2/24/08 La Santa Fe - Yellow Jacks and Cuda

Pantoja, Rolo, and myself with Pantoja's boat (La Santa Fe).

The day started out with flat seas and stayed calm all day. Vis a hazy 25ft. A mild surface current going north with a vicious thermocline at around 45ft and a strong current on the bottom going in a different direction to the surface current. Combined with the bad visibility it was disorienting and difficult to stay on top of bottom structure. We did all reef today from 30 to 60ft, with a brief venture to blue water which produced nothing.

Rolo got an octopus, a big one, the second one I've ever seen in these waters. There were sightings of big muttons but they were spooky as usual, may be an indication of things to come. A pic of a beautiful barracuda that Pantoja shot. I saw the rob allen float go zipping on the surface and knew he had something on. This barracuda was very healthy with nice clearly defined markings and exceptional coloring, truly a beautiful fish.

I also tried my camera underwater for the first time.

BTW today I used my new weights for the first time, wow!! Wasted years with the other weights.. I have lower back pains sometimes when diving from the weight belt, I didn't even feel I had it on. I usually take it off to make it easier to climb in the boat, didn't have to do it. I think they are lucky, two fat yellow jacks made my day.

With a rashguard top and 1mm pants I'm using 7 of those weights at 1.3lb each. If I lose weight I can go less. Interesting for me to read about having had lower back pains, I forgot all about it.

I now use the Pursuit belt http://www.freedivingspearfish…s-rubber-weight-belt.html

John, the relief from back pain is 50/50 rubber belt and well distributed weight. Those pinch weights are the ones I make with a mold that Tin Man made for me, and I have a few for sale.

6 weights at 1.3lb is just under 8lb. $7 per weight. The RA belt is not a good belt IMO, it's not stretchy enough. The RA belt may need to be modified a little to fit through the weights.

Yep.

And what Marco said.

Actually it's the Cuban kingfish, but some assholes don't know the difference. And you know I don't mean you Marco.

Well I certainly didn't mean you Papaa. It is a Barracuda, cuda, barra (tinu), and of course the Cuban kingfish "Cuban snapper".. only ever heard one person say it.