Half Moon Bay (HMB) Nautical Chart

I ran across a link (by AlsHobieOutbac) in this forum to a website ( http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/PacificCoastViewerTable.htm ) full of very useful charts depicting the depth, obstacles, and many other stuff for the pacific coatal areas. It can't replace a fish finder, but I think it'd be a good reference to have for those without FFs.

I'm particularly interested in fishing the HMB area so I've mapped out the rocky and sandy areas to fish for this weekend. Maybe this post is a bit premature, but then again, I'm hoping before I try these marked areas, that some of the veterans in here can confirm these marked areas as hotspots for rockfish and halibuts?

Here's the link to the map that I've setup for HMB fishing grounds:

Yakaroo - just pick a good day (weather permits) and paddle out with a buddy and explore. Just put in your time and you'll get 'em  A fish finder will help you find the reef system and the sandy area as well. It's fairly easy to do by lining up to the rock wall and the first green buoy (or can) you see when you paddle out of the jaws. Just keep an eye on the reefs breaking the surface (boilers) when the tide is low and watch out for the boat wakes.

 Just post on the hook-up section and you should have no problems hooking up. Tim / Mr. Magoo knows this area pretty well and is a knowledgable water man (besides kayak fishing, he kayak surfs this place a lot).

Good luck and paddle safe 

i have some reefs marked on my gps and i'll post up some numbers when i get to work tomorrow. these are about a 20 minute paddle from the exit of the harbor and north.

im starting to like HMB more and more, it was sooo busy on Saturday at the ramp.

john

Important Info:

Take note of the navigational aides, they're the red and green bouys in your chart.  The rule of thumb for boats exiting a harbor is green on the right and red on the left.....vice versa for entering.  Boats will be using these areas as lanes, keep your head on a swivel when fishing around them.  Also, there in the middle of the bay is two green buoys lined up parallel to shore with a red buoy in the middle further out.....thats a reef with a shallow high spot.  Ive seen it breaking in there out of nowhere on average sized days.  Be careful of the wind and swell down there also. Since its more exposed to the NW wind and swell the conditions get ugglier than near the harbor and you're paddling against it to get home.   

here are some numbers to try if you get out at hmb:

37.29.300N
122.29.460W

37.29.220N
122.29.450W

37.29.170N
122.29.450W

37.29.560N
122.30.170W

37.29.160N
122.30.220W

37.29.130N
122.30.500W

just watch the wave action at the hmb harbor mouth as just on the other side of the jetty waves will roll up over the bull kelp towards the harbor. to get around those, go real wide out and around to the right.

let me know if you want some more further from those. i have some that head north around towards Pedro pt as well. heck, im not planning to go as far anytime soon. maybe from Linda mar?

john

NICE! Thanks for the coordinates. If I've located them correctly in google maps, we agree on a couple of spots. I've updated the map with your coordinates, marked in blue bubbles. Are those the spots? Looks like the first few are very close to the mavericks. I was a little nervous about staying too close to breaking water.

I'll be exploring the waters at HMB on Friday and most likely on Saturday as well. The forecast looks really good compared to last week and I went out to the rock walls last week to scout the place a little. The swells were forecasted to be pretty high (6-8ft?), but it didn't look too bad from shore. Maybe it's a different monster in the kayak... In any case, the weather forecast looks ideal for now.

Thanks again for the info, everyone. Really looking forward to reporting some lings.