5 replies to this topic

[johnjvv]

We did a dive at Flinders Pier close to Melbourne yesterday and there were quite a few fishermen out on the pier. I was mainly looking for Weedy Sea Dragons however when I got to the end of the pier, I saw a lure sitting mid water with the current keeping it in position. In the distance I saw a young giant cuttlefish approaching the lure cautiously so I started banging my stick against my strobe arms to scare it off without avail. It was too entranced by the lure and went for it. Whilst I thought of swimming towards it to chase it off, I did not want to get into an argument with the fishermen. Unfortunately it had no chance once it reached out with its tentacle as these lures have about 20 hooks on them.

I sat back and waited for the fisherman to reel it in but it did not happen, the cuttlefish was struggling so I surfaced to see why it was not being reeled in. The fisherman was not tending to his rod so I thought bugger it I'm gonna help it...I went back down and used my stick to turn the lure around so the cuttlefish was able to pull itself free, it happened instantly as the lure had no barbs. Luckily we did not meet the fisherman however he would have been clueless about what had happened! I am not against responsible fishing however this cuttlefish would have suffered for a long time.

First pic is the cuttle fish trapped and the second after being freed, slight damage to its tentacles is visible on the right side...

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[MikeVeitch]

good job John

[AllisonFinch]

Great save!!

[Alastair]

Nice one john...... should have attached the line to something else and gave it good pull so that the fisherman can do the old " it was this big....." story in the pub later.....

did you get your tickets to Brisbane?

[Pete L]

Great work John.

[pdemaagt]

nice