Catalina Island Camping?

[thedodd]

I can bring some extra sheilas too! forget the spearfishing we'll just turn this into a rager!

 

[thedodd]

June 5th bring beer and gear!:friday

 

[Old Man Dave]

Jokes aside camping on Catalina and seeing the Ship rock just evokes strong emotions in me. "Last of the Bluewater Hunters" was for many years almost my reason for being. When Carlos wrote "you see I was born a hunter" it just touched the core of my being.

Never seen a picture of Ship Rock before but it looks like I imagined. It's where Carlos found the big white sea bass running deep past "the Rock" and where the sealions had formed a colony and chased speared fish.

What's the diving like today?

Dave.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

I don't recall whether Carlos mentioned Bird Rock or not, but here it is. You can tell why its called Bird Rock- that isn't snow. This photo us from outside, looking in toward Two Harbors. Isthmus Reef is between Bird Rock and Two Harbors, and Ship Rock is about as far outside Bird Rock as Bird Rock is from the island.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

OK, I finally found a map of the area, showing locations of the spots mentioned.

 

[Old Man Dave]

Pretty sure he didn't mention Bird Rock but recall; Isthmus Reef, Eagle Reef, Ship Rock, Two Goats, Starlight and "No Name", plus some smaller kelp beds as well as Church Rock and Silver Canyon on the "backside". I think he was anchored/based in "Doctors" Cove, but not sure where that is. Looked up some info over the years on Catalina but not found a lot on the Net.

All this from memory (having read the book a thousand times), so not garanteed 100% accurate.

Dave.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

This is where I got the Bird Rock map. You can see that dozens of spots are identified, but at too small a scale on the web site.

frankosmaps: Santa Catalina Island Guide & Dive Map

Church Rock is at the South East end, and Silver Canyon is a bit up the back side from there.

 

[Old Man Dave]

Nice link Bill, thanks. I'll spend some time studying it.

Dave.

 

[Jon]

I (scuba)dove Bird rock 25 years ago and remember doing night dives with seals buzzing us left and right. I also dove isthmus cove and recall there being quite a bit of current at the time. I didn't get to freedive or spearfish as I was doing my Instructor course at the time, but I still recall clear water with lots of sealife.

I don't know how easy it would be to swim any of it from shore as we were diving off of a live-aboard at the time. It may be easier without a tank on your back, but I still remember that current. Lots of boats, as others have said, so I big flag would be a necessity.

Jon

 

[thedodd]

Cool thanks guys, maybe ill rent a kayak for the day and make my girlfriend hold it on position pick me up and what not, shes quite the skipper! I think i might keep this one, fillets like a deckhand and washes wetsuits:inlove

 

[oflow]

hey the dod,

my name is ofLow(Orion) and I'm a Campground Ranger here at 2 Yarberz. if you wanna spear and camp, just holler at visitor services ( 310-510-4205) and set up your reservation. I'll hook your kayak rental and all your shit up. I work all week and have tues./wed off. If you you're down for the crown I'll make it happen. If you ask the lovely ladies in visitor services they all know me as oflow as well. But yeah, today we're supposed to get some shitty weather and mad gnarly gusts, so the water will prolly be whack for like another week or so. But if you're interested, make the call. Oh, and your dive chicks are lusciously lickable!!! Me Likey!!!:inlove

-ofLow, tHE LiQuid mANtis-

 

[thedodd]

Ok thanks man i set the date ill be there june 5-6 th and ill probably need a yak rental or skiff dunno there not exactly cheap, but if your down to go out after you get off bring your gear. ill even go out at night if you want!

 

[thedodd]

Ok fellas im takin off to the island this weekend! Any last advice or help with a spot to spend most of my time would be greatly appreciated (PM). Also what the heck do i do with a WSB or YT if i get one Do i have to, or can i even bring an extra fish cooler? Remember im camping in a tent and if i go out i can rent a kayak. What do ya think?

 

[oflow]

hey kyle,

it's oflow. yeah man, cruise up and i'll set your gig up. I just pulled a personal best calico yesterday at the reef- 7 lbs. Yeah bring a cooler. conditions are better than before.

 

[thedodd]

cool thanks oflow ill come find ya on sat when i get there, where will you be? Also are you gonna be able to dive at all this weekend?

 

[oflow]

yeah i'll be there to greet you when you get off the boat. And yes I'll be able to dive every day after 4pm, which is when I get off. And every day after 4 i'm almost positve i can get you a free yak. so get on down here!
werd to the mothership........ -oflow-

 

[thedodd]

sweet well sadly the flyer leaves at 2 on sun ,but sat after 4 would be sweet see ya there!

 

[oflow]

dude, the day after you left, juan got a 57 lb. sea bass out front here!!!!!! was the most epic shit of the season. hope you had fun while you were here and hope to see ya back soon! peace.:friday

 

[thedodd]

finally got the stupid camera to download.. here some pics of the bass i got, although they're the wrong ones they still were tasty!

 

[Don Paul]

Those are great Calico, That is harder to shoot then a dumb WSB that is trying to have sex in the sand this month. You are a good hunter mate.
I also highly respect some one that takes a WSB in the deep kelp in front.(Juan):friday

Cheers, Don