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Kayak dive big bug
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When Dan (spearthebigones/spearstuff) and I went kayak diving last week, I narrowly missed a large bug that I nicknamed "Houdini". For a large bug, it was an adventurous risk-taker, leaving its hole once disturbed, zipping backwards around the reef, and avoiding me at every turn.
Eventually, I lost track of it and had to give up.
Slightly less than a week later, there were three undeniable facts: First, I knew where he lived; second, he was still there; and third, I was coming after him again. The moon was hidden, the stars were dull, and the bioluminescent algae were gone. A much darker dive, as this was rather appropriately a black ops mission for lobster. I was quiet on the paddle over as Daniel and Davis chatted about diving. I was on a quest. I wanted this lobster, I had come too close the first time.
I swam to the spot, but couldn't find him in any of the holes into which I looked. So I made my way over to the center of the reef to look for other legal bugs, or on the off chance he had migrated. I found nothing but clickers and holed-up barely legals, as did the other divers. So I swam back towards the home turf of Houdini.
My persistence paid off. I looked in a tiny little crack that didn't even look like a cave at first, and there he was. I stuck my whole arm inside, like I was a deep fisting the reef. Got a hold of his body, but he squirmed and a leg and antenna came off. He retreated deeper into the cave, but at that moment a wave came and flushed out the sand and I could see with my mask light that this was not a cave, but a tunnel straight through the rock! Only one way he could go.
Without surfacing for a breath, I rose a few feet, and the surge propelled me over the rock. I saw the bug grab a hold of some kelp with about half of its legs and disappear into a shallow ledge as the waves pushed both it and the kelp into the rocks. I lunged at the ledge, hoping the bug would still be hanging on. He was! I grabbed him with both hands, abandoning my primary light. He struggled, but I quickly brought him to my chest, bear hugging the spiny, slimy mass of lobster and kelp, and he clamped on. Then I made for the surface, and ripped the kelp loose.
I hit the surface, got my first fresh oxygen in a minute and a half, and the first word out my mouth was "Justice!". I called to Davis, who helped me get my bag open to secure the monster. Then I swam back to my kayak, got everything stowed away, and rested.
Back on land, Houdini weighed in somewhere close to 5 pounds, though the scale wasn't very accurate (and I don't really care, for that matter). Not the biggest bug in history, but a really nice one for Laguna, and another one "rescued" from the MLPA
Thank you Daniel for inviting me along again, and for helping me get my kayak loaded and unloaded, and to Davis for joining up and helping me get my rusty old Trident bag open. Nice meeting you. We'll all get again sometime soon and find a spot with big bugs for you guys to grab Hate seeing other guys go home empty-handed.
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Great story mate, that''s a real nice one...looks like a Main Beach one.:D;)
Cheers, Don
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Fun dive, thats for sure. Some great structure there! Good job on nabbing Houdini!
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Thanks for the story. It's a nice bug. Goodbye Houdini
Is that a gauge fastened on to a flashlight? Is that a normal way to hunt for lobster in California? How is it an advantage? Are you wearing a life jacket? Is that required by law when kayaking? -
Thanks for the story. It's a nice bug. Goodbye Houdini
Is that a gauge fastened on to a flashlight? Is that a normal way to hunt for lobster in California? How is it an advantage? Are you wearing a life jacket? Is that required by law when kayaking?Yep the guage is fastened to a flashlight. But not everyone has one out here. For me it just makes it easier to measure the lobsters, especially at night when you need to hold the light and a lobster at the same time.
And you're required by law to have a life jacket on your kayak at all times if you're paddling in the ocean. But you don't have to wear a life jacket unless you're a minor. As to the reason Alex wore his, I'm guessing he just thinks he looks cool in the life jacket :rolleyes1:
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you guys are the only people ive ever heard of that freedive at night, i couldnt imagine doing that here in fl.
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Nice bug, way to keep up the effort to get him!
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The gauge makes it really convenient. It's reversible for measuring 3.25" (California lobster) and 3" (Florida).
If I'm gonna to the legally-required trouble to pack the life jacket and put it in the boat, I figure I might as well wear it. It doesn't do much good sitting in a hold. And yes, it looks cool.
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And you're required by law to have a life jacket on your kayak at all times if you're paddling in the ocean. But you don't have to wear a life jacket unless you're a minor. As to the reason Alex wore his, I'm guessing he just thinks he looks cool in the life jacket :rolleyes1:
I don't recall the specifics, but there was considerable discussion about that on our Cencal email list. I believe someone received confirmation from a Coast Guard official that a full wetsuit is a substitute for "approved flotation device". Makes sense since a guy overboard in a wetsuit will last 10x longer than a guy in shorts with a life vest. I'll try to find the statement.
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That's the logic I've always subscribed to. Imagine that launching from the public beach here in Fort Lauderdale you're required to have a flotation vest. That's without a kayak, just beach diving.
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amazing dive.,..thanks for the great story!!
pfd's are the hot new fashion trend, y'all didnt hear?
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That's the logic I've always subscribed to. Imagine that launching from the public beach here in Fort Lauderdale you're required to have a flotation vest. That's without a kayak, just beach diving.
That's just ridiculous...
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And you're required by law to have a life jacket on your kayak at all times if you're paddling in the ocean. But you don't have to wear a life jacket unless you're a minor. As to the reason Alex wore his, I'm guessing he just thinks he looks cool in the life jacket :rolleyes1:That grass was so choppy! :rolleyes1:
And diving at night is a trip for those who haven't done it before. Seals playing chicken with you underwater. :@
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That grass was so choppy! :rolleyes1:
And diving at night is a trip for those who haven't done it before. Seals playing chicken with you underwater. :@
wow, that sounds intense...i would not hesitate to sucker punch a seal :cool2:
you all have some balls...I am sure it is really cool, but the first time you get into black water at night you have to say to yourself that you are either stupid or crazy or both
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Nice report, Alex! Good job on that bug
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If I'm gonna to the legally-required trouble to pack the life jacket and put it in the boat, I figure I might as well wear it. It doesn't do much good sitting in a hold.
You are wise beyond your years Ryan. Good job on Houdini
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Nice Alex. Next time you're on my boat I'm making you wear a life vest.
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great videos , i subscribed to your youtube channel. and great bug. keep it going.
que viva la pesca :cuba:
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