SpearMax Shark Encounter - Bullsharks steal my cobia!

[SpearMax]

I went out Saturday, February 17, 2007 in 33 degree weather from the Palm Beach Inlet to do one of my deep solo technical dives. My boat driver shall remain nameless and you will see why as this story progresses. ;)

The conditions were great except for the cold.

So, I broke out the drysuit, not for the 74-75 water temperature, but for the cold surface intervals! :eek:

Thank goodness for the pilot house on my boat. :p

The sea state was flat except for a developing swell coming from the north east.

The swells were medium sized rollers with a large interval between peaks.

The current was mild north, maybe 1 knot or less.

[SpearMax]

I was solo at 180 feet and rise up over a wreck to come face to face with a double cobia treat! As I am startled at first and pause a few seconds to collect my thoughts, the double header starts heading off. But I regain my composure and let a shaft fly post haste. :D

[SpearMax]

Like a "swirling dervish" the beast does a spinning dance above my head. The cobia is one of my favorite quarries as the fight can be most strenuous and quite spectacular. :yippee:

This was a "full penetration shot" with a 4 banded blast at close range. :eek:

The shaft went all the way through. The placement was pretty good and I had no worries he was going to tear off. :slap:

I have stoned cobias before, but it is very difficult to do. :rolleyes:

[SpearMax]

Around this time, several big 8 foot + bull sharks heard the dinner bells ringing and started to assemble in line at the buffet. You know the sort - fat heads - thick chests, pectoral fins down - arched back - etc. Just the sort of warm welcome every spearo wants on a cold winter day. Here is a example photo of the sort of bulls coming in to say hello.

[SpearMax]

Oh....did I mention? I had no shark shield because my battery was dead. :eek:

There are several different strategies one could employ here. Had the shark shield been on me, I would have simply turned it on and pulled the struggling cobia into me and killed him, strung him and let him dangle below me right next to the electrical tether of the shield. The bulls would come in, hit the field and turn away. I have used this strategy so so often to good effect. :yay:

Alas, that strategy was not in the cards, so I used the "let's get the hell out of here by ascending" strategy. Many times that one works because the bulls do not follow you up. So, I sent up my surface marker buoy and let the reel spool up and then ascended while winding in the reel. This way, I would give the boat my gun and have it pulled in if the bulls followed me and my cobia to the surface. :cowboy:

[SpearMax]

While doing some deco, I noticed the bulls had indeed followed me up and where circling my fish. :eek:

After breaking the surface, I looked around to hand off my speargun so the cobia could be pulled in. Oh no - no boat! :scratch:

My driver must have missed spotting my surface marker buoy when it popped up. :bashhead:

So now I alternate between blowing my dive alert wistle and looking for the boat versus looking under the water at the looming shark fest about to take my cobia 20-30 feet below my feet! :knees:

[SpearMax]

One thing I took to heart in the Boy Scouts was their motto - "Be Prepared!" :manual:

After eight minutes of no attention from the boat, i broke out my emergency VHF radio and GPS canister and called the boat on channel 16 telling exactly where I was. I think what happened is that a large sportfisher boat that was flying fishing kites drifted between me and the boat which may be why the driver did not see my marker buoy or me when I surfaced. :whistle:

After a short while, the boat came speeding up! :notworthy

[SpearMax]

So what happened to my cobia? you may be wondering. Keep in mind I have time code on my video as well as my computer profile downloads. So tracking and analyzing the event is made easier. :o

The boat arrived five minutes too late! :mad: :moon: :stick: :rant:

The bulls swarmed the struggling cobia and ate him off my line. :eek:

Their sharp teeth also cut my line and my shaft disappeared into the abyss below. :cussing:

Decisions, decisions, decisions. I opted for the surface decision and the result was not favorable.

But I guess that is the way of the magestic ocean. :rolleyes:

The big fish eat the little fish in the most violent place on earth. :cowboy:

All hail Mother Ocean! :allhail:

[Seahuntress]

Great shot Tony. I know how you feel. A tournament partner drove off with my Cobia in his truck last year. It hurts to loose a good fish.

[monster slayer]

Wow Tony, that's a heck of a Story!! awesome pics. Do you have a gun mounted camera?

[elgringopelon]

That looks like a helmet camera to me.

[SpearMax]

Wow Tony, that's a heck of a Story!! awesome pics. Do you have a gun mounted camera?
That looks like a helmet camera to me.
FYI, It is a special mask-mounted camera system for deep technical diving that costed $6,000 several years ago and is no longer made.

[Seahuntress]

Cool shots Tony, and thanks for sharing. :)

[dagodiver]

Sorry about the cobia Tony but what a story.!
Maybe a dive buddy could of helped.? (drysuit is packed and ready) :D


Dago.

[jackpine savage]

Makes my weeknd downright boring. Nice photos and quite the adventure. Remember that which does not kill you only makes you stronger

[inletsurf]

I know how you feel. A tournament partner drove off with my Cobia in his truck last year. It hurts to loose a good fish.

What? How is that even remotely comparable??? :rolleyes:


That is a shitty situation to be in Tony, glad you made it out OK.

[jfjf]

What? How is that even remotely comparable??? :rolleyes:


That is a shitty situation to be in Tony, glad you made it out OK.


It's exactly the same thing! It is just two versions of the same story: "The day I picked the wrong partner"

[monster slayer]

Great shot Tony. I know how you feel. A tournament partner drove off with my Cobia in his truck last year. It hurts to loose a good fish.


Oh, baby but you still look beautiful !!! ;)

[Mobile Diver]

Terrific video essay, Tony!! :thumps: :thumps: :thumps:

[Seahuntress]

Tony thanks again for the good essay, and wonderul photos.

[RichT]

Great story Tony!

[elgringopelon]

That's right stole my fish, and ate it.

That is just too damned funny. :lol: Who was it? Is it someone on the board?

[Stealthdiver]

Your awesome on details & photo's with all that going on...I would have skipped all the good stuff and just had a story to tell. Did you or the boat driver get off the # ? Seems a long way to be from you ??

[SpearMax]

Your awesome on details & photo's with all that going on...I would have skipped all the good stuff and just had a story to tell. Did you or the boat driver get off the # ? Seems a long way to be from you ??

As usual, it was probably a combination of factors. The driver waited correctly near the numbers as we always do. To avoid entanglement on that deep wreck which usually has ripping currents, we do not usually pull an attached set of float balls with line and reel, especially when diving it solo. Anywhere else, we use the float balls.

There was a big sportfisher boat with kites that drifted between us. I had some deco to do but, the marker was up. The current pushes north and while not that strong, it was enough to get me on the other side of the sportfisher. I had told the driver to expect my marker and ascent after 15 to 20 minutes of bottom time and he was timing that carefully.

There was alot going on out there with many boats in the vicinity and only one pair of eyes looking for the marker buoy. All is well that ends well with no accidents or problems worse than a lost fish and shaft. ;)

[SpearMax]

We're always hi-jacking Tony's thread. :p


Yes, guys and girl, please do not hijack this one any more. Thanks! ;)

[Dave Edlund]

Tony,

Loved your story and the great photos. I have never shot a cobia and look forward to the day. Those darm bull sharks. You are quite the adventurer doing solo 175 foot dives. I often dive solo too. You have to be self reliant. How big of a cobia was it? By the way, can you find cobia on the gulf side as often as you find them on the Atlantic side? Was that a wreck you where diving?

Dave

[Griswold]

Tony, great job handling a bad situation. Lots of people wouldn't have done as well, and might have ended up the topic of a thread about a situation worse than losing a cobia.

That said, looked like a very nice Lemonfish, tough tax bill. You need a better accountant.

[bluedog]

Great story Tony, glad you still have all your fingers/arms/legs Etc... and nice pics as usual.

[Killer&Griller]

How do you have a emerg vhf with you. Is it vac sealed?

[johnnydinx]

How do you have a emerg vhf with you. Is it vac sealed?

Yes, could you enlighten us with the details of your "canister"?

[Nathan Florian]

I would be interested in getting one of those, I would imagine it is a water tight canister with a rubber "o" ring to keep the water out. Small hand held GPG and VHF, you are set. Tony, I would like to get the 411 on that setup, as I would liek to check into getting those items for myself. One more thing....pictures, gun ect, how do you carry all this stuff?

[SpearMax]

OK guys, here are the photos of the Spearmax Self-Rescue Kit. A few Spearboard guys like Johnoly have implemented this kit for themselves. The canister is rated to 450 feet deep and is made by Mcmurdo. The kit is fairly light on land and close to neutral in the water I think. The contents include a Standard Horizon submersible VHF Radio, an emergeny flare, a signal mirror, a whistle and a Garmin Gekko GPS. My kit has worked several times for me over recent years and avoided that dreaded lost diver call to the Coast Guard. ;)

[Scubaru]

Great shot Tony. I know how you feel. A tournament partner drove off with my Cobia in his truck last year. It hurts to loose a good fish.

HTF is this even half way the same situation? Why is your every post a lame ass attempt to bring attention back to you?

sorry tony :mad:

[johnnydinx]

Tony, where do you mount this canister?

[SpearMax]

Tony, where do you mount this canister?

It fits perfectly in a "Deep Outdoors" pocket called the "Universal Mask Pocket" that can attach just about anywhere on your BC. Mine is under my right arm. Their website is http://www.deepoutdoors.com/.

[rjnjupiter]

Sounds like the Ande. The same herd of Bulls attacked me last year and rammed me. I guess that's why they call them Bulls.. Definitely cold Saturday for West Palm. Maybe they were just trying to snuggle up.

[offduty]

Wow, you did take the boyscout motto to another level. I've never heard of anybody carrying a vhf radio while diving. Is this something you only do on deeper dives where you may need to do a "free floating" deco?

Great report, sorry about the cobia.

[SpearMax]

Wow, you did take the boyscout motto to another level. I've never heard of anybody carrying a vhf radio while diving. Is this something you only do on deeper dives where you may need to do a "free floating" deco?

Great report, sorry about the cobia.


We encounter strong Gulf Stream currents quite often. I take it on every dive.

Just like American Express - I don't leave port without it. ;)

[westpalmspearo]

tony im pretty sure i know what wreck your on do you ever see any pelagics dolphin wahoo etc. over it

[Nsearch]

Tony, any reason why you didn't subdue the fish and send him up on a lift bag? I know kitefisherman and others use that technique in your waters specifically for that reason.

[SpearMax]

tony im pretty sure i know what wreck your on do you ever see any pelagics dolphin wahoo etc. over it

No Patrick, I do not. Sorry.

[SpearMax]

Tony, any reason why you didn't subdue the fish and send him up on a lift bag? I know kitefisherman and others use that technique in your waters specifically for that reason.

I explained that in the first posts, but I will amplify. I carry two lift bags with line stringers attached for that very purpose. Basically, the reason was because I had no shark shield and the cobia was fighting extremely hard when the bulls first came in. They come in at all angles in that location and I am by myself. Knowing that documented human attacks often come from behind, especially with bulls, I chose the ascent strategy. It would have worked perfectly had the boat been there. ;)

[dagodiver]

Great stuff Tony.!

If a group of people want a canister like that I can make a batch of them.
10 would be the minimum and I could sell them for $150. They would be anodized and ready to go. They are not that different than the light cans I am making now. If someone has one I can look at that would help alot.


Dago.

[Nathan Florian]

Thanks for the info, I did a search and found the company that makes them and was able to find a retailer for them out of Jacksonville. That is the best advice I have recieved on here so far, especially if you are diving the grounds and in strong currents. That handheld will talk 20 miles I am sure of, I called from 43nm NW of Crystal River to Coast Guard Station in Yankeetown on a handheld ICOM, thanks to one of my dive buddies out of Jacksonville who carried it on all his trips. I had an ETRex by Garmin that would be perfect, or the gecko both small and compact. Dago, if we could get 10 people interested I would rather buy from you being a fellow diver and board member than some company I have never dealt with. Sorry to derail your thread Tony, great report and advice

[Puncture Wound]

Tony,

what are the dimesions of the canister? what is something that is similar in size?

[inletsurf]

Tony, ever think of putting some hi-carb energy bar or something in that cannister too?? Or some small qty of water? Just a thought. Doesn't look like you have much room though.

[Nsearch]

Tony, ever think of putting some hi-carb energy bar or something in that cannister too?? Or some small qty of water? Just a thought. Doesn't look like you have much room though.


That or at least a porno mag for those long decos :D

[Johnoly]

Saturday was the best day to dive, but frigging cold as heck. Seeing a double cobia would sure be nice and you got an excellent shot on him. Way to go Tony!!

I copied Tony's cannister too, and I dive with it every single dive. It a great backup system, just like a pony bottle.

[waterbearer]

Glad you were still in one piece yesterday morning. Next time...bring breakfast for everyone. ;)

[kitefisherman]

Tony, any reason why you didn't subdue the fish and send him up on a lift bag? I know kitefisherman and others use that technique in your waters specifically for that reason.

Bryan: There are different ways to solve the same problem. I wasn't there, but my first thought would have been to kill the cobia and lift bag it the hell out of there (and away from me). A lift bag will get the fish to the surface a lot faster than a diver can. If getting the shaft out of the cobia wasn't an option because it required too much time, I would have lift bagged the gun with the fish attached - you can always keep the pole spear down there with you to fend off sharks. Lift bagging the fish would also have given the boat operator the most immediate indication of the diver's location. Sure, the sharks could have chased the cobia to the surface and ate it there, but I'd prefer that that happen as far away from me as possible.

If I had to ascend with the fish, I would have kept it close to me to discourage the sharks. Hanging a fish 20-30 feet below you is IMO teasing the sharks to attack - especially without a shark shield (which I don't use).

I'm a little confused as to why Tony ascended using the lift bag and reel. Usually he uses a reel with three Rob Allen floats attached. The floats have sufficient buoyancy to stay on the surface in a heavy current and prevent the boat operator from losing the diver's position. The reel has a grapling hook that can be anchored to the wreck leaving the diver free to hunt untethered.

In any event, I'm glad that Tony made it back in one piece. I doubt that he'll go diving without a fully charged shield again. :)

[Man-O-War]

That or at least a porno mag for those long decos :D

LOL :lol: :thumps: :thumps:

[SpearMax]

my first thought would have been to kill the cobia and lift bag it the hell out of there (and away from me). A lift bag will get the fish to the surface a lot faster than a diver can.
I normally would do that as I have two lift bags on me with line stringers, but the cobia was fighting ferociously and the bulls were pouncing. It is a judgement call, so I opted for the "hand the gun to boat and pull him in" strategy which I have done many times with good results. :cool:
If getting the shaft out of the cobia wasn't an option because it required too much time, I would have lift bagged the gun with the fish attached - you can always keep the pole spear down there with you to fend off sharks. Lift bagging the fish would also have given the boat operator the most immediate indication of the diver's location.
Ahh ... good idea, but it was probably a good thing I did not do this because my driver might not have seen it. He missed a much larger marker buoy that was nine feet long and yellow. My lift bags are much smaller. ;)
Sure, the sharks could have chased the cobia to the surface and ate it there, but I'd prefer that that happen as far away from me as possible.

If I had to ascend with the fish, I would have kept it close to me to discourage the sharks. Hanging a fish 20-30 feet below you is IMO teasing the sharks to attack - especially without a shark shield (which I don't use).

Seems like having it both ways would be great, but I opted for the distance choice above. I had a feeling the sharks were going to eat it when I saw the boat was nowhere to be found and I toyed with the "bring it in close" idea. However, being on the suface changes one's persective in dealing with hungry sharks! I would rather be under water, but I had a phone call to make if you know what I mean. ;)
I'm a little confused as to why Tony ascended using the lift bag and reel. Usually he uses a reel with three Rob Allen floats attached. The floats have sufficient buoyancy to stay on the surface in a heavy current and prevent the boat operator from losing the diver's position. The reel has a grapling hook that can be anchored to the wreck leaving the diver free to hunt untethered.
John, I know you have been on my boat when I used the Rob Allen floats. But, on this dive I almost never use them because of risk of deep entanglement and breakaway in ripping currents while solo.
In any event, I'm glad that Tony made it back in one piece. I doubt that he'll go diving without a fully charged shield again. :)
Thanks for the good wishes. The battery has actually failed after three years of use. It is the old 2 hour system. I am getting a brand new 4 hour shark shield. :thumps:

[bubblejunkie]

Tony Call John or Me next time. We didn't lose you in solid 8 foot seas. ;) :crazy: :stick:

[SpearMax]

Tony Call John or Me next time. We didn't lose you in solid 8 foot seas. ;) :crazy: :stick:
Jerry, you guys did great that time!

With the cold &wind forecasted, I didn't know if I was going until one hour before departure. ;)

Noaa doesn't knowa! :D

[waterbug]

Great video Tony, I can't wait to see it live. I agree that you handled this situation well, especially at that depth with exertion, anxiety and I'm sure a bit of narcosis as factors. It's always easy to call these decisions when you're high and dry the next day. Having been the boat driver for you on these dives, with no float or marker and many fishing boats out there, I know how difficult it is to try to avoid entanglement on the surface and try to watch for a marker, too, especially when you only have one pair of eyes watching. The radio works great, but I do still like the idea of having a float to follow, as kite said. Solo diving at that depth, anything can happen and at least the boat driver would have some sort of idea where you are. Perhaps we should give this more thought. It would have also saved you from having to deploy the lift bag while everything else was happening. These bulls are learning and I suspect that they are just going to continue to be more and more aggressive. I'm glad you are ok, could have been worse. Did you have to miss any deco time? At any time did you consider cutting the fish off? I can't imagine being at the surface with that going on just under me. Good thing you didn't have the fish closer to you, once again, great story!!!!

[PrincessSlaya!]

Tony, That was some dive! That bull didn't look too happy! Awsome photo's.... Glad you are warm and back on top of the water! Stayed in this weekend...... WAAAAAAY too cold!

[SpearSlayer]

I'd like some more info on your water proof set up for the gps and radio.
Was either of the items waterproof, or did you just keep em in a waterproof housing...??

[SpearMax]

I'd like some more info on your water proof set up for the gps and radio.
Was either of the items waterproof, or did you just keep em in a waterproof housing...??


Both units are waterproof to a few feet below the surface. I still try to keep them up out of the water, just in case. ;)

[SpearSlayer]

OK guys, here are the photos of the Spearmax Self-Rescue Kit. A few Spearboard guys like Johnoly have implemented this kit for themselves. The canister is rated to 450 feet deep and is made by Mcmurdo. The kit is fairly light on land and close to neutral in the water I think. The contents include a Standard Horizon submersible VHF Radio, an emergeny flare, a signal mirror, a whistle and a Garmin Gekko GPS. My kit has worked several times for me over recent years and avoided that dreaded lost diver call to the Coast Guard. ;)


Wow I must have missed this whole page......sorry for the requestion Tony.

[Spearchuckerz]

I think if more guys used that kind of canister system, we would have more of our dive bros today.

I think I will make a few for standard equipment on my boat.

The cost of that is nothing compared to the loss of a best friend- or yourself.

Thanks,

K

[guttshot]

Word.

[Nathan Florian]

Dago, I need one of those canisters if we can get 9 more people.

[Quetzal]

I would be interested. How much?

[Quetzal]

The only way I see to buy one of those cannisters is w/ a Personal Locator Beacon. Anyone else?

[Nathan Florian]

he said 150 if he could do ten of them.

[dagodiver]

he said 150 if he could do ten of them.

Yep.!

Dago.

[SpearMax]

That is a very good price! :cool:

[dagodiver]

That is a very good price! :cool:



Tony,
These are very close to the light can's I am making now.
I would donate 2 of these for the SBO prize table if you could find a minute
and get me the dim's for the can. ie; length, OD and ID. thanks that would save me some time.

Dago.

[SpearMax]

Tony,
These are very close to the light can's I am making now.
I would donate 2 of these for the SBO prize table if you could find a minute
and get me the dim's for the can. ie; length, OD and ID. thanks that would save me some time.

Dago.

OK, I have a spare in the box at home which probably has all the specs on it.

[Nathan Florian]

Dago,

I am sure we can get 10 buyers, you may consider contacting a few dive shops, once I buy one from you maybe we can work out some marketing ideas. For anybody who dives the grounds or offshore this is important as the the tank on your back in my opinion.

[dagodiver]

Dago,

I am sure we can get 10 buyers, you may consider contacting a few dive shops, once I buy one from you maybe we can work out some marketing ideas. For anybody who dives the grounds or offshore this is important as the the tank on your back in my opinion.


Cool.!
My LDS said he would take a few also.


Dago.

[Nathan Florian]

Cool.!
My LDS said he would take a few also.


Dago.


Dago, give me a call if you would. 352-400-1951. thanks

[pop dog]

Spearmax, any way we can get a look at your camera setup? It sounds really cool.

[Ron S]

Man you folks do some serious diving and spearing over on the east coast. Always makes me laugh when I read the "spearing on scuba isn't sporting" comments. Thanks for posting such an awsome account and photos. I always learn a lot from these posts.
Thanks again and stay safe,
Ron.

[stickitfishy]

You guys in SE FL should be able to use a cell with gps capabilities since you are so close to land. Put it in a couple ziplocs in the canister and you'll have more room in there for other stuff too. Only in SE FL and the Keys would I try this and make sure that the boat drivers and yours are charged. Just a thought to save some $$.