Sunday, July 3, 2016

The dangerous allure of spearfishing

 

If there’s a more difficult way to catch open-ocean, fast-moving fish than with a speargun, nobody knows what it is. Known as blue-water hunting, it takes place miles offshore, where the ocean is deep blue and the fish are few and far between. It is fishing’s equivalent of African big game hunting, only with sharks and no powerful rifle. On the plus side, if you do manage to kill something, you get to eat it, rather than stuff it and hang it in the den. In short, hunting big, powerful game fish like tuna, yellowtail and even marlin with nothing but a speargun is the ultimate way to put yourself at a major disadvantage to the fish.

“Spearfishing is tough because as humans we’re totally out of our element in the ocean. If you throw a human in the water and tell them to get a fish, it’s not going to be very productive,” says Ryan Moore, a local “spearo” sponsored by Riffe International, a premier spearfishing company based in *San Clemente. “So you have fins to move around, a wetsuit to stay warm, a mask to see, weights to help dive, a snorkel to breathe. And on and on. There are so many pieces of gear that have to come together effectively to be a hunter in the water.”


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My boat, the Thuy Kieu, flying the VNCH flag, in Dana Point Harbor, California 1977/78 with my two oldest daughters, Emily and Virginia.


I was diving with a buddy in South Laguna one day among the kelp and I kept thinking my fins were getting caught in it. My buddy motioned me to go up, but I didn't want to as I was chasing fish. At any rate, he looked frantic again, I went up and he said a Moray was biting a fin.:) They are great to eat, but better shoot them through the head or they may go for you. At Dana Point at low tide you could take a short bamboo pole with heavy wire leader, shrimp on the hook and poke under large rocks for them. They live a long time out of water in a wet burlap sack. but die immediately in fresh water. Almost lost one in my kitchen sink when it started going down the drain, but it was the garbage disposal side fortunately. :)
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Abalone was the most expensive meat in the world back then. My favorite was breaded. "Off The Steps" refers to an area between *San Clemente and Capistrano Beach off the coast highway. There are steps coming down from the palisades and if you go directly out from there, they are in 18/20 feet of water. They were so big at least back then, because it was so dirty that you could only dive it a few times a year. I got the then California record for Green Abalone here. North of that a few miles is Dana Point where I had my boat. If you go out to the red buoy, you can find big scallops in 80/90 feet of water. We would bring them up and eat them after squeezing lemon or lime on them and hot sauce. Excellent. Lobsters there and big Sheephead also. Almost drowned once as I had a bag full of scallops, then chased a fish and ran out of air, I would kick some, then exhale and finally I thought this would be the last shot and although I didn't make it, I saw the surface, best breath of air I ever breathed. Of, course it would have been easier if I had dropped the bag............:)

16 comments:

  1. The mammalian dive reflex is one of the most AWESOME experiences I've ever had. Hence the 'diver' in my SN.

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    1. Thanks as I didn't know. :)I have camped many a time and for months sometimes at Punta Banda. One time I dove off La Bufadora on scuba, but didn't see anything. Then I went free diving and immediately saw a large Halibut which I shot. It pulled me under three times, but I was able to kick back to the top each time. Then it evidently ripped the spear out which means he was eaten by sharks later as the hole must have been about three inches considering the width of the prongs when they went though and opened.

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  2. Brock, looks challenging and exciting. Glad you had the
    experience and survived.
    HAVE A GREAT INDEPENDENCE DAY!

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    1. :)If I had had a brain, I would have dropped my goodies bag,
      but........:)

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  3. I know, it was the gold...

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  4. Hi Brock,
    You just brought back a lot of memories from my time in So. Cal.!! '67-'70 in Long Beach (USN) then '70-'76 in Sandyeggo mostly "Ocean Beach!!" my last pad there was at the bottom of Del Mar ave. as we called it,"The Del Mar Estates!!" the Pacific Ocean was about 65 feet from my bedroom window!! The "Pescadero" surf spot was right there!! and at really low tide there were a couple of rocks that we found some nice "Ab's!!" on! Most Tasty!! You know you are in So. Cal. when ya' go to a Tiki Bar and there are Ab shells for ash trays!! Also when the Kelp would break loose and wash up on the beach, some friends would take the bulbs and use them for molds to make scented Candles!!! And who can forget a "Grunion Run!!!!!!"
    Blue skies,
    Support your local "Armed Infidel!!"
    III%,
    skybill-out

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    1. Damn, if I hadn't forgotten completely about the Grunion Runs! Amazing and thanks for refreshing my mind. I remember the first time I went, it looked like none were coming, but then lo and behold, they swarmed in on the beaches of San Onofre on Camp Pendleton. Talk about tasty!

      The Pescadero Beach (ROCK) I am familiar with is south of Half Moon Bay. You could get to it at low tide, fish until low tide came again in order to get back. Tons of mussels and mussel worms to be had for bait. When it was calm, you couldn't stop catching them!Got pictures.

      Now, this is rock fishing! Lets go!
      https://curiouslydifferent.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/pescadero-bird-rock-3.jpg

      http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ymlVJULVdq8/s/750/750/Fishing-from-the-Rocks-IMG-4783.jpg

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  5. Spearfishers are like surfers--shark food.

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    1. Only good for one shotshell. Better pray they make "speedloaders" or the shark didn't bring friends and family.

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    2. I've never had a problem with sharks, a Moray once though. Never carry your bag on your belt with kill attached, either trail it behind you or take it to the surface and attach the kill to an inner-tube which also has your diver's flag mounted. You aren't a natural prey for them.

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    3. Better still, keep porpoises for sidekicks.

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    4. I've been among them in CA and Mexico, but I'm usually 20 - 40 feet down when spearfishing.

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    5. Ever see the Carol Burnett skit with Tim Conway, where Tim was talking about a friend who was swimming ashore, and the friend would have made it, but they were wearing their "lucky ham" around their neck. He'd had, and has, a great way with the adlib.

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    6. No, I didn't, but can imagine. :) Thanks.

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