Fun with fish photos

[Bill McIntyre]

Late yesterday afternoon I went out with my friends Rich and John to see if the "hour before sunset" theory for white sea bass was still true. Rich and I didn't see any, but John got one the hard way.

He was at about 15 feet down and a nice fish gave him an easy shot, so he took it. He seemed to have stoned the fish, and it barely quivered as it sank and wrapped the line around some kelp at around 25 feet. He dove, cut some kelp, and thought he had freed it, but he ran out of breath so just grabbed the shaft to take the fish with him as he came up. Much to his surprise, the slip tip pulled out and the fish sank, barely kicking. The water was about 45 feet deep. He reloaded and started looking on the bottom, and was surprised to find it again, but it was still barely kicking and got out of range, so he had to go up for air and dive again. This time he got a shot and dulled his slip tip on the rock bottom, but at least he had the fish again. The fish weighed 35 pounds, nothing special but still nice, but John decided to have some fun with it.

Another friend is leading a new competition with a 51.5 pound fish that he took recently.

http://forums.deeperblue.com/threads/later-is-better.100306/

When we got back to the launch ramp, John held the fish on the scale while Rich pulled down on the tail until the scale read 59 pounds, and I took a photo of the scale. We texted the photo to Joel and got the predictable reaction. But after I got home, my conscience (aka my wife) insisted that I text the photo showing the whole story. We wanted Joel to be able to sleep well.

 

[BatRay]

Sounds like you guys are onto something, Bill. Have you used the "hour before sunset" strategy a lot?

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Sounds like you guys are onto something, Bill. Have you used the "hour before sunset" strategy a lot?

I wish I could say that its my idea, but I think most people with much experience believe that the last hour or so of the day is likely to be the most productive. Of course I've taken them at all hours of the day, but if forced to pick just one time, it would be late evening.

There are all sorts of theories. Many people think the hour around slack high tide is the best. Others think slack low tide is the best. But most of those people will say that its best if that tide happens to coincide with the late evening.

My problem is that I just don't like to dive that late. Running back to the harbor in the dark is no fun, and neither is getting the boat on the trailer and cleaning it in the dark. This last trip I left the harbor for home at 9 PM. Luckily, I live about 15 minutes from the harbor, but that still made for a late dinner with my honey.

And then there is the safety aspect. On this last trip, one of my buddies had seen a big school of fish, but missed a big one. Then later he shot that 35 pounder. So we knew there were some fish around. Just before sunset, the bait got thick and was running around like something was after it. It looked as is things were about to go wide open. There was still plenty of light left to shoot a fish, but then I asked myself what the hell I'd do if I didn't stone it. Its often very murky on the bottom even if its clear in the upper water, and its hard enough for me to cut a fish out in broad daylight. Doing it with a light didn't sound very appealing, so I got back in the boat before sunset.

BTW, thanks for the response. I had posted two trip reports this week, and had decided that it wasn't worth the time if no one thinks they are worthy of a response. You give me hope that there actually is a market for trip reports, even if only from a California girl.

 

[BatRay]

I always like to read your trip reports. WSB hunting is way above my skill level, but I do hope to try it someday. These reports are very informative and interesting.

I do hope the guys share some of the catch with you. WSB looks delicious.

 

[cdavis]

Quit yer bitchin, Bill(and I don't know how to use a smiley face). Me and a bunch of other folks NEVER miss your trip reports. Its the masochist in me. I turn a little green every time you post a fish pic.

Always very impressed.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Quit yer bitchin, Bill(and I don't know how to use a smiley face). Me and a bunch of other folks NEVER miss your trip reports. Its the masochist in me. I turn a little green every time you post a fish pic.

Always very impressed.

Then give me some love. If no one replies, then I think no one cares.

I guess its a problem inherent in such a large geographically diverse board. There are lots of spearos, but not many from any one place (except perhaps the UK). I put the same report up on a board that consists of mostly SoCal divers, and I get a bunch of comments, but these guys dive the same places I do and either know me or know someone I know. When I post a report here, its about diving thousands of miles from most of the readers, and its hard for them to relate.

 

[sharkey]

I believe there is a theory that predatory fish have more "rod cells" in their retinas than "cone cells". Rod cells give better vision in low light. The prey species that live closer to the surface could become more vulnerable as light levels decrease. Prey species have adapted anti predator strategies (hiding or less risky behaviour) which may not click in until a certain level of darkness triggers this. If the prey species with a larger amount of cone cells in their retinas don't react to the diminishing light quickly enough, this can give the predators an easy advantage for that short period. Just one theory.

I work & manage game species such as deer & antelope. Capture myopathy is a real issue & why unskilled handlers cause so many deaths. I prefer to work these animals at night or in darkened yards as their temperament is very different. Yes the light absolutely effects temperament & fear responses. (No way would I work predatory animals at night.) This response to light levels is qualified by taking blood work & measuring the different cortisol & stress hormone levels in animals. Prey or "flight" animals worked quietly in the dark have much lower cortisol levels than those worked in light. I have also seen work done on fish to research the effect of catch & release & the key factors in capture myopathy in those fish released. So yes, fish also have higher cortisol levels when stressed, & it may also be that the fear responses may also become reduced in lower light for some fish. Here is just another theory anyway, which I hope is of interest.

Cheers Sharkey