From 2007-2016, CA Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP) scientists and fishermen have conducted hook-and-line surveys within three Central Coast State Marine Reserves (Point Lobos, Piedras Blancas (2008 only), and Point Buchon, SMRs) and a State Marine Conservation Area (Año Nuevo, SMCA), along with nearby reference sites (Figure 1). The Año Nuevo, Point Lobos, Piedras Blancas, and Point Buchon MPAs encompass areas of 10.2 mi2, 5.4 mi2, 10.4 mi2, and 6.7 mi2 respectively. Reference sites were based on the criteria that they shared similar size, habitat, and oceanographic conditions with the nearby MPAs. Within the boundaries of each MPA and reference site, 500 m x 500 m grid cells were created and used to randomly select sampling locations. The grid cells were positioned in nearshore rocky habitats, in water less than 40 meters deep (to limit fishing mortality from barotrauma), in areas that had been identified by fishermen as having suitable habitat for nearshore fishes. A total of 22 grid cells in Año Nuevo, 17 cells in Point Lobos, 57 cells in Piedras Blancas, and 22 cells in Point Buchon were generated (Figure 2). On a given survey day, four of these cells were selected at random and sampled.

In 2008 and 2009, surveys were also completed in (then) proposed North Central Coast SMRs (Point Reyes, and North and Southeast Farallon Islands) and near Bolinas/ Duxbury Reef. These surveys utilized the CCFRP hook-and-line survey protocols with the exception that sampling was not completed within 500m x 500m grid cells. These trips provided an opportunity to evaluate the areas in order to locate optimal fishing areas and create grid cells for future surveys. Duxbury Reef, an open area, will serve as a project reference area because this area has been surveyed since 2005.