alone in the dark

My wife and I went down to Catalina for a camping trip. During daytime, I snorkeled with her (with a speargun in hand just in case). During nighttime, I dove alone for lobsters (freedive no tank). I hang with millions of anchovies at a steep dropoff after swimming out aways one day, a yellowtail showed up to check me out. I aim and shot... nothing happened. My shooting line is shorter than the distance to the yellow! Oh I just remembered my 90cm Black Viper aren't no openwater cannon! Decided to be patient and had another opportunity, this time an even bigger yellowtail circled me closer, 20-25 lbs, probably within my spear range, but I decided to wait for a closer shot... Waited and waited, but he and his buddies never came back! Anyway, I didn't feel like shooting smaller (though legal) calicos and sheepheads. For the few shots I did take on bigger/more skittish ones, I missed them all. Must be the clear water factor. 
At night, I dove for lobsters alone. There were too many baits in the water. Anchovies would constantly bump into me, like someone was poking at you. Moray eels and sculpins everywhere, have to watch out on which you touch the rock. Once I saw a 6-ft shark, turned out to be a leopard, the direct frontal impact of my light beam scared the bejesus out of him. There were lots of shorts and some legals, in about a 10 to 1 ratio. I ended the trip with 5 legals, the biggest one being a 4 pounder. Talked to a boater on the returning ferry, he hoopnetted for 3 nights in a row and only got 1 legal.

Great job.  I love freediving at night for bugs.  It is sooo fun.  I am in the middle of a huge home project with no time to dive right now.  Thanks for the opportunity to live vicariously through you.  How much was the camping?  How do you set that up?  Did you take the Catalina Express across?
Thanks,
Dave

Dave,
There are 4 campgrounds on the island, it's $12 per person per night. We stayed at Two Harbors campground this time. Next time will probably try Little Harbor. Yes, we took the Catalina Express across. Then there is the Safari Bus island transportation that can get you around on the island. You can book camping online at www.visitcatalinaisland.com
Leon

That sounds like a lot of fun. maybe we could hook up to do a trip. I love to freedive but never down south for bugs. I dive for abs alot. how deep are you having to go. any info would be great.

                                                                                              Tx squidly

They are at from 1 ft to 100 ft. I can work effectively at night on free dive between 5 ft to 25 ft. If you just want lobsters, one of the dive boats from Ventura will be a much better bet. They take you to the other islands in Channel Islands which have a much larger population of legal bugs. For a trophy-sized bug (8 lb+), that's pretty much the only route.

dang! nice bugs! you are a hard worker!

nice to see yellowtail, usually they will come closer if you put some flasher tape on the tip of your gun and turn your gun back and forth to let the prismatic effects of the tape work. they come in and you just pop em. at least you saw em though. thats a real treat!

also, if you are ever in san diego, go to the mission jetty, tons of lobsters there and its easy in and out. just beware where you park as the parking lot closes at 10pm and does not open til next am. lots of scallops too.