Something cool.

Went for a dive off Marina beach yesterday eve. looking for flatties.  None shot or seen, but I did see one of the coolest things I've ever seen diving.  As I was kicking along in about 6 feet of water (viz was about 15 feet or so) I catch something out of the corner of my eye that at first I thought was a huge school of bait.  As I focused in I noticed that it was a school of about 100 striped bass.  WOW!  I was totally breath taken.  I just sat there and watched as the fish arced around me about 4 feet away.  Largest was about 12 lbs. 

What amazed me is that the fish almost look transparent in the water, and their stripes kinda mimic the sand patterns on the bottom.  Truly mesmerizing. 

If you can't provide pics then I demand the scene be recreated with watercolor 

Cool indeed!!

So, how'd the striper taste?   

Fished Salinas River on Mother's Day and as I was crossing the dune I passed three striper snipers with striper between 28 and 40" in there backpacks.I'm going to toss a Kastmaster at Manresa today.Linesides are definitely in.Bet that looked super cool underwater...shall we say inspirational.

So, how'd the striper taste?   

  Yes there was a huge internal struggle that occurred over the 10 seconds it took for the school to pass.  In fact I am still troubled by the philosophy that has produced this result and hence the post on this board to perhaps relieve some of the disturbing emotions that I have been pondering. 

Alas, I am a member of a society that has rules, and I am at peace with not being able to shoot a non-native/invasive, prolific reproducing, good tasting, very pretty fish, while swimming in the ocean... I think. 

agarcia - the next striper I catch will be going down on paper in some sort of scene like I saw without a doubt

Fished Salinas River on Mother's Day and as I was crossing the dune three striper snipers with striper between 28 and 48" in there backpacks.I'm going to toss a Kastmaster at Manresa today.Linesides are definitely in.Bet that looked super cool underwater...shall we say inspirational.

What time you going?  I live a five minute walk from that beach.

Probably hit the afternoon around 1:00 if I can finish some honeydos by then.I usually park on Oceanview and work the beach south of the beachfront houses.

Cool.  I might hit the high tide this evening after I finish my list.  good luck!

Yes there was a huge internal struggle that occurred over the 10 seconds it took for the school to pass.  In fact I am still troubled by the philosophy that has produced this result and hence the post on this board to perhaps relieve some of the disturbing emotions that I have been pondering. 

Yeah yeah, rambling new age artist sensitivity... ecological... plays by the book...

so really, how'd it taste?   

    

That was a smart move not to shoot those stripers. Years ago a friend got into a school of stripers and since he was new at diving he didnt know what the fish where until F&G told him...as he signed the ticket.

That was your friends first mistake.  Never shoot a fish that you cannot identify!  Oh and don't litter in our ocean either.

That was a smart move not to shoot those stripers. Years ago a friend got into a school of stripers and since he was new at diving he didnt know what the fish where until F&G told him...as he signed the ticket.

so, did you ask your friend "how'd that striper taste"??

 

That was your friends first mistake.  Never shoot a fish that you cannot identify!

dumb question:  Are you prohibited from shooting a fish unless you can ID it?