So I’ve been eyeing this spot off for a while, deep ground then a significant rise in depth out wide from our local waters. The day had to be fairly flat as it was a fair way out, that day came today (Saturday), low swell and almost no wind.

Crispy was the skipper (again, cheers mate) and we had Alexander aka Gidgee and Troy aka teedee along for the ride. Off to the boat ramp we go and I have never seen the sea so flat. We power out to the spot, completely unaware if this ground will hold fish as I have never been there before nor has anyone I have dived with. In my mind I was hoping for Macks, even the odd stray Tuna/Wahoo/Billfish.

We arrive at the spot and the water is blue, warm and flat, I jump in and we have fantastic viz. However after 20 minutes of swimming and looking around I see nothing apart from a school of Buff. Feeling a bit disappointed for not having put us on “the spot” I swim behind the boat onto deeper ground. Its then they appeared, the familiar shape, torpeado like fish swim into view, a school of Spanish Macks ranging from 10-14kgs. But they were very cagey and didnt approach us.

I dive in the oposite direction, showing no interest in the school, they do not swim in front of me. I twang the rubbers, tap the gun, make the ‘throat noise’, still, no interest. These local Macks arent like the ones up north! I resurface, then I see Troy dive, he dives deep and long, at the end of his dive he takes a shot at the school, and hits a fish. Unfortunately the shot was long and the flopper didnt engage.

The macks were playing hard to get and spooking when dived, but I had a hankering for some mack’ering. We burley up some fish frames, the burley drifts into the water column like snow flakes. The school re-appears, however seperate to the school were 3 Large Macks.

As luck would have it, I spoke to Paul McKeown aka Crusty yesterday, he told me if Macks are spooking, wait till they are directly underneath you, then dive directly from above. This is what I did, (thanks for the tip Paul!)

A nice size Mack swims underneath me, I dive and dive deep, I am reaching the end of my breath hold, but the fish is JUST out of range. I see its a fat fish, I get a little closer, but still unsure if I’m in range (this is when I needed a 1.5 gun) but I must return to the surface, its now or never. I line my 1.4 Aimrite up to its head and shoot……..lights out, brain shot, no kick, no flutter, absolutely nothing. I suck in sweet oxygen and yell to the boys. I was affraid that my spear didnt penetrate properly and thus requiring a second shot. Crispy arrives as I am lifting the mack to the surface. I then have the fish in my hands and am yelling in sheer joy, my first local mack, and its a biggie.

I swim the fish back to the boat, and I am lucky, VERY lucky. The shot entered in the neck and penetrated into its skull. The flopper didnt engage one bit and the spear fell out with very little pressure due to only 4-5inches pf spear penetration. If it wasnt a kill shot I wouldnt have landed this awesome fish. I am stoked to have speared my first local Mack and my first Mack of the new season

Total undressed weight is 20kgs

Aleks Ceklic
aka Admin

Well the heat is on and I can almost smell the Spanish Mackeral from my desk! January is a perfect time to brush on your Mackie hunting techniques. So come along and get some tips from the “Pro’s” and if you’re one of those “Pro’s”, come along and share the knowledge.

When: 17th January 2012 ( food served at 6.30pm)

Venue: Jack Moss’
17 Regher Street Warnbro

Food: A light meal will be provided (gold coin donation appreciated)

Topics:
Mackies Mackies Mackies
Up coming Competitions

Look forward to seeing you all there

Visitors that are curious to see what our club is about are more than welcome to come along. If you like what you see, you can join the WAUC club on the night for an annual joining fee of $30 a year (equates to a miniscule 58cents a week!?)

Any questions, call club president, Graham Gould 0412 945 722

Regards

Graham Gould

However, please note the closures below, outside of these closure zones and times, the taking of crabs is permitted anytime.

Happy hunting

CLOSED SEASON FOR BLUE SWIMMER CRABS

Peel-Harvey Estuary – closed season, 1 September to 31 October

Fishing for blue swimmer crabs is prohibited in the Peel Inlet and the channel entrance, Harvey Estuary and Dawesville Cut from 1 September – 31 October. The spring fishing closure protects crab breeding stocks, and allows female crabs to spawn before the fishery re-opens.

Cockburn Sound – closed season, 1 April to 14 December

Cockburn Sound is closed to all crab fishing during this period.

for further information visit fisheries website:

http://fisheries.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/BlueSwimmerCrabProtection/index.php?0102

For further information, please view the below:

http://fisheries.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/FishingDemersalSpecies/index.php?0102

This year the weigh-in was held at Porpoise Bay due to Thomsons Bay staging a 1600 metre swim thru. The committee after much consultation decided to keep the same date but change the presentation location. With no facilities everyone had to bring their own food and drinks. This was preferable to the hundreds of people expected at the Quokka Arms Hotel where we usually are for this event.

Thanks go to Graham Gould for organising the comp, Dave (Stabby) for putting bums in boats, Di for designing and printing the vouchers and all those who participated.

The conditions on the day were initially difficult with the wind 25 knots from the northeast early on and dropping to 10 knots come weigh-in. Visibility was very good and water temp a balmy 21-22 degrees C. There were plenty of crays but as you’d expect this early in the season, a lot with berries, setose or tarspot. Young Nick stoked to catch his first large cray. Jonty also did very well. Most people managed to get better than average size using the loop, some for the first time. Even Ray Hill who has been AWOL for a while put in an appearance.

The Club put up $700 in prizes with Ron from Hookah Dive in Wangara being a
generous sponsor.

First prize: Joe Petrovich – 6.3kgs
Second Prize: Troy Dunstan – 3.7kgs
Third Prize: Brendan Bright – 3.4kgs
Fourth Prize: Dave Stickland – 3.3kgs
Mystery Weight: Ray Hill – 0.701kgs

Regards,
Joe Petrovich

New size limits are in place this season, namely 76mm

Check the fisheries website for further information:

http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/FishingRockLobsters/FishingforRockLobster2011-2012.pdf

• The following are the confirmed club event dates (pending weather) for the next 12 months:- Southern Escape, WAUC only weekend away, 19 & 20 November (Location TBA)

  - Rottnest Cray comp, WAUC only, December 3 2011 (Rottnest)

  - New Competition and Club Meeting, WAUC only, 18 February, 2012 (Location & Details TBA)

  - Northern Exposure, WAUC only weeekend away, 3, 4 & 5 March 2012 (Location TBA)

  - Glynn Dromey, Open to all, 14th April 2012

  - Beagles Comp, WAUC only, 12 May 2012

  - M****************0 BRAND NEW COMP, Open to all, winner gets great $$$$, 16 June 2012-14th August 2012 (More details coming soon)

The results:

First Place:
Rob Higgs
Ross Bulluck
7 fish and 1187 points

Second Place:
Darren Gebbetis
Brendan Bright
5 fish and 1144 points

Third Place:
Troy Eggins
Rik Weekes
3 fish and 732 points

Fourth Place:
Graham Gould
Joe Petrovich
3 fish and 660 points

Fifth Place:
Ben Coy
Michael North
3 fish and 586 points

Best Junior: Jack Moss
2 fish and 367 points

Mystery Fish: Nick Extract

Thankyou to all the sponsors.

Prizes included:
Beuchat Dive computer donated by Robbie from Adreno
Rob Allen Gun by Peter Griffiths of All Spark Electrical
Aimrite Gun by David Stickland
Beuchat Carbon Gun by David Whitham of Ocky’s Water World
DiveR Fins by David Whitham of Ocky’s Water World
John Muhling Marine service voucher by James and Mary Muhling
4 wheel alignment, balance and rotation vouchers by Kevin Ackroyd through Beaurepaires and Tyrepower Perth City
Dive mask, wetsuit socks etc., from Aaron at Powerdive
Freediving fins from Wombat at Hookah Dive
3 Rashies and wetsuit booties from Joanne at JAM Products
Cressi Gear Bags and fillet knives from Damo at Dunsborough Sportz
Rob Allen reel and knife from Rennier

People who contributed with their time:

Dagger Dave for his texts co-ordinating buddies and boats
Ben Campbell for the catering and Cam Sudintas, Dane Wilmott, Ross Bullock and Rob Higgs with the cooking
Graham Gould for overseeing
Aleks Ceklic with his web posts
Tania Douthwaite for assisting the scorer
Nathan McMurdo and Ron Pitcher the weighmasters

A good day.

Regards, Joe.

The Glynn Dromey Memorial Spearfishing Competition 2011.
Please read.

1. The competition is on for Saturday April 16, 2011
2. Due to poor light the competition has been put back 30 mins.

Sign is 6:30am to 7:10am

Start: 7:30am

Finish: 2:30pm

Weigh-in and refreshments at 3:30pm
3. If possible, print off a copy of the species list and keep it in a waterproof bag.
4. If possible, print off the sign-on forms and printing names clearly, hand to officials on Saturday morning.
5. All boats must depart and arrive back at the Lancelin Jetty within the specified time.
6. Enjoy the day.

Regards, Joe.

2011 Glynn Dromey Rules and release form-2

Copy of Glynn Dromey Scoresheet 2011Mar12

The video shows what the WAUC is about. Having fun, mateship, having a laugh, observing the ocean and its creatures and if we are lucky getting a feed.

All vision comes from WA from various spots along our beautiful coast line.

Great job Zoran

Enjoy!