We were lucky yesterday spearfishing Aliwal Shoal. We launch at rocky bay and headed out toward the NE pinnacle of Aliwal Shoal (outside the reserve - 25m plus). The water was a miff green on the inside, but we pushed on - we thought we would check out the shoal and if that was miff head out to 19 fathoms and if that was also undivable pack it in.

As we got closer we could see a definite colour line about 200m from the Pinnacle and hope was restored! Brent Addison was already in the water and had dropped a marker on the 25m line so we headed out past that to drift toward it in the light N E current. I drew the short straw and was up for 1st bucky. It never ceases to amaze me how long half an hour can take! During this time john wacked a cuta out of a big shoal.

Next drift it was time for me in the water and on about my third dive I was down and a bus saily came in from behind - they always seen to do that! I saw him a bit late and followed him not gaining or losing ground. I had a 1.3 with double wrap so when he gave me a bit of a angle I took a shot and just poked him near the tail. He spun around as if to challenge me and swam past at about 2 gun lengths away all lit up - kind of glad I didn't hit him properly and very glad I didn't just wound him.

Anyway, loaded up and kept drifting toward the pinnacle and about 100m from the marker I found the bait -loads of garfish, maas bankers and small bonnys. I stayed on the outside of the bait and was diving to about 12 - 15m so I would see cuta etc below me but hopefully would not miss a wahoo or Dorry on the surface. At the end of the dive I would swim up to where I was just positive then slowly float to the surface looking for Mr (or Mrs!) Wahoo.

A couple of dives later on my way up I saw a wahoo come straight in at me through the garfish (thanks to my suit I'm convinced!). I had to swing my gun a bit but as his fins went up to high tail it out of there, I lined up and fired. In a split second he was gone and with me swimming after the float I looked to my side to see my line doubled up and heading the opposite way already! These fish are unbelievable! I hopped on the boat and gave chase for a while then jumped back in with my reel gun only for him to take off on another blistering run. I stayed in the water and swam hard to keep the float in sight.

Eventually I was able to swim hard and inch my way up the float line until I had him in sight below me and all I could see was the spear going into a big hole on the fish and where the barb was was my main concern. After a bit of give and take I got a second shot in and hauled him to the surface. It weighed in at 20.25kg ..... and they get to around 80kg??????

Cheers

Andy