We are still seeing a massive amount of inclement weather. Yesterday I was treated to my first tornado. In 10 minutes I saw 4 develop a short distance off-shore. Certainly never want to be at sea when one of those comes along. I have included the bulk of my recent newspaper articles as an indication of what has been happening in Coffs. All that remains to be said is that spearfishing is becoming something of a dim and distant memory:
27 June 2009
As the lost opportunities for club competitions start to mount, I wonder if some of the divers who decided not to weigh fish in the earlier competitions are kicking themselves. A case in point: You will hear about the good size of Kingfish that are found around Coffs. On any reasonable day you could expect to bump into several fish in the 20kg region. When it comes to the day of competition, do you weigh a small fish because you have guaranteed points or do you hold off and wait for a larger specimen for more points and risk not seeing another one all year? Considering that you will only be permitted to weigh 2 kingfish in the year. Species points are relatively more heavily weighted than the weight of the fish which adds an additional angle to the conundrum. My approach is to weigh what you have: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, in a manner of speaking. Having said that, suffice to say that last Sunday’s competition was postponed to this coming Sunday, please remember to call Flange to determine if the comp is on.
How do you improve your odds of getting a fish to hand? The first and most important thing to do is not to over-think it. You need to relax and trust that your preparation has been adequate. It is obviously easier to shoot a fish at close range and then easier to subdue it if the shot is a good one. This will require stalking fish and your body language is paramount in maintaining complacency in your target. Keep your eyes away from the intended quarry, don’t swim at it, allow its curiosity to trick it into coming in close. When you squeeze the trigger, the release of the spear should come as a bit of a surprise to you. I find that my best spearfishing is when I am in an almost dissociated state because my body language and intention is not conveyed to the target. Zen and the Art of Spearfishing, if you will. If you can kill the fish immediately, you are spared the often long and protracted struggle which inevitably leads to sharks arriving and relieving you of your prey. Practice shooting and become proficient at hitting small targets. Ideally you want to hit the fish in the brain or spinal chord. To quote Mel Gibson: Aim small, miss small.
Remember that you are only allowed 2 crayfish and 2 abalone. The crays must be caught by hand, no spearing and must be kept whole. You are not permitted to clean your abalone in the sea.
So until we get another opportunity to get into the sea, enjoy gardening or the host of other household chores you neglected when conditions were good.
4 July 2009
Last weekend had some dramatically improved conditions. The competition was rescheduled for Sunday but lack of divers meant it was cancelled again. Reports from some commercials had indicated that blue water was moving in from the deep. Some boats did venture out and found good water around The Lighthouse.
Apparently there were some Mangrove Jacks about but they needed a healthy dose of finesse to be duped, something which Sunday’s divers were lacking. They did find some Kingfish and these made a welcome addition to their meager takings. They also added several good Tailor to their bag.
Weather predictions for the coming weekend seem dismal once again. The weatherman was talking of winds ranging between 50 and 90kmh. The swell will push up and make for really unpleasant conditions out at sea. With the amount of time we have free, now that the diving is trashed regularly, perhaps one could start planning some major projects at home. Heaven knows you will score some serious brownie points.
On a separate point, it seems the cold is keeping the underwater hockey players at home too. Texts are sent through to players and we really only need 6 players to have an effective training session. On a positive note, nights are shortening and days becoming longer and we are on the way to Spring. The Yellowfin Tuna are expected in the deep off Coffs fairly soon and the challenge of hunting these leviathans has seen little investigation by local Spearos. There is an enormous challenge in landing these superb fish and Coffs has the potential to deliver the goods.
11 July 2009
Some fascinating weather phenomena this week. I have never seen a water-spout and managed to see 4 in the space of 10 minutes between Macaulay’s Headland and Split Solitary Island. They were truly impressive and served to reiterate the poor diving conditions we continue to experience.
The subject of conservation was vociferously raised on a TV news broadcast last weekend. Apparently there are 30 Blue Groper which have reached cult status off Sydney and require an extension of the no-fishing zone, according to environmentalists. Now don’t get me wrong, conservation based on sensible research is a necessity. However, fishing bans based on ‘pet’ fish, smacks of utter stupidity. Blue Groper are legally protected in any case. In addition, they are probably the most prevalent demersal fish species encountered off our coast; their numbers clearly indicate that they are not a threatened species. Additional measures to avoid these ‘pets’ falling foul of a hook seem extreme. The fish may not be speared at all and more measures affecting spearos are completely unfounded.
The area in which the no-fishing zone is envisaged, is certainly not pristine. Sydney is subject to high levels of noise, light, air and water pollution and cannot, realistically, be considered an ecologically sensitive or endangered habitat. Perhaps if these ‘pet’ Blue Groper must be protected, above all else, they should be moved to the Sydney Aquarium and then we could stop turning the Ocean into a petting zoo! This form of conservation is tantamount to banning cars because a kangaroo was knocked over once.
The Ocean is a wondrously wild and exciting place. Let’s keep it that way and where protection is justifiable, protecting the habitat and not individual hand-fed fish.
The club meeting will be held at Michael Featherstone’s house on Wednesday evening and will involve an extensive Freediving safety briefing. All club members should attend.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
19 June 2009
I have been publishing a weekly update on spearfishing in Coffs Harbour in 'The Advocate' one of the local newspapers. I thought it might be worthwhile including these articles too:
The next Southerly front is here, along with the ubiquitous rain. Face it, when you are diving, you are wet already, as long as the Southerly clears the sea, we may be in for some diving this weekend. Club members are reminded that the monthly club competition will take place this Sunday, weather permitting. All skippers are to contact the Sports Officer on Saturday evening to confirm their participation. We have a very limited list of target species on our club list and each diver may only weigh 2 of each species per year. Very much a question of: ‘Limiting your kill, not killing your limit.’
It has not been all bad news since last weekend. I have a report of some-one swimming in from Sandy Beach headland. He found the surrounding area scoured clean of sand, with lots of newly exposed crayfish habitat. He said that the sea was cool but relatively clean, with suspended sand limiting viz. Diving in these shallow water conditions does take some getting used to. The effect of waves breaking and pushing you against structure requires that you use gear which you don’t mind getting scuffed and scraped. These conditions require the use of shortened buoy-lines, 10m at the longest, shorter more maneuverable guns and a slightly heavier weight belt to avoid continually floating to the surface. The buoy provides a handy place to hang a stringer line, a bag to keep your catch and a measuring instrument. My contact assures me that there were lots of crayfish but most were undersize. He could find no Abalone and although he heard drumming, he struggled to find Jewfish. The drumming is always a good indication that Jewfish are in attendance. A large kingfish ended up bending his spear and making his speargun useless which is when he did see a reasonable Jew. It is a funny coincidence, how that sort of thing always seems to happen.
There are some really good crayfish holes around Coffs, most of which are closely kept secrets but with some perseverance you may very well be handsomely rewarded for your efforts. Expect limited viz but be on the lookout for abalone and Jewfish too.
The next Southerly front is here, along with the ubiquitous rain. Face it, when you are diving, you are wet already, as long as the Southerly clears the sea, we may be in for some diving this weekend. Club members are reminded that the monthly club competition will take place this Sunday, weather permitting. All skippers are to contact the Sports Officer on Saturday evening to confirm their participation. We have a very limited list of target species on our club list and each diver may only weigh 2 of each species per year. Very much a question of: ‘Limiting your kill, not killing your limit.’
It has not been all bad news since last weekend. I have a report of some-one swimming in from Sandy Beach headland. He found the surrounding area scoured clean of sand, with lots of newly exposed crayfish habitat. He said that the sea was cool but relatively clean, with suspended sand limiting viz. Diving in these shallow water conditions does take some getting used to. The effect of waves breaking and pushing you against structure requires that you use gear which you don’t mind getting scuffed and scraped. These conditions require the use of shortened buoy-lines, 10m at the longest, shorter more maneuverable guns and a slightly heavier weight belt to avoid continually floating to the surface. The buoy provides a handy place to hang a stringer line, a bag to keep your catch and a measuring instrument. My contact assures me that there were lots of crayfish but most were undersize. He could find no Abalone and although he heard drumming, he struggled to find Jewfish. The drumming is always a good indication that Jewfish are in attendance. A large kingfish ended up bending his spear and making his speargun useless which is when he did see a reasonable Jew. It is a funny coincidence, how that sort of thing always seems to happen.
There are some really good crayfish holes around Coffs, most of which are closely kept secrets but with some perseverance you may very well be handsomely rewarded for your efforts. Expect limited viz but be on the lookout for abalone and Jewfish too.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
12 June 2009
For those who have been following my blog, the lack of entries is more a reflection of the conditions in Coffs recently, than that I am too busy diving, I don't have time to write. Unfortunately after the last lot of rain turned the sea brown, we endured several strong S fronts which made the situation even worse. Recently, the systems have settled but we have been left with extremely poor viz. You would struggle to see passed the end of an 800mm gun. I have dived only once since returning from South Africa. A S front without rain is expected in the next few days and this may actually clear the sea up enough to make diving a possibility again. Winter has crept up on us too. The mornings are cold, not icy cold like Johannesburg, but cold enough to make you think twice before climbing out from under the delightfully warm covers. The thought of slipping into a cold damp wetsuit is frightening to say the least. Since I do not just limit myself to underwater hunting but also spend some time hunting game, I find my motivation tends to be toward keeping dry and warm, electing to use a rifle to take down my quarry.
On a more disappointing note, the representative body for spearfishing in NSW is considering breaking away from the National body. It is a real pity when internal politics leads to divisions which are likely to impact dramatically on the sport. I sincerely hope that this matter is resolved amicably.
On a more disappointing note, the representative body for spearfishing in NSW is considering breaking away from the National body. It is a real pity when internal politics leads to divisions which are likely to impact dramatically on the sport. I sincerely hope that this matter is resolved amicably.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
19 May 2009
In the long slow life of a great Rhodesian Teak (Baikiaea plurijuga) it had served as a shaded vantage point to a pride of lions, eager on subduing buffalo. Later its great branches gave a leopard a reclusive hideaway while rhino and elephant rubbed their rough thick hides against its enormous trunk. With the advent of the early explorers, the tree was cut and used as railway sleepers, providing the life-blood of an early African economy. The voracious appetite of industry knew no bounds and soon the majestic trees were decimated. Time moves on and the once trusty sleepers lay unclaimed in the hot dry African Savannah, almost forgotten. But in the heart of the lowly sleeper beat the proud, unrelenting heart of Africa.
With loving care the heart of the sleeper was awakened in the gentle hands of a craftsman called Andrew. He carefully constructs unique spearguns which awaken the Mythical Hunter's Spirit and embodies the courage of the African hunter. Each gun is uniquely patterned and crafted to suit the individuals' preferences. They are extremely robust and designed to give the spearfisher a significant advantage, whether pursuing dermersals on a reef or lying out in the deep blue in search of giant pelagics. A unique almost magical property of the wood is its impervious nature, giving it a rare gift of withstanding the effect of decay and the ravages of saltwater. The guns are priced favourably when compared to standard Euro-type guns and are significantly more affordable than comparable wooden guns.
I have been asked to put a 1.3m Euro-style gun through its paces. At this stage it is remarkable how resilient the gun is proving. It is quiet but above all uncannily accurate. I am sure I will have a lot more to say about this gun in the future.
With loving care the heart of the sleeper was awakened in the gentle hands of a craftsman called Andrew. He carefully constructs unique spearguns which awaken the Mythical Hunter's Spirit and embodies the courage of the African hunter. Each gun is uniquely patterned and crafted to suit the individuals' preferences. They are extremely robust and designed to give the spearfisher a significant advantage, whether pursuing dermersals on a reef or lying out in the deep blue in search of giant pelagics. A unique almost magical property of the wood is its impervious nature, giving it a rare gift of withstanding the effect of decay and the ravages of saltwater. The guns are priced favourably when compared to standard Euro-type guns and are significantly more affordable than comparable wooden guns.
I have been asked to put a 1.3m Euro-style gun through its paces. At this stage it is remarkable how resilient the gun is proving. It is quiet but above all uncannily accurate. I am sure I will have a lot more to say about this gun in the future.
18 May 2009
Eventually there was a break in the weather. Friday looked like it would be a good day out but several telephone calls seemed to suggest that conditions were still poor. We should have gone to look in any case because their were some good fish at the North Island. I got reports of both Wahoo and Spanish being landed.
On Saturday we elected to do some fishing. Loaded the dive gear just in case we found good water. We trolled around The Wash and chatted to one of the local Fishos who told us the viz at the pinnacles was 25m. Lines up and we charged off to have a look. Conditions were very good. Clear water, perhaps not as warm as it has been, but still good. I jumped in with Duan who was freediving for the first time ever. A quick scan of the area and I saw what looked like a Spanish down deep. I sucked in a full lungful of air and headed down. At approx 15m a school of nice Yellowtail Kingfish approached and the fish I had been pursuing seemed to have disappeared. I selected a good specimen and put a spear through it. My gun was one of the wooden guns my brother put together and it shoots like a demon. The spear went exactly where I was aiming.
Back on the boat we were treated to a sight of absolute chaos and bedlam as large pelagics screamed into a school of Mack Tuna that had been feeding on the surface only moments before. We dropped some lures back hoping to pick up one of these monsters. After quickly picking up 3 Mack Tuna and seeing repeated attacks on the school, the decision was made to burley aggressively to attract these attackers. Michael and Duan jumped over to find Rainbow Runners, Mack Tuna and Yellowfin feeding on the burley. Unfortunately the Yellowfin just did not give anyone a shot. The secret here is not to track the fish in the water with your gun but aim at a piece of chum, shooting when the fish comes into view.
Michael and I ended with a drift along the E side of NW Rocks. A big Amberjack played hide-and-seek with me amongst a school of Kingfish and I eventually gave up, not wanting to clobber another King. Michael unloaded his gun and was just about to climb into the boat when several Spanish drifted into range. He quickly loaded but as he singled out a fish, it seemed to drift out of range. It was an extremely frustrated diver that clambered back into the boat.
Predictions are for more Southerly fronts. Looks like the break will be short-lived.
On Saturday we elected to do some fishing. Loaded the dive gear just in case we found good water. We trolled around The Wash and chatted to one of the local Fishos who told us the viz at the pinnacles was 25m. Lines up and we charged off to have a look. Conditions were very good. Clear water, perhaps not as warm as it has been, but still good. I jumped in with Duan who was freediving for the first time ever. A quick scan of the area and I saw what looked like a Spanish down deep. I sucked in a full lungful of air and headed down. At approx 15m a school of nice Yellowtail Kingfish approached and the fish I had been pursuing seemed to have disappeared. I selected a good specimen and put a spear through it. My gun was one of the wooden guns my brother put together and it shoots like a demon. The spear went exactly where I was aiming.
Back on the boat we were treated to a sight of absolute chaos and bedlam as large pelagics screamed into a school of Mack Tuna that had been feeding on the surface only moments before. We dropped some lures back hoping to pick up one of these monsters. After quickly picking up 3 Mack Tuna and seeing repeated attacks on the school, the decision was made to burley aggressively to attract these attackers. Michael and Duan jumped over to find Rainbow Runners, Mack Tuna and Yellowfin feeding on the burley. Unfortunately the Yellowfin just did not give anyone a shot. The secret here is not to track the fish in the water with your gun but aim at a piece of chum, shooting when the fish comes into view.
Michael and I ended with a drift along the E side of NW Rocks. A big Amberjack played hide-and-seek with me amongst a school of Kingfish and I eventually gave up, not wanting to clobber another King. Michael unloaded his gun and was just about to climb into the boat when several Spanish drifted into range. He quickly loaded but as he singled out a fish, it seemed to drift out of range. It was an extremely frustrated diver that clambered back into the boat.
Predictions are for more Southerly fronts. Looks like the break will be short-lived.
Monday, May 11, 2009
12 May 2009
I just cannot believe how poor conditions have been here lately. Even the real die-hards are doing home maintenance! The line fishermen, both commercial and recreational, are getting poor results too. Everything seemed to be on track at the start of this season but it sure looks like the wheels have come off. Apparently out wide of the continental shelf, there is warm blue water which is giving up the odd Blue or Striped Marlin. I will be arranging my teaser gear and looking at heading out to try my luck at landing one of these behemoths.
John Featherstone and Tim MacDonald have recently returned from an adventurous trip to Exmouth. They went out on a commercial boat to an area that receives little if any fishing pressure. The fish they landed were very respectable. John tells me he took a Spanish of 34kg out of a school that had other fish which made his seem tiny by comparison. The Australian record for Spanish apparently comes from this area and I look forward to hearing more about the possibility of a trip out to this area. In the meantime I will be day-dreaming about the possibility of going to Bassas da India with my brother-in-law. Bassas, as it is lovingly called, is an extinct volcano in the Mozambique Channel. It is only visible at low-tide. It is in an extremely remote area and can only be reached by boat. Several sailing charters are offering this as a destination from Mozambique, with the promise of legendary Dog-tooth Tuna and Giant Trevally. I will have to be patient and see how events progress.
John Featherstone and Tim MacDonald have recently returned from an adventurous trip to Exmouth. They went out on a commercial boat to an area that receives little if any fishing pressure. The fish they landed were very respectable. John tells me he took a Spanish of 34kg out of a school that had other fish which made his seem tiny by comparison. The Australian record for Spanish apparently comes from this area and I look forward to hearing more about the possibility of a trip out to this area. In the meantime I will be day-dreaming about the possibility of going to Bassas da India with my brother-in-law. Bassas, as it is lovingly called, is an extinct volcano in the Mozambique Channel. It is only visible at low-tide. It is in an extremely remote area and can only be reached by boat. Several sailing charters are offering this as a destination from Mozambique, with the promise of legendary Dog-tooth Tuna and Giant Trevally. I will have to be patient and see how events progress.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
30 April 2009
I have just returned from a holiday back in South Africa. When I left, I endured a great deal of derision because my holiday happened to coincide with what traditionally is the best Wahoo season. This season started with a great deal of promise, lots of baitfish and some awesome water. The weather gods had differing opinions though. Looks like they are making every attempt to keep the likes of Spearos out of the Ocean. Massive amounts of rain and strong fronts have kept the sea rough and dirty. I don't know about you, but I prefer not to dive in chocolate milkshake.
There was a moment of respite during this meteorological assault and for 2 or 3 days everything calmed and the viz was the best it has been. Apparently, out at the pinnacles, the ripples on the sand at 35m could be clearly seen from the surface. There were some Wahoo and Spanish around and the lucky few that managed to get out, were rewarded.
I am now back in Australia with a new speargun to boot. My brother, Andrew, is putting a beautiful wooden gun together made from Rhodesian Teak. For those who don't know what Rhodesian Teak is, it is what the old railway sleepers were made from. This wood is extremely durable and becoming very rare. All live trees enjoy protection today and the only wood available, comes from recovered sleepers. I am looking forward to putting this gun through its paces.
There was a moment of respite during this meteorological assault and for 2 or 3 days everything calmed and the viz was the best it has been. Apparently, out at the pinnacles, the ripples on the sand at 35m could be clearly seen from the surface. There were some Wahoo and Spanish around and the lucky few that managed to get out, were rewarded.
I am now back in Australia with a new speargun to boot. My brother, Andrew, is putting a beautiful wooden gun together made from Rhodesian Teak. For those who don't know what Rhodesian Teak is, it is what the old railway sleepers were made from. This wood is extremely durable and becoming very rare. All live trees enjoy protection today and the only wood available, comes from recovered sleepers. I am looking forward to putting this gun through its paces.
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