Early 40th Birthday Dive...

I always try and dive on my Birthday...I even dove on the day the Tsunami hit back in 2011...

But the forecast for this year was calling for 17 foot swells with 40+ MPH winds...too rough, even for the most sheltered waters...

So...desperate times call for desperate measures...switched my day off work from 3/11 to yesterday and headed down to the ocean with my buddy Steve aka Lorikay2.

Swell forecast was not ideal, and it was meant to rain, but winds were predicted to be light so figured we would be able to get in the water and have some fun.

At the beach the seas were calm and the water looked clear! 

Paddled out to the first spot and found 40+ foot visibility. Nothing at home in the cracks I have marked here, but took a 24 inch Ling to get the day started and headed to the next spot.

Ton of blues and kelpies and perch and small Lings and cabs out in this area...blasted two more Lings (26 and 27 inches), some chunky rockies and some perchies and then decided to check a crack I know where I have seen wolf eels and monkey face in the past.

A wolf was home and I filmed him and showed Steve and we let him be and headed to the next spot.

This area is one of my favorites and has excellent structure and has produced some very nice fish for me over the years...was too surgy to get in close to some of my honey holes, but working out in the 30/40 foot range we found a ton of olives and blues and small Lings, and Steve found a BEAUTIFUL 36 inch spawned out Ling while he was exiting a swim through.

Stoked for him!! 

Had done over 100 dives by now so decided to head into one last area where I have seen copper rockfish in the past...Steve found several and took one, and I found one baby but let him be to grow bigger.

Also saw a BIG Calico bass but it was gone in a heart beat...still cool to see one though!!

Finally headed back to the beach after 8 hours of diving and paddling, took some pics and had a few beers and headed home.

No PBs or monsters for this birthday dive, but still a TON of fun diving and getting to enjoy some beautiful visibility.

Here's a little vid and you can see the wolf eel at the end:



 

Sincerely,

Jim

Maybe no monster, but you got a frickin' fish market.  Another great video Jim, and I love the music choice.  That's one of my all time favorite songs.  Too bad they are both gone now.

Anyways, Happy Early Birthday and welcome to the 40's!

Wow!  Are you stocking for the up coming birthday party? (j/k) 

Damn bro! Slayah you is!
Happy early 40th, enjoy it, they go by fast from here

Helluva birthday harvest!
Way to get em Jim!

Happy Birthday to you.

Inspirational!!!!!!!!

Damn! What a great haul, glad to braved the swell and made it happen!

That's what's up bro way to slay them. I'm still waiting on that nice day to go out don't feel too comfortable seeing those high numbers lol Happy early bday btw 

Way to slay them Pedo Viejo 

Happy birthday- glad you got out! What a haul on what looked like it was going to a completely crappy day. Vis looked great. Really liked the view of the eels with all the soft corals on the cracks around them. Beautiful!

Happy birthday.  The 11th looks diveable.  Let's do it. 

It looks like you upgraded to the light I have been using. It's amazing what I have been missing.

Happy BDay.  I'm jealous.  It looked a lot nicer than surf-forecast.  Many happy returns.

TITS!!!!