Bigger Hotties=fuller stomachs

[greydog]

Hey guys,

New PB Hottie for me. Speared it pretty deep for my abilities anyways @ around 13/14m. Weighed 1.15kg after cleaned.
The very big ones stay well out of range. Does anyone have any advice how to shoot the big guys effectively besides increasing bottom time, longer guns, better camouflaging one's shape etc??

 

[greydog]

The result...

 

[aquadementia]

possibly cut open some redbait or take some chum with you and drop it on the bottom and wait 10 minutes?

 

[greydog]

Thanks aquademetia, thats not a bad idea at all . I'll put it in the netting the oranges come in like some crayfishers do. Will be interesting to see if the big guys still spook.
The first dive on a new reef the bigger ones are still sometimes in range but even if you don't shoot anything, by the second dive they are very wary of us. The behaviour change from juvenile through to adult and the way they interact with divers is quite astounding. The small ones less than 20cm will often follow us around in small schools of over a dozen. Seems like many other reef fish either remain completely visible to divers or chose to be inconspicuous throughout all growth stages.

 

[BigBen]

greydog wrote:

Thanks aquademetia, thats not a bad idea at all . I'll put it in the netting the oranges come in like some crayfishers do. Will be interesting to see if the big guys still spook.
The first dive on a new reef the bigger ones are still sometimes in range but even if you don't shoot anything, by the second dive they are very wary of us. The behaviour change from juvenile through to adult and the way they interact with divers is quite astounding. The small ones less than 20cm will often follow us around in small schools of over a dozen. Seems like many other reef fish either remain completely visible to divers or chose to be inconspicuous throughout all growth stages.

IF YOU LOOK LIKE A SEAL THE BEEEG FISH WILL SCATTER.
Beeg fish are more wise to seals preying on them.

 

[greydog]

Good point big ben-i can think of other reasons not to look like a seal too
maybe I should change my suits colour to green from black?

 

[Free to fish.]

Watch your shadow the fish often see it before they see you. Hide in the kelp shadows, move slowly and calmly. A 1.8m spear @ 5/16 thick did it for me. The right amount of weights, if you stop fining you should sink slowly. A crayfish tail placed in the right position also works wonders.

 

[Mahi mahi]

aquadementia wrote:

possibly cut open some redbait or take some chum with you and drop it on the bottom and wait 10 minutes?

Problem with doing this is that you invariably attract the masses of small ones while the big fish still keep a eye on you...... They haven't managed to grow that big for no reason......

 

[greydog]

Free to fish. wrote:

Watch your shadow the fish often see it before they see you. Hide in the kelp shadows, move slowly and calmly. A 1.8m spear @ 5/16 thick did it for me. The right amount of weights, if you stop fining you should sink slowly. A crayfish tail placed in the right position also works wonders.

Yes, I think a longer gun is probably secret to success here as well as better statics and slow movement. Finding structure to hide behind seems to make a difference.

 

[greydog]

Mahi mahi wrote:

aquadementia wrote:

possibly cut open some redbait or take some chum with you and drop it on the bottom and wait 10 minutes?

Problem with doing this is that you invariably attract the masses of small ones while the big fish still keep a eye on you...... They haven't managed to grow that big for no reason......

And even if the bigger ones come to say hi, you can't get a clean shot with all the small ones in the way. Am yet to try this though!

 

[jb2]

greydog wrote:

Mahi mahi wrote:

aquadementia wrote:

possibly cut open some redbait or take some chum with you and drop it on the bottom and wait 10 minutes?

Problem with doing this is that you invariably attract the masses of small ones while the big fish still keep a eye on you...... They haven't managed to grow that big for no reason......

And even if the bigger ones come to say hi, you can't get a clean shot with all the small ones in the way. Am yet to try this though!

Hi Greydog

Nice shooting!

One of the reasons that I love spearing the "Atlantic" side of Cape Town is the clean waters and the really big hotties that lurk on the outside of visibility.

I have noticed that if the water is too clear then they are really spooked.

The big grey ghosts seem to lurk away from the big shoals and do eventually come into range but usually beyond the limits of my breatholding.

(Nice filleting by the way)

 

[Whaler]

i don't know much about shooting hotties but i know Skittish game fish! get to the bottom or at lease at their level, if you can hang there long enough they will come to you, their curiosity is just to much, also when you hunting skittish reef fish keep a shorter gun that you can hide from them, believe it or not fish know what a speargun is! leave your gun in the boat one day and you will see those fish you could never approach swim right up to you. and if you can get to the bottom throw up some sand it a tracks them too.

 

[greydog]

jb2 wrote:

greydog wrote:

Mahi mahi wrote:

aquadementia wrote:

possibly cut open some redbait or take some chum with you and drop it on the bottom and wait 10 minutes?

Problem with doing this is that you invariably attract the masses of small ones while the big fish still keep a eye on you...... They haven't managed to grow that big for no reason......

And even if the bigger ones come to say hi, you can't get a clean shot with all the small ones in the way. Am yet to try this though!

Hi Greydog

Nice shooting!

One of the reasons that I love spearing the "Atlantic" side of Cape Town is the clean waters and the really big hotties that lurk on the outside of visibility.

I have noticed that if the water is too clear then they are really spooked.

The big grey ghosts seem to lurk away from the big shoals and do eventually come into range but usually beyond the limits of my breatholding.

(Nice filleting by the way)

Thanks Jb! If you are not pulling my leg about the filleting, the knife was a 6-inch victorinox filleting knife like this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-47513-6-Inch-Boning-Fibrox/dp/B000QCNJ3C/ref=pd_sim_k_2/186-8186896-5351401?ie=UTF8&refRID=0H2WCYQ3Y31NTNWMA1WE

 

[greydog]

These are probably my best hotties from December shot in 3-4m vis last year. So, as JB said, hunting in low-vis definitely helps, but it can be difficult finding the fish.

 

[jb2]

greydog wrote:

jb2 wrote:

greydog wrote:

Mahi mahi wrote:

aquadementia wrote:

possibly cut open some redbait or take some chum with you and drop it on the bottom and wait 10 minutes?

Problem with doing this is that you invariably attract the masses of small ones while the big fish still keep a eye on you...... They haven't managed to grow that big for no reason......

And even if the bigger ones come to say hi, you can't get a clean shot with all the small ones in the way. Am yet to try this though!

Hi Greydog

Nice shooting!

One of the reasons that I love spearing the "Atlantic" side of Cape Town is the clean waters and the really big hotties that lurk on the outside of visibility.

I have noticed that if the water is too clear then they are really spooked.

The big grey ghosts seem to lurk away from the big shoals and do eventually come into range but usually beyond the limits of my breatholding.

(Nice filleting by the way)

Thanks Jb! If you are not pulling my leg about the filleting, the knife was a 6-inch victorinox filleting knife like this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-47513-6-Inch-Boning-Fibrox/dp/B000QCNJ3C/ref=pd_sim_k_2/186-8186896-5351401?ie=UTF8&refRID=0H2WCYQ3Y31NTNWMA1WE

Hi Greydog

I wouldn't be sarcy about the filleting. I like the way that the fish has been split.

I am a fan of Victorinox. The steel is nice and soft which might sound strange but it can be steeled up to shaving sharp.

 

[greydog]

maybe this should become the hunting hotties discussion thread?

 

[greydog]

yeah jb, I love the brand and it is an excellent knife. Only issue (probably many filleting knives) is the softer steel giving it the flex isn't great for cutting through fish head. So a combo of filleting knife and a cleaver for the heads would be ideal. Or maybe I'm just overanalyzing cutting up a fish!

 

[greydog]

Whaler wrote:

i don't know much about shooting hotties but i know Skittish game fish! get to the bottom or at lease at their level, if you can hang there long enough they will come to you, their curiosity is just to much, also when you hunting skittish reef fish keep a shorter gun that you can hide from them, believe it or not fish know what a speargun is! leave your gun in the boat one day and you will see those fish you could never approach swim right up to you. and if you can get to the bottom throw up some sand it a tracks them too.

So true. As soon as you go crayfishing without the gun, they appear right in front of you!

 

[jb2]

greydog wrote:

yeah jb, I love the brand and it is an excellent knife. Only issue (probably many filleting knives) is the softer steel giving it the flex isn't great for cutting through fish head. So a combo of filleting knife and a cleaver for the heads would be ideal. Or maybe I'm just overanalyzing cutting up a fish!

Hi Greydog

I agree with the combo. I like the presentation of having the head on and split.

I think a lot about how I am going to serve a fish before I fillet it. I like splitting down the back.

 

[greydog]

jb2 wrote:

greydog wrote:

yeah jb, I love the brand and it is an excellent knife. Only issue (probably many filleting knives) is the softer steel giving it the flex isn't great for cutting through fish head. So a combo of filleting knife and a cleaver for the heads would be ideal. Or maybe I'm just overanalyzing cutting up a fish!

Hi Greydog

I agree with the combo. I like the presentation of having the head on and split.

I think a lot about how I am going to serve a fish before I fillet it. I like splitting down the back.

I've heard leaving the head on also maintains the flavour and that it "freezes better" (don't know how true that is). But yes, 50% of spearfishing/fishing for me is about the amazingly fresh meal and proper presentation plays a big part.
I know in Chinese culture, the best quality meat is belived to be on the fishes checkbones and often the eyes will be eaten too.

I like looking into my food's eyes when dining!