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.

Thanks for the update Pete. Unlike the previous, Channel Islands Reserves process, in this process, other options besides closures are being considered. So, many of Pete's ideas are very feasible. There is one and only one thing that we need to do in order to get our way. That is to have a lot of us show up at the meetings, and send in comments, to people like Paul Reilly. If we can get together and speak with one strong voice, we will probably get what we want. I don't think the enviros will have too much of a problem with campus point. The only thing I could think of would be that they would want to have a reserve in front of their school, just to say that they have a reserve in front of their school. I doubt DFG will buy that, but I also doubt that the UCSB enviros will admit that in the first place... So, we could potentially have a very strong advantage on this. That being LOGIC. However, that didn't seem to prevail at the last go round... I strongly, strongly encourage everybody on the site to seriously attend the meetings, and send emails. It's the least you can do. During the last process, with MRWG and SAC and all that, the private boater turnout was pathetic. Often times I was the closest person to a private boater at the meetings!!! And more than once, I alone represented recreational fishermen. I'd like to think that us inshore fishermen are a little more concerned. We are certainly more in tune with the environment. We don't pollute (I hope...), we don't destroy habitat, and for the most part, I think we display pretty good conservational, sporting, and ethical treatment of our catch. So, I can honestly tell you, that every person at the meetings makes a difference. Literally. I think the first DFG meetings is on Aug. 28th or something like that. Please show up, and bring some friends!!! Maybe we could have a BBQ prior to the meeting or something....
-Brian

LAST EDITED ON Jul-10-01 AT 09:06 PM (PST)

From what I understand the meeting is July 24th. I will be there. I urge everyone else who loves surf fishing, float tubing, & kayak fishing inshore to attend as well.

It seems rediculous to me to impose a no fishing zone in that cove. It is definetely not overfished. From Campus Point to Coal Oil Point makes a little more sense because of some of the things they mention such as the reef off of Isla Vista, etc. But from Goleta Pier to Coal Oil Point - that's just pitiful. I'm just hoping that together we can maybe get them to re-think the plans for that one small area. It is the only area in their entire plan that calls for no fishing whatsoever.

In the grand scheme of things it seems like a very small area to ask for. This is why I tend to think there might be hope.

I've been fishing that cove since the mid-80s and can't imagine not being able to take my son there in the future.

***********************

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

Hey Guys,
I already sent a letter to Paul Reilly last night, but had a few more thoughts I would like to share.

1. One angle we can take that is in our favor is the idea of safety. Due to wind and waves along our coast often it is unsafe at many of our beaches to kayak/float tube/surf fish. Also, with the coves proximity to Campus and Goleta Beach, it is much safer in case one gets in trouble while out on the water. This really is one of the safest areas to fish along our coast and I don't think any organization would like to be known as the party responsible for moving sport fishermen into less safe waters.

2. Under the definitions for a State Marine Reserve, you will find this passage:

Therefore, access and use (such as walking, swimming,
boating and diving) may be restricted to protect marine
resources.

We potentially have many more people on our side than first thought. Anyone who loves surfing, swimming, or even walking on the beach in this area can potentially be denied access. I emailed the surf team at UCSB with this information, but there are many more who may find this information interesting. I would hate to see the day that only environmentalists with permits would be able to walk on the beach or get in the water around Campus Point.

Mike

You have got to be kidding me. I go to UCSB. I lived on campus last year and spent quite a bit of my time staring out at the ocean when not out fishing on it. That area is never fished by anyone minus the occasional kayaker and float tuber. The only exception would be the commercial lobster fishermen that lay there pots there.

One of the main reasons I decided to go to UCSB was its proximinty to good fishing. If they close this area down I am gonna have to go William Wallace on them and rebel. "They can take our lives, but they'll never take our FISHING"
No but really this is starting to piss me off.

jason

Thanks, Leapin' Bass for bringing this to our attention. This is the first serious discussion I've heard of the DFG plan to create marine reserves/parks along our coast. And frankly, I'm appalled by their cavalier approach to the whole thing. I just read the SB Newspress story about this topic, which Leapin' Bass alluded to. It appears that proposed marine reserves/parks were chosen based solely upon their richness in marine life or diversity or historical value, and not whether these areas are being depleted of fish. Based upon personal experience, I believe that most of these areas being proposed from Carpinteria through Pt. Conception are NOT being overfished. Hey, I'm all for limiting commercial fishing but who is their target here? Is this the DFG's attempt at being proactive or merely their attempt at taking the best fishing areas away while adhering to the 1998 MLPA? Or are there other political factors at work here?

I wonder what the local sportfishing boats think of this (i.e. Jason Diamond)? I will show my support at the July 24th meeting and will try to bring some buddies as well.

Pete,
Thanks for bringing this up. You know I read a fair amount about the island closures and while I don't entirely agree with what appears to be the end result, I could understand some of what was going on.
But coastal closures really have me miffed. Anyone who has fished the areas from Refugio south to Carpenteria (and I would imagine most of the central coast) would probably tell you that they haven't seen much of a change over the past 10+ years. If anything the fishing has gotten better at areas like Goleta Beach, the Harbor, El Capitan etc. So to propose closures for these inshore areas is just baffling to me. What evidence are they basing these closures on? Has the number of fish changed drastically recently? It would be one thing if you went to Goleta or the 1 mile etc etc and the fishing was terrible and obviously depleted. If you've ever fished the east end of Anacapa you would know what I mean. Micro sized rockfish are about the only thing left on what were probably once very productive rocks. Sure there are migratory species like yellowtail and whiteseabass that move through, but as far as reef species go, the area is whacked. So I can understand closures in these areas. But goleta beach? Or devereux? There just aren't that many people fishing these areas and I can't figure why it would be necessary to close them. There's only two 1/2 day boats in SB and even when the Seahawk was here they weren't hitting the local stuff that hard. So I'm stumped, but I will send a letter. Pete and Brian if you can keep me updated I would appreciate it.

-Rob

Rob, you echo my sentiments exactly... I will send a letter off as well.

You are correct to say that if anything the fishing has gotten better. Which I feel should be one of the main focuses...

Why are they implementing such a drastic plan on an area that has thrived and continues to thrive on it's own for so long?

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

It makes sense that they would choose an area that is doing well and is close to home. The environmentalists may soon have their nice area right in front of campus where they can "improve" the environment, pat each other on the back, and take some studies in the future that show their "progress". If they just get a floating white picket fence and a sign that says "Keep Out Unless you are an Environmentalist" they can sit back on the beach and roast marshmellows, while feeling real good about their efforts. I would have much more respect for them if they chose areas that truly need assistance and not areas that are improving already without their efforts.

Just my $.02,
Mike

>What evidence are they basing these closures on?

I don't know about this process, but most of the time, (and in the islands closures) most of the fish counts were gathered from how many fish are being taken by commercial and recreational boats. This is not an accurate fish count by any means. Say one fishery is doing better than another one, even though both fisheries are in good shape. Then the boats would target the better of the two, since that's where the fishing is. Judging by the fish counts, even though there's no count for that other species, the fishery is still doing very well. It's just not represented in the fish counts. Another example, and this was directly mentioned by an Oxnard dive boat operator at one of the meetings, is that for different areas, sometimes weather prohibits the fishing. Such as San Miguel. He said his favorite spot was at San Miguel, but he can hardly get there because of weather. Judging by his dive book, it would say that he rarely dives there, so there must not be much to look at (or many fish in the area) when it's actually the weather that keeps him from diving there more often. Long story short, there are no accurate fish counts at this time, and none are being conducted. So, if anybody tries to tell you (us) that an area is being depleted of fish, tell them what you think, because chances are, that we as fishermen know the area better than a chairman on a committee.

>Has the number of fish changed drastically recently?

Yes it has. White seabass and halibut have both had an excellent comeback up and down the coast due to the ban on gillnets on inshore waters. When I was at Hubb's the agreed completely with that. Also, due to their efforts at Hubb's, the white seabass are making an even stronger comeback. There really aren't that many species being targetted in Campus Point. The only ones I could think of would be halibut, white seabass, bass, and perhaps rockfish. The halibut and white seabass, as I just mentioned are making a very strong comeback (again, perhaps not evidence in fish counts because of other reasons...) and IMO do not need much, if any, change in the current regulations regarding them. Certainly not a closure. Calico bass and sandbass in the area are doing well also. There aren't many bass in that area, but there's also very little cover for them. There's not many stringers or kelp beds, or structure, but nonetheless, there are still bass in the area. The nearest place with actual structure (the pipe) has a very very healthy fishery of calico bass. Keep bringing up these kinds of questions guys, because like I said, this is just the beginning of things you'll "uncover". I could write for pages and pages and pages about alterior motives, and politics, and back room maps, and enviros, etc. For now however, it would probably just be in your best interest to look em up in the archives on allcoast. I post as calico2ber on that website. Just search the main board for MRWG meeting, SAC meeting, or Fishing Working Group meeting. You should get a nice feel for the way these types of things work.
-Brian

There is map info. for these areas provided on the All-Coast site
http://www.sport-fish-info.com/dcforum/dcpages/Main/6138.html#

Sick, shocked, disgusted. What else can I say. I cannot tell much to anyone about fighting city hall except MAKE NOISE. Write e-mails and good old fashioned letters with a postage stamp - make phone calls - overhwelm the newspaper with phonecalls and e-mail. I guess I'm getting melodramatic but I am pissed. HELL can we circulate petitions? Just brainstorming here. The thought of not being able to walk out to Goleta rock on a Sunday afternoon and drop an anchovie or two is a direct attack on my personal well being.

I am signing off now to go on my e-mail and letter writing campaign. I will post email addresses and mailing addresses that I find who have not already been mentioned on this site recently.

Mr. Tree,

Look at Brian's Campus Point post and join us in our quest to have the Reserve moved up the coast.

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