any one know their way around those parts? I’ve heard of people camping out there and I would like to do the same…just kneed to know where that little guard complex is and how tight patrols are.
Cheers.
I’m not a total expert. The trip out in prevailing NW wind direction would be fine except for the likely possibility of beng run down by a boat, amateur boaters don’t know how to discern objects or collisions on the water, amateurs and pros are running on auto pilot further out, occasionally looking around for big stuff to mow into, a kayak or paddle board is just a bump in the road. You might be heading for the south island anchorage on the lee side, mainland side, where there is plenty of weekender boaters anchored, but no spot to camp on the water washed swimmers landing, and its mucho illegal to land, the guard camp is on the north east end of the south island accessed in a surge washed cove, they’d see you coming to the anchorage from the north, they do not have a direct view of the anchorage. The best beach cobble landing is on the southwest side of south island but is choked with seals and may be washed at high tide, I don’t know? North island doesn’t have any landing. You better check with local kayak groups for their experience. Pt. Loma to the north island 14 nautical miles, south island further, Imperial Beach is closer and a better wind angle for return. Rosarito even closer. The trip back to Pt. Loma into prevailing NW wind a bummer on sailboat or motorboat.
I’ve done a lot of private boat fishing in those islands, over the years. I would NEVER want to be in the water there, on a surfboard, paddling around.
The waters around, too, and from, the islands, abound with sharks. Think twice, or thrice, before you undertake that particular adventure.
http://beach.freedomblogging.com/2008/06/23/shark-attacks-woman-on-kayak-at-catalina-knocks-her-off/
The Coronados are owned by the Mexicans. There is a no trespassing law on all the islands. The islands are pretty much completely vert. There is one tiny small island in the middle grounds with a small sand beach…at low tide.
There used to be a casino on the lee of the south island, but that was completely tron down in the late 70’s. Now that bay is used by the little fishing fleet & mexican navy, not the best place to camp.
The windward side of the islands has a huge sea lion population (that need to be elminated…see my other post on sharks) that live in water that come up from 800 ft. The islands run up against the 9 mile bank. It is very fishy, deep and dark. we have caught everything from Blue Marlin to Bluefin tuna within a chip shot of these islands. So needless to say it is sharky too.
A few years back…like 3-4 or so, there was a guy diving off the south end. A 800 lb plus Mako charged him from the deep (think the picture of Jaws with the girl swimming) He saw it just in time and shot it with his spear gun in the mouth.
So if you go camping on the Coronados, be prepared for one or more of the following to happen. 1) the day will be a round trip ticket. 2) the day will be a one way ticket, landing in jail. 3) there won’t be a day, you’ll just disapear and they’ll find your yak all chewed up.
But knowing your personality from a few keith gatherings…your going anyway, ain’t ya, I can feel it. Take pictures, make sure you have an EBIRB, and a hand held VHF & GPS.
Think Eddie Aikau… just vanished!
who are you
why you wanna kill sealife
you no god
leave nature alone
no can handle you keep wanting to kill the seals
maybe they wanna kill you
All seals must die. Once the seals are gone, we will be safe from the sharks. Once the sharks are gone, then I can take my new 2008 SUV to the beach with my 5 kids to learn how to stand up surf.
Do you think it is a bad idea to burn my old surfboards in the backyard, I’ll use a 55 gal drum so I won’t ruin my 1000 sq ft lawn, that i fertilize every week, and over water it so it runs off into the storm drain…I need to make more room for my new experimental boards.
On a side note; I think someone stole my Acetone & styrene? There’s no way it could have evaporated.
-resinhead
since you already lost a finger, what’s the big deal loosing the rest of the arm to a shark? I say go for it!!!
hey, you guys ever seen the pic I took of Jay? We took the new boat out on a test. This is Jay getting our bait ready…
This is my patent seal softner trick. Not to be mistaken with stool softner.
DEATH TO SEA MANAIMALIAS!!
Jay,
Is the signed, numbered, limited edition, copies of the ‘‘Seal Thumping Photo’’ available yet ? I want one !
Sounds like a perfectly good Darwinian idea.
I’m sure your family is proud you’ve survived this long.
I’m sure your family is proud you’ve survived this long.
I’m very popular, get in line for one of my signed Lithos.
Not worried about sharks…I have an unhealthy obession with them actually. My friend told me yesterday that her friends dad was killed by a Great White last month…out of reflex I said “cool”…but that was the wrong thing to say I guess.
Just scared of federalies & no beach access.
If the islands are off limits how were some of these pics taken?
Ooh- also planing to scope out some deep water soloing (rock climbing) routes…are the islands made of quality rock?
Cheers.
Seals and sea lions are best with BBQ sauce.
“…I just got a ticket for ‘Illegal camping’…So the best flight to catch is the one where you decide that you no longer want to be a ranger & stop trying to force stupid laws on people…enspecially in CA…”
When does the trust fund run out of money?
Never heard of the “coroado islands”. Are you and Resinhead talking about the same place?
Those are some cool photos of the Coronados. Now I said it was illegal to land or camp on the islands. I didn’t question the illegal or informed intent of individual. As I said before… give it a go. I’ve seen people jump the fence at the White House and run around on the law too.
The picture with the little house in it, that’s where the Casino used to be. If you look closely you can see the cement footings. The trail for the south Island light house start there, and is pretty much the only access to the trail.
Now, all this is not to say that if you bring some cash, and grease the federale with a $40, you could probably do anything you want on the island. There isn’t a full time guard there, but there are always the bluefin farmers, and urchin divers. If you go to the North Island, there used to be a little lobster shack on the lee. The North Island is a lot smaller, and a lot more sheer, and a lot more less traveled…Not even a trail.
Do it, go and report back. You might be on to the next place for a swaylocks gatherings. Actually, the very south end gets a wave when its “Big”, but it has to be big.
Sadly I have no trust fund…
-My N sticks…thus the mispelling of Coronado…Please ignore all of my other attacks on the english language…as I am sure they are numerous…
Wow. Amazing terrain. How far are these islands off the coast?
I can see why you want to get there.
Are you talking paddleboard or Kayak to get there.
Have you thought about a shark shield?
They are available now and apparently work.might not be a bad idea if you are flying solo.
Steve