Monterey Bay

I hear you  - it's a fantastic place.  What's the story with the MLPA there . .aren't we going to be kissing it goodbye soon?

I hear you  - it's a fantastic place.  What's the story with the MLPA there . .aren't we going to be kissing it goodbye soon?

i think it is very possible we will be seeing this place off limits along with numerous other places. i would definitely miss it as i used to go alone there when i was not working and spend my days snorkeling around looking for fish. i felt so comfortable knowing where all of the pinnacles were and where i was able to see what kind of fish.

the bad part about losing this area is its one of the few places to go to when carmel is blown out and crazy. monterey and carmel compliment each other like that. when one place is nasty you usually have decent conditions at one or the other.

if that happens i will definitely bring my camera instead of a speargun though. there is a lot to see and the seals area real friendly there.

i know its illegal but there have been days when i fed the seals fish i had speared just because i know they like it. i thought it would ne a nice gesture at the time since they had followed me all day and dive bombed all the places i was looking for fish. i know its not good to do but at the time it was fun. i guess i am not as law abiding as i thought i was. i'll have to work on it.

I will miss it, too.  I have only been living in PG for 8 months so I might be wrong . . but I can't help but feel that push to close that area is not based on conservation . . but instead it's a ploy by Pacific Grove to remove unsightly fishermen who don't spend money in bed and breakfasts.  A while back I read the MLPA proposals and one of the reasons they gave for closing PG is that it would be easy to enforce (and it would be, too).  To my thinking, the only reason to close an area should be to protect resources in real danger . . not for ease of enforcement or to enhance tourism.

I am not a fisheries biologist or anything of the sort and I am all in favor of protecting our valuable ocean resources - but it sure seems like there are a lot of fish there and a relatively low amount of fishing pressure.  Oh well . .enough crying . . .I know I will still be able to find some places to fish after the closure.  Speaking of which . .I am planning on heading out Sat the 10th.   I will post it in the hookups . .hopefully we can meet up and complain about the closure in person!  I'm gonna catch me one of them rays (and then relase it)!

thanks for the insight. please post how your day goes out there. towards lovers point in about 15 feet of water i have seen bat rays about 5' wide laying with smaller ones i think were its young. the last time i saw them there the water was a bit murky but calm and when i dove down they took off and looked like giant airplanes gliding around.

that whole area is great for flatfish from starrys to halibut and even thornback rays, i never saw an electric ray there but have seen big ones of those at del monte. one looked like a UFO.

john

  Anyone ever launch from 'Whalers Cove" in the Point Lobos state reserve?  Don't think you can fish there, it being a reserve, but the scenery is beautiful!
 

  Anyone ever launch from 'Whalers Cove" in the Point Lobos state reserve?  Don't think you can fish there, it being a reserve, but the scenery is beautiful!
 

man, if it was legal i'd be there so fast my skeleton would run out of my skin! you need reservations to launch and dive in pt lobos reserve. they are strictly no hunting and rangers abound. its hard to even get a date to uset he palce as its a scuba divers paradise.

i do however use the north end just outside the preserve. there are nice lingcod there.

i know the fish there are great though, since fishing there ended it has rebounded like mad.

john

On a calm day you can launch out of Monistary Beach and fish the edge of the reserve.  Watch out for the dumping shore break when the wind and waves increase.  I have had good luck early in the day launching from one of the extreem ends of the beach.  The south end seems to be better more often but I have used both.  Usually limits of rockfish in little time.

 Where do you find the lingcod in that area?  I usually fish the edge of the kelp near what I call the thumb (rock structure I use to mark the edge of the reserve).

that area is a great place. i know that people hunt and fish there quite  bit. the funny thing about that place is that i always see ling cod just cruising around looking for food. i rarely see them sitting still there. i think its because of the high rockfish population and it keeps them on the prowl.

i did not get too close to the lobos line but did check out some nice pinnacles in about 40-60 feet of water there. last year i went with  friend and he got nice lings in both north and south side. biggest one was close to 40".

i like the south side on a calm day it can be like a fishbowl. all types of rockfish suspended in in the water column.

john

I assume that Otter Cove is outside the Pacific Grove Marine Reserve...?  Are there any new restrictions imposed that I should be aware of if I make a trip there in the near future?

Finfish are legal.  Enjoy.

I assume that Otter Cove is outside the Pacific Grove Marine Reserve...?  Are there any new restrictions imposed that I should be aware of if I make a trip there in the near future?

just what seabreeze said, if anyone hassles you direct them to the sign at the top of the stairs. with the picture of the tidepool on it. tells exactly what cannot be taken.

that place is great!