The REAL reason for proposed Monterey area reserves revealed

Bluekayak, we cover every inch of Carmel Bay that we are allowed to fish.  With the 120 foot limitation once you have a rockfish on board, you can't go any further than the pinnacles, about 2 miles from the launch..........but it will be horrible if we can't go at least that far.

All of the current proposals, except package #1 leaves recreational fishing to the sand in front of carmel beach.

Pat

But the entire other half of the bay is a reserve....shall we mention that it is a reserve  open to divers? 

I assume it is open to divers who are not taking anything - correct?
My experience diving the Pinnacles was ~10 years ago. Then, I seemed to see a lot more fish just north of and around Stillwater than out at the Pinacles themselves. I really know nothing about kayak line fishing in that area.
Bottom line is, they're probably gonna get something. The Pinnacles seem to be the premier dive destination on the Carmel side; so maybe it's the compromise they would be williing to live with (as opposed to packages 2,3,etc.).
Part of my attitude stems from what I've seen/heard as a result of the Channel Islands MLPA's, which have been in place 2-3 years now. The captain of the dive boat I lobster dive form seems to think they are working well, and judjing by our takes (even though we can't lobster dive in some of our old favorite areas), he is right.

SCUBA divers are really the only legitimate beneficiary of the MPAs, and the monterey dive buisness produces a lot of revenue locally.  If you think fishing gear is expensive, look at dive gear...  I'm actually pleased that none of the (serious) options completely close carmel bay or some of the other sites on monterey peninsula.  I kind of expected an mpa that went from pt lobos to the breakwater.

There is some dangers here for the scuba divers though, the pt lobos reserve has a reservation system and most of the reserve is off-limits even to non-consumptive divers.  The pt lobos reserve will be expanded into the monastary beach area, and it may be possible that some of the limitations in the pt lobos reserve could expand out into some of the new MPAs.  The reasoning for making folks pay for reservations was to limit the number of divers at pt lobos so that it doesn't get 'dove out' by excessive crowds.  It's possible similar reasoning could be applied to the carmel pinnacles, or other MPAs.  As it is the dive boats race into carmel to stake out a good dive spot, with the fishing pressure further concentraded outside the MPAs, there is going to be many more divers and conflict between dive boats/private boats in the relatively small reserves.  I don't mind that, but if the reserves limit the number of divers in them to deal with this, divers will be displaced back into conflict with fishermen.  It's in our best interest to keep the non-consumptive scuba folk happy so they calm down and enjoy what they've got rather than seriously attempt to further undermine what we have left.

Up north will be a different scenario.  MPAs will be the kiss of death to the parks and campgrounds up there that provide access.  Who would visit fort ross if not for abalone?  The fort would be a mouldering ruin within a decade.  The same would go for stillwater cove, or salt point - the associated park would be seriously harmed.  Coves with private access, like timber cove, would also be daunting to close.  The owners could sue the state for devastating their buisness and property value.  Fortunately there are no endangered abalones or otters up there either.  The north coast will probably fare better than the monterey region, but I'd bet the southern regions really gets whacked.  The yuppie to sportsman ratio is just too high around LA and San Diego, and the otterphiles appear to be stark raving mad, judging by the HOPE proposal.

At any rate, we can make lemonade from the lemons.  Now that we know where a few MPAs will certainly be, we can fish there absoluetely guilt free.  Those fish are about to be the luckiest fish around, and by fishing in the MPAs we actually help the fishery by taking fish that soon will be removed from it anyway, instead of ones that will remain.  Better to eat 1000 MPA fish than a single sturgeon.  It'll be an experience to eat the last fish that are ever legally taken from those areas too.  It's not often we have a breaded and fried piece of history on our plates.  

I don't argue at all that preserves do a good thing.  I am after only one ill conceived closure.

All the packages close all or most of the fishing grounds within a two mile range of kayak accessible launches on the north side of Monterey........San Carlos, Lover's Point and Coral Street are the launches that we use during the year and most of the fishing areas near those launches will be closed.  I am not fighting about those because there is still a fishing option in Monterey Bay that allows enough room without a good fishery being hammered.  Remember, while I am championing kayak accessible fishing grounds, any thing that stays open will be worked by all recreational consumers.

And yes, Blue, there may be Carmel Bay kayakers who have never seen Cypress Point, but I doubt it.  That is the wonder of this stretch.  Though there is fishing at rocks off Pescadero Point, most kayakers head around the corner when conditions allow.......and even when Monterey Bay is a bit more swelly than is pleasurable, we can get all the way out to Cypress Point.  "We" is at least me and Randy, but it is me and whoever I am fishing with.  I have never been alone in Carmel Bay unlike Monterey Bay when I am usually alone unless I specifically go with someone.

I was surprised to learn that it was the diving community that was pushing to have the pinnacles cut out since they go to the pinnacles less often than they go to the Pescadero rock.......at least that is what I see when I am out.

Promethean Spark, of course the limitation that every diver can't go out every weekend at Pt Lobos doesn't bring a strong sense of grief to me since I give up fishing for months so that my fishing grounds stay healthy.  I guess this is a pressure that divers do not often have to address.  Believing in the long term good takes some practice.........

It seems that many folks high up in this process assume that kayakers don't go more than a half mile from their launch.  It has been a bit of an educational process trying to disabuse them of this notion. 

Thank you all for posting the concepts that run against your instincts.  It helps me further clarify my thinking.......and reassess if I believe this to be a legitimate request. 

I believe, more than ever, that the northern half of Carmel Bay should continue to be well maintained as the best example of quality, sustainable management for recreation that we have in Monterey County.  It gets fished and hunted, and it still has fish.......

Thank you, all

Pat

Yeah, I hear you, Blue.  I work at home and have been known to put work off until the evening so that I could enjoy a perfect morning.  I have to be careful to not make Randy crazy since he can't go out during the week.........

This is from COOL's site;
"This site is maintained by the Coalition of Organizations for Ocean Life (COOL).
COOL is a coalition of national and regional environmental groups and recreational ocean lovers, working on the Central Coast of California. The mission of the Coalition of Organizations for Ocean Life is to foster the creation of a network of marine reserves that will help restore, enhance and protect the diversity and abundance of California's marine life and underwater habitats, and to educate the public on the value of marine reserves and healthy oceans.

I also support establishing marine reserves off of Cannery Row in Monterey and at the Cypress Pinnacles in Carmel Bay to restore these depleted areas and improve recreational opportunities for the many thousands of SCUBA divers that use these areas each year."

I have verbally been told that there is no species advantage to the pinnacles.  While certainly any closure has to add numbers, the pinnacles site is too small to be significant in the greater scheme.  The only advantage will be to divers to have another private site for their tourist diving ventures.  San Carlos beach is also slated to be open only to divers.  So, I am hopeful to have the most accessible RCG fishery for kayakers, a totally unique site with regards to kayakers, maintained.  Divers are getting their wishes with some spots, I am asking for just Carmel Bay.........leaving out everything south of Monastery.....and even Monastery itself.  It makes sense to make Pt Lobos complete from beach to beach.

Thank you for the chance to clarify that.

Pat
 

Carmel bay is a mecca for spearfishermen, probably the number 1 spot north of pt conception.  That's the group that will be most hammered by this, as freediving favors protected areas with good visibility.  I was lucky to see 40' vis there last spring.  That was amazing.

The spearfishermen have been way ahead of us in the MLPA process.........and there are lots more of them. 

The kayakers have coexisted quite well, I thought, with the hunters.  Being suddenly cut out by the non-hunting divers was rather startling.

Pat

How are kayak anglers 'cut out' w/ regards to spearfishermen?  They won't be able to fish in the new MPAs either.  The only difference is one can spearfish for rockfish year-round because it doesn't have any bycatch of canary or yelloweye rockfish.

We'd all love to be able to think about nothing other than enjoying our passions. In this day and age, if you fish or hunt you have to politically active and aware.

The process that is threatening kayak fishing access in Carmel Bay is the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. Information on the MLPA is available lots of places: WON and probably the Fish Sniffer, radio fishing shows, here on this bulletin board (http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=2753.0) and other fishing websites, and the KFASC website (www.kfasc.org).

Join Coastside, the Recreational Fishing Alliance, and / or United Anglers, BUT

Get informed and then get active! Kayak anglers have unique needs. In this case, kayak anglers have no direct representation on the committee that drew up the maps. PM me your phone number if you want to know why - threre could have been, but one of you would have had to commit to 100s of hours of meetings. In the meantime, when the process moves on to a new section of coast, if you care about fishing that area, you better step up - or history will repeat itself.

And no, this has nothing to do with spearfishing SCUBA.

Coastside does a good job protecting the general recreational angler. They're looking out for us - keep sending them money, they are fighting the good fight against special interst funding of public policy slanted towards fishing closures - but they don't fully understand our unique issues.

When it comes to stakeholder's groups, there is no substitute for direct representation - a seat at the table. In Monterey / Carmel, the recreational fishing reps tried to look out for us. In fact, the argue their proposal (the Angler's Package) is better in part because the Environmental proposal will take away nearly 80% of kayak and spear fishing opportunity in the Monterey area. In spite of that, since they didn't understand the importance of the Pinnacles to the kayak fishing community, they placed a reserve there so another segment of the fishing community could have some open water elsewhere. That might have happened anyway, but we'll never know as we didn't have a seat at the table.   

Like I said I don't know enough about what's going on there

But one thing that strikes me is it would seem smart to have a powerful group like Coastside looking at what the kayak people are doing and weave that into their strategy

My appologies for the sloppy note.  Yes, spear fishermen would also lose out on the pinnacles if it were closed.  The diving tourist industry would be the beneficiary..........non-consumptive they call it.

Let me emphasize that I believe that Coastside did well by us.  I am not well versed in ocean politics.  I "assumed" that someone else, somewhere else, would know about the details and peculiarities of our small sport in my county.  Imagine my surprise when it appeared that I needed to be the one to step to the plate.  And when I did, do not for one moment let me not make clear that my stepping up would have gone no where without the consideration and support of people who ARE at the table. 

So, like Paul said, support Coastside, but attend every meeting that you can.  I was invited at the beginning to attend but I have yet to be able to because of conflicts with work. 

When you can't attend the meetings, read the results.  Contact the representatives that support fishing and advise them of any peculiarities that they might not figure out on their own.

I hate doing anything but saying, Package 1's layout in Monterey County is perfect........vote for it.  Package 1 looks veritably well thought out and a positive step for our fisheries.  I do support it.  There is just an "oops" that they couldn't have known about.  People who fish from power boats seem to largely think we launch and fish.  The idea that we paddle 2-10 miles easily for a day of fishing would be a surprise to them.

I have no opinions on Package 1's proposals for Santa Cruz or SLO Counties.

Pat