On Sat, 25 Nov 2000 22:42:55 -0500, Viv aka Krazy Kiwi
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
(big snips)

> Well, on this side of the island, we didnt have the heavy rains but we've
> had some very windy weather. With the great white shark scare & sloppy
> seas many were not braving the deep. And we are around the same
> temperature also.

Gee I just love it when us Aussies refer to this continent of ours as an island.

Uhhh, hello? KK is, but of course, a Kiwi (ex or not), Strike's an ex
Pom (Strike, I trust that's a right and proper description) and I'm well
and truly an EX Austrian masquerading as an EX Pom if only because of my accent.

Says something about the diversity of cultures on this island.

On the subject of rains, the northern part of NSW is a bit wet ATM. I
took great delight in telling some friends in the UK, our own Carol
among them, that THEIR rains were as nothing compared to ours since our
state currently has the equivalent of 1.8 times the land mass of England
flood affected. And THEY thought THEY had floods recently. Hah!

> Alas I cant join you :-( Others in my branch are on leave then so Im
> holding the fort. I have a liveaboard trip to the Abrolhos Islands end of
> Jan & then flitting off to NZ for my baby sisters wedding. Im still trying
> to convince my boss I need to clear quite a bit of my leave so I can extend
> my holiday break a little to squeeze in a pit-stop your way. If he approves
> that (fingers crossed) I can call in, on my return to Perth via Sydney, to
> *annoy* the Shelly Beach Gang in one way or another.

Hey, that might be my excuse to make the big trek from Terrigal (again).
Last time I tried to do the Shelly thingI got to the outskirts of Sydney
when my car's clutch decided to retire from the fray. That was a rather
more expensive "dive" than I had bargained for.

Then Strike responded (in part):

> It's been declared a marine reserve off-limits to spear and line fishing.
> Obviously the spearos and anglers were upset, but it's alarming to - over
> the years - see just how many blue grouper ( a protected species) carry
> wounds from spears or, like one that we haven't seen for some time, have
> large hooks embedded in their mouths.

Terrigal Haven is, believe it or not, designated "commercial". For those
of you unaware, The Haven's open side faces north, so it is protected
from the predominant "Southerly Busters" but if there's a big blow from
the north the twenty or so boats which have mooring licenses can have a
hard time. The eastern wall is quite picturesque and has its share of
blue groper who are all keen on a hand out. I can attest to the fact
that they will approach divers without any fear at all; however if - all
of a sudden - that groper disappears quick-as-a-flash all you have to do
is look up and you are certain to see the silhouette of a snorkeller,
with or without spear.

These guys have learned which type of diver butters their bread.

To get onto a favourite hobbyhorse. I've (we've) often seen fish with
(stainless steel - SS) hooks hanging out of their mouths. Especially so
during the "season" at Foggy Cave when the Grey Nurses hang out there.

Big question: why STAINLESS STEEL hooks? Why not ferrous metal so that
the bl**dy things can at least rust out? Why should it be that SS hooks
are preferred? Especially if fish such as grey nurses are protected and
the fisho is obliged to cut the line?

Rest assured that the fisho is not going to try to remove the hook from
the mouth of a threshing about grey nurse shark.

Then look at all the fish that "got away" - SS hook in mouth.

SS hooks should be made illegal. PERIOD!

Ob scuba - well sort of. Supposed to dive today but Roger (who owns
Remora, our private dive boat of choice) has a chest cold so it got
called off. Sheeeesh, you'd think the guy would at least deliver the
boat to the water, drive it to our preferred dive site, act as boat
keeper and allow us to dive wouldn't you?

Christian