Took a rock-hop yesterday at Look-at-me-now Headland. Swam in along the N end looking for crays. Lots of good structure but the huge numbers of small crays were nowhere to be found. Found 3 smallies under a rock with a small Wobby and a tiny Abalone. Water was weird, very patchy. Areas almost milky with really poor viz and then patches with murky 9m viz. Unfortunately it looks like the weekend might be a blow-out if the weather prediction is anything to go by. However, I often find that just before a dramatic weather change you could get lucky. A friend of mine went in around The Lighthouse and there were lots of kingfish. I think he may have used the word THOUSANDS. I certainly hope they are around on the weekend. There are several areas which afford a safe anchorage and make for pleasant diving even if there is serious chop/surge.
I read an article regarding an acquaintance of mine who was badly shook up by a White off Perth. The shark sounds like it may well have been over 6m long. Gyula does not spook easily and when I last spoke to him, he recounted as many as 4 previous encounters, so it is not as if he is unfamiliar with the beasts. Seems the shark pursued an active interest in him and the boat for quite some time. Easy to joke about it after the fact but at the time it would be extremely frightening.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
24 August 2009
Last weekend turned out to be a goodie. Took a quick trip out to Northwest Island and bumped into a small school of large jewies. The first I hammered but it got off after 2 additional shots being made. Then Luke got one of 22kg with some assistance and finally I found another which after being shot, bolted over the reef. I got hold of it and brought it to the surface. As I slid my hand forward to hold onto the fish it struggled, throwing the spear and disappearing into the gloom. Then to add insult to injury, I found a bunch of large Blue Groper and as I lay there watching them I switched off. Only after the parrotfish had been alerted to my presence did I cotton on to it being there amongst the groper. It beat a hasty retreat safely away from the sleeping spearo. It had easily been in range and I had been lulled by all the groper. I would dearly like to explore the cave that the jewfish were in but unfortunately no torches allowed when spearfishing in NSW. I hope the petitioning, to have this silly law revoked, is successful. It is really frustrating to dive in a cave without a reel-gun too. A long piece of line trailing behind irritates me as it gets in the way and makes it difficult to work inside of a confined space.
Dived this weekend in the club's comp but could have spent the time doing other more productive things if the results are anything to go by. Everyone seemed to have a hard time of it. Pete took 2 reasonable kingfish but did not weigh them. Flange got a nice kingie and ended up weighing that and a bream. Fish of the comp was his kingfish which is probably a reflection of how difficult the diving was. Kurt and co. got a painted crayfish and several abalone, so their day was not a complete waste of time. Ben, one of our new members, took a painted home to try, in spite of everyone saying that it was not worth eating. Best I saw, was a school of Kingfish at Northwest but they stayed out of range and 2 Bonito which came in from behind me at Dougherty's after a LONG bottom-time. Unfortunately as I moved the fish ducked and I went home without sushi.
These are some of my recent articles which have appeared in the local Advocate in the fishing pages:
8 August
While the weather remains calm, the sea has not really cleared sufficiently to make spearfishing a worthwhile proposition. That is unless you manage to find one of the small pockets of clear water that seem to make their appearance every now and again. Perhaps after 2 years of marginal diving conditions we may be in for a run of better conditions. The temperature remains around the 20 C mark and if you look at one of the many sea surface temperature maps, you will have noticed the tell-tale finger of warm water moving down from the north which heralds the start of the new diving season. The weekend holds some promise with Kingfish around the lighthouse and the wash being at a sure bet. Having said that, a rock-hop will provide a good feed of bream or luderick, they may not have all the glamour of the big pelagics but they do taste good.
On an interesting note, there are still many people who do not realize that spearfishing is a sport performed on a single breath-hold and then diving down to find, stalk and subdue the intended quarry. Contrary to popular belief, no scuba gear is employed. This is a remarkable feat when one considers that some spearos have the capability of diving to 30m. That is the equivalent of diving the depth of a 10 storey building. Recently a South African diver broke the world-record for spearing a fish at depth. Trevor Hutton went down to 60m where he speared a fish before returning to the surface. Total dive time almost 3 minutes, a monumental feat indeed.
The club meeting will take place on Wednesday 19 August and all members are strongly encouraged to attend, as some extremely important decisions need to be made. I will endeavour to inform as many people as possible with the details closer to the time. Next weekend should provide reasonable conditions and members are further reminded to come along to the club competition on Sunday 23 August. The improving conditions should at least get some fresh fish on the dinner plate. The Memorial Pool will be opening in September and the Underwater Hockey players are invited to get back into training, more details toward the end of the month.
22 August
Some-one once said to me of fishing: “If you don’t have a line in the water, I’ll guarantee in you won’t catch anything.” There is no lack of effort on the part of some of our club members who make the brave effort to swim out off the headlands in pursuit of crayfish and jewies. The viz has been cloudy and I heard a report of one diver getting a look-over by a Great Fright (white pointer) off one of the headlands near Woolgoolga. Everyone I speak to repeats the mantra: “we need a southerly blow to clean the sea.” While we all hold our breath and hope for the best there are still fish to be had.
Saturday last weekend we took a quick trip out off Arrawarra and found a small school of large Jewfish in a cave. The first fish targeted took 3 shots to slow. The fish returned to the cave and appears to have been wolfed by a large Wobby. The next fish was almost lost at the cave mouth but with a quick back-up shot made, the fish was successfully captured. It weighed an astonishing 22kg, a notable specimen indeed. When fish are in an easily targeted position, the onus is on the diver to remain conservative and control the urge to take too many fish. It is a question of limiting your kill, not killing your limit. Club members are reminded of the club competition on Sunday.
Dived this weekend in the club's comp but could have spent the time doing other more productive things if the results are anything to go by. Everyone seemed to have a hard time of it. Pete took 2 reasonable kingfish but did not weigh them. Flange got a nice kingie and ended up weighing that and a bream. Fish of the comp was his kingfish which is probably a reflection of how difficult the diving was. Kurt and co. got a painted crayfish and several abalone, so their day was not a complete waste of time. Ben, one of our new members, took a painted home to try, in spite of everyone saying that it was not worth eating. Best I saw, was a school of Kingfish at Northwest but they stayed out of range and 2 Bonito which came in from behind me at Dougherty's after a LONG bottom-time. Unfortunately as I moved the fish ducked and I went home without sushi.
These are some of my recent articles which have appeared in the local Advocate in the fishing pages:
8 August
While the weather remains calm, the sea has not really cleared sufficiently to make spearfishing a worthwhile proposition. That is unless you manage to find one of the small pockets of clear water that seem to make their appearance every now and again. Perhaps after 2 years of marginal diving conditions we may be in for a run of better conditions. The temperature remains around the 20 C mark and if you look at one of the many sea surface temperature maps, you will have noticed the tell-tale finger of warm water moving down from the north which heralds the start of the new diving season. The weekend holds some promise with Kingfish around the lighthouse and the wash being at a sure bet. Having said that, a rock-hop will provide a good feed of bream or luderick, they may not have all the glamour of the big pelagics but they do taste good.
On an interesting note, there are still many people who do not realize that spearfishing is a sport performed on a single breath-hold and then diving down to find, stalk and subdue the intended quarry. Contrary to popular belief, no scuba gear is employed. This is a remarkable feat when one considers that some spearos have the capability of diving to 30m. That is the equivalent of diving the depth of a 10 storey building. Recently a South African diver broke the world-record for spearing a fish at depth. Trevor Hutton went down to 60m where he speared a fish before returning to the surface. Total dive time almost 3 minutes, a monumental feat indeed.
The club meeting will take place on Wednesday 19 August and all members are strongly encouraged to attend, as some extremely important decisions need to be made. I will endeavour to inform as many people as possible with the details closer to the time. Next weekend should provide reasonable conditions and members are further reminded to come along to the club competition on Sunday 23 August. The improving conditions should at least get some fresh fish on the dinner plate. The Memorial Pool will be opening in September and the Underwater Hockey players are invited to get back into training, more details toward the end of the month.
22 August
Some-one once said to me of fishing: “If you don’t have a line in the water, I’ll guarantee in you won’t catch anything.” There is no lack of effort on the part of some of our club members who make the brave effort to swim out off the headlands in pursuit of crayfish and jewies. The viz has been cloudy and I heard a report of one diver getting a look-over by a Great Fright (white pointer) off one of the headlands near Woolgoolga. Everyone I speak to repeats the mantra: “we need a southerly blow to clean the sea.” While we all hold our breath and hope for the best there are still fish to be had.
Saturday last weekend we took a quick trip out off Arrawarra and found a small school of large Jewfish in a cave. The first fish targeted took 3 shots to slow. The fish returned to the cave and appears to have been wolfed by a large Wobby. The next fish was almost lost at the cave mouth but with a quick back-up shot made, the fish was successfully captured. It weighed an astonishing 22kg, a notable specimen indeed. When fish are in an easily targeted position, the onus is on the diver to remain conservative and control the urge to take too many fish. It is a question of limiting your kill, not killing your limit. Club members are reminded of the club competition on Sunday.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
13 August 2009
Conditions seem to be improving but then when I get a day to dive, weather turns nasty. Last Wednesday I took my sea-kayak out for its first diving duty. Paddled to the NE side of Little Muttonbird Island and anchored up. Swam in to check the gutters for Jewfish and Crays. There were lots of fish around but mostly Bream, Blackfish, Luderick and Tailor. The water appeared clean when looking from the beach but once in, it had a milky/murky character. Just the water you expect to be hassled by a shark in. I have had so many jonnies snapping at my ankles that I now dive with a SharkShield.
My wife is pretty desperate for some fresh fish and with all the pan-sized fish around the rocks, I took a nice Bream which went down very well in beer-batter on Wednesday evening. Have been trying for Jews and Crays but nothing yet. Reports get to me of lots of small Crays and schools of Jewies but I must be diving in all the wrong places.
While weather conditions have settled, the tongue of warm water coming from N is staying away and the discoloured milky water seems to have become a permanent feature for the time being. Water temperatures hover around 20 C. With any luck, we will get some reasonably clean water to dive in soon, here's hoping.
My wife is pretty desperate for some fresh fish and with all the pan-sized fish around the rocks, I took a nice Bream which went down very well in beer-batter on Wednesday evening. Have been trying for Jews and Crays but nothing yet. Reports get to me of lots of small Crays and schools of Jewies but I must be diving in all the wrong places.
While weather conditions have settled, the tongue of warm water coming from N is staying away and the discoloured milky water seems to have become a permanent feature for the time being. Water temperatures hover around 20 C. With any luck, we will get some reasonably clean water to dive in soon, here's hoping.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
4 August 2009
Took a trip out to the Big Island on Sunday. Was hoping the sea would be cleaner than it appeared inshore. Unfortunately it was not to be. Dived on the E side of the island and there was lots in the way of trash fish but nothing worthwhile, not even the usual ubiquitous Kingfish. Kris picked up a small Samsonfish but I came away with nothing. We moved around to a few spots but the viz was poor inside of The Big Island.
I learned an important lesson about time off. You need to dive inside of your limits and your max in shape may not be your max at the start of the season. I really need to spend more time getting fit. Been a long winter which has taken its toll on my fitness. Guys have been chatting about the prevalence of the Jewfish around the headlands and I am hoping find some myself if the viz allows.
I learned an important lesson about time off. You need to dive inside of your limits and your max in shape may not be your max at the start of the season. I really need to spend more time getting fit. Been a long winter which has taken its toll on my fitness. Guys have been chatting about the prevalence of the Jewfish around the headlands and I am hoping find some myself if the viz allows.
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