I have been collecting tropicals for 20 years or so.....each fish seems to like to hang out in different places generally...with exceptions to the rule. the best conditions are clear visibility nights...about an hour after dusk....and the water surging slightly....A lot of the fish go into sleep mode and are pretty easy to catch....some do not. The slight movement of water un hides them from their seaweed hiding spots. I will make a list of where they can be found ....and I have found them as deep as 50 feet, but under 30 I have the best luck. As for Wetherill, I enter the West cove (boat ramp and work either side.....since its a very slow dive, I usually run out of warmth before air...In fact I did an hour and half last night and had 1500 psi left. So...If i was doing the left side of the cove.....
in the rocky crevices I look for spotfin and 4 eye butterfly fish, I have also found (last year) two lion fish, in about 25 feet of water - they were hunting and eating at the time. Those were found towards the end of the first leg of the dive, in other words just before I turn around and go back down the wall. These were found near the under water break that allows you to go to the east cove. I then work my way back. On the sand fringe where the walls meet are good for big eye, grouper, surgeon fish, goat fish etc. Just go very slow ..and you will be amazed at what you miss on normal dives...the colors, and soft coral are trully awesome......look for anything that is out of the ordinary and moves.....
Now...at the end of the dive.....with the air remaining...work the fringes and in the eel grasses. On the edges you will find big eyes, trunk fish and tons of file fish ( very aggressive aquarium fish) If you can, this is at about 5 feet or less..you can spend almost forever here on 500 psi of air...in fact sometimes I continue to work the right side of the cover after I have done the eel grass. By the way....any dive site will have tropicals.....but I have 400 plus dives Wetherill alone and always do very well there. In fact...don't tell anyone.....but this is where I catch all of my octopus!!!
As for collecting.....this is a challenge...two people work best, but it can be done alone...I use a light mounted to my head...but for years I did it with a hand held light....I use zip lock bags and an aquarium net...its cumbersome but works for me....I roll up large gallon size zip locks in a zippered catch bag pocket or BC pocket...careful....even when they do not have any air in them they want to float away. I clip on the handle of the net to my clips on my bc.....So I then catch a fish with the net.....Groupers and fast swimming fish you have to be perfect and very fast...the others you can take your time and get them...still have to be fast but its easier. the 3-4 inch net works good. I catch the fish and loop the net over its self which traps the fish in the net. And I hold this gently (do not squash the fish) with one hand....With the other.......and if you have a hand held light, you need to kneel on the botton and put the light in between your legs shining upwards - you figure this out real fast after you blind yourself for the first time. So with the other hand, open and retrieve your zip lock bag, open it and fill it with water. Sounds easy, but it takes practice....Then slide the net into the back of the bag and hold the opening closed around the shaft to the net, then work the fish out of the net and carfully slide the net out of the bag....CAREFUL....they seem to know how to escape.......if you are still on your knees, you can actually drop the net at this point and use both hands to close the zip lock...make sure there is a small pillow of water in the bag....then put the bag in your catch bag.....Whew...Then scream...cause you just caught your first fish....I can sometimes catch three or our fish in the same net before putting them in a bag....
Then..when exiting your dive, leave the catch bag filled with your fish under water near the ramp. if its rough, have your buddy watch it for you....The reason for this is two fold..they are heavy and you do not want to have one break and have your fish die before you get your gear off. Use a good clean 5 gallon bucket with lid and fill it about half way with salt water and empty the gallon zip locks into it.....careful ..I said half full bucket because when you are pouring the zip lock bags, you can over flow the bucket and fish have been known to escape that way.....Some people use a battery powered aerator to bring them home....I have to drive an hour and a half back to CT and I never use one..just leave the water level an inch or so below the top and put a good sealing lid and you are good to go. When I get home, I then put an aerator in it for over night and then deal with the crittters in the morning. Oh...If anyone wants to talk live, feel free to call me at 203 214 9147.....
Scott
