Green Jobfish
Green Jobfish / Kaakaap Aprion Virescens
Indo - Pacific
This is one of my personal favourites. An aggressive predator , it is however very shy towards divers.
I have found these fish from 10 to 40 m. , usually over sand close to the reef edge in tropical/subtropical waters.
When hunting these elusive fish you should avoid dive-bombing any seen from the surface or chasing any seen in midwater.Glide as quietly as possible to the bottom and lie motionless on the sand. At all costs avoid eye contact.
To attract the fish throw handsfull of sand into the water and keep your gun close to your body. If a fish approaches extend your gun directly towards it to present as small a profile as possible , still avoiding too much eye contact and perhaps throwing more sand. The fish should provide you with a small window of opportunity when it turns side on to get a good eyefull of the proceedings.
Jobfish are strong fighters ,but having big scales are not prone to pulling off.
Hunting these fish obviously requires very good breathold and great care should be taken not to overstay , since they have the maddening habit of hovering just out of reach.
I have on occasion speared Jobfish in midwater , where they have the habit of hiding in dense schools of baitfish.
Tying some sardines in pantyhose with a weight and dropping this in a likely area also attracts them.
NOTE: Since I have no girlfriend , collecting these articles have earned me a totally undeserved reputation amongst local girls!
P.B. 12.5 kg
S.A. record 12.5 kg
Bigger fish have been speared/seen in Mozambique.