Tardy For The Party

[MaxBottomtime]

I got out early this morning to try for some Giant Sea Bass photos during slack tide. Visibility at the Hermosa Beach Artificial Reef was a hazy twenty feet. While I waited for the giants to show up I practiced strobe placement by shooting some of the concrete blocks. I didn't know I would spend almost the entire dive doing that. Only one GSB showed up, just as I was heading back up the anchor chain.

 

[JamesBon92007]

How long have the concrete blocks been there? It looks like some stuff is just starting to grow on them.

How big was the sea bass?

 

[scubadada]

Nice concrete blocks!

 

[Wookie]

Thanks for the excellent concrete block photos. I haven't seen that particular species.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

The concrete has been there for more than forty years. Most aren't very tall so the marine life gets scraped off every time swells stir up the sandy bottom. There are resident GSBs that are found year-round on the reef as well as a dozen or so Broomtail Groupers. Both are protected in California.
The GSB today was about 48". Most of the ones we find there are similar, but occasionally we see a couple of larger ones and a one foot long juvenile.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Thanks for the excellent concrete block photos. I haven't seen that particular species.

They're boring, but they don't move very fast.