The club decided to go directly to the back side of the East end of San Nicholas because they were primarily interested in abalone. The scuba divers got about 15 red abalone on the first of four dives (no others on later dives). There were about four freedivers (Matt from this mailing list was there too). Only one of the freedivers was in the club. This particular club is almost 50 years old and they started drinking the night we left and never stopped. On the trip home, they were drinking the hard stuff like it was water. (I don't drink at all, but they tolerated me anyway.)
Anyway, the water was very cold - about 58 F at the surface and 54 F at 40 feet. The first dive, I didn't see anything but an Opaleye. The water was very murky - like pea soup. I got very cold and discouraged.
The second dive was similar to the first, but I did see a few large Calico Bass, but I didn't shoot - remembering the maxim ``if you shoot a smaller game fish, the nicer game fish is sure to swim by and your gun will be unloaded.'' I returned to the boat very cold and discouraged. One other freediver came back to the boat with two nice Calicos - one weighing 8 lbs. My patience was weakening.
I changed from my wetsuit back to my dry clothes in an attempt to warm up. I considered not diving anymore, but at the last moment, I suited up and went in for the third dive - I just can't help myself. I decided it is probably safe to shoot some Calicos as a consolation, so I headed into the shallows. I saw several nice Calicos and I was waiting for a really nice one. I saw a group of four nice ones, picked out the largest, shot, a perfect hit. No sooned did I start to pull him in when a 50 lb White Seabass swims by - I should have known. I try to keep an eye on the White as I calmly pull in my calico, attach him to my stringer, dispatch him, unspear him, and reload my gun. Amazingly, the White does not bolt. I am anxious because the White is so large and I feel I have pressed my luck so far. I may have made a longer shot than I thought due to the large size of the fish - I shoot from above and hit, but the shot must be off center. The White bolts pulling my quick-release plug and float line behind then suddenly it stops. The fish has broken free of the spear. I feel a painful ache inside.
I reload and begin to check the area. Within five minutes, I see another large White. This time, I wait until the fish's thick head is nearly directly below me. I dive down nearly on top but to the front of the fish, I aim very carefully right at the head at the thickest part, I lined my gun up along the length of the fish to increase my chances if there was any vertical error, I shoot, and the fish bolts away - a miss. I wonder what am I doing wrong. I checked my detachable tip and the tip was curled around from hitting a rock. I don't know when it happened -- perhaps after I shot the first Calico, or maybe after I shot the first White -- I don' know. Just to test it out, I reload and shoot two more nice Calicos -- no problem. Both fish were clearly in range of the gun, but perhaps not in range for my shooting accuracy.
I head back to the boat and report my encounters. The other freedivers get excited. The fourth dive is nearby but out deeper. In my haste to get into shallower water, I forget my weight belt, but I don't realize it until I'm 100 yards away from the boat. I decide to continue without it. Unfortunately, I don't see any more Whites. I get back to the boat and one of the other freedivers has landed a nice 36 lb White.
I learned a few lessons: there are big Whites at San Nicholas and never forget the maxim above - even if the hunting seem hopeless. The third thing I learned is target practice is necessary - especially with a new gun.