Well, after reports of them for a few weeks but no personal sightings (due to aweful vis and my eye afixed to my viewfinder most of my dives) I finally got up close and personal weith black sea bass on two of my three dives today at Casino Point.
The first one totally surprised me. I was videotaping another subject. When I finished, I looked up and a 350-400 pounder was heading straight for me. My jaw dropped (but reg stayed in place) and after a few seconds of surprise I caught 5 sec of video as it swam past me at two feet.
Although I've seen plenty over the years, and a few at other sites on Catalina this year, my first in the Park each year is always memorable. On my third dive I dropped down right into the path of another, but the kelp blocked me from getting a clear shut until it was a bit farther away.
I noticed a fishing line streaming from the second bass after it was 20 ft away. I grabbed the line, but realized it was hooked and didn't want to hurt it or I would have cut the line. I think it went for the bait on someone's line off Cabrillo Mole (where the boats come into Avalon). Thef isher must have thought he/she had hooked a submarine!
Dr. Bill
The first one totally surprised me. I was videotaping another subject. When I finished, I looked up and a 350-400 pounder was heading straight for me. My jaw dropped (but reg stayed in place) and after a few seconds of surprise I caught 5 sec of video as it swam past me at two feet.
Although I've seen plenty over the years, and a few at other sites on Catalina this year, my first in the Park each year is always memorable. On my third dive I dropped down right into the path of another, but the kelp blocked me from getting a clear shut until it was a bit farther away.
I noticed a fishing line streaming from the second bass after it was 20 ft away. I grabbed the line, but realized it was hooked and didn't want to hurt it or I would have cut the line. I think it went for the bait on someone's line off Cabrillo Mole (where the boats come into Avalon). Thef isher must have thought he/she had hooked a submarine!
Dr. Bill