Looking For GSBs In All The Wrong PLaces

After watching Scuba Fever's video last week, we set out this morning in search of giant sea bass. We saw five last week on the Landing Craft, but wanted to experience the thrill of finding dozens at once.

We tried a spot on the Redondo Beach Artificial Reef but found few interesting critters. We ran into Scott and Ian on the Batray at one of their "secret" spots. Ian said there were many GSBs, bat rays and Molas beneath the boat. After they left we quickly dropped the hook and geared up.

After thirty minutes I hadn't seen anything to photograph. While making a safety stop, a giant sea bass ascended my line and came within two feet of me before slowly turning. Naturally, I had already turned off my camera and strobes. I fumbled for buttons, turning on the camera and quickly firing off a few ambient light shots.

Dig the barnacle growth on Señor Crab! Nice silver school'er capture as well. What is the yellow spotted white plume critter in pic 14? Some type of worm?

Yes, is that some kind of tube worm? I've never seen one like that, and they're beautiful.

All I can say is that, for a dive when you wandered around for half an hour looking for something to shoot, you sure got some great pictures . . .

I heard from an associate that they had observed about FIFTY giant sea bass at an undisclosed site off Catalina last month. I've never seen more than 18 at a time.

I was hoping for a repeat of Bill MacDonald's experience at the Star of Scotland. We went later that week and found quite a few, but nothing like his dive.