Road Trip! (to NorCal)

[JDoe]

Hey, Dave....do you want to go on a road trip. "Sure"

Hey, Dr. P....do you want to go on a road trip. "Yeah"

Let's get crazy......departing midnight on Friday, returning Saturday at 9pm.

Can any of you NorCal guys help us "blind squirrels find a nut"?

We will be diving Saturday morning looking for abs and lings. I have a location in mind that was productive for me last year. I do not know the protocol on naming spots, I don't want to broadcast your spots on the internet. Saturday morning looks like a good (for NorCal) break in the swell forecast.

I have a couple of questions for you guys:
1) What do you guys anticipate the viz to be like?
2) Are you going to dive saturday morning?
3) Do you have any dive locations that you can share?
4) Where can we get an ab card early on Saturday morning?

I know there is the Big Ab and Ling event this Saturday, but we can't make it up that far in time.

Thanks in advance and we look forward to your responses.....

-John Haffner

[LabMan]

I have a couple of questions for you guys:
1) What do you guys anticipate the viz to be like?

Vis varies but averages 6ft. But this year it has been more like double with up to 25 ft.

2) Are you going to dive saturday morning?

I think I'm heading to Tino's event.

3) Do you have any dive locations that you can share?

I assume shoredive so I would definitely check in geographic order going north:

a. Ft. Ross Reef campground: Good for decent abs (8-9"), lings and rockfish

b. Fort Ross: Similar to the Reef, but not as many fish. If the ocean is rough this is the most sheltered.

c. Stillwater Cove: Easy access, free parking on the bluff. Not bad abs and can be fishy.

d. Fisk Mill Cove: bit of a walk but a nice one. Bigger abs than the above. Not very sheltered.

e. Sea Ranch: same or bigger abs than Fisk Mill. Best if you can get invited into the private access. Poor on fish.

d. Point Arena: Long Drive. Good abs and fish. Not sheltered.

4) Where can we get an ab card early on Saturday morning?
How early. Try Petaluma Sport (name?) or Bodega ProDive. But best to get earlier like a Big 5 or Sports Chalet.

-Brian Ishida

[gwedge]

I went up last year and was able to get an ab card at a CVS. So, it shouldn't be a problem to get cards early. Good luck! I'm headed up in a few weeks.

[azspearo]

Ft. Ross is a nice place to pick some easy Ab's. I dove there last year and could of had my limit in one dive and less then 100' kick from the beach in water less then 10'.
Follow the link http://tinyurl.com/6kno43 and click on the center pic to zoom in. Follow the road down to the beach and come straight out from the blue "porta potty" off the point and you will see a thick kelp bed.
This place is loaded with abs. Last year the kelp wasn't as thick as when this photo was taken but you can easily get your limit in a dive or two.
We spent around 2 hours diving for bigger abs and the four of us pulled limits in the high 8" with one going 9 5/8" this was in 4' of vis and no deeper then 20'
My Dad and Uncle will be at Ft Ross on Friday morning with a big group of friends diving for abs and fish. I'll give him a call and see how the conditions were and I'll get back to you Friday afternoon.
Just a reminder, you can't park your vehicle at the beach access. You can drive down unload your gear and park at the lot. Usually you can get a ride back down with another set of divers.

[offduty]

You guys are coming a long way, Fort Ross will be the first easy access spot you will come to. It costs to park in the lot and I don't know what time they open. I'll send a pm.

[LabMan]

Ft. Ross: use the bushes (no portapottie at the beach). Flush toilet in the paved lot. Park entrance is usual always open but not manned before 8:30 so use self payment envelopes for $6 day use fee (or get a $70 parking ticket). You can drive down to check out the conditions first. Dirt road down to the beach can be rutty but any vehicle will make it fine. For your day use fee you may as well check out the nice Visitors Center and tour the fort.

In addition to the main cove (sandy beach) there are "Baby Cove" and the shore just north around the point both reachable by a 1/4 mile walk.

Don't forget to take your ab license into the water with you. And, ASAP on touching land fill out and tag your abs - the hills have eyes!

-Brian Ishida

[Fis_Hunter]

The last time I went to fort ross reef I asked the ranger where she recomended diving she said "The white guys go straight to the end of the road, the oriental guys make a u turn and take that road to the right and the guys that want fish go down the road and park at the first entrance."

I have been diving the north coast for years, If you can get in the water and see 2 feet and there are rocks you will get your abs.

[thereefgeek]

Fort Ross is easy pickings for abs, but not a ton of biggins'. Good fish to be found. Give BB Pro Dive a call before you head up to check hours and availability of Ab Cards. Keep the ab card dry, and in the water/on your person at all times. Fill it out as soon as you hit the shore to avoid a ticket.

[Tino Bernazzani]

Bring a good flashlight and float line to attach it to.
The lings I have found this season have been in the shallows, but deep in the holes and structure.
Look for schools of blue rockfish and if you see any with bites out of them, search the area well and there is a good chance a ling is around.
I really like the Gerstle Cove area, good fish stocks, lots of abs and even a ship wreck to check out if the viz is good enough.
It’s a paid parking site, but once in head all the way South down passed the reserve area.
There is a good spot to get down the hill and into a protected launch area.
Sea Hunter knows this area better than anyone, you might try to PM him.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=453

Good luck and too bad you could not spend the extra couple of hours to make it up to the event.
I have some fantastic spots for you to dive.
See you guys at the end of the month.

[Mike Eberhardt]

Man norcal guys with spots are diametrically opposite of san diego guys with spots,

In norcal it's "try here, it's great". In san diego it's "I heard all the fish are in laguna"

[ralphthehalibut]

Originally Posted by Mike Eberhardt

In norcal it's "try here, it's great". In san diego it's "I heard all the fish are in laguna"

That's because they ARE!


Looking forward to this - 1000+ miles driving, 2 hrs diving - all in less than 24 hrs.

[Tino Bernazzani]

Man norcal guys with spots are diametrically opposite of san diego guys with spots,

In norcal it's "try here, it's great". In san diego it's "I heard all the fish are in laguna"

There is little boat diving/fishing here, and you have to brave the 46 deg water, low visibility, PV like hikes to dive locations, possible large shark encounters, oh and the deafening sound of the heavy ocean swell that drowns out all reason at times.
Diving the north coast is not for everyone, which is why we welcome you to our world.
Most try it and leave immediately

[zenspearo]

Okay, gripes on a work day.

San Diego vis is getting to be Norcal like in muck. And the sharks are out cruising. To add to the excitement that Norcal guys don't get...the boaters here (and everywhere in Socal) are insane.

Actually, I don't remember getting this kind of murk for this long in Norcal. I'm so so sick of the murk that I think I'm going to have to learn diving in Laguna.

I've been skunked five times in a row in San Diego. I don't remember EVER doing that diving Norcal.

[abachar]

Originally Posted by Tino Bernazzani

Most try it and leave immediately

That's of course until one stumbles upon a day like this.

Have fun guys!

[1 ft overhead]

Here are a couple of sites so you can check the conditions-

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46013

http://saltpointoceanconditions.com/

Goodluck!