20 October 2008

Busy weekend by all accounts. Saturday was the NSW State U/W hockey Champs. Coffs Harbour hosted the event and our team fared well considering this was our first attempt at a State Champs. Coffs were runners-up in the B-League being pipped at the post by Sydney B. Melbourne comfortably took the A League.

Most of the Coffs Harbour competitors play U/W hockey to keep in shape for spearfishing. So just as soon as the conditions allow there are going to be some super-primed spearos out there.

Sunday looked like a good day although buoyweather indicated a dramatic change in conditions by midday. Kris, Aidin and I headed out on Brett's Tupperware boat. First time on a plastic boat for me. Very stable craft with loads of floatation. Handled very predictably but the sea conditions had changed earlier than expected.

We had a pounding ride out to the wave buoy and found a large school of Yellowtail milling about. All small. The viz was good 20m and the water warm. Some dolphins arrived and in spite of the lack of any other fish we enjoyed their antics. I think the Yellowtail much less so. Their school was somewhat thinned by the dolphins' activity by the time we left.

The ride back was worse than the ride out. Decided to stop just outside of Pig Island at the mouth of Coffs Harbour to explore Bullocky. This is a highpoint which comes to approx 8m from the surrounding 22m. Yellowtail Kingfish, Wahoo and Snapper are often taken here. The conditions were atrocious. The viz was really poor, inside of 5m, the surface had thick masses of tiny jellyfish. Thought there might be clearer water below but found an even dirtier silt layer at about 12m. Some fish were seen but nothing worth shooting. Lots of Moses Perch, Bream, Sawtail Surgeon and Kris even saw some Finger-mark Bream. Red Morwong all over the place. Probably would have taken 5 different species in South Africa but the emphasis here is on quality not quantity so nothing for me on Sunday. Nice to get out and dive again.

On another tack, thought I would try my hand at some Gyotaku (Japanese Fish Printing). First attempt was not that bad and I am deciding on what my next subject should be. I remember my dad showing me an etching from a knight's tomb and the technique of Gyotaku does share some similarities.