Doheny State Beach - CA

[cody909]

Yesterday i went out to go diving out in doheny, and Visibility was 2 feet at the max.
Thats all i can say, i could not see my own hand hanging down, Is all of So Cals coast like this?
What are the better locations you recommend and the visibility there usually?

Thanks,
Cody

[Bill McIntyre]

Cody,

Doheny has probably the most reliably poor visibility on the local coast. I would have been surprised it had been other than the way you found it.

I dive from my boat and have access to some coastal kelp beds that are very difficult or impossible to reach from the shore, so I am not the best guy to refer you to beach diving spots. However, a possibility close to Doheny is Salt Creek/Dana Strands, just north of Dana Point. Vis is often poor there too, but some very nice fish are taken when it clears up. And of course there are many beach access spots in Laguna, but I can't recommend any in particular.

Crystal Cove State Park, just north of Laguna, is another popular spot.

Good luck.

[cody909]

Ohhh thanks, When i was down there, I kept trying to find out if i needed a Fishing liecense or not, I am not 16 so i dont need a liecense to fish, but some people said that i need to be with somone that has a fishing liecense with a advanced open water certification and others said i didnt need eather. It is pretty sad, I asked the Rangers, Life guards, local fish shop, No one could give a solid answer. What do you think?

[Bill McIntyre]

If you aren't 16, you don't need a license. All the rest of that crap is BS as far as I know. I don't think you have to be with anyone at all to fish. The advanced open water certification could not be part of CA law. The state is not in the certification business. Hell, you couldn't go with me because all I have is US Navy Scuba School.

[Bill McIntyre]

I just checked the DFG web site. This is all it says about under 16.

License Provisions
Anyone 16 years and older must have a fishing license to take any kind of fish, mollusk, invertebrate,
amphibian or crustacean in California, except for persons fishing from a public pier in ocean or bay
waters. A license is required to take reptiles, except for rattlesnakes.
A sport fishing license is valid for a calendar year.
Additional stamps and cards are required to fish in certain areas or to target certain species.
Children under 16 years of age are not required to have a sport fishing license or any stamps,
however, they must possess any applicable report cards. Anglers who are not required to have a
sport fishing license, such as anglers who are under 16 years of age, anglers who will be fishing
from a public pier in ocean or bay waters and anglers who will be fishing on Free Fishing Days, are
required to have report cards to fish for: abalone, spiny lobster and sturgeon.

[cody909]

When i turn 16, In a month, All i need to do is buy a fishing liecense and i can dive right?
Also, I have a question, Im sure everyone has made a mistake spearing a fish the shouldnt or mabe a tad to small, Do you bring him back to eat, or do you take him off your spear and push him down under water?, I know im gonna get these answers like "Look and make sure before you shoot", I am just curious.

-Cody

[cody909]

Ohhh, sorry for the double post, thanks for finding that for me, I have download a bunch of booklets from the fish and game site and skimmed through them, and they arnt to easy to understand, Thank you tons, i take it i dont need anything for another month :]]]

[Bill McIntyre]

Originally Posted by cody909

When i turn 16, In a month, All i need to do is buy a fishing liecense and i can dive right?

Right.

Also, I have a question, Im sure everyone has made a mistake spearing a fish the shouldnt or mabe a tad to small, Do you bring him back to eat, or do you take him off your spear and push him down under water?, I know im gonna get these answers like "Look and make sure before you shoot", I am just curious.

-Cody

That has been the subject of many discussions on various spearfishing web sites. Some people feel that they are obligated to bring the fish in and eat it, whlle others don't want to risk the violation. I suppose the likelihood that you will be caught at a particular location must be considered. However, my opinion is that the fish is dead and nothing is going to bring it back, but I'd rather not risk a citation.

However, I'll also say "look and make sure before you shoot."

[cody909]

Thank you for all your help, answerd all of my questions for the day :]]]]
Now i just gotta find a way to get out farther into the ocean haha

[lucky catch]

Get a book from sports chalet called Best Beach Dives. Better visability is a short distance away at Lunada Bay. The book will tell you how to get there. Like Bill said the best diving is from a boat, but you can still do well if you know where to beach dive. Good Luck!

[cody909]

Thanks, I will, i gotta go pick up my regulator anyways from there today :]