Dive report 18/09 – 11lbs Pollock!

Today was a very special day for me. I successfully dived two locations, having a variable depth of between 15 and 20 meters. I took fish off both locations, one of which was my best fish taken spear-fishing to-date.

The two spots where Low Lee which has a pinnacle at about 10m, falling away to 20m+ down the sides and the wreck of the Conqueror that lies in about 15 – 22m of water depending on the area you diving.

I have been spear-fishing for 3 years and today I ticked off a major goal to be able to comfortably and successfully dive 20m.

The conditions today where fantastic with little or no wind and a few rays of sun about.  We started the dive with a trip across the bay to the Greeb. Unfortunately there where very little fish about although I did spot the odd bass and I made a blunder by not taking a real sitter.

This fish came directly at me, but high in the water, and from below he looked to be a small schoolie (under size bass) but once he went overhead, turned and came down in front of me, he was actually a decent fish worth taking… but by this stage he was well out range just cruising around checking me out… frustrating!

We dived 3 locations on the Greeb but came away empty handed.

From the Greeb we steamed over “the Mount” and had a quick look about there. We did not stay long as I did not see any fish in the three dives I made there and I was very keen to make for Low Lee…

Low Lee. It’s a reef close to shore, off the Penlee Life Boat slip. Big pinnacles coming off sand from about 20 meters…site of a wreck or two and my Nemesis. For three years I been coming here and watched my friend Ross land fantastic Pollock from the depths, one close to the UK record, 15 lbs. I’ve taken a small Pollock here before, but from the top of the pinnacle which is about 10m.

The boats echo sounder is currently busted, so all we had was my phone’s GPS and some co-ordinates I’d pulled off the map to try for the spot. After some hit and misses we found the pinnacle and started to dive.

My first dive was onto the pinnacle, to get some orentation. Low Lee has got a great variety of fish with plenty different Wrasse specifes including the beautiful Cuckoo wrasse. It’s great seeing these but there where no Pollock of size to take.

My first dive to depth was pretty short, lots of adrenaline and way to hyper to have a decent bottom time… Third dive was down the side of a lovely steep ledge and I was immediately surrounded by Pollock ranging from juvenile fish of less than a foot to just under size. From my right came a beautiful big Pollock, but it was coming quick and right against the ledge. He swam under my gun and to my left and was making to come round the ledge… and out of sight… I pulled the gun back and shot from the hip, far to my left hitting him in the gut, but a solid shot (he was close enough for a head shot, but was nearly past me by the time I could bring the gun round). It went bananas heading straight for the deck and brushing the spear against the bottom. I fought him off the bottom and headed for the surface. It took a few seconds to win the battle of which way we where going to go… he wanted down and I wanted up… it put up a fantastic fight but I managed to bring it in successfully. An absolute beauty, my best fish on my deepest dive.

From Low Lee we made out way over the Conqueror which is an old trawler wreck.  Quite a bit of the ship is till visible and has made some good reef. I took a smaller pollock of a few pounds here. Really enjoyed the wreck dive! I did not dive it long and look forward to going back to do some more exploring.

What a day. Long to be remembered.