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California Spearfishing Talk here about spearfishing on California's Pacific Coast, and post those reports and photos! |
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08-26-2010, 08:41 PM | #1 |
Beginner
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: San Diego CA
Posts: 20
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Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
I am trying to get into spearfishing and recently moved from SD to the bay area. I have been reading the forums and have picked up that Sonoma coast would be a good place to check out.
Since I am not familiar with the area I was hoping to see if someone would be willing to share some advice as to what conditions indicate decent diving so I avoid a 2+ hour drive to find that the conditions are bad. Thanks! -Jeff |
08-26-2010, 08:58 PM | #2 |
discord and rhyme
Join Date: May 2007
Location: San Mateo
Posts: 2,879
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Re: Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
Check the surf sites for the swell forecast and also the wind.
The wind can howl there for weeks at a time, but it's usually less in the morning. Even when it looks crappy, there are usually plenty of little coves where you can tuck in safely and grab a limit. Oh welcome to spearboard.
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08-26-2010, 09:21 PM | #3 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: santa cruz
Age: 48
Posts: 5,473
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Re: Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
Quote:
phil |
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08-26-2010, 10:51 PM | #4 |
Beginner
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: San Diego CA
Posts: 20
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Re: Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
Awesome, thanks for the tips guys!
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08-26-2010, 11:18 PM | #5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Fairfield, CA
Posts: 850
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Re: Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
The ocean here is nothing like San Diego brother. What you call black water we call good viz. I don't know your experience level but my suggestion is hooking up with someone your first few times out. Couldn't hurt, and you get to benefit from lessons already learned. shoot me a pm if you want to hook up.
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08-27-2010, 11:43 AM | #6 |
Penguin
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Re: Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
Benicia huh? Grew up there and spend a fair amount of time there still. Every once in a while i even swim out there in the delta.
Sonoma is your best bet. I like to look at wetsand.com for the swell, generally if it is some shade of blue you're ok to dive. Also a good bet is to get in touch with Bodega Bay Prodive shop right there on the coast. You can call in there to get advice and stopping by they can point you in the right direction and check your gear. |
08-27-2010, 03:27 PM | #7 |
Justin
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: norcal
Posts: 1,729
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Re: Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
You can check here for a swell forecast: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/eka/marine/
Here for a buoy reading: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46013 Here for a lifeguard update on diving conditions and visibility (but it hasn't been working for a month): http://saltpointoceanconditions.com/ Here for a Google earth layer of the new MPAs: http://www.freediveshop.com/index.ph...4df3de90e2e3d8 Ocean Cove, Timber Cove, and Still Water cove are good places to go if it is windy and there is a NW swell. Most other places good on calm days. If you want to AB dive read the rules on the Ab card and follow them to the letter. DFG and parks take the ab diving rules very seriously and have been known to write some BS tickets.
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North Coast dive conditions: http://saltpointoceanconditions.com/ http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Foreca...US56.KMTR.html |
08-27-2010, 04:47 PM | #8 |
Diving ! Gota love it !!!
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: NorCal/Monte rio
Age: 47
Posts: 3,069
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Re: Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
also check out these web site for conditions
web cam agate cove mendo http://www.agatecove.com/webcam.html caspar web cam http://www.casparbeachrvpark.com/webcam bodega bay web cam http://www.bml.ucdavis.edu/facility/webcam.html this is the noaa bouy I use for pt arena http://forecast.weather.gov/shmrn.ph...540&syn=pzz500 hope these help.
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08-27-2010, 05:13 PM | #9 |
ADCI Diver
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Re: Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
Stillwater cove campsite is a great camp for a weekend camp out and supposidly they have the only coin operated hot showers around. A hot shower to don a cold wetsuit in freesing air temps is just nice! its a decent place to learn, My first ab dive was in stillwater. I would definately try and get a experienced buddy to go with you on the first couple dives.
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08-27-2010, 05:26 PM | #10 | |
Diving ! Gota love it !!!
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: NorCal/Monte rio
Age: 47
Posts: 3,069
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Re: Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
Quote:
Ocean cove which is right up the road about a mile has coin operated showers as well and is a good campgrounds as well firts come first serve, and has a boat launch to and general store.
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08-27-2010, 10:38 PM | #11 |
Beginner
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: San Diego CA
Posts: 20
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Re: Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
Thanks again to everyone for the help, I appreciate you all taking time to get me pointed in the right direction I hope to see some of you guys out there!
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08-28-2010, 12:03 AM | #12 |
Fire up the grill!
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Red Triangle
Posts: 400
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Re: Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
Hey RigPig, do you surf too? I lived in Benicia for 8 years and the guy I surf with still lives there. We surf 2 or 3 days a week in Pacifica. Let me know if you want to hook up sometime, we typically get big surf year round up here. A lot of guys shortboard, but it's mostly longboarding as it can get competitive in the lineup.
..
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Crist Spears...The best custom spears known to man. I don't practice "catch and release", I practice "catch and grease"... Bene legere saecla vincere. |
08-28-2010, 02:08 AM | #13 |
GPOMG!
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
Age: 40
Posts: 385
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Re: Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
I'm trying to head out in Carmel on Sunday in the AM if you're interested. Report looks moderate but I know some fishy spots if you'd like to check it out.
Contact info below |
08-28-2010, 11:11 AM | #14 |
Beginner
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: San Diego CA
Posts: 20
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Re: Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
Thanks for the invite, I am actually headed up to tahoe this weekend! I will you a shout next time I get back and hopefully we can meet up then!
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08-28-2010, 11:13 AM | #15 | |
Beginner
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: San Diego CA
Posts: 20
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Re: Spearfishing Sonoma Coast
Quote:
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