Spearfishing at night
- Thread starter landshark
- Start date
I think anyone that's done any night (scuba) diving will agree that its amazing... the sea and the way critters in it operate changes dramatically.
Although I've done hundreds of night scuba dives, I've only done a couple of shallow "snorkels" so can't say that I have any experience night breath-hold diving.
However, being less intrusive on apnea, I think one will see even more awesome behaviour and the chance of spearing some great fish will definitely be there as most fish are a lot less wary at night.
To make it enjoyable the conditions will have to perfect and of course one will have to carefully consider the safety aspect of it but I'd say about 80% of the spearing myself and my dive buddies do is in viz between 2 and 5m, so we are effectively diving in the dark anyway. It will also be easier to spot your buddy with a powerful torch than trying to identify his camo-cladded butt in the murky soup we normally dive in.
Dieter, as for the tannemanne.... look they there anyway. Not sure how their behaviour changes at night but as far as I know all the sharks we in the WC have to worry about hunt day and night...so for me....I think my freak-out level will stay more or less the same.
Also, just to make sure there is no confusion - I'm not taking about hunting tail at Bellows in gnarly conditions. I'm thinking more in the line of exploring a spot such as Roman Rock on those perfectly clear and calm days...
Although I've done hundreds of night scuba dives, I've only done a couple of shallow "snorkels" so can't say that I have any experience night breath-hold diving.
However, being less intrusive on apnea, I think one will see even more awesome behaviour and the chance of spearing some great fish will definitely be there as most fish are a lot less wary at night.
To make it enjoyable the conditions will have to perfect and of course one will have to carefully consider the safety aspect of it but I'd say about 80% of the spearing myself and my dive buddies do is in viz between 2 and 5m, so we are effectively diving in the dark anyway. It will also be easier to spot your buddy with a powerful torch than trying to identify his camo-cladded butt in the murky soup we normally dive in.
Dieter, as for the tannemanne.... look they there anyway. Not sure how their behaviour changes at night but as far as I know all the sharks we in the WC have to worry about hunt day and night...so for me....I think my freak-out level will stay more or less the same.
Also, just to make sure there is no confusion - I'm not taking about hunting tail at Bellows in gnarly conditions. I'm thinking more in the line of exploring a spot such as Roman Rock on those perfectly clear and calm days...
I have done that before, when I was young and brave/stupid.
We did not have headlamp torcches and where it gets very interesting, was when I shot a fish, because then I did not have enough hands to handle the fish, the torch and the fish, but it was an awesome experience and the reef really comes alive at night.
Your problem is orientation with keeping your spot when you found fish.
The whole bay in PE looks different at night and all your landmarks are gone.
We did not have headlamp torcches and where it gets very interesting, was when I shot a fish, because then I did not have enough hands to handle the fish, the torch and the fish, but it was an awesome experience and the reef really comes alive at night.
Your problem is orientation with keeping your spot when you found fish.
The whole bay in PE looks different at night and all your landmarks are gone.
I was once convinced by my buddy that richards bay harbour was full of crayfish so for a lark we decided to poach a few. Went at night and anchored the boat a little way off the breakwater, slipped in and swam across to it. Not easy at all to hold onto the dollosse/rocks in the surge, hold a torch and still crab crays. Can only imagine how much harder it would be subdueing a fish while holding a torch but I have been tempted to give it a go in one of the KZN south coast bays like Pumula in winter when the daga are around. My mates tell me I am not well and aren't keen to come with!
Blood-on-the-Deck
Member
Interesting topic - spearfishing at night.
If recreational night fishing is in order, why not spearing??
I have had this long standing urge to night dive on KZN South Coast in areas where there are nice big reefs not too far our out - say 6 to 18 meter reefs.
On those rare nights when the sea lies like a pond - Drifting with a waterproof submerged light (pool light) shinging down in the water beneath me, hanging off my float (tyre tube holding a battery of sorts) and another light dangling off the boat (which is close by I must haste to add)
Got to get this out of my system one day. ::kznrls
If recreational night fishing is in order, why not spearing??
I have had this long standing urge to night dive on KZN South Coast in areas where there are nice big reefs not too far our out - say 6 to 18 meter reefs.
On those rare nights when the sea lies like a pond - Drifting with a waterproof submerged light (pool light) shinging down in the water beneath me, hanging off my float (tyre tube holding a battery of sorts) and another light dangling off the boat (which is close by I must haste to add)
Got to get this out of my system one day. ::kznrls
braailegend
Senior Member
Just remember diving for kreef/alikrik after 1600 or 1800, cant remember, is illegal.
