Author Topic: ASCENSION - 2013 (Read 24902 times)

Seventenths · « **Reply #20 on:** May 26, 2013, 10:25:18 PM »

Quote from: Shaun17 on May 26, 2013, 10:18:25 PM

Quote from: Seventenths on May 26, 2013, 09:35:48 PM
:the best is yet to come!!
You've added a trip to Ascension as a UA Raffle Prize???

We're waiting

Hahaha... I wish! I would have to guide it.... My wife has banned trips for the next 3 generations in our family, my poor kids!

Toppie · « **Reply #21 on:** May 26, 2013, 11:33:22 PM »

Fishing paradise seventenths. You clearly had a ball - I'm jealous. Think part of the allure is the absolutely wild fishing frontier, sure those fish will take bare hooks too.

Perhaps a new exciting direction to look!

Appreciate your trouble.

SUPER ADMIN · « **Reply #22 on:** May 27, 2013, 08:41:38 AM »

Great report so far!

Took some time to sort the formatting of your posts out...

MZeee · « **Reply #23 on:** May 27, 2013, 08:47:25 AM »

Quote from: SUPER ADMIN on May 27, 2013, 08:41:38 AM

Great report so far!
Took some time to sort the formatting of your posts out...

Seventenths · « **Reply #24 on:** May 27, 2013, 12:43:29 PM »

Quote from: SUPER ADMIN on May 27, 2013, 08:41:38 AM

Great report so far!
Took some time to sort the formatting of your posts out...

Thank you super,

Charles · « **Reply #25 on:** May 27, 2013, 12:58:09 PM »

Great report 7/10! Will be nominated!

SAfish · « **Reply #26 on:** May 27, 2013, 02:19:17 PM »

Wow, awesome trip, I can't wait to see the rest!

Seventenths · « **Reply #27 on:** May 28, 2013, 10:23:50 AM »

Day 4

Well today was about Ultimate Angling so I decided to forgo the day of spearing, my sore back offering an excuse. I helped Colin launch the duck… grabbed the tender and went out on my own. Check the videos, then I was off to catch some fish on the moorings and off the pipe line. It was incredible… check the footage of the Black jacks and Dorado….. I was less than 500m from the jetty at all times.

I missed out on seeing manta rays on the dive but that is the way it goes.

Black jack. (22

Dorado on skitter pop - red/white(with the help of a sard!) (23)

Dorado contents of stomach – Gar fish and Turtles (24

Offloading fish Ascension style

After catching 7 Black jacks, 5 Sangora, plenty of triggers and 1 Dorado, I felt I had really achieved a lot in less then 2 hours. With all but one of these released (dorado for supper!), I lost one 150g Goana - Green (Ocean lures) and a spinner, cut off on mooring chains, I was still very happy.

Piet, Miles, Steve and Karl got back with a nice wahoo over 20kg and several nice sized sangora’s after seeing several YFT and wahoo.

We ended the day with diner at the Governors house on green hill, the perfect host with sashimi, Cockburns for closing out and view unmatched anywhere in the world! And it is with tired eyes and a sense of achievement that I close out with today’s summary despite no dives logged.

Days info:
Wind moderate north
Viz 60m plus
Air temp 34deg
Water Temp Max 27deg min 27 deg
Swell 3ft 10s
Dives 0
Max depth 0m

Day 5 and video posts are downloading.....

Seventenths · « **Reply #28 on:** May 28, 2013, 10:42:25 AM »

Day 5

Today I wanted a big fish with plenty of time in the water and that was what was on the cards, we moved to the deep in two boats. Steve, Colin and Karl in one rubber duck and Craig, Piet, Miles and myself on the hard boat. We then tried the shallows and back to the deep but I saw nothing! Rainbow runners, flying fish and the obligatory triggerfish but nothing worthy of my speargun!

Miles got himself a nice wahoo from our boat but Steve, Colin and Karl on the duck were the boys to beat with a YFT and three nice wahoo and a massive Rainbow runner to boot.

Pics of the guys with fish at end of day 5. (25)

We moved into the shallows and shot some rockcod for lunch on Sunday, a meal which will be prepared for us by the islanders, they wanted some Moray eels to boot but I could not bring myself to shoot one, despite the vast numbers of them. I left that for the braver and less environmentally conscious to do.

I was really pleased with my diving, got one dive of over 4 mins and several in the 3min range with a total bottom time of 02h49… average was a bit low at 1min 23s but that was due to the afternoon session chasing the rockcods in 8m of water.

D4i days log

Days info:
Wind Light going to moderate north
Viz 60m plus
Air temp 34deg
Water Temp Max 27deg min 27 deg
Swell 2ft 10s
Max depth 19,6m/1’20
Longest dive 13,0m/4’15
Number of dives 202
Total time underwater 02h49
Videos STILL downloading!!!

Seventenths · « **Reply #29 on:** May 28, 2013, 12:32:08 PM »

Day 6

A long day of spearing produced a 55kg YFT and a nice wahoo, we planned to cut the day short and have a bit of rest but we got distracted by the fish. I missed a sitter on a 120kg plus tuna and still feeling like a total idiot. In the afternoon we had drink with some of the locals (including the governor again) who’s propensity for alcohol is only superceded by their love of eating fish!

The day was rounded off with an evening walk on the beach, which involved helping turtles escape the maws of crabs, frigate birds and fish… I tossed a few into the ocean only to have the mauled by the awaiting hoards of fish! I decided I would be back in the morning with my rod!

Our Custom made carbon guns from Steve Ellis (Fibre Lab), designed and built especially for this trip

Rainbow runner

Diving in the blue

Horse Eye Jacks

Days info:
Wind moderate north
Viz 60m plus
Air temp 35deg
Water Temp Max 27deg min 27 deg
Swell 3ft 12s
Dives 76
Max depth 21,9m
Total time underwater 01h19

Gerhard · « **Reply #30 on:** May 28, 2013, 12:56:51 PM »

AWESOME!!!!

Seventenths · « **Reply #31 on:** May 28, 2013, 01:57:41 PM »

Day 6

Pic of 55kg YFT....Bling shirts RULE!

Seventenths · « **Reply #32 on:** May 28, 2013, 02:03:59 PM »

Day 7

After last nights beach turtle feast I was on the beach at 5 with my fly rod but much to my frustration, only a few triggers. I was spoilt to the site of a large green turtle returning to the sea after having laid her eggs – I snapped a few pics and a video. I went off to breakfast rather glum but after a late start (after downloading and backing up my pics) of the early morning things improved, my first cast from the tender on the way to the dive boat produced a Sangora and so did my second.

Green Turtle on Beach

We went to the shallow banks in front of Georgetown and I again decided it time to check out the fishing for the guys on Ultimate Angling and wow, almost every cast produced a fish. You eventually get annoyed with the Black Jacks and tired of catching them, my popper looked like it had been in a war after only a few fish. I could not keep this up for long and soon was back in the water after the Whooos….
I did not shoot another one on the spear (Miles bagged one for supper of about 20kg) but I did get some footage and see my first snappers but noting was bagged. I am now tired but feel I have accomplished a lot in the day. Will I survive another day? We have supper with the Saints (locals from Saint Helena) who will be cooking us the Tuna, Rockcod and Moray eels we got on day 5 and then I plan to have an early night.

Georgetown - St Mary's Church at dawn

Days info:
Wind moderate to fresh north
Viz 60m plus
Air temp 34deg
Water Temp Max 27deg min 27 deg

Seventenths · « **Reply #33 on:** May 29, 2013, 07:20:50 AM »

Day 8

Today we did plenty of spearing (well time in the water at least!), the YFT were scarce as were the Wahoo, in fact did not see a wahoo for the rest of the trip. Piet bagged a small Dorado and we had some incredible drifts into the deep but the day was a blank at lunch time.

We eventually had one YFT that came up the chum line and Piet bagged it weighing in at just under 60kg.

We called it a day and went for a quick shallow drift over the wreck on the Normandy that sank in 1902, I got some awesome pictures and even better video footage of the wreck and it’s inhabitants. The wreck was an interesting legal case as the skipper grounded the vessel when it sprang a leak. The decision of the skipper was made to save the crew however the owner charge him with wilful damage and sabotage ( I was told this storey by the islanders and have not yet check the veracity of it!) - I have subsequently checked up on it and the ship sank in 1900 not 1902 and was a 2056t Barque, the storey of the captain I cannot verify as yet.

Wreck of the Normandy (Circa 1900)

Inhabitants of the wreck - there are plenty of them!!

We headed in early as we planned to do some night fishing and wanted to get freshened up and sorted out.
At 18h00 we headed for the 100m tuna buoy (known locally and tuna.com)… we had slow start with no tuna coming to the party but Craig decided to drop a line and catch some Bulleyes (Like an orange ruffia), I saw and I quickly followed suit… it was hard work as you kept getting hundreds of Sangoras in between them. I eventually managed to land a few.

Bulls eye - a really handsome fish with massive eyes.

At 22h30 we headed back and crashed for the night with no stops on the way…

Days info:
Wind light north to moderate later in the day
Viz 60m plus
Air temp 37deg
Water Temp Max 27deg min 27 deg
Swell 5t 10s
Dives 62
Max depth 24,0m

Seventenths · « **Reply #34 on:** May 29, 2013, 07:43:25 AM »

Day 1 - Video of Rockcod spearing - I hope this works!
http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/tonydoult/media/Rockcod1_zpsba59b24e.mp4.html

SAfish · « **Reply #35 on:** May 29, 2013, 10:20:10 AM »

Awesome footage. The abundance of fish is mind boggling!

for sharing this wonderful experience!

Seventenths · « **Reply #36 on:** May 29, 2013, 10:59:08 AM »

Day 4 - Video

Dorado on popper (with sardine) - 6,5kg on Shimano Exage 8' with Stella 18k with 50lbs Braid and 80lbs leader.
http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/tonydoult/media/Dorado-iPhone_zps3fd521aa.mp4.html

Gerhard · « **Reply #37 on:** May 30, 2013, 09:12:12 AM »

you pulled the

like crazy...

looks like a LM Bass coming into the boat...

Seventenths · « **Reply #38 on:** May 30, 2013, 12:51:49 PM »

Quote from: Gerhard on May 30, 2013, 09:12:12 AM

you pulled the like crazy...

looks like a LM Bass coming into the boat...

Seventenths · « **Reply #39 on:** May 30, 2013, 02:56:56 PM »

Day 9 (Final Day)

This is our last day on the Island and we had to pack up and catch out flights back to UK.

When, I got up this morning I had NO intention of diving or fishing as I was tired and needed to pack all my kit which takes forever thanks to all the camera gear. Miles complained till I joined in for the morning – we will be back by 11h00 was the promise as we needed to check in for our flight at 19h00… when we got to the jetty at 08h30 I was already regretting my decision as we were to cram 6 up on one boat! But as we were just debating who goes where Colin materialised as if by magic and we departed in two boats for the deep - the same split as the day before...

We had one very long drift with not much action for over and hour, then I saw a YFT on the chum line camera in hand but switched, off as it swam right up to me….grrrr…Camera went back into the boat and out came the speargun. I had one eye on my watch checking the time constantly. Then with a few mins to go Miles bagged his 3^rd YFT for the trip… `I watched him dive on it and place a good shot. The fish put up a big fight and at the same time we heard Karl had plugged into another one right near us on the other boat.

Miles fish fought on and eventually after it had 3 spears in it, I tried to dispatch it with a knife. It went nuts and jumped clean out the water only just missing the boat. I launched over 1 meter into the sky then wrapped up Miles in his float line before I could turn off it’s motor. I shows just how easy things can go wrong, if it had dived whilst miles was wrapped up it would have been a disaster.

We started to clear up and were getting ready to leave when I saw a shoal of rainbow runners come up on the chum. I dived down to have a look and saw something way below. I pressed on to about 30m to have a Dorado swim past frantically gulping down chum. I cashed in for my diner only to find he was way bigger than the few kg’s I thought he was. The pics tell the tale, estimated at 18kgs

Dorado on boat.....

We were lines up and headed over to the other boat, Karl had been on the YFT for and hour and a half… I jumped in a took some pics in the water here are a few choice ones. She weighed in at 112,8kg.

Karl's YFT under boat

Karl and his fish of a lifetime....248lbs (112kgs)

Group shot with (L to R)....Tony (7/10), Karl, Colin (almost hiding), Miles, Craig, Piet and kneeling Steve the Mamba king!!

I am glad I got up to go!

Days info:

Wind Light north
Viz 60m plus
Air temp 38deg
Water Temp Max 27deg min 27 deg
Swell 7ft 13s
Dives 58
Max depth 30,9m

Homeward bound as I write this in my diary, 6 flights to go and back to work to pay for the next venture… after an awesome trip, My thanks go to Colin, Craig and Sara on Ascension and to Piet, Miles, Steve and Karl for making up a great team and an unforgettable trip.

These notes are from my personal diary, written daily and any errors, omissions, typos etc etc are all my own and unintentional and I hope you enjoyed reading about it as much I enjoyed being there.

More Videos to follow.. please bear with me, my internet downloads at a speed of continental drift!!!