Nice job and nice post Alex. My first time ab diving I did an all day drive up the coast from the Bay Area with my rock climbing buddie and his 2 female room mates. We stopped at Fort Ross/Reef campground and I tried looking for abs. I had no idea what I was doing. I figured I was looking for something that would look like an ash tray. Never saw any (I probably looked right at a bunch). Spent the rest of the day doing a leisurely dive all the way to Mendo, Van Damme. I tried diving again there, inside the bay. Got my first four abs on November 31st just before dark. Showered off outdoors at the beach; it must have been about 40 degrees out. We drove to one of the campgrounds in those redwood groves. Didn't know what to do with the abs, so I used my swiss army knife and cut away everything that didn't look like meat. Then we cooked it with some Lipton dried soup mix. It was the best thing I ever tasted! There's nothing like the first time...
Posts by granitedive
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I took a one-night breath hold class a few years ago at Anderson's Dive shop in Pacifica. Most of the people taking the class were surfers including one or more of the Mavericks guys. They were trying to learn how to relax and hold their breath longer while being pummeled by a 50' wave. We did the static breath hold hanging on to the edge of the pool. Anderson's pool is about 90 degrees (for teaching kids to swim), so it is perfect and you don't need a wetsuit. Personally I thought the class was great and I can totally relate to apnea as a "sport" or hobby in itself. The more I dive/the older I get the less fish I take; I love to dive and hunt and I want to be in the water more and more all the time but I think the big attraction for me is the focused-ness and endorphines produced. I'd rather spend more time in the water than in front of the fillet table... Of course my friends can vouch that I'm full of crap and I just suck at spearfishing!
What I notice is that in any sport there are always a few a-holes overly serious and full of themselves; this goes for apneists and spearos too. Having evolved into freediving from tanking and still a sometimes tank dive hunter, I always strive to be humble about the freedive thing as opposed to tanking; I was preached to plenty by some freedivers before I really caught the bug myself. I think sometimes I may come across as a holier-than-thou freediver, but I like to think that it's just because I'm so into freediving that I try to convince some of my tank diving friends to try it more...
I look forward to retirement when I can do underwater laps in the pool without my brain dwelling on work scenarios, when I have time for the yoga classes that I know will help me relax more underwater. I just hope I'm still physically up to the task then! -
SOLD
I bought this gun new about 5 years ago but I haven't used it much (I used for a Monterey halibut gun). Has 2 3/4" factory bands that still have some life, and new shot line. Has 2 screw holes on underside from Biller reel mount, and a couple of lines marked in sharpie for fish length; they will wear off. Original factory finish. I just got a new Riffe.
$125 takes it. Prefer local pick up (of course) from Pacifica, CA, but I'll ship if necessary. -
Doesn't sound dangerous but as usual it's the cumulative effect in the bigger fish that eat the little ones, and then are eaten by us. Maybe we won't need to use lights for lobster diving now...
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The Big Sur coast is still really wild and productive. Thanks for sharing, what a great post!
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Alex, you're on fire! Way to go!
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I dove pv on Monday. No sightings of wsb but conditions looked good. Bait and barracuda. Water temp 55+. Hopefully I'll have one more day out there later this week.
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Thanks for checking out the AZ regs Hookin'. Carp are like the cows of the sea (or lake).
I'll probably stick to amassing brownie points on the AZ trips and save the diving for the ocean. Also trying to get the AZ brother in law to accept job offer in San Diego (no ulterior motive of course).
Happy hunting tomorrow! -
Thanks hookinfish,
Ya I realize Monday is not a big dive day for most folks. I am Disney-bound on Sunday. Just getting my wife dialed in to these family vacations in Socal. We used to just come down for 3 days of theme park madness; last year we did the week-long trip which gave us time for science museum, etc., and me time for diving a couple mornings.This is a win-win situation!
Haven't figured out an ocean angle for visiting the in-laws yet (they live in Phoenix). I just have to do that one and remember that that's a good time to bring up fall Channel Island trips! :laughing:
If you go Sunday shoot me a PM re the viz. Thanks... -
I'll be heading to Socal with the family on Saturday and if all goes as planned looking for WSB early Monday AM 4-9-12. Maybe later in the week too. Anyone want to join me great, and if anyone can post anything about viz that would be great. We're staying in Long Beach. Thanks!
Rich 650-245-4221 -
Nsearch, ditto what lunker said about the Zest 2; I have one of those now and we brought both kids on it when they were little (plus us).
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I used to own a T160 for Norcal salmon fishing and diving. They are very fast AND stable. If you were local I would grab them. Great price.
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This just goes to show that the agenda-driven politicians WILL listen if the voice is loud enough...
When I got the initial "call to duty" email from Coastside Fishing club in the Bay Area and went on the Keep America Fishing website, it reminded me of how professional these people are - they made it REALLY easy: input your zip code and your letter goes out to your local reps as well as governor. We all want to do our part and often do, but an orginization that makes it that easy and concise deserves kudos AND financial support. I am already a coastside member and after seeing the Keep America Fishing action, I promptly sent them a donation. Please do the same if you can; it is so worth it!
KeepAmericaFishing -
Congrats, great job! I know that sashimi and ceviche had to be really tasty too!
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Van Damme is fine for inflatables; you have to carry or drag across beach but calm launch. Nice campground; we have around 30 people (half kids) there on Labor day. Kayaking in that area is superb as long as it's calm, but plenty of abs right in the cove if it's not.There's closer places than Mendocino, but if you're coming from Socal what's another hour? Water temp in April-May usually around low 50's or even less possibly, dress warm! Viz varies with swell, but should be no risk of plankton bloom that time of year. Definitely check new regs for Fort Ross-Reef campground area; I think it opens later there now.
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I get an error message on the link.
I've used the DFG mobile "app" a couple of times lately at Monterey. I walked out on Lover's Point last weekend with my smart phone and got the precise (hopefully) boundary before I dove. -
Nice!
Now that's what I call Hillbilly Handfishin'! -
Dan,
I received my straps almost instantly, and they are reall gonna be perfect for me. Thanks so much you are no ka oi my friend! -
I used a Swimp3 off and on the last few years for my pool workout, until the 3rd one bit the dust, then I gave up on them. I do like the music for the surface laps. For my underwater laps I would listen to somethying REALLY mellow like massage music or Brian Eno. After a while though I found it best to just shut it off for the underwater laps; I could focus best with just the normal pool sounds.
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Here is a link to the Keep America Fishing website with a simple way to send a letter to your State representatives and Governor Brown protesting the attempt to remove DFG Commisioner (and advocate for fishing rights) Dan Richards from the Fish and Game Commission. Please follow the link and send the email; it takes literally 2 minutes. This is REALLY important to fishing/hunting/spearing rights in California. Thanks!
California Conservationist Unfairly Attacked for Legal Hunting Activities
If you need more info please see the ongoing Speardiver thread: