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John Hughes
10-14-2008, 05:20 PM
So I'm back from 3 weeks in Washington DC and it's good to be home!! Although I haven't had a day off yet, I did manage to get some salt in the gills and even managed a few bugs. Conditions were a little lumpy, but I got 5 bugs with a couple a good ones.

Got a funny halibut story I want to share. My buddy Roger is always coming up with halibut during our lobster dives. He never has a gun with him, but he's got this technique of laying his springloaded bag in front of thier noses, then spanking them on the tail and they jump right in. I've seen him land butts up to 25lbs like this and it always amazes me.

The other night, he dumps me on a spot and as soon as I hit the bottom, I see these giant eyeball staring at me. I'm talking GIANT here people. I turn away from the fish and take my bag off thinking this is my chance to finally try the famous bag trick. When I turn back around and get a look at the head, it is truly a monster I'm thinkin in excess of 40lbs, but all I can really see is the eyeballs and they are like grapes. I lay my bag down and open it up holding on tight for the ride that is surely to come. Bam! I smack the thing on what I'm hoping is the tail and..........nothing. It doesn't move. Holding on tight to my bag, BAM! I smack it again............nothing. It doesn't move again.

Getting kinda pissed now, I pick up my light and BAM! smack it with the light. Damn thing doesn't even flinch. Confused, I back off and take a real hard, close look at the sand outline of the fish and wouldn't you know it, it's an Angel shark about 4-5ft long.:rolleyes: Boy did I get lucky, that thing would have taken me for a ride and I'm sure I would have lost my bag to top it off.
Had a pretty good laugh at myself for that one!

As I said, managed a few decent bugs and can't wait to get out there again!

It's good to be home and it's good to be bug divin again!!

Sgt.Byron
10-14-2008, 05:26 PM
Funny story!...LOL
Would have been a lot funnier had that shark actually bolted up out of the sand. :eek:
I can't believe that thing didn't budge even after you hit it with a flashlight!

Good job on the bugs!

zenspearo
10-14-2008, 05:32 PM
welcome home. Good thing it's not one of those electric rays that Martin ran into a few years back...

SamoSpearo
10-14-2008, 05:35 PM
Nice work John! Hahaa, I would have loved to have seen that thing spook into your bag! I would have love to have seen you trying to get it out even more!

rhyne
10-14-2008, 05:47 PM
haha...yeah, that's pretty hilarious...and even more amazing that it didn't budge! way to go on the bugs too...those 2 look pretty hefty.

Smash
10-14-2008, 06:07 PM
John,
That is a one funny story. And guys, John is telling the truth about Roger. I was on a dive with Roger when he dropped in for a shot night dive and came back 15 minutes later with 7 bugs and a 10 pound cab. Oh, and he didn’t have a speargun that time either. I was blown away to say the least. I think his trick is that he can identify fish that are profoundly depressed and want to end it all.
Robert

=pilot=
10-14-2008, 06:08 PM
HAHA! that made me laugh!!

Kale
10-14-2008, 07:08 PM
Cool story. Angel sharks deffinately have a mean set of jaws on them, I'm glad it didn't bite.

danieltyack
10-14-2008, 07:09 PM
Great Story! I'm pretty impressed with the spook them into the bag trick. One more goal, just what I need:thumps:

Kelsea
10-14-2008, 07:13 PM
wow that is funny! halibut spanking... If I can get this to work the next time I am out, I will post it. Thanks for sharing this and congrats on the bugs!

Is it the same type of spring loaded bags used for lobsters?

tommy7
10-14-2008, 07:16 PM
John,

Nice to see yer back home! Let me know when you will be having a day off and maybe we can get 1 more crack at those yellowtail before they go south:p

Silentspear
10-14-2008, 07:23 PM
Haha! For a second, I thought it was a fake halibut he made for you. That would have been funny, especially since he kinda just dumped you on a random spot.

John Hughes
10-14-2008, 07:52 PM
Is it the same type of spring loaded bags used for lobsters?

same type of bag.

On that note, I got a pm from somebody saying this may be an illegal method of take as it could be construed as "netting" a halibut.

We (meaning you as I'm lazy:D) should research it as I know we all want to stay within the limits of the law. If we can't figure it out, I'll just ask my friendly DFG pals as they like to check me alot;)

Natedogg
10-14-2008, 08:33 PM
Great story.

Welcome home Johnny boy! Give me a call when you get a day off.

Chris Oak
10-14-2008, 10:01 PM
Nice bugs John! You're lucky that thing didn't bite you, you should see when they grab a whole fish in an instant!

Bill McIntyre
10-14-2008, 10:47 PM
Welcome home John. I used to shoo little sand dabs into bags, but I didn't know it worked with halibut, and I'm glad to hear it doesn't work with angel sharks.

Kelsea
10-14-2008, 10:55 PM
We (meaning you as I'm lazy:D) should research it as I know we all want to stay within the limits of the law. Ah I see how it is! lol!

This is a great idea - there is a DFG station that is along my morning running route - will see if I can stop by this week...

J_P
10-14-2008, 11:33 PM
i ran into a HUGE angel shark (4'+) my second time freediving. i kept going to the surface and then going back down to look at it. i knew it wasn't any shark i'd ever seen, wasn't a ray, wasn't a guitarfish, hell was it even a fish - a HUGE misshapen halibut????? i just kept going down and getting closer and closer and closer.

i knew it HAD to be a fish of some sort and i didn't have the guts to poke it with the spear. i did a bunch of looking and getting REALLY REALLY close (we're talking checking out the skin up close close -- inches). the thing didn't move.

they must be very very tolerant.

nice story.

Polystigma
10-14-2008, 11:36 PM
welcome home. Good thing it's not one of those electric rays that Martin ran into a few years back...


:lol:
IMO, that is the only ray that is sporting to shoot. Because they definitely do fight back and make you pay for it.:eek: