Shaun Ried 9.5kg Yellow Fin Kingfish 

6:10am Even and myself found ourselves swimming out to one of our favourite reefs. On my first dive down I found myself surrounded by big bronzies + - 3 - 4kg a piece (we were diving about 10 - 15m looking For Dagga).

Out in the distance I saw a slick shape coming towards me, the adrenalin started pumping focused in on my gun, but was disappointed by a 1,5m grey Shark swimming towards me, a couple of aggressive movements towards the shark saw him move away rapidly.

I bagged a Bronzy and a Cod for a braai later that day bur unfortunately lost my cod to a shark. The water was clean but had a dark green tinge to it, which was quiet freaky. We started moving north with the current exploring other bits of reef.

Whenever a bit of reef popped up I would dive down on the sand before and creep to the first bit of reef where I would hide behind a rock and peep over the top I was unlucky for the first few times but as usual persistence paid off.

On the third time of doing this a large group bronzies (of descent size) were swarming above me I was stuck behind a rock hiding from any of their sight, I decided not to shoot one as I already had one on my stringer.

At that point I saw the biggest Natal Wrasse of my life it was easily on the 10kg mark (good to see him swim off!!) it was then that the heart racing adrenalin pumping fun began. A small shoal of about 6 yellow fin kingies came my way; they had no clue that I was there behind the rock. Just before they came into shooting range 5 off them saw my head eying them out, they turned much to my disappointment.

My heart dropped for a second but it was then that I saw the back fish swim strait towards me, he only saw me about a meter and a half away, but it was to late for him, I squeezed the trigger and watched my spear penetrate its side. The kingie went mad, hitting the reef with all he had. I pulled hard to get the fish off the reef. When he came up slightly I saw a large tare down his side.

I shouted for Evan who put in the second shot I finally got him to the surface, when griping his tail he pulled me around a bit but finally managed to kill the fish! We hung around that reef for a little longer but shortly after a massive southwester saw us swimming back to the beach with me holding my prize close to my side protecting it from the tax collectors. We hit the beach; I couldn't stop smiling and couldn't wait to show off my prize.

Shaun Reid