BC Spearing Trip: Round Two!

[laminar]

really, everyone, I'm not a wuss....

too bad about the spearo closures. I was just imagining the following:

get up, have breakfast, go to the dive site, jump in without a suit to do 2-3 wonderful crisp dives (gets the dive response going good), then warm up in the sun and then do it again. Okay, now it's time for a real dive session. Suit up (already in the "zone") and find a beautiful wall full of fish for cameras and spears. The first dive is already among your all time best and you are warm as can be.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that I am IN for Telegraph Part Deux (but Erik's gotta make it this time, even on a gurney - we'll have nurses for you, Erik ) but that I may organize a mini-trip to Campbell River, the Sunshine Coast, or Indian Arm before the trip officially starts for all those who want to arrive a little earlier and sample some BC summer conditions.

Pete

 

[Fondueset]

Keep us posted on all that - scrambling here. I'd be up for doing it during the trip as well.

Hey! Took my new suit out looking for Burbot today. I've seen exactly two live burbot ever - one very old one in lake michigan - and a six incher near the breakwall. I went out into a large area where there is a lot of old lumber from the lumber port days. Had to let out some line on my float as it was deeper than I usually dive - and I stumbled upon this guy! Very Large. Left the pictures pretty much alone - first test at iso100

 

[DeepRN]

Sweet burbot pics Chris!!! 2006 was my first year for finding the burbot too <highfive>

Pete: nice idea!

That sounds very tempting. Keep talking about this one... Aside from the decided trip location (more input below), iceselkie and I will be planning for 1-2 day'ers (hopefully with many other divers) at above mentioned locations. Indian Arm, Sechelt, Victoria area, Sunshine Coast, Tahsis. Keep the ideas flowing.

Spearing will likely include cooler water. Doesn't matter to me. The post-dive fireside feasting in great company warms the heart. So, i'm not going to do any fence-sitting here.

As with Eric/Brianna, God's pocket is a big draw for me. The thought of some north-water king crab is a big draw for me (i'll admit, that trap full of dungeoness and resulting feast was a big highlight last year). Perhaps we might find a few. Halibut are also known to be in/around God's pocket (pacific record anyone?) And, aside from the seafood, it's plain and simply one of the best dive locations in the world. We'd be foolish to be so close and NOT take the opportunity for a world-class dive in great company.

Haddington island is a sure-thing. Knowing this, we can better-plan for some fantistic West-Coast spearing footage (gotta promote!) And enjoy a cod feast afterward.

Also, as with Chris/Brianna, finding some enquisitive seals would be a memorable enounter. We could also put out a prawn trap or two for a couple of days.

for THIS trip, my vote:
Telegraph: - Day 1 - local diving/dining, while finalizing plans for a day trip to God's Pocket - Day 2 - Destination God's Pocket (feast following) - Day 3 - local diving/dining/picking up prawn traps, while finalizing plans for day boat-trip to Haddington/sites with larger sealife (seals, halibut etc) - Day 4 - Destination Haddington & Establishment of North Pacific Halibut Record - Day 5 - 'the celebration continues' - Day 6 - local diving & good-bye's

And, perhaps spend time at Sechelt (very popular) on way up, then cross to Campbell River, or Cross from the island at Campbell River, and spend time at Sechelt on way back down to Vancouver. The local dive shop raves about Sechelt, and from maps/photos, I'd have to say they're onto something...

http://www.globalairphotos.com/large/BC/Sechelt/All/2005/076/2

http://www.tranquilitybay-bc.com/maptranquilitybay.html

All in all - ONE HELL OF A TRIP

 

[Amphibious]

I have aquired a pair of crab traps we can set overnight maybe just outside the bay behind the campsite. Mmmmmm crab

 

[Erik]

Sechelt/Egmont is excellent, with walls and lots of life.
Agreed about God's Pocket- it is stunning and has to be experienced. A trip over to Browning Pass is also worthwhile although I wouldn't hunt in the prime dive spots.

Erik

 

[Fondueset]

Hey Gabe, do you think maybe it's a spiritual thing - like 'Young Laughing-Marmot has found the burbot'? A living metaphor for having gotten in touch with our inner burbot. Should I grow a soul patch?

The truth is I was looking for burbot - but i had forgotten.

 

[DeepRN]

okay who am I kinding here... Indian Arm looks great too.

Some insight: You know, being at our west coast and owning a couple of ocean kayaks, with regular trips to warm-water destinations (recent edit: AND having a friend like Amphibious who can fly the 'copter you've chartered), would pretty much cover the best the the world has to offer for recreational freediving. And much of that is in our backyard. You can thoroughly enjoy many destinations, but you'd also enjoy that return home, to the lush underwater environment that is our canadian west coast. Beautiful.

Chris: "The truth is I was looking for the burbot - but I had forgotten" - Love this! I'm still contemplating the laughing marmot however... Iceselkie has contemplated adding a seal to her tatoo (very fitting) Perhaps it shall be a profoundly content creature, such as the burbot, that will be added to mine...

 

[laminar]

Okay, think back to one of our many cozy campfires. The radiating heat on your face. The splatter of the odd rain drop on the tarps. Our bellies stuffed with swamp donkey, crab and greenling curry. Laughter and tall tales.

My dear friends, in this circle of mirth and the good life, I wanted to tell you that I've quit my job at the university and have decided to devote my life to the pursuit of aquatic nirvana.

..meaning that wherever we decide to go and whatever we decide to do this time around, I'll be there for more than a a measely four days!

Question: What is the meaning of life, o master?
Answer: Burbot.

rofl

Pete

 

[Amphibious]

A burbot in neck weights?

Prances-with-neckweights, I shall be bringing my mono fin on this adventure, may I seak your guidance?

aquaticly,

Dances-with-Camels.

 

[jimdoe2you]

Chris,

Nice pics of the burbot! Today was my first day out with the new camera. ISO set on auto. These were taken 50' down at the remains of an old mine sweeper that has about eight goliath grouper on it. I snapped a few shots of the biggest ones which were about six feet long.



.

 

[Fondueset]

Wow! Brushes-with-Slugs -We don't got stuff that big here; .

Speaking of Campfires - I saw several hundred canadian geese today; crapping on my dive-site. I figure it's an omen.

Any esoteric secrets to flying with monofins?

PS - here's just an auto pass in Photoshop CS2

 

[Amphibious]

Any esoteric secrets to flying with monofins?

only when flying with Canadian Geese in fall to avoid the areas around my place Mmmm goose burgers, mmmmm...

 

[Fondueset]

rofl I did consider that - but hunting geese with a speargun would be a bit conspicuous.

Dork in a 300 dollar suit:

 

[icarus pacific]

I will die saying that north Vancouver Island is among the most beautiful places anywhere. Erik

And that's no bullshit!! I almost went and stayed Canuck the first time I was there. Damn blood tests! rofl

Sign me up. The passport debacle should be resolved by then and Christ knows you guys need help with the lingcod. :king

 

[Fondueset]

We need passports to go to Canadia now don't we?

 

[Erik]

Any esoteric secrets to flying with monofins?

Yup: carry-on. They fit behind the last seats against any bulkhead. If you get accosted at any point, insist that they are top-loaded in the belly if it must be, stating that the fin is a one-off worth over 1000$.
Erik

 

[Fondueset]

Thanks! One more step toward global conquest!!

 

[Fondueset]

PS - since I know a couple of you freshwater spearos monitor this thread I thought I'd post these from yesterday's dive. I went out to the area where I found the burbot - long swim in 3-4c water and air - with a stiff breeze out of the west. The fish are very stand-offish this time of year - you can see puffs of sediment in these pics where fish took off before I even saw them. Mostly suckers but I need to work on my breathholds in very cold water after a long swim - and get used to the depth. Anyway - chanced upon this beauty at the end of a breathhold. Close enough for a speargun - but not as close as I'd like for the camera. Needed air! this guy is around 65cm - the burbot was probably more than 70cm.

 

[Erik]

What is that fish Chris?

Erik

 

[Fondueset]

That be a Walleye