HMB 1/19/08 scouting non yak report

Took the dog to HMB the weekend after maverick's to wash away the stink of our helicopter fiasco.  Turned out to be the most beautiful day i've ever experienced at HMB.  Major low tide allowed us to walk WAY out there.  We were out at least 1/2 mile on the reef from the mean high tide line, like WAY out there.  It was pretty cool

saw some yakers paddling and surfing the breaks.  Took pic of guy landing just as we rounded the point.  dispels any notion that its not yakable water, just have to be REAL good.

With the tide so low and accessible, there were quite a few people out poke poling.  snapped pic of these two guys cleaning up on MFE.  there were a few really deep crevices and pools that looked like they stood a fair chance of yanking out some substantial. 

Anyway, here are the pics.

These are the rocks you can spot in the background of the second pic.  There was a break just southwest of here that the SIK guys were surfing. those dudes have some cajones. 

Nice pics.
I got out with the family on 1/20 to see the -1.5 tide in the afternoon, up north of SC. At every other tidepool I kept thinking "Hmmm, I could poke pole here". There were no surfers out, to stormy for them I guess (it looked nasty from shore).

Way to get outside Yakuza. This time o year we need all the sun exposure we can get!

That's cool Martin I luv the last shot 2 happy satisfied buddies on a Beautiful Day

It is not often that we have a neg tide in the afternoon w/sunshine, light wind, and small swell....in January!
I took advantage of those conditions and slayed a few choice rockfish that day. If anything, its the best time to visit your favorite fishing spot so you can get a good idea of what's beneath the water line (helps you avoid snags later in the year).

Great pics! I need to get up that way soon.
Thanks for sharing!
PK

Sweet pics.  I sure would like to try pokepoling sometime.

What's with the "helicopter fiasco"... did I miss something?

HMB used to be loaded with horse neck clams. On a good minus tide the breakwater is the place to look just stomp your foot and they squirt out water then start digging there.

mickfish, yeah, the dog loves the beach, wanna take him up to river to hang out with your pooch sometime.

chuck, check out http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,11344.0.html.  I got shafted.

PK, I totally drooled over your report from 1/21.  when like conditions arise, you've gotta put the word out and i'll drive down with ya.

reelfish, tons of clams in the breakwater! they're still there.  Unfortunately, the parking area in Princeton BTS where we parked had a contamination warning.  major bummer, huh?

Found an HMB puppy picture from last year.  Nothin' better than hanging with the puppy at the beach.  You can see the same rocks in background of this pic are completely submerged, and they are WAY out there.  Looking back, i'm really amazed at just how far the tide pulled back, exposing the reef.  really amazing.

I love the low tide and the wilderness-like landscape it exposes.  Cool report.   

reelfish, tons of clams in the breakwater! they're still there.  Unfortunately, the parking area in Princeton BTS where we parked had a contamination warning.  major bummer, huh?

Yea thats a major bummer.

  There is always people getting clams there between the boat launch and the jetty. They park at the base of the jetty on the highway and in the little lot. There's lots of clams by the green pier and also in the western flats. The most polluted place in there is at the creek by Barbara's Fishtrap (and the fishing pier). I don't think it's the creek, it's the poop from the volume of birds that go there to take freshwater baths.
  I've always thought I would never eat a bivalve from any harbor. Outside on the reef is very clean though (as long as this week's oil didn't get there--they said it was just north at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve). It's easy pickn's for mussels and urchins at low tide. There used to be a guy on Brian Hoffman's show who said he got clams in the cracks on the reef but I think that was a fishing story.

"two guys cleaning up on MFE"  What is MFE?

"two guys cleaning up on MFE"  What is MFE?

Monkey Face Eeels