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Picnic Beach
I felt as if we were being followed. Sure enough I turned around and a school of barred sand bass were in our wake, closer than I have ever seen any ap |
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Author |
: Dale & Kim Sheckler |
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Location |
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Catalina
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Date |
: February 18, 2009 |
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Want lobsters? I know where you can find some. Head for the rock quarry on the east end of Catalina Island. Although none are big, there is plenty to be had. I imagine that this abundance is due to a number of factors. First, not too many dive-charter boat operators hit this spot. Most head for the more scenic dive sites around the Isthmus and West End of the island. Dive-charter boats out of Avalon, however, will sometimes visit this nearby spot. Second, commercial lobster trappers are not allowed on the front side of the island but sport divers are okay. And finally and probably the most important is the habitat is ideal for the creatures. California spiny lobster love lots of cracks, overhangs, crevices and small caves. They cower back in these holes during the day, venturing forth only at night. The boulders tumbling down from the rock quarry on shore have created just such an ideal environment.
Not only are these jumbled boulders ideal for lobster, there is abundance of other life. One of my favorites is the moray eel. I found two in a hole on my most recent dive accompanied by numerous red rock shrimp up to their usual cleaning duties. Another diver on the same dive spotted three rare scythe butterfly fish. Their bright yellow is easy to spot, but they are very shy and cower back in the deep holes.
A thick kelp forest has attached itself to the boulders. Up among the fronds are abundant fish, including opaleye, calico bass, and schools of blacksmith. Look for the congregations of blacksmith as they are often gathered around the small yellow-brown señorita fish acting as a cleaner picking off parasites. The blacksmith will show the odd behavior around the señorita by dipping its head indicating it is ready to be cleaned.
Reef fish and critters are not as numerous here as the rocks are often covered with a thin layer of silt from the quarry activity above. Hovering above and around the reef however are numerous garibaldi, and on my most recent dive I saw several juvenile sheephead.
The slope of jumbled boulders drops off rapidly into deep water, so watch your depth but also take the time during your dive to occasionally look off into the blue as you may spot a passing giant black sea bass or school of yellowtail (although these fish are generally only seen in the summer).
Water clarity here is not as good as other sections of the island probably in part because of the quarry activity but also because the east end does not get the cleansing currents like other areas. You can expect visibility from 20 to 40 feet. The good news is the water is almost always calm.
There are two rock quarries on the island so don’t get mixed up. There is this one on the east end and the more popular dive site, also known as Crane Point, just to the southeast of the Blue Cavern Point near the Isthmus. Together these two rock quarries have supplied 85 percent of the construction rock for mainland breakwaters, harbors, and several of the artificial reefs. Both of these rock quarries are active sporadically depending on demand. Be aware that these areas should not be dived during active periods.
Here we are mid-lobster season and you may think your options are running out, but the East End Rock Quarry on Catalina Island will give you a renewed enthusiasm.
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