Saturday 7 March was the last club competition. Coffs Harbour Bluewater Freedivers arrange an annual trip to a spearfishing venue as a club holiday. Lots of frivolity and good times but some diving thrown in.
Conditions had been reasonable. The chocolate had cleared a lot and earlier in the week, divers had reported great sightings around the Big Island. We were at Wooli about 2 hrs N of Coffs and considerably closer to the Big Island. For a change there was a great attendance with almost all the club members competing. We even had some visitors from Nambucca join us.
Michael and I decided to look at the Big Island, while some divers headed further N. We found hardly any current which tends to throw a spanner in the works. A number of boats had already stationed themselves over the pinnacles N of the Big Island and we moved to the gutters in front of NW rocks. I don't know if there is anything as disappointing as lying on the bottom in clean, warm water and seeing nothing. I dived for a 1/2 hour and found I had hardly drifted away from the anchored boat at all.
Next move to the S end of the island. On the first dive I mess up with a Bluebar and that seemed to set the mood for the day. I soon missed another Bluebar. I was not very comfortable with my recent gun setup. Changed the Freedivers spear to something else, after it was bent and the new spear was affecting my aim. I found some Scads being harassed by monster Mack Tuna (Kawakawa) around the 7kg mark. They did not behave like the smaller speedsters of their species do. They hung around looking at me. Oh well at least I would weigh something. Forget it. My aim was way off and I missed on both chances I had. I was sore about that because both fish were sitters and should have been a sure thing.
Kept at it, pounding away at the deep dives and encountered some Tailor on my way up. Over-excitement chased them before I could take a shot and then to make matters worse I found a Bluebar at about 22m and it was quite calm. I lay still paying it no attention and the longer I lay the more excited it became, until it shot off farting out bits of coral. I climbed into the boat nursing a severely bruised ego.
Michael took one shot all day, nailing 2 Bludger at the same time. Back at the weigh in, some nice fish were put onto the scales. John had a nice bag of Moses Perch, Mangrove Jack, Bluebar and Maori Cod but Kurt's 5.5kg Bluebar was voted the best fish of the day. Fortunately the guys from Nambucca were only over for a friendly. Between 2 of their divers, they got a lovely Samsonfish and 3 Spanish, so the fish are around.
Being quiet is important. It starts when working at the surface, not banging on the hull of the boat to when you dive, gliding in to the bottom. Try not to bash your gear around on the bottom or scrape your fins over the bottom. Some divers have a clever technique of pulling themselves along the bottom with their free arm thus limiting the racket they create. Your eyes seem to give your intentions away. Try to avoid looking directly at your quarry. Keep your eyes slightly closed or away from the fish.
At the moment Cyclone Hamish is stuffing the conditions up completely and the weather predictions are for a clearing this weekend. Let's hope.
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