Breakwater fishermen, love em or hate em?

[melfox26]

Just wanted to see where you guys/gals stood on fisherman dangling their lines off of the Breakwater wall while there are tons of divers in the water.

Big swells caused us to ditch our Monastery dive plan yesterday and head over to Breakwater. Of course there were a million divers there as usual, which is why I won't normally go there. Of my 100 + dives in Monterey, I only have about 6 at Breakwater from shore. Anyways, there were quite a few fishermen casting their lines along the wall. I noticed a few lines and avoided them like the plague, I really wanted to pull out my shears and take care of that problem, but I resisted. With crappy vis like we had yesterday, I didn't see every fishing line that I passed. Just frustrates me a bit knowing that a hook could come and puncture my $2000- drysuit.

Disclaimer-I don't dislike fishermen or hunters, I just have a problem with them fishing when tons of divers are around.

Mel

 

[The Kraken]

Who got there first that day, the fishermen or the divers?
If I got to a place where I wanted to dive and saw that there were numerous fishermen with lines in the water, I do believe I would avoid the area since they had evidently established position first.
On the other hand, if I were a fisherman and saw a bunch of diver-down flags I would avoid fishing there for the same reason.

 

[Dryglove]

Also keep im mind that Breakwater is part of the Ed Rickets(sp?) marine reserve which is a no take zone for divers, basically look but dont touch which I have no problem with. Yet people are alllowed to fish there. As popular as that spot is for diving i would rather see the fisherman go elsewhere.

 

[Mike Matthews]

I agree.
The Ocean is a big place with first come first serve. If divers and fishermen respected the rights and needs of each other life would be good. I have been fishing and seen divers go in without posting a flag, not the best idea.

Who got there first that day, the fishermen or the divers?
If I got to a place where I wanted to dive and saw that there were numerous fishermen with lines in the water, I do believe I would avoid the area since they had evidently established position first.
On the other hand, if I were a fisherman and saw a bunch of diver-down flags I would avoid fishing there for the same reason.

 

[jumsted65]

It's important to remember that the fishermen were there many years before divers ever were. It's deeply rooted in Monterey culture, and current legislation reflects the deep-seeded heritage.

I've been hooked in the thumb before. It hurts. :11:

Until recently the gate along the wall has been locked, limiting fisherpeople to a relatively small area where diving isn't good anyway. Last two times I've been there, people were fishing all the way out, increasing the hazard.

As a fisherman myself (though not in the ocean cuz I'm too busy diving and taking photos) I understand the need for us to all peacefully coexist. I guess if you find lots of people fishing on a given day, dive somewhere else?

As for divers cutting line, I dunno, but that might be asking for trouble. Fishermen may start looking for bubbles and casting toward them in retaliation.

 

[fishnchips]

Breakwater is my favorite dive site. But I do respect the right of the fishermen to be there. They have as much right as scuba divers. I do not think it is appropriate to cut their lines. While we are down there, we scare the fishes away and interrupt their fishing. Do you think they have the right to throw the line hooks at scuba divers underwater, or walk around the parking lot cutting off scuba regulator hoses? Respect the equal right and co-exist.

 

[ShakaZulu]

I went to that spot this weekend and noticed the madness. Divers everywhere, don't even know how the fishing dewds think they will catch anything, besides there is so many nice places to fish along the shore, why go there?? Actually, beside the swell, Monastry had 30-40ft viz at depth.

 

[Ishie]

I've always been a bit concerned about the fishermen. I dive BW a lot.

Jim and I went diving after a storm. The vis was absolutely wonderful, and there were fish EVERYWHERE, subsequently many fishermen along the jetty, all the way out to the fence that separates the public from the sea lions (which I love going out to by the way).

For the first time since we've been diving, my mother came out with us, not to dive, just to watch. We swam out and dropped past the first gate. She was up on the jetty watching us. She mentioned that the all the fishermen (about fifteen, and not part of the same group) she saw that day would fish, watch for bubbles, and when they saw bubbles approaching, they'd either slowly pull up their lines prior to the bubbles being close to the line, or wait to cast until the bubbles had passed.

Don't know if they're all like that, but these guys seemed to be (better for them too; I wouldn't cut a line that I simply saw, but I sure would cut one if I was getting yanked with it) very respectful and attentive to where divers were. I've logged approximately 30 dives at BW and have never been hooked, and we usually hang out right by the wall. When we were walking up after our dive, the fishermen just joked with us, asked us how the fish life was down there, and then and asked us to put Cabs and Lingcods on their hooks if they dropped down a 6 pack of beer for us.

 

[mech]

They are always going to be there.
Best thing to do is to plan around (avoid)them.
I kick out past the fence before dropping down and navigate back past casting distance or go to the mitredian fields,which is actually a nicer dive.
Cutting lines is a bad idea for numerous reasons.
I've actually asked fishermen nicely at night if they see my light or bubbles coming to gently/safely reel in if they see me in advanve and not when I'm in front of them and they always are good about it.

 

[CALI68]

IActually, beside the swell, Monastry had 30-40ft viz at depth.

North or South? How was the entry and exit? Must of been a bit wild if you were on the north side.