Backpacking and Spearfishing the Mediterranean

[spaghetti]

Update: I'm in Nice, France and will be heading to Corsica soon. Looking to hook up with other freedivers and spearos. I'm working on sorting out my French spearo insurance/fishing license tomorrow.

Corsica is wonderful. But take care to respect the rules and keep your speargun very far off from Marine Parks. In Corsica they get really nasty with foreign spearos, and the slightest violation will get you some extremely severe punishment. :blackeye

 

[kjflyfish]

Hey Spaghetti, thanks for the heads up. I'm not at all looking for trouble and I am very happy to abide by all the regulations. I don't care to shoot the groupers, I don't need crayfish, and it seems like really good diving doesn't have to be in a park. If I can get on to a few dentex, then I'll be a happy camper. I have already seen some really nice (2kg, maybe a bit bigger) guiltheads/dorada in some really busy parts of the Nice coast, so I'm very much looking forward to Corsica!

 

[kjflyfish]

First shore dive in Corsica: saw a 45-50 kg bluefin tuna in an underwater grassland, about 14 meters depth. Totally surprised and under-gunned.

Nobody is going to believe this and I don't care

 

[Adrian]

Sorry I wasn't here with the camera Kolt, it would have been a "trophy" picture. Water as clear as Cap de Creus?

 

[kjflyfish]

I've been on a couple more dives but have not been to any deep rocky places, so haven't really found success. I saw one nice dentex on my last dive but it was shallow and he was not coming in. The vis has fallen considerably in the last three days due to very strong winds. Took a break from diving yesterday and went hiking up in the mountains. Incredible scenery! Hopefully I can get photos on the blog soon.

 

[kjflyfish]

Update: the conditions and vis are back to near-perfect, and I've found a few better spots.

I went for a dive today and saw quite a few dentex, a bonito chasing three mini almaco jacks, and a rather large queenfish-looking jack species. All just out of range. The diving here is challenging to say the least. I think finding the right hunting grounds is paramount - lots of rocky cover would be nice instead of the acres of grass I'm currently hunting.

 

[kjflyfish]

I went first thing this morning and saw quite a few fish, including this guy. Well stoked!

 

[spaghetti]

Nice catch! And no sign yet of the infamous corsican law enforcement! :t
As you see, play fair and no trouble.

 

[kjflyfish]

Hey Spaghetti, thanks very much. I have to say though that I'm curious about all this talk of law enforcement. I have no reason to break the law, and like to immerse myself in the local vibe, so I don't see why I would recieve so much trouble from the authorities. Im just a backpacker trying to make friends around the world and learn about differnt people and their cultures.

 

[cdavis]

Thanks for the pics, nice stuff, and I'm glad you hooked up with Adrian. That's one guy I'd love to dive with.

Connor

 

[kjflyfish]

Shore dived the Sanguinaires islands off the southwest coast of Corsica today. Estimated 8-9 km swim. Not really the fish life we were hoping for. Incredible vis, tons of baitfish, but not many predators around.

 

[kjflyfish]

I'm off to Bali!!!

Have been diving a lot and will have Corsica updates soon.

 

[Adrian]

BALI? Isn't that a bit far from Turkey? Or maybe there's a European Bali somewhere?

 

[kjflyfish]

It's a long way, but warm water and big fish are calling!