SpearBlog

Bahamas big two

Cam — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:29:58 +0000

There is some incredible diving to be had in the Bahamas and I’ve been stoked to put our guys from around the world on some of the fish of their lives. First day last trip we had two trophy fish on the pole spear that would have made anyones trip in the Bahamas.
Its awesome to see the tips and techniques develop so quickly and even without ever having used pole spears they were shooting like pros within a few hours.
Some highlights:
20lb Dog Snapper

Biggest Dog Snapper I've ever had the pleasure of putting on the boat. Even though I didn't shoot it, at least I can claim taking the photo

52lb Black Grouper

Trophy black

Follow our trips on Instagram @camkirkconnell

Kimi Werner Great White Shark Ride Video

Cam — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:23:16 +0000

Photo/Video courtesy of Patagonia

Anyone who has ever met, heard of, or seen photos and video of instantly is drawn to an incredible woman who has a special place in the ocean and connection with everything there. She is an artist, chef, badass spearfisherwoman and on of the coolest chick you’ll ever meet.
Before she went on this trip last year we talked at length about what to expect and put together all the knowledge of our other friends and Riffe Team Mates who have had the pleasure of diving with Great Whites but as you can imagine nothing can prepare you for this.
KIMI WERNER GREAT WHITE SHARK VIDEO

Variables with Kimi Werner from Patagonia on Vimeo.

Mexico Tuna Mayhem Video

Cam — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:59:07 +0000

This summer I’m committed to some private missions to the Bahamas, Costa Rica, and a few other choice spots enjoying life and training divers and guiding spearfisherman to some incredible locales to land some personal bests and hopefully break some world records at some of my favorite spots.
If you are interested in getting out there, take a Freediving class as all trips require a Freediver Level I certification as a minimum. The next big trip is for Yellowfin Tuna trips in Mexico which is an incredible chance to meet great divers and new friends from around the world, improve your diving and safety levels, and shoot the fish of your dreams.
Last year my friend Diego Santiago was in Mexico with us and had some insane days. Here is some of the footage from what to expect in Mexico.
To book your trip, visit: UPCOMING DIVE TRIPS

117 lb Cobia OneFish Video

Cam — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:33:15 +0000

Trip II Indo begins

Cam — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:30:21 +0000

Vis sucks and it looks rough. Lets turn back now


Heading out in the morning for the next mission.

Weather report

Tuesday-Sunday

Morning

Light and variable winds with smooth seas. Small long period swell.

Seas: SW 0.5 meters at 11 seconds

Winds: ESE 2 to 2 knots

Afternoon

Light and variable winds with smooth seas. Small long period swell.

Seas: SW 0.5 meters at 11 seconds

Winds: SE 4 to 5 knots
So it being too rough is not an excuse.

Three new crew adding to the mix of guys that are staying through on both trips. After what we've seen so far and the overwhelming success and fun and mind-blowing conditions/boat/food/numbers of good fish who can blame the guys for staying.

Giant Mackerel tend to start looking like Dinosaurs... Makes me love them even more

Typical day:

Wake up and walk to the stern and take one of the three boats to the dive spots 100yds-3 mi away depending on where you want to go. Dive for a few hours, come back order a banana pancake or fresh made omelet.  Maybe take a nap and watch a movie on the flat screen or take a nap on the top deck or your AC personal cabin.

Come back down when the tide changes, All your gear has been rinsed in fresh water and is on the boat ready for you, head back out shoot the fish of your dreams.

Hot shower and cold beer as you watch the sunset over a fresh plate of Sashimi just as dinner comes out (Soup, salad, appetizers, main course, dessert) Maybe watch another movie or read a book and drift off to sleep dreaming of doing it all over again.

Option two: Dive all day, fish all night, Fish all day and Dive lobsters at night....

Really this has been the most spoiled and incredible spearfishing trip you could ever dream of.  Its nice to have all the fish taken care of immediately, bled, cleaned, and placed on ice within minutes.

Fresh fish for dinner, any extra in the big freezers or to the local villages.   Not a bad way to live and keeps the locals happy.

Throw in some Mangrove Crab hunting in a dug out canoe, some paddleboarding, Volcano erupting for the best light show in the world, and a bunch of great friends and you have a hell of a trip.

May is pretty much booked solid for private trips and adventures, next big ones are Oct-Nov for Yellowfin Tunas, Wahoo, and Black and Blue Marlin in Mexico.   For more info check here: Yellowfin Tuna Trips 2013

Or to set up your own adventure email blueh2oboy@gmail.com 2013 is the year of adventure. Go get yours.

Cameron Kirkconnell

Here's a few pics from the last trip.

Yes Mackerel get that big.

Yes we saw Dogtooth much bigger.

No that is not an Escolar it is an Oilfish.

Late afternoon tide change and Doggies on the spot. So much fun


Deep drop at night will always surprise



Pile o’ Doggies and huge Mackerel
Cam — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 05:17:53 +0000
 Doggie per diver on a new spot that has likely never been dove.  Priceless
Plenty more Doggies and its great to see all the guys using restraint and waiting for the really incredible ones.  We have enough fish for dinner each night and we’ve all got a good fish 80+lbs under our belt so its great to see these guys from all over the USA holding back and just enjoying seeing 5-50 Tunas on a dive and letting them pass.

The current is roaring now and its a challenge so we are keeping as safe as possible and restricting our dives and not pushing it. a 75′ dive can quickly turn into a 110 when the downcurrent grabs you and climbing your bungey is not a good feeling when air is of great importance.

That being said, timing it right we have been able to sit on the spot and fin calmly dive after dive seeing tons of good fish.

So many so close… Time for the pole spear.

Stay tuned.

CK

dark photo. monster Mackerel




Mexico 3
Cam — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 02:55:28 +0000
Spearing Roosterfish is about as controversial as shooting sailfish. If you are going to eat them, then no one has any room to say anything to save your breath.  There is no difference between one of them and any other kind of jack, some are better tasting than others and some are prettier.  The guys that were shooting fish in Mexico ate all them, even in ceviche and as sashimi. Nothing goes to waste.

They are powerful and beautiful and a lot of fun to hunt.  It’s too bad we don’t see them when we are hunting tunas but I’ll take 300lb Yellowfins and the chance at 800lb Marlin for Sept-Nov when we are there.
To come with on the Tuna Trips click Here
Big Roosterfish Brian Russel



First Day Doggies for All
Cam — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 03:40:29 +0000
First day hunting Doggies.

Untouched Indo, walls of Doggies.

So good to see.  Each of us took one and was good to have the guys who have never seen one land them.

Matthew Deischel landed the fish of the day and of a lifetime.

138lb Dogtooth Tuna.

Fish were shot from 40-101ft.

Amazing place

This is what it looks like down below
Dogggieeeessss!!!!


That one up front is a shooter. You can tell the big ones by the lower Jaw. Matt's was all beaten up and looked like a dinosaur had been chewing on rocks 




Indo Trip 1 Update
Cam — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:22:18 +0000
Here’s what you’ve been missing.

Heading out again today for 10 days.  Next trip starts on the 15th of April.  There is no more productive time than the last minute remember that!
Dove with Pedro Carbonell 3 times World Champion and had a good time with him and the Russian national Team. 
In addition, 10 oilfish caught on hook and line in 2 hours of fishing from 70-110lbs.  Chance for a World Record is definitely here. 
More than 10 GT’s(Ulua) over 100lbs seen and let pass with a few real monsters in the 120lb class. 
Schools of Wahoo and Yellowfins seen every day Wahoo to 35lbs and Yellowfins to 150+lbs. 
No other souls in sight.

Craig with a big Yellowfin to Open up the morning


My first Dog of the trip, Shot at 40' and skull dragged to the surface before he even knew what happened. Don't try that at home.


Doggie of a lifetime. Last drift, Last dive, last chance at a spot that only allows 45 min a day to dive because of the current.  Timing is everything.  Someone is smiling on me. Guess the weight?

Remember I'm 6'03" this is a big ass fish
Doggies is what this trip is about, so you’ll have to wait a while to see the photos of all the other miscellaneous “bycatch” Wahoo, Yellowfins, Reef Fish, Lobsters, Mangrove Crabs, Giant Trevally, etc. that tuna is not the new world record but the dive before it I shot and fought for 20 minutes what would have been.   To give you an idea how big it was, it spit up this.

Think Doggies aren't deep water fish? Think again.  This one came out of a 200+lb one the dive before the monster above

Heading out now for the next 10 day trip. Last trip starts April 15th.  If you are jumping on the wagon you better shoot me an email ASAP, plan on being in DPS, Bali on the 13th and bring your big guns.
CLICK HERE FOR THE INDONESIA DOGTOOTH TUNA TRIP APRIL 15-27th



Mexico Photos 3
Cam — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 02:17:26 +0000
CLICK HERE for YELLOWFIN TUNA TRIPS this year
The Mexico trip in February came together after the guys on the Yellowfin Tuna trips got fired up seeing the big snappers that were hanging down deep. So… we came back down and the hunt was on. Instead of spending hours in the blue we hit the dozens of reefs and islands in everything from 10′ of visibility on rocky beaches and little pinnacles that are all over the place.

Every where we went we found schools of MilkFish (Awa) and don’t let their looks fool you they are damn smart and hard to get close too.

We landed some good ones and if you haven’t speared one before their power is something to experience. they go as hard as a Wahoo and its a great chance to practice the Pull and Clip technique with your blue water rig and ready for the Tuna trips in Sept-Nov this year. See you there.
Hal getting dragged West by a big Milkfish
Milkfish
http://www.spearblog.com/2013/03/12/yellowfin-tuna-trips-2013/