Well then. Where do I start… We have had some amazing days out here on the reef, but today was next level. We woke early to watch the sunrise and that surely did not disappoint. I have said that Gary (glass off) has been hanging around a bit recently and this morning he was still here. All morning it was hard to define where the ocean finished and the sky begun. A truly magical morning, on the water.
Bonita’s fun fact over this morning’s coffee was; there is a type of sea cucumber that dissolves themselves into fragments when danger is near. Once the danger has passed, it reforms it self. Sea cucumbers hey…
We moved anchorages this morning for something different. A fella we met in Airlie was out here the other day and he told us that it was good spearing in the northern corner of Hook reef. So we thought we would check out this theory. I think next time ill try and get some marker points off him. The reef was still magnificent to view, but the fish were non-existent. The fish I was hunting anyway. So after an hour or so, we changed spots. We are now anchored to the west and in a bit deeper water than our first couple of nights anchorage.
This is where things get good. In my three years or so that I have been spearfishing, the ultimate trophy fish is what your after. Today my fellow humans, was that day. Yew! I got my first Red Emperor. It wasn’t the biggest red in the sea, but it was a decent legal sized red. I have always said that I never buy fish because I can get them myself, this including Red Emperor. So today I got to clean my first red and enjoy his beautiful taste. Yep, they are a good chew.
These fish are quite rare to find and live in the deep water, 50 metres deep or so. They come into shallower water during the summer months I think. But don’t quote me on that, as it could be the winter months. But still, in water depths of around 20 metres. So today, when I was diving on a bombie around 15 metres and he showed up, I nearly lost my shit. I had been a bit trigger happy all day and missed a few chances on other good fish, however when my eyes seen this guy there was no missing. So today I joined the red club. The next step is the big red club. 1 metre long Red Emperors…
It has been an amazing few days out on the reef. We are both totally knackered from diving so much. I reckon we would have averaged 5 hours in the water each day. My body aches that good feeling like you have been up to something fun. My skin is salty and burnt, just the way it should be after relishing the oceans delights. My belly is full and content, with the thought that people pay big bucks for what we just ate for free. So feeling quite content with life right now.
Done a bit of cabin lock down in preparation for the sail back tomorrow. Cleaned ‘la diva’ the tender. Top and bottom. Packed everything up, including the hammock. When the hammock comes down, you know its land time. So Nandji is pretty well ready for a early start tomorrow and prepared for if the wind picks up over night.
I’m toast. Its bed time for me at this late hour of 8pm…
Dry June remains
Captain Yosh
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