Black Sea Bass

[drbill]

"Munching and Mating in the Macrocystis" is already available (see my website link). It contains several minutes of BSB footage but read the description on the web page.

Had an AWESOME 45+ minute encounter with a solitary black sea bass at 50-60' today. Unfortunately I went in without putting a new videotape in the camcorder and shot only 35 minutes of footage. I hung with it for another 5-6 minutes afterwards, but left since I didn't want to get too close to deco (at just 55') since it was the first dive of the day. Next dive the vis was so poor I completely missed a black sea
bass 20' away. The divers who were with it said they saw me go by, but I was moving too fast for them to catch me.

Looking forward to watching the unedited footage tonight!!!

Too bad my new "dive buddy" (an SB member) was diving the mainland instead of here with me where she belongs!

 

[drbill]

By the way... a certain instructor here on SB (who shall remain nameless unless he wants to reveal himself) came up shortly after me and said the black sea bass bit his arm. He was feeding peas to the kelp bass, and the big boy ate a few and then swam straight for him and the bag of peas he was holding. This is a first... and there were witnesses (but no documentation).

 

[SNOBORDJON]

Yeah it was pretty awesome. Lexy, Phil and I hung with him for about 25minutes on the first dive, and amazingly saw him again on the second dive. Mine and lexy's first sighting!

Sweet!
John

 

[drbill]

John- Glad you and Lexy had a good sighting before her surgery. Sorry I didn't get more time to talk to you all. There were a lot of folks I knew at the park today, including one of my dive buddies who was on her honeymoon staying here with me (but, alas, I was not the groom!).

 

[ICY ICE]

John- Glad you and Lexy had a good sighting before her surgery. Sorry I didn't get more time to talk to you all. There were a lot of folks I knew at the park today, including one of my dive buddies who was on her honeymoon staying here with me (but, alas, I was not the groom!).

Dr. Bill, on the subject marriage has Karen E.B. gotton married????

:07: She's a sweetheart :07: .

 

[drbill]

No, KEB has not gotten married but she might as well have! She spends a lot of time with Kevin and I don't see her too often. I'm happy for her... as you said, she's a real sweetheart and a great dive buddy.

She was out a few weeks ago and it was great to see her. Says she'll be out here more frequently now (with classes, etc.).

Bill

 

[scubatomwetzel]

:boings:

Ok, Dr Bill.
Yes, I was there and got bitten lightly. Small bruise on elbow area, outside and small bruise just below. As I normally do after a check out for a openwater class, we to a tour. Yes, I usually bring peas and feed the fish. We were at the Consteue plaque. The previously dive this 5 foot Black Sea Bass swam by. I swam over the sprinkled som peas and watched. The Black Sea Bass seemed to inhale and munch some. I was about 10 feet from him. I was about to let some more peas loose, when the Black Sea Bass, suddenly swam quickly towards me. I kinda used my elbow to block the Black Sea Bass. According to my fellow instructor and students, the heard a loud THUMP! The Black Sea Bass swam behind me about 15 feet. As we moved shallower, the Black Sea Bass followed to about 30 feet in depth. Then swam back. Yes, he seemed to follow me. No, I did not let any more peas out. For at least, he was not following.

So have you laughs and all.

BUT, THIS IS TRUE AND BEWARE IF YOU ARE FEEDING FISH at Catalina Island, Casino Point Dive Park :icon_excl :icon_excl

I do not recommend beginners or experience diver or snorklers feeding fish. I have done this for over 35 years of diving. Yes, I have been bitten in the hand many times from little fish to some occaisional large sheephead and a few other larger fish.

Tom Wetzel,
Los Angeles County,
NAUI, PADI, YMCA Insturctor
Since 1976
scubatomwetzel@earthlink.net


PS, Dr Bill, try a follow-up with the peas during the week and let me know?? :10:

 

[drbill]

Tom, you've revealed yourself! By the way, I know two instructors here who had their hands roughed up quite a bit by large kelp bass when they were feeding the fish peas. These were not black sea bass, so this is a first as far as I know.

 

[PhotoTJ]

And who was the first Casino Point diver who thought, "Hey, I wonder if fish like frozen vegitables?" And the first fish that thought, "Peas, yummy!"

 

[drbill]

Yes, I must admit that feeding the fish peas and corn is somewhat strange. In fact feeding the fish (especially one's arm!) is a bit strange as well.

I think of the officially recognized marine reserve at Lover's Cove where fish are regularly fed by the glassbottom boats and snorkelers. The species composition and abundance is quite different there compared to the dive park.