1 of 59

SAN LUIS OBISPO FISHING AND BOATING

A brief overview of opportunities on the water

2 of 59

OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION

Introduction to San Luis Obispo
Science of marine conservation
Deep dive into local marine protected areas
Species you may encounter
Guide to fishing in San Luis Obispo
Local engagement with your coast

3 of 59

WELCOME TO SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

YOU ARE

HERE!

San Luis Obispo is one of CA’s oldest European founded communities

The county is home to 8 MPAs:

3 SMCAs = blue
3 SMRs = red
1 SMRMA = green
1 SMCA /SMP

Morro Bay Estuary - estuary of national significance

YOU ARE

HERE!

Monterey Bay

NMS

4 of 59

CHUMASH�TRIBAL HISTORY

Originally inhabited lands from Paso Robles to Malibu
Chumash names: Lompoc, Cayucos, Pismo, Nipomo
Relied heavily on marine resources
Advanced canoe technology - tomol plank canoes

Fished deep-water fish (swordfish) to trade with interior tribes

5 of 59

SANTA YNEZ BAND OF CHUMASH PEOPLE

Historical Connection to Coastal areas of Central and Southern California including Refugio Beach, Goleta Beach and Santa Rosa Island

Traditional use of marine resources included gathering of finfish, invertebrates, mammal and sea plants as well as steelhead, abalone, mussels, clams and kelp

Actively engaged in MLPA/MPA process since 2007

6 of 59

SALINAN TRIBE OF MONTEREY AND SAN LUIS OBISPO

Territory including southern Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties -10,000 years

Name comes from Salinas River

361 members today, efforts to revive language - Hokan
Able to legally ascend Morro Rock and light a fire in this sacred place
Harvested fish, clams, abalone, mussels, crabs and seaweed from ocean
Relied on seals and otters for furs, meat, and trade

7 of 59

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY HISTORY

1797

First Spanish mission built

1864

Portuguese captain built Simeon whaling station

1911

Legal daily limit of Pismo clams 200

1990

Elephant Seals establish new colony at Piedras Blancas

1894

Southern Pacific rail extended to San Luis

The Bancroft Library

8 of 59

COASTAL RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES

SCUBA AND SNORKELING

©Rosa Laucci

©

KAYAKING

©Hyperflange Industries

©Rosa Laucci

TIDEPOOLING

RECREATIONAL FISHING

SURFING

WILDLIFE VIEWING

©Troy Williams

©Theo Crazzolara

9 of 59

LAUNCH RAMPS AND MARINAS

SLO COUNTY HARBORS, MARINAS & LAUNCH RAMPS

Harbors & Marinas:

Morro Bay Harbor
Bay Front Marina (Morro Bay)
Morro Bay State Park Marina
Port San Luis Harbor (Avila Beach)
Port Side Marine (Avila Beach)

San Simeon S.P. Leffingwell Landing (Cambria) * beach launch only for boats and kayaks
Morro Bay Public Launch Community
Olde Port Beach (Avila Beach)
Port San Luis Boat Launch Facility (Avila Beach)

Launch Ramps:

2,3,7

1

4,5,8,9

6

10 of 59

SCIENCE OF MARINE CONSERVATION

11 of 59

WHAT IS A MARINE PROTECTED AREA (MPA)?

©Jim Johnston

©California State Parks

©Chad King/NPAA

Marine Protected Areas (or MPAs) are protected areas of the ocean created to ensure conservation and sustainability of marine resources for the future.

They are important to YOU and here’s why:

Fish populations are in decline worldwide

MPAs may increase abundance, size and biodiversity (variety of marine life), including fish

Many MPAs protect critical breeding, nursery and feeding habitats for fish and other marine species

Ex.) Morro Bay SMR protects important eelgrass habitat, a nursery for many types of fish such as topsmelt and striped bass

12 of 59

CALIFORNIA’S NETWORK OF MPAS

124 State MPAs, including 14 Special Closures

Protect 16% of California’s waters

9% no-take
84% of waters not designated as MPAs

Network completed in 2012

Managed by CDFW

Visit wildlife.ca.gov/MPAs

13 of 59

MPAS PROTECT A VARIETY OF HABITATS

SOFT-OCEAN BOTTOMS

SUBMARINE CANYONS

KELP FORESTS

INTERTIDAL

ESTUARIES

ROCKY REEFS

MPA network contains representative habitats found throughout coastal waters, including estuaries, intertidal zones, rocky reefs, kelp forests, soft-ocean bottoms and submarine canyons.

SANDY BEACHES

14 of 59

STATE MARINE RESERVES

CAN Swim, dive, sail, surf, snorkel, kayak, tide pool, and explore!

CANNOT Take, harm, or pursue anything -living or nonliving- from these areas.

MULTI-USE AREA NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES

CAN Take most species recreationally & commercially with a license.

CAN Also swim, dive, sail, surf, snorkel, kayak, tide pool, and explore!

STATE MARINE

CONSERVATION AREAS

CAN Take certain species recreationally & commercially with a license.

CAN Also swim, dive, sail, surf, snorkel, kayak, tide pool, and explore!

WHAT CAN YOU DO IN YOUR MPA?

Many kinds of MPAs--- while National Sanctuaries don’t limit take, State MPAs may limit some or all fishing and collecting.

“Take” means to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, fish, mollusks, or crustaceans or attempting to do so.

15 of 59

FINFISH & COASTAL PELAGIC SPECIES

Finfish = any species of bony fish or cartilaginous fish (sharks, skates & rays). Some examples:

Coastal pelagic species include:

Northern Anchovy © NOAA

Pacific Sardine © NOAA

Pacific Mackerel © NOAA

Market Squid © NOAA

Jack Mackerel © CDFW

Lingcod © NOAA

Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark © NOAA

Yellowtail Rockfish© NOAA

16 of 59

PELAGIC FINFISH

Barracudas © CDFW

Northern Anchovy © NOAA

Dolphinfish © NOAA

Pacific Herring © NOAA

Jack Mackerel © CDFW

Salmon © NOAA

Pacific Mackerel © NOAA

Pacific Sardine © NOAA

Blue Shark © CDFW

Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark © NOAA

Thresher Shark © CDFW

Swordfish © NOAA

Pacific Bonito © CDFW

Yellowtail © CDFW

Billfishes © CDFW

Tunas © NOAA

17 of 59

BIG OLD FERTILE FEMALE FISH (BOFFF)

Average numbers of young produced by three different sizes of vermillion rockfish.

Data: Love et al. (1990) NOAA Technical Report

Older, fatter females are much more important to reproduction than younger, smaller fish. This concept called BOFFF is key to why MPAs can and do work for replenishing our oceans.

18 of 59

SPILLOVER: BENEFITS TO FISHERIES

One way that MPAs can support fisheries is through spillover.

Marine life can flourish inside MPAs, as the abundance increases inside the reserve, they will move outside the boundaries. This is called spillover.
The amount of spillover depends on the mobility of each species.
For example, bluefin tuna travel great distances throughout their lifetime.
While these more mobile species like tuna will move through protected areas, species with smaller home ranges such as lobster, California sheephead, or rockfish are likely to benefit from the protected area.
New studies are shedding more light on this concept, but we do know that through spillover, MPA benefits not only happen inside the boundaries, but can export benefits outside their boundaries.
Fishermen are well-aware of “fishing the line” which is the phrase that describes anglers fishing close to the boundaries of an MPA in order to reap the benefits of spillover, by catching more and larger fish.
Benefits from protection takes time to accrue.

In California, increases in abundance for many species are not likely to become detectable for at least 10 years after implementation.

19 of 59

CALIFORNIA’S MARINE PROTECTED AREAS�(MPAs)

20 of 59

SAN LUIS OBSIPO COUNTY STATE MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

STATE MARINE RESERVES (SMR)

STATE MARINE CONSERVATION AREAS (SMCA)

STATE MARINE RECREATIONAL MANAGEMENT AREA (SMRMA)

STATE MARINE PARK

Piedras Blancas SMR
Piedras Blancas SMCA
Cambria SMCA/SMP
White Rock SMCA
Morro Bay SMRMA
Morro Bay SMR
Point Buchon SMR
Point Buchon SMCA

“Take” means to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, fish, mollusks, or crustaceans or attempting to do so.

1

2

3

4

6

7

8

5

There are 8 MPAs in San Luis Obispo County. Each of these MPA’s has specific regulations regarding which type of fish, shellfish, and natural resources specific to this area can be extracted.

3 of these are State Marine Reserves, which prohibit all take, shown in red.
3 of these are State Marine Conservation Areas, shown in blue, which offer certain take and typically occurring further off-shore. Note that Cambria SMCA is also a state marine park, which allows opportunities for education, research, and recreation, while preventing commercial extractive activities.
Morro Bay has one of the few SMRMAs in the state which are areas intended to protect certain recreational activities- in this case, waterfowl hunting.
Let’s define take: It means to hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill, fish, mollusks, or crustaceans or attempting to do so.

21 of 59

SMR	Restrictions
Piedras Blancas, Morro Bay, and Point Buchon SMRs	Take of all living marine resources, including shells and rocks, is prohibited.
MPA	Allowable Take
Piedras Blancas SMCA	Commercial and recreational take of salmon and albacore is allowed.
White Rock SMCA	Commercial take of giant and bull kelp only is allowed.
Cambria SMCA/SMP	Recreational take of living marine resources is allowed.
Point Buchon SMCA	Commercial and recreational take of salmon and albacore is allowed.
Morro Bay SMRMA	Waterfowl is hunting is allowed unless otherwise restricted by hunting regulations. North of 35 19.70N recreational take of finfish and oyster aquaculture is allowed.

Here is a chart, divided by the type of permitted consumptive uses in the area.

The State Marine Reserves (SMRs) prohibit all take of marine resources including shells, and rocks. All the State Marine Reserves are listed at the top in red.
The State Marine Conservation Areas (SMCAs) each have different regulations. For instance, Piedras Blancas SMCA allows commercial and recreational take of salmon and albacore. White Rock SMCA only allows commercial take of giant and bull kelp.
Cambria SMCA/SMP is protected for recreational fishing and take of all kinds is allowed.
Morro Bay SMRMA allows for waterfowl hunting and recreational take of finfish as well as commercial oyster aquaculture. Finfish are defined as any species of bony fish or cartilaginous fish (sharks, skates and rays). Finfish do not include amphibians, invertebrates, plants or algae.

22 of 59

MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

Stretches from San Francisco to Cambria, protecting an area size of Connecticut!
Established in 1992
Primarily protects from oil drilling
"Serengeti of the Sea”

dense kelp forests, rocky shores, estuaries and one of North America's largest underwater canyons

Does not regulate fishing
“No drone zones”

Monterey Bay

National Marine

Sanctuary

23 of 59

PIEDRAS BLANCAS SMR & SMCA

Towering kelp forests provide refuge for many species
New colony of elephant seals commandeered beaches in 1990’s
Piedras Blancas SMCA allows for recreational fishing of albacore and salmon
Piedras Blancas SMR is a no-take MPA

24 of 59

CAMBRIA SMCA/SMP

All recreational fishing permitted, SMCA/SMP restricts commercial fishing
Many fishing charters in area
Rich seafloor sustains abundance of baitfish
Halibut, steelhead, and white seabass

25 of 59

WHITE ROCK SMCA

Small SMCA in Cambria

2.2 square miles

Stunning kelp forest
Commercial take of bull and giant kelp allowed - everything else protected
Seaweed foraging tours nearby outside MPA

26 of 59

MORRO BAY SMRMA & SMR�

Two MPAs in Morro Bay Estuary
Some recreational hunting of waterfowl and recreational take of finfish allowed in SMRMA, no take in SMR

Check CDFW regulations
Southern sea otters, endangered tidewater goby, and peregrine falcon

27 of 59

POINT BUCHON SMCA & SMR

Topographic complexity coupled with upwelling produces food for variety of fish species

Remote rocky headlands and underwater canyons, sea stacks, pinnacles, rocky shores, kelp forest, sandy shores

Point Buchon Trail- 6.6 miles
SMCA allows commercial and recreational take of salmon and albacore
No take in SMR

28 of 59

MARINE SPECIES OF INTEREST

29 of 59

LOCAL FISH AND ELASMOBRANCH SPECIES

CDFW

LEOPARD SHARK

SWELL SHARK

LINGCOD

TIDEPOOL SCULPIN

KELP GREENLING

CABEZON

Here is a subset of only a few of the species local to the area.

3 species of shark live in Morro Bay Estuary- the leopard shark, swell shark, and horn shark.

Interesting Facts: Leopard shark give birth to live young in spring. Females can produce from seven to 36 offspring, more active at night than during the day, maximum lifespan of this species is estimated at 30 years.
Lingcod- During spawning season, lingcod migrate into nearshore areas. The male arrives first and establishes a territory on a rocky substrate in strong water currents. As long as a month later, the female arrives and chooses a male partner, then swims over the site and deposits a layer of eggs. The male follows and deposits a layer of sperm. male aggressively guards the egg mass for eight to 10 weeks until the eggs hatch. Males attack fish predators but allow sea urchins, sunflower stars and snails to feed on the eggs. While guarding eggs, lingcod have been known to attack humans.

If you are diving or fishing, you may encounter cabezon and lingcod.
If you are tidepooling, keep your eyes peeled for one of many species of tidepool sculpin.

30 of 59

LOCAL GROUNDFISH SPECIES

VERMILLION ROCKFISH

BLUE ROCKFISH

COPPER ROCKFISH

BLACK AND YELLOW ROCKFISH

CDFW

CHINA ROCKFISH

GOPHER ROCKFISH

Over 90 species of rockfish can be found living on or near the bottom of the ocean here, making them part of the larger group of fish known as “groundfish”. These are some of the more commonly encountered rockfish of the san Luis Obispo area.

Rockfish eat a diversity of prey including pelagic shrimp and crab, anchovies, sardines, and other small rockfishes and squid.
Many rockfish can live hundreds of years and take a long time to reach sexual maturity, which is why places where they can grow older and reproduce is so important. Some species of rockfish such as the China Rockfish, are very territorial and may stay at a ‘home site’ for years. Other species such as the Blue Rockfish, Sebastes mystinus, school in large groups.
Rougheye rockfish are the longest known living fish on earth and can live over 200 years!
Bocaccio is one of the larger local rockfish, growing up to 3 feet, and lives to at least 45 years old. Its life cycle makes it particularly vulnerable to overfishing, since they don’t reach sexual maturity until 8-10 years old. As they age, they may only produce young once a decade. For these reasons, MPAs take time for protection benefits to accrue.

31 of 59

LOCAL INVERTEBRATE SPECIES

STRIPED SHORE CRAB

MOON SNAILS

MARKET SQUID

OPALESCENT NUDIBRANCH

PINK VOLCANO BARNACLE

CALIFORNIA MUSSELS

32 of 59

FISHING INFORMATION

33 of 59

CALIFORNIA FISHING LICENSES

Purchase fishing licenses online here: wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Online-Sales
Fishing license required for everyone 16 years or older EXCEPT when fishing from public piers, publicly owned jetties or breakwaters that form most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor are also public piers.
Sturgeon and California spiny lobster report cards are still required even if fishing from a pier.
California typically has 2 free fishing days annually – usually around July 4^th and Labor Day weekends.

34 of 59

RECREATIONAL FISHING: PIER FISHING

Pier fishing locations:

San Simeon Pier
Morro Bay Finger Piers
Morro Bay North T-Pier
Morro Bay South T-Pier

Cayucos Pier
Avila Beach Pier
Port San Luis Pier
Pismo Beach Pier

Some possible pier catches:

jacksmelt, barred surfperch, sablefish, silver surfperch, walleye surfperch, white croaker, halibut, and rockfish

IMPORTANT: No fishing license is required to fish from a public pier in SLO County.

35 of 59

RECREATIONAL FISHING: SHORE FISHING

Shore fishing locations (a few):

Hearst San Simeon State Beach
Estero Bluffs State Park
Cayucos State Beach
Morro Strand State Beach
Morro Bay State Park
Montaña de Oro State Park
Pismo State Beach
Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area
Jamala Beach

Shore fishing in San Luis Obispo County requires a fishing license.

Tips for shore fishing:

Cast in the early morning or after dusk, and on incoming tides
Mild to moderate surf conditions are best
Fish the edges of sand bars and drop-offs

Some possible shore catches:

surfperches, croakers, California corbina, and California halibut

36 of 59

RECREATIONAL FISHING: �CHARTERS

Deep sea charters are popular throughout SLO County
One-day fishing licenses are usually available
Charters available in most cities, including Morro Bay, Cayucos, Cambria, San Luis Obispo, Pismo, Avila Beach

37 of 59

COMMERCIAL FISHING: �MORRO BAY

Abalone fishery grew substantially in early 1900’s

Eventually expanded to sardines, groundfish, salmon, and albacore

Nowadays: Dungeness crab and market squid are two of top earning species

38 of 59

COMMERCIAL FISHING: �PORT SAN LUIS

Historically dominated by groundfish trawl industry
Commercial fishermen adapted to new regulations in 1990’s and began targeting greater diversity of species
Nowadays: top earning seafood often include Dungeness crab, brown and gopher rockfish, and cabezon

39 of 59

ROCKFISH AND LINGCOD FISHERIES

Many subspecies of rockfish are found in SLO County, as well as lingcod and cabezon
Challenging catch
Fish live in deep waters with rocky bottoms
Morro Bay ideal ecosystem for these fish
Expert anglers suggest squid, anchovies or sardines as bait

40 of 59

ALBACORE FISHERY

Seasonal fishery- appearance of albacore varies from year to year
Highly migratory species
Some charters in SLO County have designated albacore trips in fall
Special catch limit- not included in overall limit per day

41 of 59

KING SALMON FISHERY

Seasonal fish, appear early March, season is May- October 4th
Average 3-4 years in ocean
Specific regulations for gear apply, see CFDW website for more information

42 of 59

PORT SAN LUIS FISHERMEN’S MARKET

Fisherman’s Market pilot program - Hartford pier at Avila Beach
Way to help fishermen sell freshest catch directly to the public

43 of 59

BOAT FISHING CHANGES WITH SEASONS

WILL MAKE EXCEL SPREADSHEET OF FISHING SEASONS HERE

Month	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
Halibut	Good	Good	Good	Good	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Good
Calico Bass	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Good
White Seabass	Poor	Poor	Good	Good	Good	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Good	Poor	Poor
Rockfish	Closed to boat	Closed to boat	Good	Good	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Good	Good	Good	Poor	Poor
Yellowtail	Poor	Poor	Good	Good	Good	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Poor

Keep in mind, regulations vary by year and season, there may be closures on specific fisheries depending on the year

IMPORTANT: Check current regulations at: wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean

44 of 59

BAROTRAUMA

WHAT TO DO

Anglers have options to help return rockfish to a depth where they can decompress themselves.
These descending devices, can be made at home or purchased commercially. There are many different types and models.

For more information, visit: wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Groundfish/Barotrauma

Barotrauma happens when fish are brought from the deep (more pressure) to surface (less pressure). The expansion of gas swells the swim bladder, causing a “pressure shock” that can cause organ damage.

The technique of “venting” or releasing gas within the swim bladder is discouraged.

45 of 59

BOATING CLEAN AND GREEN

THINGS BOATERS CAN DO�

Prevent oily discharge from the bilge
Spill-proof your oil changes and fueling.
Do not add soap to the bilge.
Minimize boat cleaning and maintenance in the water.
Choose non- toxic bottom paints.
Dispose of hazardous waste properly.
Plan ahead! Manage sewage wastes properly.
Stow it, do not throw it!
Reduce grey water discharges.
Do not spread aquatic invasive species.
Clean, drain, and dry your boat.�

For more information, visit: BoatingCleanandGreen.com

46 of 59

REPORT SARGASSUM HORNERI

Non-native brown seaweed from China, Korea, and Japan.
Arrived in southern CA in ports of LA early 2000s.
Recently recorded at Monterey Breakwater in June 2020.
Highly invasive – adults fragment easily and each can produce hundreds of fertile eggs in one receptacle (shown in yellow).
Help prevent spread, check vessel props & anchors before transiting!
If spotted, record the date and location and report to CDFW’s Invasive Species Program:

Call (866) 440-9530
Send an email to invasives@wildlife.ca.gov
Fill out the form at: wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Report

47 of 59

CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE WEST COAST

Warming Ocean Temperatures:

Much of the northeast Pacific Ocean was warmer than normal from April 19 to July 18, 2020.
Effects most dramatic offshore between Hawaii and Alaska.

Atmospheric Pressure Changes:

High pressure over Gulf of Alaska, Low pressure in NE Pacific in summer of 2019: causes reduced winds

Why is this a concern?

Winds remove heat, mix the surface waters with cooler waters below

Consequence: rapid warming of surface waters in NE Pacific

Marine Heatwaves:

New marine heatwave off the West Coast in Sept, 2019
Researchers monitoring effects on the marine ecosystem, resembles “The Blob” heatwave of 2014.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/new-marine-heatwave-emerges-west-coast-resembles-blob

Climate has been changing on the west coast- how does this impact our ocean?

Some of the major features that have impacted our coast in recent years include:

Warming ocean temperatures. We have had warmer temperatures from Hawaii to Alaska for the past decade including 2020.
Second, for a few years prior to 2020, a large body of warm surface water, called the “BLOB” placed itself off the west coast south of Alaska, and off the coast of Oregon and Washington. This blob acted like a heatwave in the ocean with major impacts to species distributions, as well as catches of fish and crab.
Finally a high pressure over the Gulf of Alaska created reduced winds in the summer of 2019. The lack of wind is of concern since the winds push the warm surface waters offshore, so that cooler waters upwell, or rise to the surface. This upwelling is responsible for the incredibly productive coastal waters of the West Coast.

These recent changes are of concern to commercial fishermen and anglers as well as coastal communities and are being monitoring carefully.

48 of 59

STRANGE FISH IN WEIRD PLACES

Recently an influx of warmer water off California has brought unprecedented sightings of marine organisms found outside their typical habitats and range. Larger predatory fish and bigger schools of fish are staying around later in the year. Non-native species not previously recorded in Monterey are now being spotted here. These new species have the potential to displace native species.

To understand the effect that changing oceanic conditions will have on fish and benthic invertebrate communities, the California Undersea Imagery Archive is initiating a crowd-sourcing effort called Strange Fish in Weird Places.
Relying on you and others on the water, they will document your observations of organisms in new and unusual places.
They are requesting any or all of the information below, with an emphasis on the location, depth and date that any imagery was collected:

Desired attribution for use of photo on website and outreach materials
Time and date
Species ID (lowest taxonomic level possible)
Depth (if collected via SCUBA or breath-hold diving)
Location (lat/long if possible, general location if not)

For questions or to report, please contact them at cuia@csumb.edu. They very much appreciate your contributions.

49 of 59

HELP END MARINE ANIMAL ENTANGLEMENTS

Report lost or abandoned fishing gear at 1-888-491-GEAR or www.seadocsociety.org

They accept ANONYMOUS reports!

Properly Dispose of Fishing Gear

For monofilament and fluorocarbon line:

Recycle lines in designated bins found at most boat ramps, piers, and tackle shops

For non-monofilament line, such as braid or wire

Cut the line into 12-inch or smaller pieces and place into a covered trash can

For hooks and lures

Clip off sharp points to avoid injuring humans and wildlife and dispose of it in covered trash can

Abandoned fishing gear can remain in the ocean for up to 400 years and entangle and kill marine animals.

50 of 59

If you see a sick or injured marine mammal, please do not approach!

Call The Marine Mammal Center: (415) 289-7325

There are a few ways we can make sure our eagerness to view marine wildlife doesn’t disturb them. Please:

Learn before you go. Check out the rules and regulations for the area you are visiting.
Keep your distance – if you see them change behavior or notice you, you are too close
Do not touch for any reason
Do not feed or attract them to you. Interactions with wildlife can change their normal behavior and feeding habits which can result in harm or death to the animal, despite our best intentions
Do not approach sick or abandoned wildlife. If you find a sick or wounded animal, do not approach it, instead call the Pacific Wildlife Care or the Marine Mammal Center as soon as possible
Leave pets at home
Do not harass or chase wildlife
Pack your trash, and
Teach others around you to be responsible viewers. Our marine life thanks you!

51 of 59

Where to find regulations

How do you find information on fishing rules and regulations on the go? A few ways are available.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has a mobile website and an interactive map, listed above, that show MPA boundaries, regulations, and habitat information. While this website only works with internet access, you can check the rules before you head out to make sure you have the information you need for where you’re heading.
FishLegal is a mobile application that does not require internet or phone service. It has information on fish identification, fishing, and MPA boundaries. Get it here at http://fishlegal.info/ or in your cellphones App store.
You can also download maps from Navionics to your Garmin products in advance, to use on the water, but you must have preloaded them while you have access to the internet.
Please note that the FishLegal and Navionics applications are not sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, so you should always cross-check the information with CDFW to make sure you have the most up-to-date information.

52 of 59

GET INVOLVED

53 of 59

SANTA LUCIA �FLY FISHERS

Non-profit, all-volunteer fly-fishing club
Supporting access to fly fishing for youth, women and men
Provides access to club fishing trips, fly casting lessons, fly tying workshops and fly-fishing information
www.santaluciaflyfishers.com

www.santaluciaflyfishers.com

54 of 59

CENTRAL COAST WOMEN FOR FISHERIES

Educational programs for public - guided tours and lectures
Preservation of maritime heritage - introduction school children to the industry
Charitable and social services for families in fishing and related industries - heritage scholarships for California’s commercial fishermen, their families and their descendants
Conservation of ocean ecosystems and promotion of local and/or underutilized species

www.womenforfish.org

Foster and promote sense of living culture of our fishing communities

55 of 59

CCRFP

California Collaborative Fisheries

Research Program

A partnership of people and communities interested in fisheries sustainability.

With help of volunteer anglers and fishing community, we collect data on economically important nearshore species to inform fisheries management and evaluate marine protected areas (MPAs).

If you want to contribute to research and learn more about nearshore fish stocks, become a volunteer angler!

For more information, visit: www.mlml.calstate.edu/ccfrp/

56 of 59

57 of 59

Useful Mobile Applications

CalTIP

CA Department of Fish

and Wildlife

CA Boating Facility Locator

CA State Parks Division of Boating Waterways

Boat US

Boat, weather, tides

Seafood Watch

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Pumpout Nav

Ecom Enterprises, Inc

58 of 59

1-888-334-CALTIP (1-888-334-2258), DOWNLOAD THE APP CALTIPS

Help stop poaching and polluting:

Monitor VHF marine channels #12 and #16

Local Harbor Patrol

1-800-OILS-911

Report Oil Spills

Marine Mammal Center: (415) 289-7325�

Report Dead Marine Mammals:

Pacific Wildlife Care: 805-543-9453 (WILD), In Avila Beach, the Port San Luis Harbor Patrol is also available to assist when available 805-595-5435.

Report Sick or Dead Seabirds:

visit www. SeabirdProtectionNetwork.org

Help Protect Seabirds:

www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/report

Reporting Invasive Species in California:

1(800) 367-8222

24 Hour Vessel Assistance (Fees Involved):

1-877-SOS-WHALE (1-877-767-9425) for distressed whales and dolphins

Statewide Whale Rescue Team

IMPORTANT REPORTING & RESPONSE NUMBERS

59 of 59

THANK YOU