Front page of the Santa Barbara News Press on July 10th stated that one of our favorite inshore surf fishing, float tubing, and kayaking spots is going to be closed to fishing. I'm talking about the cove below U.C.S.B. between Campus Point and Goleta Beach.

Many of us have fished this area successfully for years and not only love it because of the fishing but because of the beautiful atmosphere of the area.

The current area of closure is from the West side of Goleta Pier to Coal Oil Point. I have several ideas that may help protect us recreational inshore fisherman from this. I have submitted a letter to Paul Reilly. I suggest if you enjoy surf fishing, float tubing, or kayaking this area that you do the same.

Here are my ideas to help eliminate the complete closure of this area to recreational fishing:

1) Make the area from Goleta Pier to Campus Point a recreational fishing only area.

2) Make the area from Goleta Pier to Campus Point a catch and release and/or artificial lures only area.

3) In the area from Goleta Pier to Campus Point start the inshore boundary of the reserve 1/4 mile offshore or so. Thereby allowing surf fisherman, float tubers, and kayak fisherman to continue to fish there.

4) Make the area from Goleta Pier to Campus Point closed to everyone except surf fisherman and fisherman fishing from human powered craft (i.e., float tubes, surf boards, or kayaks).

5) Move the boundary of the reserve from Goleta Pier to Campus Point.

Some of these are last resort options but they are all better than a complete fishing ban in this area.

I urge everyone who loves this area as much as I do to send a letter to Paul Reilly regarding this issue and to attend the meeting on July 24th from 7 pm - 10 pm at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Santa Barbara at 112 West Cabrillo Boulevard, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

See http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/concepts_south.html for more details on this closure.

Paul Reilly
Department of Fish and Game
20 Lower Ragsdale Drive Suite 100
Monterey, CA 93940

If you'd like to see a copy of the letter I have sent to Paul e-mail me at leapinbass@yahoo.com.

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You can't catch tomorrow what you kill today - please practice catch and release.