Same spot - didn't bother to check the water temp. Another HUGE salmon spotted from shore.
This time I packed a little - not while I was diving - but before I got into the water. This seems to have gotten things going nicely and all of my dives were much longer and more comfortable.
About an hour from sunset. The lighting this time of day is very dramatic - particularly along the west-facing side of the breakwall.
An uneventful dive in terms of wildlife - just the usual Bass - but I was enjoying the lighting, and hanging on the bottom. I covered the entire length of the breakwall on the bottom; just floating and breathing up between dives.
As I cruised along on my way in a fish approached from directly ahead. It was swimming purposefully along the bottom edge of the rocks and barely altered course to avoid me - passing less than half a meter from my right arm. I was surprised to note that I'd never seen a fish like that before! It was 12-14" long, very silvery with dark blue/black along the back and tip of tail. Along the sides were a series of black stripes running the length of the body. The silver seemed to have an allmost lavender hue.
According to the Wisconsin Sea Grant Fish database this is a 'White Bass' - though it really doesn't look anything like smallmouth, largemouth or rock bass. It was much shinier than any pictures I've seen of 'White Bass' but didn't resemble anything else. Been an interesting season; diving along this breakwall. Something new almost every day.
Wonder when we'll start getting Asian Carp around here. Seems like the perfect remedy for jet skis.
