Greetings from Sacramento, CA

[gadams]

Hi everybody,

My name is Gordon (gadams) and I currently live in Sacramento, CA. Prior to that I lived in Berkeley for 15 years and elsewhere in the S.F. bay area for another 5 years. Grew up in Arizona. I have been vacationing in Mexico since I was a little kid and anywhere in Baja still ranks high on my list. Heading off in less than two weeks to Isla Mujeres for a week and planning on taking my speargun with me. I love any sort of snorkling but I particularily love spearfishing. I find I look at the undersea world in a very different way.

Any tips on where to go and what to look for in around Isla Mujeres or the general Cancun region would be most gratefully received.

Also hoping that I can get a local fisherman to take me and the wife out on a little ponga for cheap. Tips welcome there as well.

I'm very excited as this is my first time in the area.

Thanks!
GA

 

[BatRay]

Welcome to the forums, Gordon. There's a Spearo Network subforum that may help you find what you're looking for. Do you do any diving or spearing off the California coast? I know it can be a bit tough when you're inland. I live in the Fresno area and don't get out as much as I'd like.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Welcome Gordon. I have a vague impression that they don't look too kindly on spearfishing in the Isla Mujeres area. They are more interested in leading groups of scuba tourists by the hand over the beautiful reefs, and don't want someone spearing the pretty fish and upsetting the customers.

But I'm not even sure who told me that, and in any event it was long ago, so take this for what its worth.

 

[gadams]

I read that the western side of the island is a nature preserve so I'm hoping that the east side is fair game. In such a setting I'll think I'll survive even if I can only hunt with my eyes. OK, maybe I'll have an extra cocktail to avoid pouting!

 

[gadams]

Thanks for the welcome BatRay (and no I would never spear a batray -- so beautifull). I love kayaking off the Calif. coast but I seldom dive here. Water is very cold and there is not a lot of visibility. I save the snorkel for southern cal and Mexico.

 

[kevjl2]

But northern California coast has some of the best spear fishing around. Big vermillion, sea bass, ling cod, cabezon and halibut to name a few. Visibility is what you make of it and as you get more comfortable 5 to 10 feet of vis when you suddenly have a big bass appear sharpens your skills. Love northern Ca!

 

[gadams]

Hmm. Looks like I've got a lot to learn here. I suspect that a lot of that is who you know where. My spearfishing buddy lives in AZ so we usually meetup in San Diego and go down to Baja. Anybody interested in spearfishing northern calif. coast please give me a holler!

Thanks

 

[EARL1220i]

welcome mate
dive safe