Sorry Breathless but your day was light petting compared to this unadulterated destruction of ichthyious inhabitants.:fish: The perpatrators included chuck, Storment and yours truly. We arrived at our super secret honey hole at a late 11hundred, to mirror conditions with the viz of Russia's finest 100proof. Storment hurled himself from the gunwhale for a quick recon to confirm conditions. Minutes later he throws the signal for the start of the battle with a wiggling hooky paa. Moments later the anchor is set and a drop line with bouy is released into the strong southern current. As we enter the water were greeted by a white sand bottom with schools of monster Taman patrolling for their next meal. chuck starts it off by anchoring a nice 6-8lb Taman, one of the nicest I have seen. We all end up going our own directions but after a few hrs we meet back at the boat to swap stories.
During the first dive I spotted a very big blue fin and tried to buck the current to get an angle but to no avail. I searched around the caves for my quarry but ended up spotting an nice CT hanging in 20ft or so. I dove down and lined up, offering only a head on shot, I fired and hit mid body in the spine turning his back half white and imobile. I returned to the surface and stringered my catch on to see a shark coming right at me, through the blood cloud of my CT. I tried to load my gun while keeping an eye on the tax collector circling me at the end of my shaft in hand. After some tense moments I loaded the bands and he took off. At the boat Chuck tells me he had the same experience. Storment came back with a nice haul of snappers and Taman. After a rice ball and stories we hit the water again. Off in the distance I saw the glooming shapes of a school of big Taman. I dove straight down behind a coral knob and peeked out at the school now headed for me at speed. i poked the ice-pick around the side aimed and fired stoning a good one right behind the eye. After reloading I dove back to the same spot and got 2 more in about 5min. Storment and Chuck also got more Parrots, Taman and peacock grouper.
Around 2oclock we picked up anchor and moved a mile down the reef to another location and hopped in. At this point a big squall is coming in fast and the wind and swells are picking up. After bagging another good taman and grouper I head. Chuck and myself dive abig crack full of large wary Mu and assrtd other nice fish. I proceeded to miss a nice CT and Rainbow runner. :(
I headed back towards the boat and decided to hang in the sand for a Taman to finish up. I took up a good deep breathe and hit the bottom. laying motionless for about 45 sec, I feel something brush my side. I turn to see a white tip about ft from my face about to latch on to my stringer. I spun like lightning in surprise and scare the crap out of this shark, he freaks and rolls off for a cave. I think both our heart rates were maxed. I was pretty much done at this point so I headed for the boat. I ran into a sweet lips like Breathless's unkwn one, only 4 times bigger. By far the biggest reef fish I have seen, putting any Maori wrasse to shame. He disappeared in a cave before I could get a shot but if i didnt stone him I would be out alot of gear as he would have wound me around every cave and reef. Storment ended up with some more big Taman and a really nice knife jaw, and a huge cubera type snapper which he rescued from the mouth of 2 sharks bent on a free meal. chuck had a quite a few pull off as well. We had a wet ride home and shared alot of good stories. We should have had a few more fish but we came back safe so its all good.

Is that you DTT? Is it me?

Who is DTT?

nice. good job

THat is a nice haul! Good to see you killing so many parrots. All they do is tear up our reefs. Nice Taman catch for sure. I need to know your secret spot.

Nice fish guys! Ya'll tore that place a new one.

Is that you DTT? Is it me?

Who is DTT?

HAHA, Shit i thought Chuck:chuck: was DTT, oops. I mean chuck.

No problem my call sign is cww180, and thanks for inviting me it was a blast diving with you guys. Tell Storman I didn't forget I owe him 500 yen!

Yeah I just remembered, haha. Sorry. yeah it was a good time, well do it again soon, hit up zamami. Forget the yen, he owes me too, haha.

Thats pretty sad, you guys not only raped the reef of way too many fish but shoot some small ass uhu's and papios, looks like you guys just shot everything in your sights. To top it off the title of your post says your proud of it.

I know Japan's waters are already fished out and not by divers, but why pound it out even more shooting anykine fish. Auwe!

:bsflag: I can already see where this is going...Welcome to the planet great first post:redcard:

Thats pretty sad, you guys not only raped the reef of way too many fish but shoot some small ass uhu's and papios, looks like you guys just shot everything in your sights. To top it off the title of your post says your proud of it.

I know Japan's waters are already fished out and not by divers, but why pound it out even more shooting anykine fish. Auwe!

Your entering a conversation you dont know anything about, if you did you would understand its a joke. Second we shot exactly what we wanted to and they were selected from thousands of others based on size and edibility. All these fish are going to be eaten. of course. The small uhus were taken by a native fisherman as well so go whine to him. Somethin tells me this is someone else under a false name anyway.:scratchhead:

I say kill all the parrot fish you want. There are millions of them, and appearantly every time they shit when they swim away from you, they are laying more eggs. Parrot isn't even that damn good to eat IMO. Don't get me wrong, it's OK Sashimi, but by no means is it grouper, trevally, tuna, or Taman. Once again. Nice catch on the Taman. You can keep all that Uhu though.:2gunsfiring_v1:

Yeah I hear yah skinny. Im with you.

Are all of you guys aware of the ignore function in this forum?

Nice catch. Those fish with the white spots on their belly and orange lips are very cool looking. They are a type of trigger right? The reddish looking snapper with the funky colored cheeks looks like it would be really tasty too. You guys should get some macro pics of the colorful ones to show off their markings and color and maybe submit a few to HSD. I always look for those type of pictures in their mags and find myself continually captivated with the beauty of the reef fish of the pacific.

Kick-ass catch dude. Good job.

My comments were based on everything I have heard and seen coming from all you americans stationed in Japan, there is no regard for conservation from you folks and it is obvious in your pictures, words and actions.We are hunters, and this is a place where we can openly discuss our passions without putting up with shit like this from ignorant envorionmentalists.

Spearfishing is the most selective and responsible way to harvest food from the ocean. Don't even start that shit around here dude.

I don't think that for 4 people on an all day boating trip that the amount of fish taken was excessive. The boat captain owns and runs a fish restaraunt, of the 3 Americans only 2 fish were taken home between 3 spearos.

Thanks for F'ing up our ocean! It's your fault there are no more killer whales around Okinawa.

I must say after living here on Okinawa for 2 years that the locals have an intimate relationship with the ocean, much like the Hawaiians. Most of the Okinawans are fairly poor and cannot afford to swim out to the outer reef with a 65 inch cannon to spear fish, so they are resolved to standing on the inner reef at low tide and catching whatever small fish they can. Those that can afford boats may fair a little better. Here in Okinawa, we have a tenuous relationship with the locals and the fishing union and we therefore serve a better purpose by sharing our catches with them. I think it is great that we get chances to go out on boats with Okinawan locals in return for hooking them up with some fish. Many times on a shore dive I will give a fish or 2 to a nearby fisherman, in hopes of fostering a better view of spearfishermen to the locals. I know most of the guys here do the same. I think this string should probably be closed by a senior member, but I wanted to say that I see nothing wrong with giving fish to people (the Okinawans) who will use every last inch of that fish while on the other hand allowing our servicemembers and civilians over here an outlet to pursue their love of being in the ocean which is the last truly wild frontier.

Thats sad, why even dive if your not diving for consumtion, are you just diving to take pictures and then toss it to the nearest fish eater.

:wtf: I must be missing your point :crazy:
:fish:

I couldn't agree more with you finbreaker. I was out with my buddy Alex the other day, and it just so happened that he nailed one parrot fish and another fish that was descent. He was pissed off because he had his flopper fall off of his gun after repairing it with limited equipment. I told him that since he was pissed and didn't really feel like dealing with a parrot fish that it would make him feel better to give the fish to one of the local H&L fishers in the area. So he did. Not only did it make him feel a little better about his misfortune, it also put a smile on the face of the guy he gave the fish to. The man in turn offered us a pair of huge potatoes and was very happy to give them to us. Every time I've given fish to a local fisherman they were very happy, and I do it somewhat often. There isn't anything wrong with it. It makes spearos look better. Who cares who eats the fish as long as someone does? I don't.

Were the fish all taken legally? If so, then you need a big steaming cup of STFU, Concerned. The fish weren't wasted. If you have a problem with the amount of legal take then you need to take that up with the people making the rules. If you decide to do so, then please base your opinions upon science and not the fuzzy feeling you got from the last Disney movie you watched. :rolleyes:

I cant argue with that, that was very well said. I have been lurking both boards for a long time, from what I have seen it seems to me that the "most" of the guys who post in this section are all about bragging and slaying the most fish and have no regard for conservation or have no intent on really enjoy the catch aside from posting about it.

I agree with giving fish to those who cant get fish, it feels good, but to just shoot anything that swims by and then give away just to say it didnt go to waste is wrong and it gives them an excuse to slay anything that swims. Just curious, but how does clown trigger fish taste?

Look MauiFreeDiver, if they eat it, why does it matter? You dont know how many fish they saw, there could have been a whole school and the amount they took wasnt even a lot. Stop hating cuz you cant get fish of your own.
You dont know these guys skill level either, and to put someone down is real big of you. Oh wait I get it, constructive criticism right :rolleyes:

As a few of you recall, I am against "harvesting" the juvenile fish of any species. This is because of the whole reef population piece. Yet, if you are drilling mature fish for that species, and the fish are being eaten by you, your friends/neighbors, or the Okinawan community, then blast away.

American's going out fishing/spearing with the Japanese and/or giving them fish that they have killed is a HUGE public relations deal. I guarantee that any "typical" spearo on Okinawa has done more for Okinawa/U.S. relations than most land bound gajin. I consider giving a fish as my own little COMREL (community relations project). Shooting "extra" fish and giving such to them shows these already warm and generous people that while you may be diving in/around their fishing spot, you are willing to share your rewards. I give away no less than 50% of what I kill to either friends or locals (I don’t sell any fish though). Locals are the priority. If I see an Okinawan fishing in the general area I am in I will make an effort to shoot an extra fish just for him/her. Try putting 12" Taman in a plastic PX bag with a bit of ice, and passing it to the first 102 year old Okinawan woman you see walking up the street. Try doing the same to the security guard manning the gate at what ever base you may enter. I have even given my Mama San a 24” ulua as sort of “bonus” for not stealing the silver.

Just kill the mature fish, ensure what you harvest is being used, and be kind to our Okinawan hosts and all is good.

I cant argue with that, that was very well said. I have been lurking both boards for a long time, from what I have seen it seems to me that the "most" of the guys who post in this section are all about bragging and slaying the most fish and have no regard for conservation or have no intent on really enjoy the catch aside from posting about it.

I agree with giving fish to those who cant get fish, it feels good, but to just shoot anything that swims by and then give away just to say it didnt go to waste is wrong and it gives them an excuse to slay anything that swims. Just curious, but how does clown trigger fish taste?

:wtf:
Dude....now I gotta respond. Don't you get the point that you don't matter to us??? Take your "Disney" (thanks Kev) attitude to another place and time. All of us here have a passion and that is spearing fish. All of us do it for our own reasons, our reasons only. We don't do it for you. Do you really think your comments will change any of that? Simple answer is NO! NONE of what we take goes to waste. Where it goes is our business not yours. If your not on this island which I suspect is true, you haven't even the faintest of clues about what goes on here.

Moderators its time to close this and keep him from wasting our time. :redcard:

No problem!

Maui if you want to make a point do it on your normal user name please.