Assault by fish

[Big Jay]

So far i have only done diving in Dutch Springs PA.

However, on the last dive we came upon a grassy ridge in the middle. All these female sunfish were nesting guarding their eggs. You could see the grass parted down in little circles with the females keeping guard in the center.

I went in for a closer look and they attacked me. I was laughing until the little bugger pursued me for quite a distance. Than i was thankful it wasn't something more formidable.

 

[yak]

My last lobster bite was last summer, reaching into the cooler barehanded to give the lobster in the cooler to Scubastu. I removed the lobster with just one finger! He went flying through the air and landed on the sidewalk at Brant Rock. From there he landed in Stu's cooler.

 

[ScubaNorth]

Makes me think I'll be real careful when returning shorts to their hole. I really don't want Billy Bass trying to snack out of my hand and getting a little more than lobster. I am trying the Chebby method for my next few dives. I have had some sucess with a tickle stick and the waiting game but Chebby has a point. I am one of those less than perfect buddies that will lose track of you over a lobster. That is a skill I am working on, buddy tracking. I don't mind getting seperated as I am comfortable solo but I don't want to leave my buddy in the position of looking for me.

 

[ScubaNorth]

So far i have only done diving in Dutch Springs PA.

However, on the last dive we came upon a grassy ridge in the middle. All these female sunfish were nesting guarding their eggs. You could see the grass parted down in little circles with the females keeping guard in the center.

I went in for a closer look and they attacked me. I was laughing until the little bugger pursued me for quite a distance. Than i was thankful it wasn't something more formidable.

Oh you have to make time to come to MA and dive Cape Ann. I have dove all over the place form MA to Florida and down to the Bahamas and Cape Ann is in my humble opinion the best. The Bahamas are beautiful but it's like a fish tank to me. I would rather dive the cold murky waters of Cape Ann than any other place I've been. Of course diving in the Bahamas with Sharks lurking about is about as cool as it gets.

 

[Big Jay]

Oh you have to make time to come to MA and dive Cape Ann. I have dove all over the place form MA to Florida and down to the Bahamas and Cape Ann is in my humble opinion the best. The Bahamas are beautiful but it's like a fish tank to me. I would rather dive the cold murky waters of Cape Ann than any other place I've been. Of course diving in the Bahamas with Sharks lurking about is about as cool as it gets.

Really? What sort of life are we talking @ Cape Ann?

I recently got certified and can't wait to dive some different locations.

I run the familie's sportfisher out of southern NJ. I've have seen some cool stuff. One of my goals for the future is to dive an offshore weedline and catch a glimpse of some of the pelagic and pelagic tropicals that frequent the upper water column.

We have seen trigger fish, these weird colorful stripey fish, amberjack, black tip sharks, and of course things such as marlin, wahoo, tuna, and mahi underneath the weed patties. You just need to find one big enough. Of course we have seen these all from the boat, but the fact that i am certified now and have all my gear opens up a new oppurtunity.

 

[Squalus]

When not diving in the ocean, we (my dive buddies and I) tend to frequent the local dive quarries here in Ohio. Whereas, in the initial dive brief we tend to go over everything that needs to be covered as far as safety and what not. If we have a newbie with us we makes sure that they are briefed about the Northern Piranna species (sunfish/bluegills) that live at the White Star Quarry in northern Ohio. It seems like all animals that are trained when they see people/divers they are going to get fed. Had the unfortunate incident of having ones ear bitten by them for not wearing a hood :11: . We tend to have extra hoods for those who forgot theirs at home .

The second notorious dive site is Gilboa, thanks to Mike the owner who had it stocked some time ago with trout and other game fish. He does not allow fishing there (thank god, no dodging hooks or getting hit in the head by sinkers, or getting entangled with fishing lines). The trout there are humongous and have a very harty appetite, same applies with diving the Star. They will literally surround you like a hunting pack and bump you for food. Have a few bite marks on my bc from one large trout, likes to bite at you for attention. I love taking new divers down and sit them on the bus or plane and begin the feeding frenzy and see their eyes go from small to big when it begins.

 

[yak]

Makes me think I'll be real careful when returning shorts to their hole. I really don't want Billy Bass trying to snack out of my hand and getting a little more than lobster. I am trying the Chebby method for my next few dives. I have had some sucess with a tickle stick and the waiting game but Chebby has a point. I am one of those less than perfect buddies that will lose track of you over a lobster. That is a skill I am working on, buddy tracking. I don't mind getting seperated as I am comfortable solo but I don't want to leave my buddy in the position of looking for me.

I wouldn't worry about Billy Bass - they have no teeth. Now Billy Blue would be another story....

 

[Charlie99]

I was bitten by a fish once while feeding sting rays at Sting Ray City dive site on Cayman Islands. Had little tooth marks all over my index finger.

One of the stingrays got me. The guys on the Fisheye boat said they didn't have any teeth, and that since they can't go in reverse, that if you hold the food in a clenched fist and move it past their mouth, they'll loop around again.

A big stingray managed to take my entire fist well back into his mouth. It turns out that they do have some sort of scrapers/grinders back there, and it scratched my knuckle a bit.

Then I quickly jerked my hand out and scratched it up a bunch more. All caught on tape by the DM, of course

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Oh, and even though the spiny lobsters down in Florida don't have claws, it isn't a good idea to grab them without gloves. They can wiggle pretty hard, causing minor lacerations with their various body parts. I found that out the hard way while diving with an insta-buddy that was lobstering. Used bare hands to grab a big guy that was out in the open. Even thin gloves is enough protection.

 

[aNightDiver]

... diving in Dutch Springs PA ....

Dove there once with my brother. I added my initials to the side of the bus. He on the other hand, carved what seemed to be the Declaration of Independence. While he was doing all this work I watched a good size fish swim right up to his head and bite him hard enough to draw blood. He almost stabbed himself in the head trying to fend the fish off. I almost drowned myself laughing.

 

[ScubaNorth]

Dove there once with my brother. I added my initials to the side of the bus. He on the other hand, carved what seemed to be the Declaration of Independence. While he was doing all this work I watched a good size fish swim right up to his head and bite him hard enough to draw blood. He almost stabbed himself in the head trying to fend the fish off. I almost drowned myself laughing.

Now that is funny. I know that laugh it is the laugh only a brother could have it his siblings expense.