Abs etc. 4/22

For me ... I shoot everything at point blank range.  I cant hit anything that's farther than that.  

I use a JBL Mini Carbine.  55 cm single band gun with a single flopper.  I find it plenty good for anything I see in the kelp beds.

-Allen

Lee,
If you are not diving in kelp, having a some type of float attached to the other end of your float line makes it really easy to keep track of and also helps it to stay stretched out and away from you.  For halibut we use a bleach bottle attached to a 3 ft. weighted fiberglass pole or stick and a small flag on the top.  It also helps to make you visible so you don't get run over by boats.  For rockfish they aren't going far after you shoot them so a flag and weight may be more trouble than it is worth.  Sometimes I just clip my float line off to my ab float or boogie board and tow it around with me.  Again if you are in the kelp this will be a major pain in your ass.
Dave

Thanks Dave. I have an inflatable torpedo float(w/ flag) and an ab float. I am going to Carmel tonight for the weekend(Dad rented a house down by the water). I'm bringing the yak, my 7' pole spear, my Riffe, and both floats. I just baught my wife some Cressi Gara LD freediving fins and we want to see how they work for her. I'm not to familiar with Carmel, so if anyone knows some yak spots or good entry spots, I'd love to hear from you. Hopefully I will shoot my first fish this weekend.-Lee

Hey Lee I am not a diver but I hear lots of good things about StillWater Cove.

http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/USA_West/CalN/Stillwater_Cove/

Thanks Bill for the tip. As it was, that is a great diving spot, but difficult to get a reservation on short notice. However, the website was a nice discovery. Jen and I ended up goiing to the aquarium in the morning, then freedove at Lover's Point and saw the same fish(LOTS!) again only in the wild. I could bring myself to shoot any because the place seems too prestine, and too easy. It's like your diving at the aquarium, and I would not want to rob someone else of the experience we had. But I can't wait to shoot something! -Lee

Just went to Stillwater and it was really nice.  Yak logistics are a bit of a PITA, but a good place for sure.

Lee,

I haven't checked the regs to confirm, but your comments about "too pristine and easy" jogged my memory about reading that there is no fishing/spearing at Lover's Point (and my dad is a diver and lives a block and a half from the point). I found this map-

http://mapper.acme.com/?lat=36.627046&long=-121.91574&scale=14&theme=Topo&width=4&height=3&dot=Yes

- showing a "Pacific Grove State Marine Gardens Fish Reserve". It looks like your instincts were good! I can't tell too well from the map, but it looks like thr reserve extends maybe 1/2 mile offshore.

Thanks Other Bill. I even asked the guy who was renting kayaks there and he said it was okay(he didn't really convince me though). Well, it's good to know for future reference and the map is one to keep. Thanks for the tip! -Lee