by trappers and divers. The place needs a rest. That sucks about your jbl gun getting taken away-did you have a reel on it? That happened to a friend of mine on the east coast. He shot a huge stripper, and it was to much for him. He actually also ended up with a riffe- he is stoked on it. I just boaght a old scubapro panther, the carbon one-got it for dirt cheep, it needs new bands/tip. I will be stoked to shoot a fish with it. Have you ever tried a break away tip? I was wondering how well they worked/lasted.

[Rick Dawg]

I saw those red crabs everywhere. The birds were hittin but no fish. We speared for 5 hours and nothing worth my time. I thought it would be goin off but I guessed wrong.
I used a breakaway on my Bigger JBL and landed a 30# yellowtail last year.Now I use a riffe ice pick, it works even better.Breakaways are the way to go. I recommend nothing else.

[SharpShooter JR]

yea i know season is over im not planning on taking any either until it starts back up unless im in the right place at the right time.

[Rick Dawg]

The water warmed up today. I hit up the outer edge of the kelp in La Jolla. Kayaker brought in a good sized white seabass. There was bird action but i didn't see shit. Visibility is suckin too, about 10 feet.

[kill shot]

ric dawg, i'm new to the spearboard here and was interested in what's happening in the water on the west coast these days. my parents live in southern cal and i visit them from time to time. just looking for some people to spear fish with on the west coast. i will be moving to lake tahoe this summer/fall and will be getting out to water as much as i can find people to spear fish with. currently i'm leaving in virgin islands and do alot of reef fishing and a fair amount of blue water when conditions allow for it. we also have great amount of lobster down here. sometimes takes some finding the holes but there always there. used to dive around the laguna area as a kid but that has been awhile. so hopefully we can maybe do some spearing soon.

[Rick Dawg]

Let me know whats up. Im always down to hit it up. hope to see you down here. the kayak fishermen are catchin lots of whites and the boats are starting to pull in the yellowtails at the islands and closer inshore.