Roy with a nice Mackerel
Roy was a regular at one of our favorite and also the most dangerous spots in Indonesia to dive. While most of us think that diving in downcurrents and whirlpools is something out of a bad dream, Roy has found a way to work with these conditions and become consistently successful maneuvering through them to find the best of fish.
One of the best parts about diving in Indonesia is there aren’t that many sharks. Or so you begin to think… When you do see them it is usually a pretty bad one who has somehow escaped the commercial fisherman who target them. Here is a story from one of Roy’s best friends Stew:
“Cameron—— I’ve been enjoying your blog. One of your blog’s sections has photos and stories about shooting doggies with sharks around to join in on the fun and mayhem. This really got me thinking about Roy and experience we once had together, which you might enjoy reading.
We’re out at the spot you shot your first doggie record. Nice day, good viz, light current with lots of bait around. I’m hanging on the inside of the big rock with Roy out in the deeper water on the inside of the first pass to the second pinnacle. All kinds of big fish swimming around chasing bait- I hear Roy’s gun fire, swim out to take a look and see a huge shadow bolt by headed in Roy’s direction. By the time I get to him he’s looking like he saw a ghost- What happened to your fish? Vaporized by a big Tiger! Roy said:” I made a good shot on 50+kg doggie- it took off at about half speed for the bottom- put some heavy pressure on him with his tag line right away and the fish didn’t resist to much- start to pull it up. He’s looking around thinking something doesn’t feel right- takes a look behind in his blind spot and sees nothing but a big mouth of teeth!- let’s his tag line go and the tiger takes off full speed right through him after his fish- the tail of the shark hit him in the chest as it went by! Later Roy told me that:”The shark literally inhaled his fish in 2 bites!” Pretty spooky! He was visibly shaken by the ordeal. Never the less, I hadn’t shot a fish yet, so I asked Roy if he would mind watching my back while I go down to have a look for any stray fish that might still be lingering around. “OK, go for it!” Down I go hovering mid water column- 3 big doggies appear headed straight towards me in a tight side by side formation- they pass directly under me- I shoot the one in the middle closest to me- it turns and speeds off full bore- my tag line burns through my gloved hands to much to hold on- let go and swim towards the surface to grab my buoy as it comes speeding by half submerged- have a quick look around- where’s Roy?? He’s already in the boat laughing at me as I get dragged off towards open water. Quickly the boat follows with Roy keeping and eye out from the side for you know who- I start to work the fish up- then something huge hits it- a few seconds later I’m being pulled under fighting to hold on to my tag line, my spear pops loose- pull it up and now I’m looking at my boomeranged 8mm shaft. Roy joking and laughing at my mangled empty spear- get in the boat- It’s late afternoon- Sun is setting- time to go home.”
Stew
So don’t just think that because you haven’t seen sharks they aren’t there. Of course the best part about this story is that Roy still managed to convince Stew that he should go down and shoot another Tuna despite having minutes before been attacked. Thats what friends are for! Positive reinforcement! Thanks for the story Stewart.
