A nice WA Jewfish for dinner

Well after far too long a break from diving I finally managed to get out and get wet again, I decided to try an old favorite spot that often produces Jewfish and King George Whiting. I launched the boat and was soon on my way skimming over the small wind chop at 30 knots. After about 10 minutes I arrived on the spot and dropped anchor in a sand patch before quietly sliding into the water and loading my gun. I swam around the reef for a good half an hour diving to the bottom and generally getting comfortable and relaxed, it was good to once again be diving in.
I soon started to spot a lot of juvenile Jewfish and was on the lookout for a mature one when a nice sized specimen showed up on a sand patch. I quietly breathed up and descended to the bottom, the fish detected me and after a quick look decided to swim away. I slowly followed and as it went behind a large rock I closed the gap hoping the fish would  feel more comfortable being closer to cover. I was right and the fish allowed me to get close enough for a shot as it hesitated deciding which way to swim.

I took a raking shot as the fish turned to swim to my right and hit it well, the fish took a short run before giving up and I was able to quickly retrieve it. I swam back to the boat and put the fish strait in the ice box to cool down, I was very happy with my catch so far. I then moved to another slightly shallower spot and caught a few crayfish to go with The Jewfish for dinner. Having by now been out for a few hours I decided to return home before the sea breeze began to make things difficult. I stowed all my gear and pulled the anchor  before heading back home at a leisurely pace.

Once home and with the boat washed down it was time to prepare my catch for dinner, I cooked and cooled the crayfish and sliced the tails into pieces to go in a salad, the fish was lightly crumbed and shallow fried. A nice bottle of locally produced Verdello was our chosen accompaniment and complimented the meal nicely, just the way I like to end a day.

First Metro Mackerel for the season, and a bonus Pinky.

With the weather forecast looking good and indicating light winds Greg and I decided to set off to our favorite Metro Mackerel spot. We wanted to see if the Mackerel had arrived yet despite it being early in the season. The morning dawned dull and overcast but with the promised light winds and we made good time on the boat trip out. We arrived at our chosen location and anchored the boat in the sand gutter. On entering the water we discovered it was a little dirty with suspended particles but we could at least make out the bottom at 60ft. Greg was first in as I was sorting out my cameras and as I entered the water he was swimming back to the boat having already secured a Mackerel.

We used a lot of burley over the next few hours drifting back with it in the light current but we didnt see any more Mackerel. Then on one drift I noticed a large Yellowtail Kingfish in the burley trail and dived to film it when out of the haze I noticed a Mackerel approaching from behind the Kingfish. Switching my attention to the Mackerel I lined up and waited for it to pass before pulling the trigger. I landed a good holding shot mid-body angling forward and exiting next to the far-side pectoral fin. After a short fight I had the fish in the boat and cooling under wet hessian bags.

We continued diving until we ran out of burley and on the last drift our persistence paid off, I spotted a fish that I thought was a large Trevalley down near the bottom. When I dived on the fish I discovered it was a good sized Pink Snapper, a prize fish and one I had yet to spear. I followed the fish as it ate some pieces of burley, I had to wait twice for my shot once to let a shark pass and then to let the fish clear a craypot line. Once the fish had cleared the line I took my shot, mindful that the shark would try and take my fish I aimed for the fishes spine and managed to land my shot as planned. With the Snapper immobilized the shark paid little attention to the fish other than one halfhearted look.

Having exhausted our burley and securing a mackerel each and a Pink Snapper for me we decided to call it a day and head home. The trip home was quite relaxing as we skimmed across the small chop, satisfied we had fish for a few meals and knowing that the Mackerel had arrived this early in the season.