Carmel Pinnacles SMR boundaries

I had this email exchange with DFG recently. I'm sure that many of you have this all figured out, but I wanted to get some more info on this:

Me:

Im having trouble reconciling the attached PDF chart with the description below. If the area boundaries include some mean high tide line, where is that line on the map? The map strongly indicates that the protected area is a rectangle with no areas closer than about ½ mile to shore. If the boundaries described below are the official boundaries, why isnt there some indication of the mean high tide line on the map?

Can you help? I like to fish in Carmel Bay but I cant seem to figure out where the boundaries are for this area.
Thanks.
Bill

Official boundaries:

This area is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed:
36° 33.65' N. lat. 121° 57.60' W. long.; 36° 33.65' N. lat. 121° 58.50' W. long.; 36° 33.10' N. lat. 121° 58.50' W. long.; 36° 33.10' N. lat. 121° 57.60' W. long.; and 36° 33.65' N. lat. 121° 57.60' W. long.

DFG Response:

Thank you for your comment sent to Ask Marine regarding the Carmel Pinnacles State Marine Reserve.  I am confirming this marine protected area is located completely offshore, so there is no mean high tide line associated with it.  However, the listed coordinates ARE correct.  You will note that the first and last sets of coordinates are the same.
That is to confirm the start and end point are the same. We will work to correct the regulatory language.

36° 33.65' N. lat. 121° 57.60' W. long.; 36° 33.65' N. lat. 121° 58.50' W. long.; 36° 33.10' N. lat. 121° 58.50' W. long.; 36° 33.10' N. lat. 121° 57.60' W. long.; and 36° 33.65' N. lat. 121° 57.60' W. long.

Thank you again for bringing this error to our attention.  If I can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me directly at 707-445-5301.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Pope


Elizabeth Pope
Marine Biologist
MLPA-Marine Protected Areas   
California Dept. of Fish & Game
619 2nd Street, Eureka CA 95501
office: 707-445-5301
cell: 707-599-2402
[email protected]   

Now I just have to figure out how to find these coordinates on my GPS. At least I know that if I'm relatively near shore, I'm safe.
Bill

Believe it or not you're not the only one who noticed that and scratched their head, except that I knew the intent from the begining so I knew there was no hightide line involved.

I plan to program those points into my gps as waypoints and keep an eye on them, my screen will show a number of way points on the map at the same time so I'll actually be able to see the corners of the "box". That way I'll be safe if I ever get down south.

Another thing this group does allot of fishing out of SWS and I've never heard to Pinnacles mentioned so maybe someone will chime in with some better info. 

I plan to program those points into my gps as waypoints and keep an eye on them, my screen will show a number of way points on the map at the same time so I'll actually be able to see the corners of the "box". That way I'll be safe if I ever get down south.

Thats exactly what I did, on both my FF GPS and on my hand held.  You can easily end up drifting into the no-go zone if you dont have them listed on your gps.  Wardens like to watch yakers out there from the bluff with their binoculars, so be sure you know where your fishing.

I never noticed the "mean high tide" language, just went right by it. Could you argue that it's O.K. to fish inside the horizontal box on a higher than mean tide, since you'd be floating "above" the vertical reserve boundary? I think I'll let someone else try that one out on the F&G!
    If you're out of the reserve, you'll never find the pinnacles.  There are about three big humps in that area, can be dangerous in any serious swell, because you can get a sneaker wave.
   I entered the waypoints as a "route" in my GPS, which shows up as a rectangle on the screen,  then I can zoom in and out and see how close I'm getting to the box.
    The corner closest to shore-and it's in the kelp- is the first one you get to as you round Pescadero Pt going out- near the Tower House, after that, as you head toward Cypress Pt, the reserve line gets further offshore.
   

    If you're out of the reserve, you'll never find the pinnacles.

Unless you look a little offshore where the dive boats are sitting.  That's where the pinnacles are!  That's the main reason they were shut down ... so the divers have their own little private aquarium.  The reserve does NOT meet the MLPA minimum sizing recommendations for MR's.

-Allen

Thats exactly what I did, on both my FF GPS and on my hand held.  You can easily end up drifting into the no-go zone if you dont have them listed on your gps.  Wardens like to watch yakers out there from the bluff with their binoculars, so be sure you know where your fishing.
[/quote]

I've entered the coordinates in my GPS a long time ago to cover my ass.  I've always wondered how a Game Warden can prove you're inside the closed zone.  He needs to show proof of your exact coordinates, correct? 

A local DFG biologist (who is a hell of a nice guy IMO) shared the following with me....

you had some questions about the Pinnacles SMR MPA..."picture 1" document is a map DFG created that should give you a general idea where this MPA is located. On that map I pointed out where the "tower house" is located
as a reference. "picture_2" is an ariel photograph of the same area. The
reason I included this picture is to show you how easy it is to see the
"Pinnacles" just by locating the kelp paddies that grow from the tops of
these two pinnacles. "picture_3" shows you what the bathymetry looks
like around the Pinnacles MPA, some general distance points from shore
and some key features that should help you locate this MPA. These
pictures should help you locate the Pinnacles MPA but if you really want
to make sure you are outside of the MPA you need to plot the LAT/LONGs
into your hand-held GPS unit...

I personally feel like I have a much better idea of where the pinnacles are now after looking at these pics...

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Jim, thanks a bunch for your pictures. I agree - those are very helpful, esp. #3 - I'm not going to get too specific about where I've been fishing around there - let's just say I'm going to be more careful next time! I definitely didn't realize how close that corner is to shore.
Bill