Sunday, June 3, 2012

Peace Killing

Today I had the opportunity to hunt Santa Cruz off the vessel Peace. I had an awsome experience. This was my first time spearfishing the islands and it didn't disappoint! My first dive at 7am had me chasing a massive school of opaleye right at the bottom of the boat. I finally nailed one right in the face as he was checking me out.

Having secured dinner I relaxed and absorbed the beauty of the forest. Found some pretty cool shells for my collection and munched some uni to the disgust of the boat crew.



I was surprised how few fish were brought aboard with spearfishermen numbering nearly two dozen strong. Everybody with their big guns had sea bass on their mind however the entire day only saw one barely legal specimen landed. Here I am with my lil polespear securing dank seafood while the seabass hunters come home skunked.

The last dive was the most epic. Struggling through thick kelp I finally made it to the near shore shallows with wonderful rock formations. Inside a cave I found what I came for. A resident rockfish met the cold steel of my double flopper tip (thanks namor). After pinning him I reached in to secure my kill and was met with a rude awakening. Lancing pain shot up my thumb and continued to throb like crazy the whole trip back through the insanely thick kelp.

Back on the boat I nursed my poisoned thumb while rigging my fishing pole. I caught a smelt right away but he made good his escape flopping on the deck. Using guts from the rockfish I baited my hooks and fished my lil heart out on those poor smelt while just about everybody else clamored aboard empty handed.

Epic day, fish for dinner tonight!






Friday, June 1, 2012

Urchin fo Breakfast!

Dove the pier and the pipe this morning on scuba. Maybe 5 foot vis but conditions will most certainly improve this afternoon.

We found some breakfast though...