WSB and Sea Lions - Spearboard.com - The World's Largest Spearfishing Diving Boating Social Media Forum

Alashaman · 07-01-2011, 12:32 PM

Just wondering what people experience is hunting WSB with Sea Lions in the area.

ShootnReel · 07-01-2011, 01:05 PM

How about an it does not seem to make a difference option?

unkabonka · 07-01-2011, 01:09 PM

I only have one experience on this topic, but about a month ago there were 5-10 sea lions on a bait ball corralling it and blowing bubbles under the bait. I cast a jig into the middle of the melee, letting it sink through the bait and a 33lb seabass was landed. So, sometimes they may actually work together in feeding.

Alashaman · 07-01-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlieC

How about an it does not seem to make a difference option?

Whenever I am around sea lions they are always blowing bubbles and knifing past me... making a ton of noise and generally causing mischief...

I would think that if the WSB are okay being around all of that activity, it would cover up a diver's movements...

If my make zero difference at all, just wondering what others have seen

JimmyJam · 07-01-2011, 04:10 PM

I don't see too many sea lions during wsb hunting but I do sure see a lot of those harbor seals. And they bug the crap out of me so much it tends to break my concentration. Nothing worse than trying to spot wsb and then seeing a big grey object cruising out of a kelp bed only to find 2 big droopy eyes looking at you. Frustrating for sure

CitoRat4Ever · 07-01-2011, 04:34 PM

Harbor seals are dicks.

byronq · 07-01-2011, 07:24 PM

Sea lions eat white seabass. About 2 months ago, dbrunes and I were at Cat, and saw some action at Isthmus Reef. Turned out to be a bull sealion chowing down on a 20+lb WSB.

Uploaded this from my phone, didn't get a chance to edit. Check the footage starting around 1:04.

YouTube - ‪ocfreediver's Channel‬&rlm;

Mojave Green · 07-01-2011, 08:44 PM

I shot a YT and they immediately attacked it. I still don't know how I made it out of that situation with out being bit. They were trying to take bites from the fish as I swam it back to the boat. In my face inches away showing their teeth.
Tripping up my feet so I couldn't fin. Wouldn't they do the same with WSB.

Bob Ballew · 07-01-2011, 11:50 PM

unless they are next to you, it doesn't seem to matter much...until.....you spear a fish, then, the tug of war is ON.....have punched two of them in the nose to retrieve yellowtail they grabbed from me...like bulldogs...they hiss, dive at your fins and blow bubbles, but, have never had one try to bite me...fortunately...not a technique I recommend unless you are very territorrial like me...

....those are very big sharp teeth you have, grandma....Nacho's dog on the Long Beach bait barge tangled with one..took 200 stitches to patch his dog up...they have been seen on various occasions, with wsb in their mouth, even in mid-channel..unknown if the fish was injured or grabbed out of a school..

Mojave Green · 07-02-2011, 06:09 AM

In another Baja situation while on a charter with Dale Pearson: Sea Lion grabbed the stringer, we grabbed the float line, and three grown men were dragged through the water as if we were nothing.
I saw a dead female Sea Lion on the beach. It's jaw was twice the size as the jaw of the biggest known dog.

Alashaman · 07-04-2011, 02:14 AM

Interesting 7 responses to the poll and its basically even...

growingupninja · 07-04-2011, 03:15 PM

I have never had to fight a sea lion for a fish and certainly wouldn't want to. I've dove near them and they've never bothered me and generally kept their distance but I do the same, same as if I saw any other stranger diving in the kelp... I might acknowledge them with a nod but I keep my distance. I always note a spot where I see a sea lion diving and once they leave I go investigate; there's always fish there.

Seals seem to be more curious--I've been 'approached' and watched by a seal on several occasions but never a sea lion, and when I've been diving quietly with a seal nearby also diving quietly, I've also run into large WSB, so the WSB wasn't frightened off by the seal.

I like running into seals and dolphins; sea lions less so.

Bill McIntyre · 07-04-2011, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by growingupninja

I have never had to fight a sea lion for a fish and certainly wouldn't want to.

Stand by- eventually you will.

Most surprising case I've seen was when a friend was cleaning a big yellowtail on the swimstep and a big bull snatched it out of his hands.

Captn Ron · 07-05-2011, 12:47 AM

I'm not really sure. I was diving around alot of noisy seals once in the enchanted islands and I shot a limit of sea bass. I was scared that the dogs would try to get the fish so I short lined all three. I never had them try to take any of the fish.

I have had dogs harass me for y.t. and even worse for bonito.


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View Poll Results: How do WSB react around Sea Lions
Sea Lions scare the crap out of WSB and they flee the area	8	66.67%
Sea Lion activity covers any noise a diver makes and WSB are easier to approach	4	33.33%
Voters: 12. You may not vote on this poll

07-01-2011, 12:32 PM	#1
Alashaman PB 56.2 Lbs Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 1,360	WSB and Sea Lions Just wondering what people experience is hunting WSB with Sea Lions in the area.

07-01-2011, 01:05 PM	#2
ShootnReel ○ Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 883	Re: WSB and Sea Lions How about an it does not seem to make a difference option?

07-01-2011, 01:09 PM	#3
unkabonka May paddy yellow Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: OC Posts: 1,939	Re: WSB and Sea Lions I only have one experience on this topic, but about a month ago there were 5-10 sea lions on a bait ball corralling it and blowing bubbles under the bait. I cast a jig into the middle of the melee, letting it sink through the bait and a 33lb seabass was landed. So, sometimes they may actually work together in feeding.

07-01-2011, 04:10 PM	#5
JimmyJam Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: 93111 Posts: 1,101	Re: WSB and Sea Lions I don't see too many sea lions during wsb hunting but I do sure see a lot of those harbor seals. And they bug the crap out of me so much it tends to break my concentration. Nothing worse than trying to spot wsb and then seeing a big grey object cruising out of a kelp bed only to find 2 big droopy eyes looking at you. Frustrating for sure __________________

07-01-2011, 04:34 PM	#6
CitoRat4Ever I bungee my freezer shut Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Santa Barbara Posts: 1,012	Re: WSB and Sea Lions Harbor seals are dicks.

07-01-2011, 08:44 PM	#8
Mojave Green Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Lost Vegas Posts: 147	Re: WSB and Sea Lions I shot a YT and they immediately attacked it. I still don't know how I made it out of that situation with out being bit. They were trying to take bites from the fish as I swam it back to the boat. In my face inches away showing their teeth. Tripping up my feet so I couldn't fin. Wouldn't they do the same with WSB. __________________ Funny Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IByDSLeM6Lk

07-01-2011, 11:50 PM	#9
Bob Ballew Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 5,058	Re: WSB and Sea Lions unless they are next to you, it doesn't seem to matter much...until.....you spear a fish, then, the tug of war is ON.....have punched two of them in the nose to retrieve yellowtail they grabbed from me...like bulldogs...they hiss, dive at your fins and blow bubbles, but, have never had one try to bite me...fortunately...not a technique I recommend unless you are very territorrial like me.......those are very big sharp teeth you have, grandma....Nacho's dog on the Long Beach bait barge tangled with one..took 200 stitches to patch his dog up...they have been seen on various occasions, with wsb in their mouth, even in mid-channel..unknown if the fish was injured or grabbed out of a school.. Last edited by Bob Ballew; 07-02-2011 at 06:52 PM.

07-02-2011, 06:09 AM	#10
Mojave Green Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Lost Vegas Posts: 147	Re: WSB and Sea Lions In another Baja situation while on a charter with Dale Pearson: Sea Lion grabbed the stringer, we grabbed the float line, and three grown men were dragged through the water as if we were nothing. I saw a dead female Sea Lion on the beach. It's jaw was twice the size as the jaw of the biggest known dog. __________________ Funny Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IByDSLeM6Lk

07-04-2011, 02:14 AM	#11
Alashaman PB 56.2 Lbs Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 1,360	Re: WSB and Sea Lions Interesting 7 responses to the poll and its basically even...

07-04-2011, 03:15 PM	#12
growingupninja Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 451	Re: WSB and Sea Lions I have never had to fight a sea lion for a fish and certainly wouldn't want to. I've dove near them and they've never bothered me and generally kept their distance but I do the same, same as if I saw any other stranger diving in the kelp... I might acknowledge them with a nod but I keep my distance. I always note a spot where I see a sea lion diving and once they leave I go investigate; there's always fish there. Seals seem to be more curious--I've been 'approached' and watched by a seal on several occasions but never a sea lion, and when I've been diving quietly with a seal nearby also diving quietly, I've also run into large WSB, so the WSB wasn't frightened off by the seal. I like running into seals and dolphins; sea lions less so.

07-05-2011, 12:47 AM	#14
Captn Ron Long Beach Neptune Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Pedro, CA Posts: 1,865	Re: WSB and Sea Lions I'm not really sure. I was diving around alot of noisy seals once in the enchanted islands and I shot a limit of sea bass. I was scared that the dogs would try to get the fish so I short lined all three. I never had them try to take any of the fish. I have had dogs harass me for y.t. and even worse for bonito. __________________ I swim in circles alot.

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