Thanks for the headsup Foxy, incredible sight.
And now I've got to try an remember how to write a trip report it's been so long!
With the weather supposed to close in again towards the end of the week me and Ed decided to get in for a night dive with the vague hope of finding something gilded.
About 3pm the wind got up and I sent an almost gibbing out text, a stance which was only hardened once it started raining.
But Ed was having none of it and we arrived at the venue to find I was totally right, the wind was at LEAST force 2 and there was a huge 1 inch swell rolling in. It was going to be hairy but we went for it anyway.
Viz on entry was ok, average, and was about 3m the hole dive.
Not long in and I came across a nice red mullet and was just lining up when I heard Ed's gun go off as well. So took my shot which unfortunately ripped off, much swearing only exaserbated by Ed having a positive result with his red.
So out we went and I soon had a red to level things up and then another. Things were looking good! There were lots of flatties around throughout the dive, sole and plaice, but they were all either tiny or just below borderline. Came upon one samll Blonde Ray too.
Out on some gravel I saw a silver glint in the murk and stealthed up wondering how many carats it would be, but turned out to be a 2lbs bass, which joined the red mullet.
Soon after Ed shouted out, wondering if I wanted to see a Couches! Do I ever! Unfortunately it had naffed off before I arrived :vangry.
We headed into some shallower water and Ed plunged into the weed. Me not being a great fan of kelp in the murk in the dark stayed on the outskirts and soon found myself directly above a fish which I couldn't immediately identify. Narrow body, but deep, short, and oh so bream like...
Slowly finned away, turning onto my back to keep a bead on it, I exhaled to sink slowly down to get level with it, and...no, nothing golden there, a normal black bream. Still a first for me spearing though but having had hundreds fishing not as exciting as it could have been.
Ed came over with a tale of woe about a 5lbs plus bass shot through the dorsal fin in the weed and having to decide between his gun and the fish, and unsurprisingly his custom wooden creation won. He had bagged a 2lber though.
We turned to head back and another red mullet joined my skirt of fish. Ed went a mooching in the shallows and was surrounded by tiny schoolies up to half a pound, right in the beach wash.
I found a calamari sized squid that was obsessed by the torch and followed me along for a good 20minutes, darting in and out of the light. It would often come right up to my face and made me jump a few times appearing from one side not 2 inches from the glass. Found a small fist sized cuttle as well which I grabbed off the bottom and just sat there in my hand until I released the grip and it disappeared in a cloud of ink.
I stayed on the outside on the way back hoping for a decent flattie and stumbled on another decent red mullet. Dived down and lined up for the through the top of the head shot that I find most effective in holding onto these soft small fish and something seemed wrong, it was too skinny, the head was too pointed, not blunt....hang on, its a Couches! First one I've seen and unfortunately I've got to admit to panicing a smidgeon and firing off a poorly lined up shot that flew into the sand well wide resulting in one rapidly fleeing cute red bream.
Wasn't too despondant as I had plenty and it was almost too cute to shoot anyway, almost ;-)
Back in the shallows and another silver flash made me think bullion, but a 4lbs bass materialised and came back with me. Just before getting out I stumbled on another bass of the same size but I let it be, not sure I had room on the string anyway!
Ed ended up with a red mullet and two bass and me with two bass, 4 red mullet and a bream.
A great dive in a sea teaming with life.
Picture to follow later.
