Unexpected window

Wife was out of town from Wednesday through Saturday evening, and when she got back into town she told me to take Sunday off (usually I spend Sunday getting the girls out of the house so she can study) and go diving!

 

Made a quick plan with Sean_Otter and Nelson Kwok but neither were at the beach when I was ready to go so sent them a text and headed out solo on my Kraken.

Got to my first spot and checked a crack I know and there were two lings in it. One was not very big (prolly 26-27 inches) and the other was too far back and facing the wrong way for me to get a good shot so decided to let them both be.

Did about 30 dives down to a max depth of 54 feet exploring around the area. Ton of smallish 24-26 inch Lings but nothing that made me really want to pull the trigger.

Viz was spectacular though and it just felt AWESOME to be diving up and down and exploring in the clear blue water. 

While exploring the killer structure in this area I dropped down to 47 feet to check out what I thought was a nice looking crack next to a trench. Crack turned out to be just a shallow overhang so decided to head back up after a quick scan.

Right when I turn to head up I take a look back down the trench and see a nice Ling swimming right at me. 

Still had breath left since hadn't chilled on bottom so turn around and take aim and then he realizes I'm a predator and not prey and turns away. 

Glide towards him and take a long but pretty easy shot that is not perfect but is solid and holding and the flopper engages just behind his pectoral fin. 

At surface I gill and gut him right away to maximize meat quality.

Back at yak the tail hangs over the edge of the trough and at the car he tapes out to just under 32. Not a monster but really yummy eating size. 

Next spot I check another of my favorite cracks but just a small Ling in there as well.

Run into Sean _Otter and JohnnySeaWalker and tell em to follow me to another spot but I guess they decided I smelled funny cuz they never showed up. 

Nelson shows up while I am diving this deep pinnacle, and we decide to head in a little shallower, and over here I find a nice prolly 20 inch Cab chilling on top of a boulder but can see he is guarding a nice mass of eggs so leave him be. 

Pop a yummy 17 inch Olive on the way back to the yak and we move spots.

This next spot is one I have spent some time in before and I check the usual cracks and holes and find a yummy 22 inch cabbie and take him and decide to call it quits cuz I have done 102 dives and am feeling a litle tired and want to get home in time to cook dinner for Ana and the girls. 

Back at the beach run into Cabeza De Martillo and he helps me with my gear/yak. Always great to see you Antonio!!

Anyway, I was super stoked that the wife gave me this day to just go out and have fun!! Even though I didn't come across any real exciting fish, I really enjoyed just being out there and even while being super selecive was able to get plenty of meat for my family.

 

Here's a mini vid of the one Ling I took, and a few pics.



 

Sincerely,

Jim

Nice vis.  and fish. 

Thanks for the vid Jim.......makes Monday morning soooo much better at work.

It was good seeing you yesterday too bro. 

BTW whats your fish nugget recipe???

Thansk batt and Antonio!!

For the nuggets I'm just chopping the filets into cubes, egg wash, zatarains fish fry and into the skillet with a little oil.

Recently (at the suggestion of some buddies in Lousiana who fry A LOT of fish) I tried substituting regular yellow mustard for the egg and it worked great and added a little extra flavor and crunch, but the girls like em plain so did the egg last night for them.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

nice work Jim! Question, how long do your gloves last. Mine are already shredded from gutting and gilling fish.

Thanks for the report, video, and pictures Jim.

Thansk batt and Antonio!!

For the nuggest I'm juts chopping the filets into cubes, egg wash, zatariasn fish fry and into the skillet with a little oil.

Recently (at the suggestion fo some buddies in Lousiana who fry A LOT of fish) I tried subsituting regular yellow mustard for the egg and it worked great and added a little extra flavor and crunch, but he girls like em plan so did the egg last night for them.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

so you substitute regular yellow mustard for the egg wash? Or do you add milk to the mustard?

Awesome like always bro thanks for the report and video!

Thansk batt and Antonio!!

For the nuggets I'm juts chopping the filets into cubes, egg wash, zatarains fish fry and into the skillet with a little oil.

Recently (at the suggestion fo some buddies in Lousiana who fry A LOT of fish) I tried subsituting regular yellow mustard for the egg and it worked great and added a little extra flavor and crunch, but he girls like em plan so did the egg last night for them.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

so you substitute regular yellow mustard for the egg wash? Or do you add milk to the mustard?

Just substitute the mustard for the egg. Rub the nuggets in the mustard, drop in a ziploc full of Zatarains, into the grease. Sounds weird but works great!

nice work Jim! Question, how long do your gloves last. Mine are already shredded from gutting and gilling fish.

LOL! Yeah, the more you gill and gut etc the faster the gloves will wear out for sure....I've gone through a TON of gloves in the past couple years...the fancier open cell ones are super comfy but seem to get shredded even faster...

I'm trying these ones out right now and so far they are holding up good and have been keeping my hands nice and warm:

http://www.redtrianglespearfishing.com/collections/gloves-socks/products/xs-scuba-rynohyde-gloves

I wish I was manly enough like AbKing to dive with no gloves...but I'm not!   

 

Sincerely,

Jim

SWEET!!!!!

Jim, Nice Ling and Video you got there. What gpro mount do you use? Seem like it mounts over your head? I need to get one for my gpro for diving. What would you recommend?
Nelson is back diving? Glad his leg is ok now. He is a soldier!
-George

Jim, Nice Ling and Video you got there. What gpro mount do you use? Seem like it mounts over your head? I need to get one for my gpro for diving. What would you recommend?
Nelson is back diving? Glad his leg is ok now. He is a soldier!
-George

Thanks George!!

I just use the standard headstrap and wear it under my hood...works good enough for me!

Yes, nelson has just started diving again...but....he has to go back to the doc and may be out again for some time, guess the toe hasn't healed correctly or something? ...that's another reason why I was stoked to get out there with him. 

It was the maiden voyage of his DOTY prize Hobie Quest...beautiful yak!! 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

nice pics and read...great food pics!!! love it!!

Great report.  And food process. Going to try the mustard

Nice BigJim!
really enjoyed the video. it is a treat to see your videos.

Mahalo

Isao