Looks like its going to be a good year

[Bill McIntyre]

With in 10 minuets Jeff was on! It was a beautiful fish, 65lbs! Still the biggest WSB I’ve seen to date.

It was the biggest one I've seen until the next morning when Willie got the 67 pounder. I've never felt so inadequate with a 50 pounder.

All this talk of big fish reminds me that I read something today that made me feel at least slightly better about my inadequacies. The lastest issue of Spearfishing Magazine has a cover shot of Bill Ernst with his 93.4 pound world record, and inside there is an article on it by Terry Maas. I've read other articles, but this one is the first in which I've noticed that the 68 pounder that Bill took at the same spot the previous day was his personal best to that date.

Bill has been hunting these thing over twice as long as I have and is good enough to have represented us on several national teams, so now I don't feel quite so bad. Skill really does matter, but luck plays a big part too. Maybe I''ll be lucky this summer and have that monster swim by.

Hell, last summer one guy I know got the first one he ever saw, in the 30s, and then the second one he ever saw, 72 pounds. Another guy I know didn't get the first one he saw, but the first one he took was in the 30s. Then the second one he got was 70 pounds.

Life ain't fair.

 

[DarenDeath]

I know that having skill is important but I still think being lucky is better than being good. I hope to have a good year too, I got my first and only WSB 20lb in 07. At 20lbs I have room to grow!

 

[Pastor]

But the more you practice the luckier you get

I would die for a 20lb WSB

 

[BatRay]

Ok, here's a Californian weighing in....

Have you been able to get out much, Bill?

Not since the end of November. I guess I'm a sissy, but I just don't want to deal with the cold water and air when the chance for a white sea bass is so low.

I'm starting to get antsy though, and I figure that I ought to take a look at the local beds by the end of the month.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Oops!

Batray, I'm afraid I may have used my new powers to somehow erase part of your post and insert my reply into it. It appears that I can't be trusted with this dangerous weapon.

 

[azapa]

Bill, different WSB questions: what do you do with them?

I am just starting to get fish (NOT WSB) in the 20lb range, and find them a handful to:
a. Kill - once on the surface they thrash so hard I can't get my Ike spike in the back of the head, I was even bitten last week my an upset 15lber. How do you finish them off solo?
b. Fillet - you must need a chainsaw? How do you start?
c. Eat - any particularity with bigger fish like this? You must have a large freezer, lots of friends or family, or both? Often, one big fish and I am on "time out" for a week, and Itching to shoot.....

 

[Old Man Dave]

Now that is a very good question or rather questions.

Dave

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Bill, different WSB questions: what do you do with them?

I am just starting to get fish (NOT WSB) in the 20lb range, and find them a handful to:
a. Kill - once on the surface they thrash so hard I can't get my Ike spike in the back of the head, I was even bitten last week my an upset 15lber. How do you finish them off solo?

I generally stick a hand into their gills or grab them by the collar (if that is the right term- the meat below the gill openings) and just hang on tight. And I often cut the gill rakers so that they can bleed out with the help of a beating heart, so that starts the process of quieting them down. Anyway, I don't find it too hard to hold them still enough to insert that knife point into the brain.

b. Fillet - you must need a chainsaw? How do you start?

Its really no different from filleting a smaller fish. You just need a bigger place to lay them out and a bigger knife. But I just stick the knife under the skin and cut across behind the gills and then top and bottom, then usually start from the top next to dorsal fin and start slicing down next to the bones with the tip of the knife while pulling the meat away with the other hand.

c. Eat - any particularity with bigger fish like this? You must have a large freezer, lots of friends or family, or both? Often, one big fish and I am on "time out" for a week, and Itching to shoot.....

I know what you mean. Unless everyone on the boat scores big, I try to dump some of it on my dive buddies. But then I have one of those Foodsaver things that vacuum packs then in heavy plastic so that they last up to a year in the freezer, and I do have a big freezer out in the garage.

But if I have recently taken a big fish, it just lets me be more selective. I may pass on anything under 30 pounds and just enjoy watching them, or even pass on anything that doesn't look like it could be new personal best until my blood lust returns.

The thickness of the fillets from a big one does make it awkward for many kinds of recipes, so often I have to cut the fillet in two pieces along the long axis to make it easier to deal with.

Just last week a friend who has been too busy to dive while doing his dissertation came by and let me empty my freezer of last summer's fish, so now I am ready for a fresh start.

 

[Pastor]

Veering off topic, what do you think of those vacuum packer things? I had thought of buying one but always end up just wrapping in cling film

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Veering off topic, what do you think of those vacuum packer things? I had thought of buying one but always end up just wrapping in cling film

I like them and have had good luck so far. Some people who have purchased the lower end models say that the motors burn out fairly fast, so I think its worth your while to get the most expensive model, or the next most expensive.

My freezer is not very well organized, so its nice that when I find a lost package in the back, its not freezer burned.

I also get a lot of use out of mine for meat. There is a big warehouse type chain in the states called Costco that has excellent steaks at a very good price, but everything they sell is in large lots that are impractical if you don't have a big family. But I can buy a package of 8 or so steaks and then package them by twos for future use. When I used to do that using other wrapping methods, I would invariably end up finding a package that was freezer burned, but not any more.

 

[azapa]

I generally stick a hand into their gills or grab them by the collar

I find this almost impossible. I do the same "hold" with my knees under the fishes belly, pressing it into my chest but the fish are powerful and squirm to the point of escaping my grip most times. I have had to ask buddies for help before. The only ***VERY BAD*** solution that I can see taking (not done it yet) would be to string it and kill on the shore.

But if I have recently taken a big fish, it just lets me be more selective. I may pass on anything under 30 pounds and just enjoy watching them, or even pass on anything that doesn't look like it could be new personal best until my blood lust returns.

I was thinking of a digital camera, or to find a few decent freediving buddies (ie. someone capable of entering the water without a gun in their hands, not an easy task)

 

[Pastor]

We had a Costco in Liverpool when I lived there I wonder if it was the same outfit? Sounds like it.

We inherited a minor sausage factory when we bought the house an had been thinking of a vacuum packer for them as well as the fish. I think it has got to the stage when it's a must have piece of kit. Pav and foxfish have rekindled an interest in smoking food so I will probably churn out a load of smoked Mackerel this summer, it would be just the job for wrapping those

 

[Bill McIntyre]

I find this almost impossible. I do the same "hold" with my knees under the fishes belly, pressing it into my chest but the fish are powerful and squirm to the point of escaping my grip most times. I have had to ask buddies for help before. The only ***VERY BAD*** solution that I can see taking (not done it yet) would be to string it and kill on the shore.

If you can't brain them, then cutting the gill rakers will get it done fairly quickly.

 

[Mr. X]

I like them and have had good luck so far. Some people who have purchased the lower end models say that the motors burn out fairly fast, so I think its worth your while to get the most expensive model, or the next most expensive.

With those big fish of yours, I was initially thinking you might be talking about those big shrink wrap bags for storing clothes, sometimes advertised on TV in the US -- the ones where you plug in the vaccuum cleaner to evacuate them.

There is a big warehouse type chain in the states called Costco that has excellent steaks at a very good price, but everything they sell is in large lots that are impractical if you don't have a big family. But I can buy a package of 8 or so steaks and then package them by twos for future use. When I used to do that using other wrapping methods, I would invariably end up finding a package that was freezer burned, but not any more.

Used to live near one in Seattle, where they started (do you have Trader Joes too?). You could certainly get some bargains sometimes. Seemed to be limited choice of mainly high spec. items usually at great prices. Occasionally designer clothes. 2 dozen croissants going for a song (too many even for me!). I got a very nice Shimano rod/reel kit there as an impulse purchase (unusual for me). As Pastor said they have them in the UK now too, there is one in Reading - haven't been there though. Unfortunately/oddly they don't seem to have a web-store here yet - I reckon they might do very well here if they had. http://www.costco.co.uk/

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Yes, we have Trader Joes, and there is a store about 3 miles from my house. I do most of my food shopping there.

And now that I am retired from trying to look like a proper college professor with nice wool trousers and sportcoast and nice dress shirts and ties, it seems like most of my wardrobe comes from Costco.

 

[oflow]

I certainly hope it's gonna be a good year... I'm just about to move to Two Harbors on Catalina. There, I hope to buy a skiff and perfect my freediving. All my buddies spearfish so I'm hoping to be the one that gets it all on film. it will be my third season so I went all out on the gear... Omer Med 5mm, Yazbeck Bull-kelp lycra 5mm, and my trusty Picasso ghost termic. I've been praying that i can get some white sea bass footage and also some tasty ling cods. Any suggestions as to other Channel Islands? ( I've heard the San Clemente is unreal...the best kelp forests anywhere!!!!) Any and everyone, please drop me a line. Stoked for the Lina,

-ofLow-

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Two Harbors will be a great place to live. I know a guy who spent a couple of summers there doing the research for his PhD in marine biology. He said that after all his buddies came over and dove all day and then left for the mainland, he would go out right before dark and slay the big white sea bass.

I've long been aware that late evening is the best time, but unless I'm spending the night on the boat, I'm just not man enough to stay till dark and then get home at midnight.

San Clemente Island is indeed very good, but the action is usually better at Catalina until mid summer, and then it shifts down to Clemente.

 

[coadavid]

Yes.

Actually, there are differences of opinion, and more than one way that works.

In my case, I try to move very slowly through the kelp bed on the surface, trying not to splash with my fins. Many time you can get a shot from the surface, although some purists feel that it isn't sporting. I'm not a purist.
Anyway, I try to make most of my forward progress on the surface rather than during dives, but that isn't always possible. The kelp can be too thick on the surface, and there is no way to make forward progress without raising a ruckus and scaring all the fish away. I've attached a photo to show how it can look. When its that way, its also hard to even dive without raising a ruckus, so I just stay along the outside edge of the kelp bed.

When I dive, I choose between two approaches. I might dive to just above my neutral depth (currently around 21 feet) and grab a kelp stalk and remain motionless (aspetto style?). The grip on the kelp keeps me from drifting up, and I don't have to wave my fins. It took me a long time to get myself to believe that I could wait for the fish to come to me this way, and if it doesn't work for a while I tend to loose faith, but it really has worked often.

The other approach is to dive to my neutral depth and then fin very slowly. When the water is very clear, I might tend to use this method because I'm afraid that staying motionless won't last long enough for a fish to come from over the visible horizon during my breath hold. However, even in very clear water, its surprising how many can come from behind me, from behind some kelp, etc. during my limited breath hold.

Everyone spits out his snorkle as he dives so as to not emit a stream of bubbles. Most people make an effort to get all the bubbles out of their wets suits during a warmup dive. Sometimes they can be stupid as rocks, but many times white sea bass will spook at bubbles. And for sure I'm seen many of them spook when they hear my ears squeak when I equalize pressure.

Another thing that works for me is holding my mid-handle gun "soldier at arms" style, on its back with the handle back near my thigh, and then extending it in the direction of the fish rather than carrying it out in front of me and then swinging at the fish. I've had bad luck swinging at them. The photo stolen from Terry Maas's Blue Water Hunting and Freediving, but keep in mind that is a giant tuna gun, and my smaller gun's muzzle is right beside my head when I carry that way.

Of course I have friends who do very well who never grab a piece of kelp to remain motionless, and who carry the gun out in front of them. I'm just telling what seems to work for me, but its a work in progress. At age 69, I just hope I have time to finally figure it out.

Hey there, great description. Just wondering, how do you deal with swimming through massive kelp beds while trailing a line from your speargun? I've thought about going with no line so that I can easily pass through tangle-free. But then again, if I hit anything over 5 pounds in the wrong spot I'll lose the gun when it darts to the bottom.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Hey there, great description. Just wondering, how do you deal with swimming through massive kelp beds while trailing a line from your speargun? I've thought about going with no line so that I can easily pass through tangle-free. But then again, if I hit anything over 5 pounds in the wrong spot I'll lose the gun when it darts to the bottom.

I have tried both methods, but now I'm partial to reels. Nothing trails behind me.

However, a float line definitely has its advantages- its just that you can't use a float on it, or at least a float with enough buoyancy to fight a fish. Some people use float lines naked, but I think most use some sort of small float that just serves as something to grab when all the line has been pulled through your hand. The photos show some examples.

You can usually make a white sea bass turn and wrap up in the kelp by putting on a lot of pressure, but I think float lines for use in the kelp should be at least 100 feet long just to make sure. As an example, a friend shot a 60 pound fish in just 25 feet of water with a 100 foot line, but it went to the bottom, under some kelp, and took off across the bottom. He was being pulled straight down and barely getting to the surface for a breath before being pulled down again, and was on the verge of turning loose when the boat arrived and he was able to grab the swim step.

It may seem incongruous, but under kelp paddies in 2000 feet of water, I think a 50 foot line is plenty, because you can use a breakaway rig and let the float fight the fish.

 

[settingsteel]

Great fish Bill, nothing like a few pix to get them juices flowing WTG!