3.5.2011 HMB Spearfishing Report

Was originally headed to SWS, but thought I was going solo from looking at the replies, so I changed plans to hit up HMB for crabs.  Sorry fishmaster1 ( saw your reply late, I will make it up to you )

Hit up half moon bay by 7am, got a ride out on a boat to pull traps, it was slow out there, so we headed towards the red bouy where the pinnacle wall is, the shallow part being in the 5-15ft range on the depth finder. 

Jumped in to look for sea urchins, saw none, buddy saw a very small one.  I did see a 8" abalone, which was exciting.  I only heard stories that they were out there. The vis was 10ft at the time, with no sea urchins in sight, I went back up and grabbed my speargun.  On the decent, my eyes adjusted and I noticed I was in a school of fish.  I took my first shot and landed my first perch.  Wahoo!!!

After I came up an moved to secure my fish, I lost my spot and found myself diving in 4ft vis, deepest going to 25ft.  I wasn't too excited, so after a few more dives, I bailed.  Buddy got his 10 blues (bastard, lol)

Boat guys didn't want to go in with 5 crabs each, so we made another trip out.

7 crabs ea
1 perch for me
10 blues for friend

None the less it was a experience.

Will post pics later, at the movies with son, about to watch Rango.

Thanks for the report.  I didnt know that spearing was doable up in those waters.  I would love to check that out someday.  Glad you guys the crabs and congrats on your first perch.
hotplate

Thanks for the report! I always really appreciate these reports for north of Monterey, as there's a whole bunch of areas up here I've been wanting to try if I can catch them with decent viz.
I dove Santa Cruz once last year, but I couldn't even see my hand if I extended it.
I heard a few weeks back that there was 15 foot viz in Pacifica, and 20 foot viz in Santa Cruz, but I wasn't able to dive that weekend.

It takes some balls to dive in the Triangle man.  No thank you! But good on you for giving it a go!

Thanks for the report! I always really appreciate these reports for north of Monterey, as there's a whole bunch of areas up here I've been wanting to try if I can catch them with decent viz.
I dove Santa Cruz once last year, but I couldn't even see my hand if I extended it.
I heard a few weeks back that there was 15 foot viz in Pacifica, and 20 foot viz in Santa Cruz, but I wasn't able to dive that weekend.

last year i fished the bean on a day where u could see bottom at like 20 feet in some places , too bad that place is sharky cuz that would of been the perfect day to dive that spot, real fishy out there.

oh come on fellas, a little shark is not much to worry about.  besides do you know how embarrassing it must be if the landlord comes and takes a chunk out of one of us.  we dont carry nearly enough blubber or good meat.  He probably goes back to all his buddy and they are like " George just bit a human, what an idiot.  Yea Yea what are you a rookie or something.  What a doofus"  The humiliation must be unbearable.  But seriously, thats ballsy.  cant wait to try it
hotplate

a little shark is not much to worry about.

Yea but a 2 tonne apex preditor should be considered.

One of the cool things was the pinnacle, it was literally just a frigging huge wall, that went straight down.  I didn't even want to know how far it went, not in that vis.

One of the cool things was the pinnacle, it was literally just a frigging huge wall, that went straight down.  I didn't even want to know how far it went, not in that vis.

Were the blues on the pinnacle too?

I've thought about diving out there... but usually pretty bad vis & spooky.   


Still... would be nice to have a dive option just on other side of 92.

One of the cool things was the pinnacle, it was literally just a frigging huge wall, that went straight down.  I didn't even want to know how far it went, not in that vis.

Were the blues on the pinnacle too?

I've thought about diving out there... but usually pretty bad vis & spooky.   

Yes, they were right on the side of the wall, ton of fish, I couldn't count them all. 

+5 on the spooky scale, 10ft vis was bearable, 4ft vis (makes me want to jump out) LOL


Still... would be nice to have a dive option just on other side of 92.

it was literally just a frigging huge wall, that went straight down. 

Thousands upon thousands of times I've sat back with my fishing pole in my hand....reading the water, examing the banks and current flows, imagining bass embeded in the structure and how they're positioned to strike, presenting a lure as naturally and prey'ish as I can.....and setting into them when they hit.  That always rolls through the back of my head when I'm diving walls like that, looking like a big topwater lure, freakin creepy...........but like a dummy I continue to do it.   

It takes some balls to dive in the Triangle man.  No thank you! But good on you for giving it a go!

Monterey Bay is part of the red triangle too.  I thought the bulk of sharks have migrated off by now.

-Allen

It takes some balls to dive in the Triangle man.  No thank you! But good on you for giving it a go!

Monterey Bay is part of the red triangle too.  I thought the bulk of sharks have migrated off by now.

-Allen

I thought the big ones migrated and the small ones stayed around to practice their hunting skills. ?  Well, anyhoo, this guy chaeki here is accumulating savage pts. by spearing out at half moon bay where there have been multible gw sightings and a few attacks.  Kudo's to you Chaeki.   

Keep working your way south to bean hollow and you will complete your training young padawan.  I once spotted for a guy at bean hollow while he dropped in and tried to shoot some cabbys on top of one of the reefs out there.  His name was GRANITEDIVE!  That guy was my inspiration to me to get back in a wetsuit after 10+ years not diving.  Classic ncka moment watching that guy dive the bean!

Good report.

I thought the big ones migrated and the small ones stayed around to practice their hunting skills. ?  Well, anyhoo, this guy chaeki here is accumulating savage pts. by spearing out at half moon bay where there have been multible gw sightings and a few attacks.  Kudo's to you Chaeki.   

Keep working your way south to bean hollow and you will complete your training young padawan.  I once spotted for a guy at bean hollow while he dropped in and tried to shoot some cabbys on top of one of the reefs out there.  His name was GRANITEDIVE!  That guy was my inspiration to me to get back in a wetsuit after 10+ years not diving.  Classic ncka moment watching that guy dive the bean!

Good report.

I'm just a newbie that doesn't know any better, I had no idea about sharks or red triangle.  I do recall nudling telling me at the crab opener, that I was crazy to freedive there, just because I wanted to see if I could see crabs.  LOL

Now that I think about it, it makes me nervous.  LOLOL

Your huevos are large Chaeki.  I like your videos so just make sure you attach a shark shield to them.