Nor Cal Trip

[BladeRunner]

Hey I'm planning a trip to take place in August. This is basically will be my first ever long distance trip and I'm itching to get some feed back on some questions I have for diving the sonoma and Mendocino shore dives. I have list of place I have narrowed down from a great book I found that covers the area. I had some questions like what the water temp would be during this time of year. what's the weather like and What seasons are open in August for spearfishing? I thought about maybe trying for some abs but sure how they will do for a trip back home. I'll post the dives sites I'm interested later, but I just want to see what kinda of response I get from this post first. I would be greatful if some one could dive with me and give me the low down on diving and spearing the areas I'm interested.

Thanks for any info you can provide!!!

BladRunner OUT

[BladeRunner]

Sonoma
1. fort Ross Reef
2.Fort Ross State Historic Park
3.Cemetery Reef
4.Timber cove
5.stillwater cover (A must to Dive)
6.Ocean Cove
7. Salt Point state Park

Mendocino
1. Anchor bay
2.Albion river flats
3.Van Damme State Park
4. Jack peter Gulch
5.Sea Ranch ( not in the book but Sven had the Ab Grab there
so I might want to check that place OUT)


BladeRunner OUT

[BladeRunner]

ok I have it narrowed down to three places stillwater cove(beach), Ocean cove and Salt point state park.

If you've been to any of this places give me some details on the diving and spearing. cool pics would be a plus!!!

BladeRunner OUT

[BladeRunner]

where are you Sven?

[sturgeon]

BladeRunner,

The 2002 Nationals were held in Carmel. I launched for scouting from Stillwater Cove for 2 weeks. Some really nice fish were turned in during the contest. Four lingcod over 30 lbs (each) were weighed in. Fish inhabiting the area include halibut, ling cod, vermillion, olive, blue, black, and grass rockfish, cabezon, perch, sheephead, and if you're extremely lucky maybe a lost white seabass or two. Water temp in August was around 54 degrees on the surface. Everybody wore 7mm wetsuits or thicker.

Hope this helps.

Scott

[BladeRunner]

Oh yeah that helped alot the kinda of info I was looking for! I only use a 5 mm in cold water. So I might have to break for the Omer 6.5 after all. I'm using a 5mm in the lakes where I dive and there like 50degrees now and I only can stay in for 3hours+ before my arms and legs are complete numb! Sturgeon thanks you for the help!!!

OH what kind of depths do you think hold the most fish and great terrain to dive. I like rocky and boulder typ of terrain when diving and spearing. A lot of great caves and overhangs to explore.

BladeRunner OUT

[icarus pacific]

Hey, can't a guy go skiing??

That's the wrong Stillwater Cove in Carmel. Sonoma County's Stillwater Cove is roughly 3 hrs North of San Francisco. Water temps are always 52-56F, viz will be zero to 30 feet in August, swells zero to 30 feet and the weather is usually pretty sweet. You will want at least a 7 mil for any kind of time in the water, as well as a license.
Are you planning on doing any SCUBA as well, as Stillwater, Ocean and Timber have some pretty fair sites as does Russian Gulch and Van Damme in Mendocino. Campsites are on a reservation basis, and dive shops are few on the coast.

Back to the slopes...

[sturgeon]

Bladerunner,

Ooops, wrong place, sorry. But not to despair, I did the Nationals in Russian Gulch also. Water temp there in August was 48 on the surface. Less species up there I believe. No sheephead, halibut, or grass rocks that I can remember. I do remember people getting lings (current IUSA World Record of 35 lbs was shot during the Russian Gulch 2000 Nationals), vermillion rockfish, cabezon, blue rockfish, and big black rockfish. Diving’s done mostly in the kelp beds in depths from 15 ft up to around 50 ft. Bottom terrain is rocky outcroppings. Just look for the kelp to point you in the right direction. I remember abs like rats all over the bottom up there.

Best of luck and let us know how it turns out.

Scott

[icarus pacific]

If you have your heart set on diving Stillwater, Ocean and Timber Coves, be prepared for some second rate diving, as these areas get a lot of pressure and the best locations in these coves are to the outsides and involve a kick that's best done with a paddleboard or kayak.

Stillwater is a state park and has a decent campground across and South of it. The best areas are to the North and South. South is Cemetary Reef and Glasshouse. This is a wide open area that you need the weather to dive. There are some real nice cracks that routinely hold good sized lings, but take it easy in September-on as the females come in to nest and the males guard the eggs... and it's pretty shitty to shoot a nesting ling. To the North is little Stillwater and it's the better area for medium sized abalone and doodling around the washrocks. Almost straight out is Roaring Bull Reef- dark, bouldery, spooky and deep, it's easy to see when the swell is running. It's one of my favorite places to feel mortal and is the site where Don Stupfel got nailed by a White a while back. Bring your huevos and a good stringer.

Ocean Cove is just to the North of Stillwater and has it's own campground that is getting better now that the trees are maturing and the owners are putting some money into getting the shitters working. The best diving here is again to the North and South. If you can score a kayak, head North and out to about 5-600 yards from the shore. There's a reef that runs along it that's one great hatchery for copaleye and black rockfish. The abs here are pretty picked over but the undercuts are usually providing some good sized surprises. There's a bitch South current here that you need to factor in. Picasso holds their Contests here and it's a pretty easy in/out. The store at the turn is OK if you need that kinda stuff. Avoid the restaraunt to the North. The bar at Timber Cove Inn is nice though you'll not see me there.

Salt Point is it's own camp area and has a lot of area to dive, though because it's a state park, it's grand central station for new and burntout divers. Gerstle Cove is the best of the sites here and here's the deal--- most everyone just paddles out and South but right over a really sweet little mount in the middle of the cove. I've popped more big lingcod and vermillion rockfish here than I can remember and it's 200 yds off the beach! The bottom is very boulder strewn and there are a lot of good, deep holes for holding the fish.

August is when the kelp really gets going so you've got the Big Guy providing all sorts of downlines and a float is mandatory to work through it. I think that Dale, here known as Kayak Diver can set you up with some kayaks which will really let you open up your travels and give you the full flavor of the place.

If you want to really do it right, head further North and hit Fisk Mill Cove. The diving in the southern main cove is chock full of kelp and abalone, as well as very good sized black and china rockfish. the Northern Cove is generally called "10" Cove". You figure it out. You need a decent day to dive here- no South swell, but you can tuck in behind the wash rocks for a quick trip for dinner.

Mendocino-wise, I really like Russian Gulch for a beginner- hit the washrocks straight out and to the North. The deep reef 2 miles to the north is one of my absolute favorite places for vermillion, bocaccio and lings, but bring your tanks as it starts at 110 feet and goes straight down. The campground is getting hammered by the budget cuts but the hiking there is pretty. If you really want the Mendo experience and wind is down, go dive Mac Kerricher Park. Two dives, three abalone, 32- 1/2" total. Enough said. Be really good though before you try it here. As your trip gets nearer let me know, and I'll put you in with the right info and give Dale a ring for his services as well.

[BladeRunner]

Sven what kiinda depths are you talking when diving at stillwater, ocean cove, Gertle cove and fisk mill? I'm pretty interested by that Roaring Bull reef and the middle of Gertle cove you were talking about. I'm also not really clear which areas in Salt point park are off limits to spearing and abing? How in the hell do you know where boundries are while out on the water? That place 200yrds out from the beach that you said people always pass up will be on the top of this list to sling some still!

I'm kinda suffering from information overload from that last message chief!!

Just keep in mind that I'm far from a seasoned diver or shooter

BladeRunner OUT

[icarus pacific]

It's No Cal, meaning from 10 feet to as deep as you wanna go. If you can hit twenty feet and hang out for a minute, you're good to go. Boundry-wise, all fish and abalone are kosher to pop in the Parks.

[Cingene]

So, when are we going people...

[BladeRunner]

I'm planning on the second week of August and stay for a week!

When is the next Ab grab Sven?

[icarus pacific]

Haven't even begun to think about it. Working on the next Keyz Kraze.

[BladeRunner]

alright !

Are Hotels hard to find in No Cal?