Spearfishing/Camping Trip Ideas

[cpara]

I have two buddies coming to visit towards the end of the month, both are experienced divers. I'm trying to get a few good ideas for possible trip locations. The only real parameters are I want it to be less than 8 hours drive from Orange County and if there are places to camp nearby thats even better! Some initial ideas were Catalina, Channel Islands, Bahia De Los Angeles...if anyone has any information or advice regarding these places and others please share! PM Messages welcome as well!!

[gneckermann]

Originally Posted by cpara

I have two buddies coming to visit towards the end of the month, both are experienced divers. I'm trying to get a few good ideas for possible trip locations. The only real parameters are I want it to be less than 8 hours drive from Orange County and if there are places to camp nearby thats even better! Some initial ideas were Catalina, Channel Islands, Bahia De Los Angeles...if anyone has any information or advice regarding these places and others please share! PM Messages welcome as well!!

You'll have to go mid-week to get a campsite (weekends book early in the year), but Little Harbor on the open ocean side of Catalina is a really spectacular camping spot with nice diving nearby.

We were in BoLA earlier this year, really cool spot but I've heard its brutally hot there now-early September, so be cautious and ask a veteran of the area before you take off if you'll broil. The conventional wisdom seems to be that if you're headed to Mexico this time of year, go the Pacific side.

If you're camping/diving on the northern channel islands, bring your hiking shoes. It's a trek from the campgrounds back to the ocean, much less to the diving locations. Naturally, the only one that has good ocean access is in the middle of an MPA, bastards.

Finally, mainland US options. We've had several diving/camping guests roll through Malibu and all have been reasonably happy with the camping/diving between Leo Carillo, Big Sycamore, & Thronehill Broome. There are usually spots available a couple of weeks in advance.

Hope that helps. If you narrow down your list and want specifics, hit me up.

[shafe]

Grant - which would you recommend for a camping/kayak trip in terms of quality diving/fishiness:

Kayak/Spear between Two Harbors and Parsons, and camp at Parsons


Or


Camp at Inner Harbor and kayak/spear around there?

[gneckermann]

Originally Posted by shafe

Grant - which would you recommend for a camping/kayak trip in terms of quality diving/fishiness:

Kayak/Spear between Two Harbors and Parsons, and camp at Parsons


Or


Camp at Inner Harbor and kayak/spear around there?

My experience diving at Catalina is limited to the open ocean side, just by way of all my boat-having friends being in Channel Islands Harbor. So, I can't speak to any fish-quality out there. Hit up Juan32 on here or CatalinaJay (I'm fairly sure those are their screennames, but I didn't look them up to double check). Don't know either personally, but they were both kind enough to offer really solid insight two years ago when we did our 3-day/2-night trip to Little and reside on the island.

[arice]

Less than 8 hours from OC includes about 6 hours into Northern Baja, then. There's some beautiful places once you get past Ensenada. And it'll be cool on the Pacific. Other side cooks in the summer.

Originally Posted by cpara

I have two buddies coming to visit towards the end of the month, both are experienced divers. I'm trying to get a few good ideas for possible trip locations. The only real parameters are I want it to be less than 8 hours drive from Orange County and if there are places to camp nearby thats even better! Some initial ideas were Catalina, Channel Islands, Bahia De Los Angeles...if anyone has any information or advice regarding these places and others please share! PM Messages welcome as well!!

[cpara]

Thank you for the advice, I will definitely consider all these options and let you guys know what I go with. I've dove all over Bahia De Los Angeles and know how incredible it is, but thats a much farther drive....frustrating.