Giant sea bass in our backyard

[Merry]

With vis clearing up a bit, Phil and I dove Hermosa Artificial Reef. A patchwork of concrete blocks and pilings, it has become a home to some, and a courting spot to other giant sea bass. We contribute our images to researchers at UC Santa Barbara who use pattern recognition software to identify individual, uniquely marked GSB. Giant sea bass are a critically endangered species and this study will help determine if they are making a comeback.

Sightings and images of the full fish are greatly appreciated and can be reported at: Spotting Giant Sea Bass

Massive gray moon sponge dominates an 8-foot pillar we couldn't resist naming "Spongehenge". At least 15 GSB aggregated in the water column above us. I underexposed quite a few while wrestling with a new lens, so please forgive the green and graineyness.

Massive gray moon sponge!

Courting behavior

More giant sea bass at link below.

• Spongehenge and Giant Sea Bass - Merry Passage

 

[CathyCA]

My pictures are not as sharp as yours but clearly in the same spot, likely some of the same fish. Thanks for the info about the UC Santa Barbara research. These were taken on 8/20/2019.

 

[Merry]

Wow, that's great Cathy! What a coincidence. It's nice to know that you were on that site, too.
The group above would love to have your third image to evaluate as another sighting from Hermosa Artificial Reef. Thank you so much for posting it.

 

[CathyCA]

Wow, that's great Cathy! What a coincidence. It's nice to know that you were on that site, too.
The group above would love to have your third image to evaluate as another sighting from Hermosa Artificial Reef. Thank you so much for posting it.

I submitted the image after I posted here. I really enjoy diving Hermosa Reef but don't usually have camera with me. Soon we will be out scouting for lobster. Our boat is Bottomtime. A few years ago someone came by who thought they knew us. Probably thinking Max Bottomtime? Another coincidence. I really enjoy both of your pictures. The nudibranchs are amazing.

 

[Johnoly]

@Merry & @CathyCA
Really great images considering the conditions !!

 

[CathyCA]

Late last night received an email. "Just a quick e-mail to let you know that the encounter that you submitted has been added as a new, previously unidentified giant sea bass!" GSB255.

Pretty cool. Thanks again for alerting me to their research.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

When we moved No Pressure to Port Royal we saw Bottomtime right away. Merry has talked to Don at the marina, and we enjoy his videos. I didn't know you were that Cathy until last night.

 

[undrwater]

@Merry , are you suggesting in photo 3 that the GSB is courting Phil (I assume that's him with the camera in the background)?

 

[Merry]

@Merry , are you suggesting in photo 3 that the GSB is courting Phil (I assume that's him with the camera in the background)?

LOL, it could happen!