Where to spearfish in Catalina island?

[daverbuj]

Hey! This is my first post/thread on this site but i've been reading and getting a lot of information from you guys. I finally got a speargun and 5mm dive suit after using my 3mm surf suit and hawaiian sling, so im still pretty new at this.

On december 28th, my family and I are going to catalina for 2 or 3 days. I looked around the web for some good spots for beginners to spearfish at, but i didnt find any info =(. Could anyone recommend a good spot to spearfish? (preferably not too deep)

 

[metelin]

lots of places to spear in catalina, unfortunately it is forbidden anywhere along avalon which includes lovers cove to the east to hamilton cove to the west. it is also illegal to cary a speargun out of a bag in avalon. my advice to you is to rent a kayak at desconso pedal past hamilton and dive frog rock about 100 yards past. you will recongize the rock as it's the only one sticking out of the water past the hamilton condo complex. it's a good spot and you should be able to find calicos, bonito, lobster and maybe halibut. catalina in the winter is my favorite as the viz improves and the underwater scenery is incredible.

 

[daverbuj]

I'll definitely try frog rock. And i didn't know that about carrying a speargun. thanks alot.

Are there any other good spots anyone knows that i could maybe even take a boat to?

 

[Bill McIntyre]

If spearfishing is the primary goal, you might want to consider Two Harbors rather than Avalon. However, activities for the family are more limited, with only one restaurant and no shopping other than a general store. There are some great hikes though. Try to buy a copy of Franko's map

frankosmaps: Santa Catalina Island Guide & Dive Map

Kayaks can be rented there. There are cabins for $43 per night (I think) as well as camp sites.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

By happy coincidence, a guy asked for Catalina advice on another board and went to Two Harbors. For what its worth, here is the report he just posted. You can use the blowup of Two Harbors on the Franko map to see the spots he referred to.

On Saturday we dove Isthmus Cove. We started out in the middle kelp beds east of the moorings. The visibility was pretty good--30+ in some spots. All of the fish were really skittish, even the garibaldi were wary. Saw a few beefy Calico but they wouldn't let us get within 20 feet. Besides that just some smaller calico and sheepshead, and a rockfish. We looked around for Halibuit, saw a decent sized one take off about 25 feet away but that was it. After that we tried the kelp out along the eastern edge of the cove. The fish were a little more relaxed but still kind of timid. My friend shot a decent sized sheepshead but it got off. After that the fish disappeared. Probably went into the preserve haha.
The next day we decided to get away from Isthmus Cove. We wanted to go out to Bird Rock but the kayaks were too pricey and the ocean around the Rock was kind of rough from the storm the night before. We hiked a few miles west and found an accessible cove. The vis was 20' at best but the fish were a lot more relaxed. we got a calico, a decent sized sheepshead, and a big rockfish.
The last day, before the ferry came, we swam out near 4th of July cove. The vis was a little bit better then the day before and we got two calico. I shot mine from a distance and when I swam over to it I noticed that it had a reddish tinge to it. I asked my dad's friend, who's an experienced fisherman, about it and he said that he's seen calico that color. I've looked all over to find a picture of one just to make sure that he's right and that it's not some other species of fish (I've even looked at juveniles of various species) but I can't find a picture anywhere. Has anyone else seen a calico this color? I'll try and post a picture of mine if I can figure out how...We also saw a 15" sole on the way in but didn't shoot it. All in all it was a super fun trip! It was really awesome to get to explore new territory and to see different types of marine life than I'm used to...and bison too! Even though we didn't really catch anything impressive, my hunting techniques definitely improved and I now have a much better understanding of Catalina's geography, and we all had a great time! Thanks again for all your help!

 

[H20Man]

Each spring break, my family and my brothers's family (8 of us total) go to Avalon and rent a house. We've been doing this for three or four years now, and the best option you have is the one already mentioned - rent a tandem kayak at Descanso Beach and paddle up the coast. There are lots of spots and pretty much any of them will hold fish, but they are generally pretty skittish in my experience. There are long stretches of sandy beach that will have a lot of halibut and leopard sharks depending on the time of year (I don't shoot the leopard sharks - they are just cool to dive with). If you have a golf cart, you can drive up over the hill toward the "wooden nickel" and gas station (you can't walk around the island clockwise from Avalon - the road is closed to anything but hard-topped automobiles). Over there are some interesting dive spots, but only accessible with a golf cart (or one helluva walk)

For carrying my guns in and around Avalon, I've never been hassled, but there are lots of stories, so I bought a Burton Snowboard Bag, which fits up to about a 120 euro gun). I also have a Sport Tube if I bring longer guns or fishing rods, but I usually don't bother.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

That guy who's story I pasted took some nice photos of the Two Harbors area. I particularly like the one of 4th of July Cove looking out at Bird Rock. There are a lot of great views hiking west of Two Harbors.

 

[foxfish]

Lovely looking cove, very similar to our channel islands!

 

[Don Paul]

Lovely looking cove, very similar to our channel islands!

I concur on the Bill's beautiful shore images, very nice. That is going to inspire me and my girl to do some hiking at that end of the island,(some day).
I did try to sleep in one of the Tee-pees there one night,but I couldn't get used to sleeping on land looking out at my boat.

Cheers, Don

 

[Bill McIntyre]

I concur on the Bill's beautiful shore images, very nice. That is going to inspire me and my girl to do some hiking at that end of the island,(some day).
I did try to sleep in one of the Tee-pees there one night,but I couldn't get used to sleeping on land looking out at my boat.

Cheers, Don

Nancy and I hiked almost to the West End many years ago, and its a great walk with all sorts of beautiful views. Then you can hike up to the top and return via a trail on the ridge. We promised ourselves we would do that next time, but we haven't gotten around to it.

We didn't do the Tee-Pees though. We slept on the boat.

 

[Don Paul]

Thanks Bill, I'm going to do it this winter before the game fish get my full attention. My GF likes to hike almost as much as I like to swim, I bring my snake bite kit.

Cheers, Don

 

[daverbuj]

Wow! Those pictures look amazing. Im really looking forward to going there for winter break. Unfortunately, i wont be able to go to two harbors since were only staying for 3 days and its a bit out of the way. I'll probably end up doing what metelin and H20man proposed and rent a kayak.

Side note: I used my speargun for the first time last weekend and caught my first fish. 15lb white sea bass! I did a pretty good job filleting it despite it being my first time. My family ate it that night and we all enjoyed it. It feels good providing food for your family haha

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Wow! A 15 pound white sea bass the first time you used a speargun? That is wild. That isn't very big for a white sea bass, but on the other hand some guys spearfish for years before they get one.

I do have one buddy who is perhaps even more disgusting. The first time he ever used a speargun he swam off the beach and got a 25 pound sheephead. The second time he used a speargun he went on my boat and speared a 45 pound white sea bass.

Then on the way home I wired two weight belts to him and threw him overboard.