I went to Marsh Harbour, Bahamas in 2008 for the very first time. Most people know Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas, but the Abacos is where the fish live. Only the hardcore fishermen know this spot, where the million dollar homes overlook the baby blue waters of the island.
Waking up early is part of the fishermen's lifestyle. This is not something I ever got used to - the 5 a.m. alarm sound that fills the room with its annoying beep. Still groggy, I rush to pack up all my cameras and snacks to meet the guys by the boat.
Watching the sunrise while racing out into the ocean is a very beautiful experience. There were many times I decided to wear a wetsuit in the winter months. All suited up, I pour some baby shampoo (to prevent the goggles from fogging up) into my dive mask, put my snorkel in my mouth, slip on the flippers on my feet while grabbing the GoPros and spear.
The first moment you jump off the boat into the water can be a bit shocking. As the freezing water fills up your wetsuit, you begin to move around, and soon you forget the cold water and get lost in the visuals. Looking around is like a whole new world. Swimming next to the coral heads is where you need to search for the moving antennas of the lobsters because they love to hide in the rocky areas. Also, lobsters usually live in groups. When you find one there is a good chance there are more.
One of the things that happens when you free dive into deep water is your head feels like it is going to explode from the pressure. You need to grab your nose with your fingers and blow really hard to push the pressure out of your ears to equalize. Some dive masks do not have the ability to grab your nose, therefore you need to make sure you get a mask that has the rubber area around your nose.
In the Bahamas, it is illegal to hunt with a spear gun, so it is important to get a spear called a Hawaiian sling. It is a solid spear that slides into a slingshot like handle. The handle has a rubber tubing that launches the spear. One of my friends who deer hunts used the Hawaiian sling like a bow, but was unsuccessful because the water reacts differently than air. The spear will not go straight for long distances in the water, therefore it's critical to get as close as you can to the lobster.
I got so excited when I caught my first lobster that I tried to scream while underwater, only to swallow salt water which wasn't a pleasant experience.
The moral of the story is to: make sure you take your time and remember that you are still underwater.
TIPS
- Wake up early and don't miss the boat.
- Rub baby shampoo inside the mask.
- Use GPS to find coral reefs.
- Use Hawaiian sling, not Spear Gun (when in The Bahamas).
- Equalize by holding your nose and pushing pressure out of your ears.
- Take deep breathes and don't rush.
- Be aware of sharks in the water (GET OUT OF THE WATER WHEN YOU SEE BULL SHARKS!!! Nurse sharks are not harmful ).
- FYI more than one lobster fits on one spear.
COOKING TIPS
- Grab lobster by the head and twist off the tail. Wear a glove if you are afraid of getting stabbed by the spikes on their backs. (You can use the head for bait to catch fish).
- Grill the lobsters for an amazing meal with friends. Put plenty of butter so it doesn't get stuck in your throat. (I almost died once and my friends still make fun of me, LMAO)
- Best served with steak.
If you are interested in spearfishing in The Bahamas contact my friend Errol Thurston Jr. www.instagram.com/paid_to_play_all_day/
He is the BEST!!!
