JonD Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 (edited) Hopefully my daughter will post a couple of shots from her video today:)Headed out with four of us today for just snorkell and wildlife watch. As my eldest daughter snorkelled around some of the headlands close to Narooma bar my youngest daughter spotted gannets hammering a school of bait offshore. After calling my daughter and friend back to the boat we raced out to see what they were feeding on.I dropped the pair about 50m from all the action so they could reach the bait without the boat scaring them down. Dolphins that had been chasing our boat joined the hunt as did several seals, diving down to around 8m my daughter discovered the fish being targeted to be pilchards. Her friend watching from the surface was amazed to see either a minke or brides whale rush behind her.Staying with the bait several of these high speed hunting whales swam through the bait scooping up bait as they went. From the boat at times often all we could see was white water as they lunged across the surface,at times skimming past them. To say they were excited by the experience is an understemeant, this will be a day they will remember for a while and with some pretty decent video footage too.Tomorow sbs are doing interviewing and filming the eldest (15) for her contributions in marine science, hopefully we can find a few black cod to go with their filming.Jon Edited September 27, 2016 by JonD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackfish Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 Sounds bloody awesome. Looking forward to the Video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big Neil Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 What an experience, a memory for a lifetime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croydon Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 Sounds like a fantastic morning Jon, great to see the bait starting to gather hopefully a good summer season ahead. Looks like you have a budding Cousteau on your hands. Cheers......... Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 Terrific, Jon and girls. I remember snorkelling off Cronulla one day and being surrounded by a massive school of sea mullet. After a minute or so, I got to wondering what else was trailing the school and I couldn't see anything in or under the water, but wall to wall fish. The only way back to shore was to swim with my head out of the water, so that I could see where I was heading and all the time thinking, "is something going to come up and take a chunk out of the slow swimming, giant mullet?" If you think about danger, you wouldn't step out of the house, would you. Good on you and your daughter. Great adventures ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonD Posted September 26, 2016 Author Share Posted September 26, 2016 Terrific, Jon and girls. I remember snorkelling off Cronulla one day and being surrounded by a massive school of sea mullet. After a minute or so, I got to wondering what else was trailing the school and I couldn't see anything in or under the water, but wall to wall fish. The only way back to shore was to swim with my head out of the water, so that I could see where I was heading and all the time thinking, "is something going to come up and take a chunk out of the slow swimming, giant mullet?" If you think about danger, you wouldn't step out of the house, would you. Good on you and your daughter. Great adventures ahead. It's something we've done for years, recently we found a bait ball with devil rays. My daughter was about 8-9 when we hopped in with sunfish about 30k offshore, after a while of following it we could here splashing back at the boat, when we realised it was a large mako chewing on the burley pot "we had a tense swim back"!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty Pup Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 (edited) Hopefully my daughter will post a couple of shots from her video today:) Headed out with four of us today for just snorkell and wildlife watch. As my eldest daughter snorkelled around some of the headlands close to Narooma bar my youngest daughter spotted gannets hammering a school of bait offshore. After calling my daughter and friend back to the boat we raced out to see what they were feeding on. I dropped the pair about 50m from all the action so they could reach the bait without the boat scaring them down. Dolphins that had been chasing our boat joined the hunt as did several seals, diving down to around 8m my daughter discovered the fish being targeted to be pilchards. Her friend watching from the surface was amazed to see either a minke or brides whale rush behind her. Staying with the bait several of these high speed hunting whales swam through the bait scooping up bait as they went. From the boat at times often all we could see was white water as they lunged across the surface,at times skimming past them. To say they were excited by the experience is an understemeant, this will be a day they will remember for a while and with some pretty decent video footage too. Tomorow sbs are doing interviewing and filming the eldest (15) for her contributions in marine science, hopefully we can find a few black cod to go with their filming. Jon Edited September 27, 2016 by Salty Pup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jocler Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Simply amazing stuff. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Sensational!!! You wouldn't get me in the water with a bait ball. I prefer the safety of the boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burger Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Awesome experience! How big is that mouth!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauricio Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 Great experience, would love to see the video!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harold Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 I am chicken when it comes to getting in the water off shore. Sharks don't nibble! It does sound like an extraordinary experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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