Tide Pools of Half Moon Bay

[NickRoseSN1985]

Decided to go to Half Moon Bay on Friday to collect some seaweed to feed to the tangs. I’ve lived on the peninsula my whole life and never went to the tide pools before. Brought my underwater cover for the phone to get better photos/video.

 

[JVU]

Why time and tide level did you go? Did you go to a specific location? I‘m super jealous and going to plan a trip now.

 

[NickRoseSN1985]

I went yesterday at 12:30pm and negative tide was at 1:46pm at -.7ft. Tomorrow and Monday would have been better they will be -1.41&-1.46. It was Pillar Point.

 

[Chromis]

Is the photo of the seaweed showing it lying out to dry? Or what do you do with it between collection and feeding?

 

[NickRoseSN1985]

Yes I’m drying it out so I can store it and use it through out the month/months.

 

[Srt4eric]

What underwater cover for your phone do you have?

 

[NickRoseSN1985]

What underwater cover for your phone do you have?

I bought two but I have been using the first one that I have attached a link for.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PP58YFJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GBYXD7Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[Wlachnit]

Wow!…amazing pics with an iPhone.

 

[Holly94583]

Thanks a lot for the tip! Went today and collected a lot of different macro algaes including sea lettuce and tons of red algae.
There were a lot of people collecting urchins and mussels, might do that next time.
It was great to see anemones, sea stars and hermit crabs in their natural habitat.
I definitely need to get that underwater cover!

 

[PeetaJai]

I am just curious, is there a list of what we can take from the tide pool legally?

 

[Holly94583]

From what I read, gathering seaweed is allowed up to 10 pounds wet weight (whew!)(https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Kelp/Recreational-Harvest).

Found that picture online that summarizes every species. Everything has to be collected by hand, no knife, and a sports fishing permit is required.

 

[NickRoseSN1985]

Thanks a lot for the tip! Went today and collected a lot of different macro algaes including sea lettuce and tons of red algae.
There were a lot of people collecting urchins and mussels, might do that next time.
It was great to see anemones, sea stars and hermit crabs in their natural habitat.
I definitely need to get that underwater cover!

I was looking for Ulva but didn’t see any. It must have been still under water when I went on Friday.

 

[Holly94583]

I was looking for Ulva but didn’t see any. It must have been still under water when I went on Friday.

I didn’t find any in the tide pools but it was being washed up by the waves on this beach.

 

[NickRoseSN1985]

I didn’t find any in the tide pools but it was being washed up by the waves on this beach.

I wonder if it’s safe to use since it’s in the harbor area.

 

[grizfyrfyter]

I'm tempted to go tomorrow

 

[NickRoseSN1985]

I'm tempted to go tomorrow

You should. It’s fun.

 

[grizfyrfyter]

Low tide isn't until 5 and it's a 2 hour drive home on a good day

 

[goonie0]

Amazing pictures!

We've been to the tide pools in Half Moon Bay and it's always amazing out there. 10+ years ago we collected some hermit crabs and dropped them in my newly started first tank after moving to the Bay while it was still cycling, but none of them survived beyond 2 weeks. I think the water was likely just too warm for them.

This past Friday my kids had the day off from school so we went to Sutro Bath in Land's End in SF to hike around and ended up collecting some algae and also 2 small mussels. An older fellow there was harvesting 8"+ mussels which I've never seen before! Kids wanted to drop the mussels into the tank and I relented (hopefully won't regret it) and surprisingly they're surviving so far. Tank inhabitants haven't touched the algae as far as I can tell though.

 

[PjFish]

I highly recommend Agate beach in Bolinas if you haven't gone. It's the home of Duxbury reef one of the largest shale reefs in North America.. Low tide reveals miles of tide pools that are 5x football fields in size. The pink Coraline covering the reef and all the cucs is amazing..I always see nudibrachs, huge sea urchins, small spiny lobsters, and baby octopus if your lucky!. The main tide pools are to the left and extend out for a mile or two at low tide. Or you can walk for miles to the right around the point to secluded beaches that have tide pools as well. Be mindful of the incoming tide times!! Or you may get wet returning..One tip!! take screen shots of the directions and map of location since some of the locals have a habit of taking down street signs to deter and confuse people lol been going on forever. Enjoy!!

 

[PjFish]

A few pics of Agate beach...