Black Sea Bass Speared? Your Opinion?

[drbill]

Just finished editing all my video footage from the past four days of diving. While processing the stills, I noticed that two of the individuals appear to display wounds which might be consistent with a glancing blow from a speargun or sling. I'm posting several of the pictures in hopes that some of you may be able to offer a more informed opinion than I can.

Although I used to spearfish, I gave it up 30 years ago. Now the only way I "capture" fish is on videotape. Of course I'll eat what others spear (as long as it is done legally). I'm not familiar with contemporary spear fishing equipment and the type of injuries it might leave on an animal.

If the two examples below may represent glancing blows from a spear, it is extremely sad. There isn't a large population of these fish in Avalon waters and for two to exhibit such "wounds" would be disturbing.

I do not think any real spear fisher would do this. If they are spear wounds, they may be from young kids... possibly even thinking they are defending themselves.

Please let me know what your opinion is.

Dr. Bill

 

[California Diver]

thats pretty hard to tell, but it seems the wound has an arch to it so in my opinion i would say it doesnt appear to be a spear wound but who knows.

 

[CaptAdam]

Dr Bill,,, thats seems like the same black sea bass that i have seen many times at Italian Gardens...Its a bummer that anyone would even try to spear one. Where did you see that one.

 

[drbill]

CaptAdam- Both of these fish were in the Casino Pt. dive park. I'm trying to capture enough still images that I can begin to ID individuals and try to track their behavior.

Some divers tell me that the numbers at Italian Gardens have dropped over the past few years. I haven't been there in ages (I think it is a lousy dive location unless the BSB's are present) since I see plenty of them around Avalon. Perhaps it is just that the population is dispersing.

California Diver- that is why I think the second one may be due to a glancing blow with the spear "bouncing" off the thick skull.

Bill

 

[ChrisM]

Could be teeth marks

 

[drbill]

Just heard from a former grad school colleague of mine who is a better ichthyologist than I am. She suggested that the wounds on the bodies of these fish could also be consistent with feeding behavior. Black sea bass will take lobster by poking their heads into rocky hiding places, which could leave injuries like this.

I always thought they took lobster at night when they are out in the open, so this was interesting to hear.

 

[ScottZeagle]

Bill,

Those definitely do NOT look like any spear marks that I have ever seen. I understand your logic in this post, but I fear that it may leave the impression that spearfishermen simply shoot whatever they see, regardless of whether or not it is legal. I have many friends that are avid (and some even commercial) spearfishermen, and I can assure you that they are quite selective in what they shoot at.

Best regards,

Scott

 

[archman]

I understand your logic in this post, but I fear that it may leave the impression that spearfishermen simply shoot whatever they see, regardless of whether or not it is legal.

Oh, can I count the times I've seen or seen the direct results of indiscriminant spearfishing. I've seen it in Florida, Texas, and the Bahamas. Usually it's by clueless folks that managed to get a sling or gun into their hot little hands. It's a wonder none of these yahoos have shot ME yet...

 

[ScottZeagle]

Oh, can I count the times I've seen or seen the direct results of indiscriminant spearfishing. I've seen it in Florida, Texas, and the Bahamas. Usually it's by clueless folks that managed to get a sling or gun into their hot little hands. It's a wonder none of these yahoos have shot ME yet...

Point taken. Maybe the crowd that I am associated with just has more common sense than the average yahoo. That being said, the mortality rate for any fish is far greater from hook and line fishing than from spearfishing.

 

[flyhigh123]

slightly off topic, but just wondering where in the dive park you can find these guys? at what depth?