Sorry it’s a bit late but here we go!
Was diving of mysterious island just out of Albany WA, plan was to swim around the island starting from the northern side. Managed to pick up a few abs in shallow water and then headed out further. This side of the island was pretty shallow (max 5m) but there was a few fish about (leatherjackets and zebra's).
When I got to the point the viz started to really clean up and I found a few nice drop offs and ledges in about 12-15m. There were queen snapper and a few fox fish around one of which ended up on my line! At the eastern end of the island a number of smaller islands extend for a couple of hundred meters out. After swimming past the first one I was scanning the ground in front of me when 2 good Sambos came in for a look. I took a quick breath and descended making sure I was looking away from them, I levelled of at 5 m and looked round for them but......they had buggerd off!!!! I stayed around this area for a while and even tried to get them back with a bit of burley but no joy.
I continued round the smaller outcrops and to the Southern side of the main island, this is when it happened!! I had just done a few dives to 15m after seeing a sizable snapper and was resting on the surface when a school of about 30 large sambos came cruising in. I immediately dived and was amazed that they came in so close, they gave me plenty of time to pick out the largest of the group and I let fly. The spear struck and had gone all the way through, at first I thought I had stoned it but then after a few seconds it went off!! I was using a 2m rob allen bungee and it was at its max!! The fish was doing large wide circles and was not tiring in the slightest! I managed to make some ground on it a few times but no sooner had I gained 3m it would take it straight off me and more. After about 20mins I had my hand on the shooting line and thought it was getting close, but with a sudden surge it took off with me in tow, I managed to let go at about 4m depth; it was the closest I’ve come to a no limits dive!!! A lot of blood was coming out of the fish at this stage and it was definitely tiring. I finally managed to get my hand on the spear and my legs wrapped round the beast! And with a quick jab to the head it was all over bar the tow back! And what a tow back I was only about half way round the island when I got the fish so it was a good 40 mins swim against a slight current to get back to the beach. I was bloody knackered.
All that was left then was to get it weighed (went just over 35kg) and divide it up around the camp site!
Sorry it’s a bit long but was great to re-live the day again!
Take care
Dave