Volitan Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Most of my fishing is beach fishing on the Central Coast. I always find myself wondering what is going on out at the bait end. Always wishing I could understand better what fish are around and how they behave. Lately I decided to put the mysteries to rest and attach a camera to the line as well as the bait. It’s taken some time to get to the point where I can cast a camera 40 or 50 meters offshore and get it back reliably. I’ve also lost 5 cameras refining the process - two cast off, one snagged, one flooded and one taken by a shark (true - they love weak electrical fields). I use just cheap GoPro clones in homemade fittings. The surf environment is harsh - the cameras get knocked down as each wave goes past but are designed to self-right and always point back at the bait. Then they get knocked down again by the backwash. The videos that result aren’t pretty either. When the surf is over a metre it’s like being in a brown blizzard of sand with short clear spells. They give the information needed though - there is heaps to be learnt from this. It’s nothing like how I imagined it. I have put together some clips from a trip to Putty Beach a couple of days ago. I know it’s poor quality - when I get a new computer and overcome my dislike of video editing I’ll do some better ones - and maybe provide some commentary if people are interested. cheers V. 13 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lastworm Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Very cool footage, could watch that stuff all day. Although I did feel a little seasick at times 😆 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Hornet Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bessell1955 Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 What a great insight, into what happens below the waves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masterfisho7 Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 love the action well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little_Flatty Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 That's a fascinating video! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankS Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Very interesting, nice mixed group of species interested in the bait, those Toads are persistent little buggers aren't they ? pity they are no good for live baits. Like others I could watch more of that. Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little_Flatty Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 (edited) This and your other underwater video could make for great 'slow TV'. It's like looking at an aquarium! could do it for hours! Did you actually catch any of the fish, or were you just leaving it out there for filming purposes? Edited January 16, 2022 by Little_Flatty 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabikiFishing Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 45 minutes ago, Little_Flatty said: This and your other underwater video could make for great 'slow TV'. It's like looking at an aquarium! could do it for hours! Did you actually catch any of the fish, or were you just leaving it out there for filming purposes? Agree Little_Flatty, i can watch this all day. Sadly there isn't much content like ths on Youtube at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenno64 Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Great idea and interesting footage. We can alllearn a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox Bite Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 I am glad you are back with your videos. That is really great and informative stuff, and I have got answers to a number of questions about what is happening down below. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restyle Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 could watch this all day, would be keen to see more or even trying it at different spots where water clarity is decent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Super video. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volitan Posted January 17, 2022 Author Share Posted January 17, 2022 23 hours ago, Little_Flatty said: This and your other underwater video could make for great 'slow TV'. It's like looking at an aquarium! could do it for hours! Did you actually catch any of the fish, or were you just leaving it out there for filming purposes? Yes, I catch fish at the same time. In fact the flounder that you see in the video was hooked and in the original video you see it being dragged right into the sand and me bending down to pick it up. I cut that bit out because there are some very sensitive people on YouTube so not everyone would approve. Anyway, this is a frame from the video that I thought might interest people. This is taken by the camera as it’s being cast out and is just past the apex of its arc. You can see the pilchard bait and the little float I use to keep it off the bottom. Immediately below is the fisherman/photographer (me) in the orange hat. You can’t see the rod because it’s pointing straight at the camera. Shame about the big drop of water on the lens. Cheers 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larkin Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 This is great content - & what a great idea. I’ve always wondered what was going on. how do you get the camera to point at the bait? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yowie Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Great bit of video recording. Recording what is happening in deeper water, such as bottom bashing for offshore flatties, would be of interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Brilliant initiative, thanks for sharing. Even the cheap Chinese knockoffs aren’t cheap, but what can be learned from the experience makes it an investment. I’ve used my GoPro to film fish (mostly Kingies) taking the bait and their approach before doing so and it’s been a real eye opener. Great job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zmk1962 Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Excellent. Just excellent. Love the ingenuity and persistence. That looks like one healthy beach with all that bio activity - or you have some awesome bait! I’m a little surprised you didn’t capture a seagull in the aerial shot - seems every time I used to cast pillies on gangs off the beach there would be a flock of seagulls dive bombing the bait. cheers Zoran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Where about were you on the Coast ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volitan Posted January 20, 2022 Author Share Posted January 20, 2022 5 hours ago, Rebel said: Where about were you on the Coast ? Putty Beach. Not a spot I’d normally bother with but everywhere else was blown out on the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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