Monterey Rockfish Opener 05/01/2010

Don't know what the WX will be like, but given May 1st is when rockfish season opens down in Monterey, I was thinking of going down to Stillwater or somewhere in Monterey bay and try my luck.  Company as well as other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Michael

Good lucks Michael and looking forward to read your report.

I'm interested, weather permitting.  20 days left!

I'm glad May 1st is on a Saturday this year, because I'm out of vacation time already lol. I imagine there will be a group celebrating the opener at Stillwater or MBK or some other locale. Like always, it depends on the weather.

mmmmm, cant wait, ill be there.. 19 days left

Me and the Gf will be down there for the opener. Usually leave thursday night come back home sunday. In the past, we've just luanched from the beach just right of the wharf and done well too! conditions there always seem to be doable even when the weather is hazy everywhere else! But stillwater sounds good too! Where is Stillwater? Is it ok for two not so experience ocean go'ers such as me and my gf to launch from? Thinkin of trying Carmel beach too!

BIG SUR?? I will see if I can come.. Thanks

Me and the Gf will be down there for the opener. Usually leave thursday night come back home sunday. In the past, we've just luanched from the beach just right of the wharf and done well too! conditions there always seem to be doable even when the weather is hazy everywhere else! But stillwater sounds good too! Where is Stillwater? Is it ok for two not so experience ocean go'ers such as me and my gf to launch from? Thinkin of trying Carmel beach too!

Well, being an ocean newbie myself, I am looking for a relatively easy launch for the opener.  No climbing down cliffs, or punching through nasty surf for me.  I have heard that stillwater is a pretty easy launch so hopefully the weather conditions will be good.  I just took the MBK kayak fishing class last week and we launched over on the beach by the wharf and even with 15+ knot winds and a predicted 6 foot swell, I have to say that it wasn't too bad (although it was an offshore flow so no white caps).  It was not a bad day to learn how to enter and exit the surf zone.  So if the conditions are not optimal for stillwater, I think that would be an option as well.  I will add more details as we get closer to the date and the WX becomes more clear.


Michael

  And here I sit in a sling, with orders not to use my arm for anything for at least another 4 weeks...then physical therapy.  I don't think they'll consider kayak fishing PT either. 

Stillwater is a nice easy launch, and you'll find plenty of good fishing there.  Use the search feature to find details regarding this launch site (parking, et cetera).  Good luck, have fun and don't forget the after-action report (with pics!) for use guys who be land-locked mateys. Yar. 

Wife: "I just want to go on the record to say that you can go fishing as much as you want, but you can't force me to eat fish.  You know I don't like eating it much" 

Count another newbie in.  I've only been to HMB, SF Ocean and Kailua - would love to learn from the pros!

I'm in for the opener.

A serious event can only stop me from fishing opening day there.  Called my buddy and were both going.

I might make it, depends on the weather and stuff I wish I didn't have to do.   

PLEASE, if you go to Stillwater, remember , after you unload near the launch, to park in the designated parking along the fairway (17?) entrance near the tee before you get to the Beach Club building.  There are only about 10 or so "public access" spaces, so that could be a problem on opening day. There's a sign with a number to call to reserve a space, don't know what it is or what it would cost to do so, if anything.

And PLEASE remember that 11-1or 2 is their big traffic hour and if it's real busy, it's reasonable of them to ask you to roll your yak back to your car rather than trying to load up and turn around near a lot of expensive cars in a tight space.  Some of us will be fishing there in the months after opening day and don't want to have to deal with a lot of riled up employees that are generally pretty cool if you respect the place.  Good luck. Yes it's pretty safe for newbies, but not as safe as Monterey. 
 
And put the reserves into your GPS so you can stay out of them - at Stillwater, the hardest spot to do that is the area closest to the launch.  Good luck.

But I know I'm preachin' to the choir here because no NCKAer would act like a slob, and there are lots of guys who fish in yaks who haven't even heard of NCKA, let alone met its high standards for membership. 

Agree on the parking situation, that lot gets blown out, and will do!

I might make it, depends on the weather and stuff I wish I didn't have to do.   

PLEASE, if you go to Stillwater, remember , after you unload near the launch, to park in the designated parking along the fairway (17?) entrance near the tee before you get to the Beach Club building.  There are only about 10 or so "public access" spaces, so that could be a problem on opening day. There's a sign with a number to call to reserve a space, don't know what it is or what it would cost to do so, if anything.

And PLEASE remember that 11-1or 2 is their big traffic hour and if it's real busy, it's reasonable of them to ask you to roll your yak back to your car rather than trying to load up and turn around near a lot of expensive cars in a tight space.  Some of us will be fishing there in the months after opening day and don't want to have to deal with a lot of riled up employees that are generally pretty cool if you respect the place.  Good luck. Yes it's pretty safe for newbies, but not as safe as Monterey. 
 
And put the reserves into your GPS so you can stay out of them - at Stillwater, the hardest spot to do that is the area closest to the launch.  Good luck.

But I know I'm preachin' to the choir here because no NCKAer would act like a slob, and there are lots of guys who fish in yaks who haven't even heard of NCKA, let alone met its high standards for membership. 

Thanks for the heads up!  Definitely good information and I will definitely keep all those things in mind.  As far as parking is concerned, apparently there are 10 first come, first serve parking spaces and 6 spaces that you can reserve two weeks in advance.  Here is a scuba link regarding launching at stillwater: http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/ba_diving/launching_at_stillwater.html.  Also, given the limited parking, if people can car pool, that would probably help.

Michael