Blue Heron Bridge Trolls III

[mpar]

My dad and I went diving at the bridge last week guided by @Scuba_Jenny (with @MrChen as well) and am finally getting around to posting a report. Was a great dive and saw lots of cool stuff! I think @Scuba_Jenny mentioned most of it in her first post so I'll just attach a few pictures.

Unfortunately this was the only high tide that worked with our schedule. We did a bit of diving earlier that day in the snorkel trail fighting against the current. We found a few interesting critters but unfortunately it was too hard to get a good photo while fighting the current. We also returned the next day for some snorkeling at low tide and found a squat urchin shrimp and a box crab.

Thanks @Scuba_Jenny and @MrChen for a great dive!

 

[PBcatfish]

My dad and I went diving at the bridge last week guided by @Scuba_Jenny (with @MrChen as well) and am finally getting around to posting a report. Was a great dive and saw lots of cool stuff! I think @Scuba_Jenny mentioned most of it in her first post so I'll just attach a few pictures.

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Unfortunately this was the only high tide that worked with our schedule. We did a bit of diving earlier that day in the snorkel trail fighting against the current. We found a few interesting critters but unfortunately it was too hard to get a good photo while fighting the current. We also returned the next day for some snorkeling at low tide and found a squat urchin shrimp and a box crab.

Thanks @Scuba_Jenny and @MrChen for a great dive!

The last picture shows what I believe to be a fire bearded bristle worm. Look but don't touch. Those quills will go through a glove & light you up.

 

[Pipehorse]

Went to the bridge for diving yesterday. The park was not crowded, plenty of south facing parking spaces available. Perhaps the forecast, a front moving through bring rain and cold kept people away. Front did move through but much later in the day with very little rain, as I write the weather is cool and sunny 67f.

For the second day in row entered the water late, 1050 for an 1136 tide. Sea temp holding at 79f, blue water but cloudy vis a little less than the day before, but in the 30ft range. Stayed on the west side in between the bridge pilings, the area south the bridge pilings, and the west end of the snorkel trail. Did a REEF survey of 55 species.

My intention for the dive was to get five photos (the limit allowed in one post here on SB). Sergeant Major, Porkfish, French Grunt, Grey Angelfish, and Sharpnose Puffer. In order those are the five most common occurring fish species at BHB according to the REEF database (recall my post here of October 30). But, as often is the case at BHB I was distracted immediately upon entering the water by another species. My count of Jack Crevalle was 500-1000 individuals. Crevalle Jacks For a REEF survey "abundant" is anything over 100 individuals. I did video for a minute as they swam by me, thing is, they had been swimming by me for two minutes before I started the video. I would be surprised to see a single baitfish left at the bridge.

Respectfully Crevalle Jack, Pygmy Seabass (great camouflage), Sergeant Major, French Grunt, Juvenile Gray Angelfish with Sharpnose Puffer.

 

[Jake 10]

error

 

[Jake 10]

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On the first pic, is that a box fish or a baby trunk fish?

 

[mpar]

I think it’s a juvenile trunkfish (Lactophrys trigonus) Buffalo Trunkfish Lactophrys trigonus juvenile | Blenny Watcher

 

[mpar]

The last picture shows what I believe to be a fire bearded bristle worm. Look but don't touch. Those quills will go through a glove & light you up.

Yep, when I was younger I made the mistake of trying to save one that had been stranded at low tide. Was not a fun experience

 

[PBcatfish]

Went to the bridge for diving yesterday. The park was not crowded, plenty of south facing parking spaces available. Perhaps the forecast, a front moving through bring rain and cold kept people away. Front did move through but much later in the day with very little rain, as I write the weather is cool and sunny 67f.

For the second day in row entered the water late, 1050 for an 1136 tide. Sea temp holding at 79f, blue water but cloudy vis a little less than the day before, but in the 30ft range. Stayed on the west side in between the bridge pilings, the area south the bridge pilings, and the west end of the snorkel trail. Did a REEF survey of 55 species.

My intention for the dive was to get five photos (the limit allowed in one post here on SB). Sergeant Major, Porkfish, French Grunt, Grey Angelfish, and Sharpnose Puffer. In order those are the five most common occurring fish species at BHB according to the REEF database (recall my post here of October 30). But, as often is the case at BHB I was distracted immediately upon entering the water by another species. My count of Jack Crevalle was 500-1000 individuals. Crevalle Jacks For a REEF survey "abundant" is anything over 100 individuals. I did video for a minute as they swam by me, thing is, they had been swimming by me for two minutes before I started the video. I would be surprised to see a single baitfish left at the bridge.

Respectfully Crevalle Jack, Pygmy Seabass (great camouflage), Sergeant Major, French Grunt, Juvenile Gray Angelfish with Sharpnose Puffer.
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The porkfish are nuisance by-catch for local fishermen in certain areas locally. Once you throw 5 of them back in a row, it's time to go. They can be relentless feeders. ...but, in some places where they are plentiful, if you are diving around them, and you rip open a bag of fish food, you can get a buddy to take a picture of your arms & legs sticking out of a ball of colorful fish, which can be a cool tourist memento.

As for the crevalles, they are just plain aggressive in a big way. If you go to certain coves & beaches in the mornings, you can watch them run bait fish up onto the banks. They move fast, aggressive & in lock step. I don't know how they manage to coordinate their synchronized turns so well, but they do a great job of it. A big Jack Attack is a show to be seen. They are also a very strong fish that puts up a hook & line fight that is easily in the top 10%. If they were good to eat, they would be a prized sport fish on par with Mahi. This area has some really big ones. I can easily find examples that are over 3' long within a mile of the bridge. Some might be 4'. They would be even more plentiful if certain local Spanish markets didn't pay $0.50/pound for them, no questions asked, from locals without salt water product licenses. It's actually a good thing that those guys thin them out. Cravalles eat a lot. Other fish populations already suffer under their relentless attacks.

 

[PBcatfish]

Yep, when I was younger I made the mistake of trying to save one that had been stranded at low tide. Was not a fun experience

I brought one up on a fishing hook once. If I had to do it over again, I would cut the line & abandon the hook, if I didn't have needle nose pliers available.

 

[tarponchik]

"yes I have the permit for night diving at BHB"

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