Last Chance before MLPA Closures

Rockfish season opens on a Tuesday this year and shortly thereafter the MPAs will become law.  There are a few of our favorite fishing spots on the list of closures and since we are all law abiding types this will be our last chance to fish these areas.  I want to compile a list of the areas and try to hit as many as possible during the early part of the RF season.

I am not sure of the specific boundaries and designations but I believe the following should be inlcluded:

The Pinnacles
South East Carmel Bay
Garrapata (I am not sure if the areas others have reported about are in the closure or not)
Point Sur
Point Pinos to Asilomar

Please add your suggestions as I am sure others have favorites.

I plan to take a few days off to be able to fish weekdays.  Some areas are more restricted by conditions than others.  The area between Andrew Molera and Pt. Sur will require a hike in but this is our last chance.  I hope to hookup with others who want to experience some of this epic fishing before it is no more.  Post your suggestions and hookups.  I will post my own and join you whenever I can. 

   I'm of the same mindset, Etienne.  I plan on taking several weekdays off in May so I can get in as much early rock fishing as possible.  The Pinnacles for sure, and since I missed out on Garrapata last year I'd love to give that launch a try.  Count me in, if the days are right!

Pete

Hello all (& Etienne),

Perhaps this was already discussed over the time.  But I just want to confirm if Andrew Molera & Limekiln (both in Big Sur) are now CLOSED for kayakfishing???

I'll be going camping in Big Sur next week (June 15, 16, 17).  Are there any other spots open for kayakfishing in Big Sur aside from Garrapata???

Thank you for taking the time reading this.

Regards,
Ron

limekiln will not close.

Hi,

Thank you for replying. This is really a big help narrowing my option.

-Ron

It also looks like if you paddle south about 2.25 miles from the Andrew Molera launch, you will be outside of the Pt Sur MPAs as well. 

It also looks like if you paddle south about 2.25 miles from the Andrew Molera launch, you will be outside of the Pt Sur MPAs as well.

I'd be careful about going south of Andrew Molera - it's super exposed. If conditions turned for the worse, I think it would be an uphill run back to Molera. 

The only other public landing in the area is at Pfeifer Beach - I've never been there when I would remotely consider launching due to big surf and the real problem, high winds funneled by the canyon. If others have experienced different conditions, I'd love to hear about it because the water south of Pfeifer Pt has to be close to untouched. 

Limekiln and Mill Creek are unaffected by the MLPA, and those are the two main kayak launches on the Big Sur coast. Garrapata is not affected by the upcoming MLPA either. Andrew Molera is part of the Point Sur SMR though and will soon be closed.
So, yes, you are safe…for now.
(-;

And regarding potential launch spots (I say potential because it is always determined by weather conditions), Garrapata is actually  a good ways north of Big Sur proper. You will pass it on your way south to Big Sur. You have two options there, either launch from the small beach north of Soberanes Point (this is where most people on this board launch when fishing that area) or you can launch from the sandy beach at Garrapata Creek (about 5 minutes south of Soberanes Pt).
As you keep driving south on HWY 1, you'll next hit Andrew Molera. The long dirt trail to the beach requires wheels/cart. Keep going another 30 miles or so to reach Limekiln. Then another 5 miles to Mill Creek.
If all of these spots are un-launchable, you can always just drive back up to Carmel and launch from Monastery beach.

Good luck,
PK

And has anybody launched from Partington Cove before? Just curious.