Any good dive spots on SM coast? or anything doable this mon?

Im new to spearfishing and the SM coast. My buddies experienced but only up north and were trying to find a spot for monday. I know HMB has pretty bad vis and with this weekend weather I think its better for rod and reel than freedive. Any thoughts on this? Ive heard the shelter cove in Pacifica is decent at times.

Wes

There's some dive spots in SMC, but there's two major factors that inhibit people from diving there. The first being the large population of great whites, and the second being bad visibility. If sharks don't make you nervous enough not to dive, and you can pick a day with good vis, then you should have some success.

I would definitely stay away from the Ano Nuevo area. The jetty at Halfmoon Bay, as well as Pacifica are your best bets. Montara, maybe, but I think it might be an MLPA now. You can expect the normal rockfish, perch, and lingcod. I've also heard of guys diving for crabs in the sand there, which is a blast. Also, halibut generally show up in the summer time.

The biggest key is to dive on the rare occasions when vis is good.

There's some dive spots in SMC, but there's two major factors that inhibit people from diving there. The first being the large population of great whites, and the second being bad visibility. If sharks don't make you nervous enough not to dive, and you can pick a day with good vis, then you should have some success.

I would definitely stay away from the Ano Nuevo area. The jetty at Halfmoon Bay, as well as Pacifica are your best bets. Montara, maybe, but I think it might be an MLPA now. You can expect the normal rockfish, perch, and lingcod. I've also heard of guys diving for crabs in the sand there, which is a blast. Also, halibut generally show up in the summer time.

The biggest key is to dive on the rare occasions when vis is good.

Thanks for the info Ive tried HMB but no luck on fish only crabs really hard to get good vis. Thinking if i dont act to much like a dieing seal then the sharks might leave me a lone but Ano Nuevo is asking for trouble. Montara is a MLPA which is a bummer felt like that place was decent from what others have said. Has any one tried Pescadaro I know there are some rock formations out there as well as near the Ritz south of HMB

Waaaaaaaaay too sketchy.  Thats swimming through the Landlords front yard.  He will definitely be looking to make you pay rent for that.  F that.  Hit up SWS or Ft. Ross.  Stay out of the triangle. 

(I know SWS is actually in the Triangle, but its on the edge, good enough for me. )

Chumchum,
I done some sketchy stuff in my day but Shellback is right.
That area is the landlords and nobody wants to
Pay the piper.  If you want to
Get out on Monday I am going to hit up SWS.  Swell is gonna be flat am I'm looking forward to
Good conditions.  Pm me and let me know if you want to hook up

I'd have to somewhat disagree. Anytime you dive in cen/nor cal, there's always going to be that chance of a shark encounter. Even the most popular places like Fort Ross, just outside of SWS, and PG have their shark encounters. It's the risk you take. Just because an area is considered sharky, doesn't mean you should never dive it. If that were the case, nobody would ever dive Big Sur, San Simeon, southern Sonoma county, Humboldt etc. As long as you're aware of the risk, use your best judgement, and you take measures to prevent a possible encounter, there is no reason not to try out some spots and hunt spots that produce. I know of a number of people who dive SMC.

And I'm not saying that you should go swimming around Ano Nuevo Island with a hula-skirt of fish, either. Just be sure to be aware of what you're doing.

Thanks for all the info! Im trying figure this whole thing out. Rick I here ya on the giving a place a chance and being smart! I know there times even sharky places are quite while safe places turn Sharky! Hotplate it looks like my buddy wants to hunt abs on monday so its north for us. Im hoping for good weather and big abs! Thanks again any more info is appreciated!

Wes

good luck up north, and i agree with rick.  if diver is on the menu, your gonna get got.  just no two ways around it.  sharks are everywhere and they are nowhere and it all depends. looking forward to diving with you soon