Lots of kelp this year?
Well guys and gals,
I have been out twice this season, both times in the Fort Ross area. I have noticed that the kelp beds are much thicker than they were last year and I guess this requires either grubbing around in the thick bottom veg or hitting deeper spots with openings in the surface paddies. My dive buddy and I have opted to head for deeper water.
Since I have less than a year's experience in ab diving and I have not hunted during the first half of the season other than this year, I am not sure if the thick vegitation is typical this time of year. Does anyone care to comment and help enlighten me on this veg issue?
As for the ab diving, both times out were great other than wallowing thru yards of kelp covered water. Yeasterday we were heading out while a group was heading in, they reported tough times due to poor vis, lots of veg, and rough water. One of the party said they didn't even get in the water due to the 'poor' conditions. To no avail my buddy and I hit the same area, we swam out to an open area in the kelp, about 25' deep. The the seas were fairly calm, the vis was about 10' and the abs were quite plentiful. I thought is was a pretty typical day based on my experience.
As as side note, we saw a lot of shore pickers yesterday. That sure seams like a good way to get banged up on slipery rocks or by rogue waves. I think I'll stick with the freediving. :-)
MN
agreed
I believe Ft. Ross is considered part of the "Banana Belt", so named because of the lack of or lower level of fog. If so, then the direct sunlight would cause the kelp to grow via photosynthesis. I've heard it can grow a foot a day. Just my 2 cents; I'm no marine biologist like George Costanza. ;-)
I was out diving Tomales Point over the weekend, and a diver in our party commented on how thick the kelp was near shore. It was definitely thicker there than April & May. Like you, I dove further out, so it wasn't a factor.
How big are the Ft. Ross abs at 25'?
I'll be honest, they were
I'll be honest, they were alot bigger on the bottom than they were when I got them to the surface. Mine were between 8.25" and 8.75". Nothing too big, but my bottom time is not that great.
MN
the incredible shrinking ab
I hate it when they appear smaller at the surface. My backyard is littered with shells that were HUGE down at the bottom of the ocean, only to be 7+ inches when measured!!
And your bottom time is very good if you're diving down to 25'
Shrinking abs !
They say that ab's and fish apear 25% larger underwater due to refraction. I can relate I can not count the times I thuoght I had a Ten incher only to get to the surface and have it turn out be a 9 or 9&1/2.
PS
The filling out of the punch card as soon as you get to the beach is a real pain. My pen doesn't work too well when its wet.
MN
To much kelp !
I agree there seems to alot more kelp this time of year compared to this same time last year, but that does not bother me, if anything it makes me feel safer, sharks are less likely to swim into a heavyly kelped area, and plus I tend to find bigger abs in the kelp due to the fact that most people are afaird to dive in it. The secerte is just do not panic if you start to get tangled all you will do is make it get even tighter I have found if you ley yourself decend back down it useally works it self off of you. Just my thought and I am not saying for anyone to try this technice but that is what I do it seems to work for me.
Thanks for the vote of
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Brock.
Matt M, I look forward to the day I see a 10"er. I like to swim in the kelp too, as long as it isn't too thick.
MN
A tener
I think we are all hopeing to get that 10 incher some day !!