title:How else could two howlies from the mainland like us be perceived spearfishing with the hometown heroes in HI all awing and bushy eyed giddy with excitment:t
I’ve been quiet last month or so because Its been a little crazy with the beginning of spring and summer but I wanted to share some pictures from my first time spearfishing and diving in HI (2 dives) with my Deeper Blue brethren. The Hawaiian bradas are the best hosts and took care of me and the Omer manager form Italy Lorenzo Borri who joined me on this trip while we tried to mix a little business with pleasure.
We had a few days to island hop before the Hawaii Expo Hana Paa Hawaii put on in Honolulu at the Ala Moana ballroom Sunday so we dove once in Kauai with Jon Beretto, Darin Agan, and Marvin Otsuji and on Kona side with Bronston Pestrano the next day.
My highlight was getting to shoot some Mus with my 100 Master America. Lorenzo Borri’s highlight was a nice Uku with his 100 too, a kahala (easy but he could not resist coming from Italy), and a spotted yellow jack, a kind of Omilu with his Cobra. We were both jet lagged, Lorenzo 6 hours and me 12 hours, but the excitement of diving Kauai and Kona and clear water 100ft vis gave us our second wind.
Nine or ten years ago when I met Rick Bettua in North Carolina and we started spearfishing there together I would talk shop about Med fish and in return he would talk shop about Hawaii’s fish. I remember at one point we came to comparing the elusive Mediterranean Dentex to the Mu in Hawaii, both equals in their whit to outsmart divers and stay clear of the range of their guns. So more than any other fish I had it stuck in my head for years that when I finally got a chance to do some spearfishing in HI I would put my mind to getting a Mu. Well I got 3, not huge ones but very respectable 3-5 pounded, and I got to live out a little fantasy that I’d had for some time. The diving is deep in Hawaii and to get good fish you must be very capable or extremely lucky. Much respect for the top Mu and Uku hunters. The Uku by the way like the one pictured Lorenzo is holding very much reminds me of Italian bass/spigolas, the big ones are weary. I didn’t have a reel on my gun and tore off a 15 pounder and we sighted some really beautiful ones with huge bellies doing some deep waits at 85ft. Not having the lungs from a 6 month hiatus from diving to put the waits (aspetto) in needed, I had only 30 second and needed at least a minuter at those depths to get the fish in, it was equall as rewarding just bringing the fish into view and almost within reach.
Anyhow enough talking I guess, much mahalos to the bradas for taking me and my Italian compadre Lorenzo out diving for a few days. Clear waters,
I’ve been quiet last month or so because Its been a little crazy with the beginning of spring and summer but I wanted to share some pictures from my first time spearfishing and diving in HI (2 dives) with my Deeper Blue brethren. The Hawaiian bradas are the best hosts and took care of me and the Omer manager form Italy Lorenzo Borri who joined me on this trip while we tried to mix a little business with pleasure.
We had a few days to island hop before the Hawaii Expo Hana Paa Hawaii put on in Honolulu at the Ala Moana ballroom Sunday so we dove once in Kauai with Jon Beretto, Darin Agan, and Marvin Otsuji and on Kona side with Bronston Pestrano the next day.
My highlight was getting to shoot some Mus with my 100 Master America. Lorenzo Borri’s highlight was a nice Uku with his 100 too, a kahala (easy but he could not resist coming from Italy), and a spotted yellow jack, a kind of Omilu with his Cobra. We were both jet lagged, Lorenzo 6 hours and me 12 hours, but the excitement of diving Kauai and Kona and clear water 100ft vis gave us our second wind.
Nine or ten years ago when I met Rick Bettua in North Carolina and we started spearfishing there together I would talk shop about Med fish and in return he would talk shop about Hawaii’s fish. I remember at one point we came to comparing the elusive Mediterranean Dentex to the Mu in Hawaii, both equals in their whit to outsmart divers and stay clear of the range of their guns. So more than any other fish I had it stuck in my head for years that when I finally got a chance to do some spearfishing in HI I would put my mind to getting a Mu. Well I got 3, not huge ones but very respectable 3-5 pounded, and I got to live out a little fantasy that I’d had for some time. The diving is deep in Hawaii and to get good fish you must be very capable or extremely lucky. Much respect for the top Mu and Uku hunters. The Uku by the way like the one pictured Lorenzo is holding very much reminds me of Italian bass/spigolas, the big ones are weary. I didn’t have a reel on my gun and tore off a 15 pounder and we sighted some really beautiful ones with huge bellies doing some deep waits at 85ft. Not having the lungs from a 6 month hiatus from diving to put the waits (aspetto) in needed, I had only 30 second and needed at least a minuter at those depths to get the fish in, it was equall as rewarding just bringing the fish into view and almost within reach.
Anyhow enough talking I guess, much mahalos to the bradas for taking me and my Italian compadre Lorenzo out diving for a few days. Clear waters,
