Black sea bass on Catalina

[Mantasscareme]

I was planning my second Catalina trip this season some time later this month or in October. I was really hoping to see black sea bass, but didn't on the previous trip. Does anyone who dives Catalina regularly know whether you can find the big guys there year round, or whether the sea bass are there seasonally. Thanks for the imput!

 

[shark.byte.usa]

I was planning my second Catalina trip this season some time later this month or in October. I was really hoping to see black sea bass, but didn't on the previous trip. Does anyone who dives Catalina regularly know whether you can find the big guys there year round, or whether the sea bass are there seasonally. Thanks for the imput!

They are at Italian Gardens in Catalina (http://www.saintbrendan.com/cdnoct00/catlna10.html) pretty regularly especially recently, there were 5-8 of them there on Labor Day weekend, although my buddy and I got shutout.

-Garrett

 

[PhotoTJ]

I took this in Italian Gardens yesterday, we saw 11 total.

 

[wetrat]

I took this in Italian Gardens yesterday, we saw 11 total.

11!!!! :11: Holy gigantic sea bass! Great picture too!

 

[drbill]

Most I've seen in one dive is 13. Saw 6-7 yesterday and 7-10 (not sure if a group of 3 was a duplicate or not, have to analyze the video footage) today.

They are seasonal, and will be leaving our waters in Oct or early Nov. Italian Gardens is one of best places to see them, but there have been a lot of sightings in the dive park as well. I've had several 40+ min encounters there, ending only when I ran out of videotape... or air.

 

[Mantasscareme]

Thanks. I'm going to Catalina for the second time in a month (hope to see some big stuff this time) possibly on the 25th. Are they still going to be around?

 

[drbill]

It is hard to tell when they made their "return" reservations. I'm still seeing courtship behavior in the fish here which may bode well. However changes in water temperature and other environmental cues make them leave, not the calendar date so it is not easy to give a definitive answer.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

They have also been spotted on a regular basis in La Jolla recently. No need to go all the way to Catalina just to see them.

 

[HBDiveGirl]

They have also been spotted on a regular basis in La Jolla recently. No need to go all the way to Catalina just to see them.

Hey MBT, some people LIKE boat rides!! But WE know that every day on a boat is a day without glorious SoCal Beach diving. (Casino Point doesn't count...not enough sand!!) But hey! Boat divers mean more beach parking for us! 'Cause we all know what La Jolla really means....

 

[Alexandra]

I took this in Italian Gardens yesterday, we saw 11 total.

I was at Italian Gardens yesterday as well and saw 6 there. That is consistantly the best place to see them. I've also spotted some further south end of August, around the Rock Quary.

- Alexandra