HMB Fishing

I'm thinking about fishing HMB sometime. Anything I should know for safety? I assume the best launch point is HMB Kayaks? Any tips on where to fish in the area?

For some reason I thought that HMB was south of Santa Cruz. But it's only a hour's drive away from me. That would be perfect for the days I don't want to make the drive to the MOnterey area.

Just Dont take a right turn when you exit the harbor.  Stay left'ish.

Watch the movie 'Chasing Mavericks' and you'll see why left, not right.

Head straight out to the green buoy and fish around that area.  Stay away from the shallow reefs to the right.

I fished HMB during the recent south swell that made the advisories. The advice of the prior posts is most prudent! Head out to deep water to avoid the breaks. Hang around the cans there's all kinds of fishing there. It's a little counterintuitive as one might feel a (false) sense of safety by staying close to the rock piles.

The only other thing I would add: observe from shore - count those wave periods. They can be looong. My last visit revealed 16 seconds between the big breaks. Sneaky bastards!

Actually one more thing... bare in mind HMB is work-oriented fishing harbor. Sometimes comercial vessels are coming in after several days out at sea working round the clock in difficult conditions. They come in beat & exausted... so it's on you to be alert coming in and out of the gates.

One very important aspect to consider is the wind. When the fan turns on it can be a brutal paddle back to the harbor. I'm sure that many can attest to this so be forewarned. If it's starts blowing it can be a 1 hour non stop paddle back into the jaws.

buoy circled is the green buoy you want to paddle to...

DANGER ZONNNEE

Thanks for the tips...familiar with the potential conditions from crabbing there quite a bit but was curious about fishing spots.

You guys kick ass, as usual. Thanks! 

DANGER ZONNNEE

The danger zone is more than just that area.  There are a series of reefs all the way out to the green can that can and will break, especially at low tide or high swell.  Keep an eye on your depth at all times and to be on the safe side, don't go shallower than about 20 feet.   Or more even, it comes up fast and can you can find yourself going from 20 feet to the danger zone in a split second.

-Allen

Ryan, take a look at the area on Google Maps earth view. You'll see the reef structure there very clearly. Stay away from Kings Rock and other pinnacles parallel to it.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Half+Moon+Bay,+CA/@37.4843812,-122.4926085,2089m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x808f0ba50a19cb0b:0x5efd9cc835e79b54

Rock cod fishing in hmb is not very good if you ask me. You have to work really hard for them, and they're smaller compare to other parts of the coast. The only reason I would go is because it is the closest to my house.

Good luck,
ernest

Yeah, it is close to my home too. About a hour. I haven't really found a good place closer. I've tried ARW but it didn't seem too good. I am in Dublin, if there's a better place than HMB that's closer to the 580/680 intersection I would love to hear about it.

Thanks Allen, that gives me a good frame of reference for watching my depth. Definitely will keep my eye on it. I had heard that there was danger in HMB but didn't really know what it was, which is why I asked here. Thanks for everyone's advice!

Thanks Allen, that gives me a good frame of reference for watching my depth. Definitely will keep my eye on it. I had heard that there was danger in HMB but didn't really know what it was, which is why I asked here. Thanks for everyone's advice!

If you've never been there, hang out in 40 feet of water, fish there, and just watch the reef, getting a feel for it.  I've been out some days crabbing in which I look out to the reef and it's breaking all the way across from the breakwater to the green can.  So there is the potential for danger almost anywhere along the reef line.

-Allen

Yeah, it is close to my home too. About a hour. I haven't really found a good place closer. I've tried ARW but it didn't seem too good. I am in Dublin, if there's a better place than HMB that's closer to the 580/680 intersection I would love to hear about it.

Thanks Allen, that gives me a good frame of reference for watching my depth. Definitely will keep my eye on it. I had heard that there was danger in HMB but didn't really know what it was, which is why I asked here. Thanks for everyone's advice!

Old thread, but if you ever need a fishing partner.  I'm in Dublin off 580/680 too.  I normally cruz down to Monterey area.

I have been wanting to go out here as well. Thanks for the info, I would have headed strait for the reef if not for this thread. Does anyone have the GPS coordinates for the green buoy #3 straight out the mouth?