A freak set of circumstances almost results in drowning

During a scouting trip we had found an isolated pinnacle that held a lot of bait. The bait had attracted the attention of gamefish over the passed few days and we were hoping that our luck would still hold in spite of the colder water with a much poorer viz.

I started my first breathe-up and dived confortably to 18m. The viz not much better than 4m. The conditions were horrible. With these poor conditions, I really did not feel like spending the day diving on unproductive areas so I made a concerted effort to keep aligned with my landmarks.

On about my third dive I arrived on the reef close to the edge I was after and decided to remain lying on the reef looking out from the edge. A large silver shape materialised on my left moving rapidly away from me. I was almost out of bottom time but gave chase at an angle to cut the fish off in the murk ahead. Luckily, I judged the fish’s direction accurately enough to make out its silhouette. Without a moment’s hesitation I pulled the trigger. The change in the fish’s behaviour was enough to tell me it was hit. I headed for the surface. Within several fin strokes I could feel the fish struggling. I had it and felt confident about landing it. I made an attempt to pull the fish toward me but the spear seemed stuck into the reef. I elected to play out the line from the reel and come back for the spear.

Suddenly the gun almost pulled from my grasp. The reel had jammed. A loop of line had wrapped around the handle. I dropped down to see if I could effect a quick solution. My lungs were screaming. I did not want to loose this gun. Quickly it became clear that the situation was hopeless. I ditched the gun! The surface appeared like a magical mirror above me but I could not get away from the gun. I was being held back. Some mysterious force that my air starved mind could not fathom had me trapped. I realised the tether from my arm to the gun was the offensive restraint. Once released, I surfaced exhausted.

Fortunately, my diving buddies were close. I called for help. Angel-eyes dived but could not find the fish. I managed a quick breathe-up and dived. The Kaakap/Green Jobfish was dead on the sand. I found my gun but could still not free it. Angel-eyes managed to put a second spear into the fish and I cut my spear off to save my fish and gun.

Recently I have heard of 2 other accounts with large Kaakap. One managed to escape with gun in tow at Protea Banks, the other lead to a near fatal SWB incident.