going to give it a go next week,what are peoples best baits, had some nice fish frames but a tradie turned of the power and the freezer died!

Into the frozen deep: Stunning underwater photos of life beneath Antarctica's ice

By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 7:00 AM on 09th December 2009

These stunning images show one man's incredible 400 hour journey of endurance swimming in the coldest waters in the world.

In a breathtaking feat of dedication to his profession, extreme diver Norbert Wu captured the visual feast swimming under Antarctica's captivating sea ice.

Over the past 12 years he has braved the bone-chilling temperatures of the planet's most southern continent to piece together his collection.

Majestic emperor penguins fizz through the water like rockets while alien-looking star fish and anemones carpet the busy ocean floor.

Emperor penguins dive beneath the ice in the coldest waters on Earth These stu

Sea stars, Odontaster validus, eat a dead Weddell seal pup

But when cute animals and bizarre creatures are not playing up to Wu's camera, vast icy caverns and mammoth underwater chambers have allowed him to paint a spectacular view of secret worlds of ice around Antarctica.

Since the 48-year-old American from Atlanta, Georgia, first visited the vast frozen landscape in 1997, Norbert's love of the dangerous region has grown year on year.

Over seven trips to Antarctica photographer and cameraman Norbert has travelled nearly 200,000 miles to the American Antarctic research stations at McMurdo and Palmer to get his pictures.

Diving six days a week for 12 weeks each visit, he has amassed over 1,000 Antarctic dives equalling an astounding 17 days submerged in the frosty depths.

He said: 'The water around McMurdo Station is some of the coldest water in the world at -1.8c but it is worth it when you see what is down there.

'At dives like that you work very hard to keep the danger out of what you are doing. How cold you get is a very psychological thing.

'One of the coldest I have ever been in my life was when I decided to assist another diver. Without my camera and without something to focus on meant the cold started to win.'  

Medusa jellyfish live near the surface and can be over one metre in diameter

Fresh water drips from glaciers and freezes upon contacting the sea water creating these stunning frozen underwater waterfalls

Despite his calmness about the danger of his work, brave Norbert and others like him are facing a hostile environment where just 90 mins in the water could be fatal.

His epic adventures to the vast world of snow and sub-zero temperatures and seen him contributing to over 20 books and a number of TV projects.   Going boldly where few men and women dare, Norbert's passion for underwater photography has seen him working on pioneering documentaries including the BBC's Life series currently being screened in the UK for the first time.

'The first stage is logistical,' he said. 'Readying the dive and camera gear, and then loading it and then driving to the dive site.

'There are lots of details to consider and track, and a moment of absent-mindedness will result in a miscalculation or forgetting something crucial, ruining a dive.

'Then it's about getting into the dive gear, making sure everything is connected, seated right on my body and functioning properly.  

'Finally you slip into the water, usually through an hole in the ice drilled for you several feet deep.

'You reach up to take camera gear being handed to you before dropping down a bit underwater and checking the camera to make sure it isn't leaking and that it is functioning properly. Then you head off to what it is we want to shoot.' 

A diver swims just below a crack in the sea ice. Tidal shifts cause sea ice to crack in pressure ridges near islands

Despite the specialised nature of his work, Norbert didn't always plan to be floating around under groaning sheets of ice in a lonely world.

'Many scuba divers get interested in underwater photography after they start diving in order to record what they see for their enjoyment. It was just a natural progression from there.' 

'I didn't start underwater photography thinking it would lead to anything. But you never know where life will take you, and if you had told me long ago that I would be doing what I'm doing now, I wouldn't have believed you.' 

Even after the shocking amount of time he has swam at sub-zero temperatures, Wu said his health has remained relatively in tact.

'After my first season in 1997 I spent a couple of years with stiff hands. They weren't as flexible as they used to be.

'I was pretty alarmed at that but it has either gone away or I don't notice it any more. That's the only negative physical thing I've experienced.' 

Norbert will return to Antarctica's Palmer station when he will finish his next project documenting the area's marine life.

I am heading up to Kalbarri tomorrow for six days and I am really looking forward to some great fishing.
Does anyone have any recent reports of how the fishing is there at the moment?
Thank you very much, Colin

I am hoping that this is not a FW member or someone a member knows.
Apparantly a man in his early 30s was looking at a problem at the back of his boat just 200 m offshore from the Ocean Reef marina when it is speculated a wave upset his balance and he fell into the water.
Thankfully he was rescued by a passing vessel, while his new 5.8 m centre console boat sunk to the bottom.

Some people approach
diving,in a easy going approach,and it is a great sport but it also has inherent risks accoicated with it, that is one reason I strongly advise the younger,newer, people who take up diving to the to join clubs as I do not think,(my personal
opinion ) that paying money and doing a course will make the person a
good diver,I started in 1968 and have logged sh--it loads around Aust
and O/Seas and I still learn. Ps I was a training officer and I did not
have one incident to any one I was involved with jersey

i need some help I am new to fishing but heading down to geographe bay for a week. I would love some tips on how to catch some nice fish and maybe some hints on good locations.

any help with be greatly appreciated

Edited from the Daily Mail story by Fiona Macrae  09th December 2009

Stretching along the shore as far as the eye can see, it is a galaxy of starfish.

More than 10,000 were left high and dry on the sands after choppy seas washed them from their feeding grounds. And unfortunately, nearly all perished, unable to get back to the safety of the water. The graveyard of orange and pink extends more than a quarter of a mile along the golden sands of Holkham Beach in Norfolk.

It is thought that the starfish had gathered near the shore to feast on their favourite food of mussels.

They are also most common between November and March - the time of the year when we experience bigger tides.

anyone can show me flatrock on googlemap?

He guys really want to catch a decent samson of perth we launch at hilaries do ya have to go out far or is it worth jiggin or lure around rotto ?

Im looking to replace my old penn ssm spinfisher 650 and can't decide whether or not to buy a brand new spinfisher 650 or get a new penn slammer, has anyone have or owned a slammer if you have could you tell me about it.

G'day fellas - any reports of anything out at the FADS yet? How long have they been in?

Hi folks, I've been out of the game for a while now due to work commitments & stuff & I seem to be a tad behind on the licence issuse.

Can someone simply tell me, do I need a licence to fish from my boat?

Does everyone need a licence to fish from my boat?

To all the staff there at The Tackle Shack & Oceanside Tackle, a merry christmas & a happy & safe new year. Thanx for all the informative advice, help & good spirit you have provided to us through this forum & your stores. Also to the many memers of FW also for their input. We look forward to catching up with some of you in the new year or even up at Exmouth in may. Be safe, enjoy & good fishing to everyone.  Rob

Im thinking of heading down cockburn Asi groyne and are wondering if any one has been down there lately if you have could you tell me what you caught, the conditions, time and the tackle/rigs you used.

All help is much appreciated

Interesting reading ......
Size limits
From December 16, some changes to size limits for various species will come into effect. These include:
• Removal of the maximum size for grey banded rock cod (state wide);
• New pink snapper size limit of 50 cm applies between Lancelin and Black Point, east of Augusta; and
• Removal of the slot limit for pink snapper in Metropolitan waters.

http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/RecFishArrange/FAQ-Dec%202009.pdf

I have been using my fathers TLD 20 and 25 and a TICA reel I dont trust fully for the trolling up here around karratha. Looking to get 2 new reels for trolling and possible deeper bounching. Budget about $500 each. Prefer Alutechnos but nothing off that quality near this range some the best Shimanos will probably have to do.

I have my ideas but wonder what the experts think. Mostly for Macks, Tuna and the odd billie should the stray into the pattern!!

cheers

Neels

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience good or bad with ordering gear online, which sites are best? and how much are you up for taxes, shipping etc?

Alright guys - can you guess that lure?

The story - My old man and I are going for a father and son Fishing trip to Sharkbay/False Entrance in a few weeks, i was stocking up on lures as both he and i thought they were Halco Laser Pro's - 20 different lures later (mix between halco laser pro and rapala's he tells they arent right and dont work as well.

so i asked him where did he buy it, he replies "ranger" i reply back yeah i know they are the same...he goes no - shark bay ranger sold it to him. bugger!!!

so here is it - the last one that he kept as momentum.

PS - the bib has snapped off and sorry about photo quality (using camera phone)

Just saw this on the 7pm Project

SPECIAL REPORT: THESE pictures show WA conservationist Leon Deschamps sitting on a whale carcass and patting tiger sharks feeding on it.

He hopes the images will dispel what he says are ``myths'' that tiger sharks are bloodthirsty, man-eating monsters.

Scientists found the sharks feasting on the dead whale during a field trip to collect genetic samples as part of the Shark Bay Ecosystem Research Project in August.

Picture Gallery: See more extraordinary pictures

The sharks appeared almost indifferent to the close attention they received from Mr Deschamps and other conservationists perched atop their feast.

``Tiger sharks are not aggressive,'' Mr Deschamps said. ``And I thought the most effective way to demonstrate that would be by throwing ourselves into the middle of a feeding frenzy.

"They were sedate in their movements and far from aggressive, despite it being a time when they are supposed to be at their most ferocious. I think they enjoyed the experience.''

But a Department of Environment and Conservation spokesman warned that touching whales was illegal and people were encouraged not to interfere with sharks because of the risk of attack.

``This is highly irresponsible and dangerous behaviour and puts people's lives at risk,'' the spokesman said.

Mr Deschamps, 32, has been working with sharks for most of his life, and reiterated the department's warning to leave them alone, especially during feeding.

``The water (in Shark Bay) is so shallow that sharks can be better seen from a 4WD than a boat,'' he said.

He believes Shark Bay, with more than 40 shark species, has as much to offer as the popular tourist destination Monkey Mia, famous for its dolphins.

He said the former shire council had discouraged him from promoting the area's rich shark population, for fear that tourism would be negatively affected.

To aid conservation efforts, he is campaigning for acoustic monitoring devices to be placed along a 1000km stretch of Shark Bay coastline. He hopes the data will reveal the sharks' migratory routes and feeding patterns, which are relatively unknown.

He is also working to establish a database of images using the animals' distinctive dorsal fins so individual sharks can be recognised.

Local conservationists Trevor and Rhonda Humphries are so passionate about Mr Deschamps' project, they donated their retirement yacht to be used as a research vessel.

``All the research at the moment is done by international, mostly American or Canadian, researchers,'' Mr Deschamps said.

``I just want to see more Aussies involved in creating their own conservation programs in their own back yard.''

inbetween 2 guns at the moment the pelaj nemsis and the pelaj speckter both in the 1300 size has ne one had exp wih either

guys what do you freedivers do to increase breathhold ie training fitness anything really cause atm my down time is right up the sh#t and wouldnt mind fixing it asap
cheers brenz

hey guys  im looking for a fishing buddie ,i am 18 live SOR and i am  landbased  ,if anyone wants someone to go for a fish with . or doesnt mind someone tagging along just shoot me a pm.  cheers.

well a similar thread has been done before but it was quite a while ago and we have a lot of new members since so i figured it was worth another crack. Here is the thing, you have to single out your favourite region in WA and give us a "why" as well. You dont have to necessarily have fished the area, it might be somewhere you are yet to travel to.

Mine

well i must say i cant look past the Pilbara.

WHY: It has just about everything and for every level of experience. GT's, bills, trout, reds, mackies, rankins, all your snapper, barra, threadies, jack. you name it. We have the montes, dampier, thevenard, and about a million different creek systems to get lost in. I have only explored about half of the area, i reckon i will spend a lot of years looking at the rest...

If i had to be more specific i would have to say the montes, WHY? well the place is the whole experience, it is more than just the fishing. The place is simply breathtaking... I have been there three times this year and i feel like i have barely scratched the surface. So much to o so much to see and no where near enough time.

oh the memories, the only thing its missing is barra, even then i am not quite sure that is true......

http://fishwrecked.com/forum/lucky-tim-and-brad-do-montebello-islands

so what is yours?

On the weekend went out between scarborough and rotto chumed up the water all day with 2 game rods out with wire trace and balloons next thing a thresher come out of the water in between the balloons and took a small rod with a triton charter series reel of mine with a livey on it no wire trace and only 30 pound line we chased him for approx 2 hours he was jumpin out of the water gettin his whole body clear then charged straight at the boat and jumped about head height straight on the back of the boat and got stuck beetween the motor and the boat  was an awesome fight have it all on video does anyone no how to upload this

To service a over head reel north of the river, If not then i will have to make a trip to south street and see ryan / honsu

Any feed back guys

steve

does anyone know a tide site for dawsville cut or is thier not one.

Just wondering has anyone been down to Waroona and Harvey this week and whats the action been like??
Havent any success yet this season...well one quick rainy trip doesn't count.

Anyone tryed the new powerbait squid jigs made by Berkley have been reading about them in a few of the latest fishing magazines and so far they have been given a good write up but would be keen to hear of anyone that has used them I have quite a few jigs but hey another one wouldnt go astray plus when the squid are shut down maybe the powerbait would be a bonus and save me having to buy spray’s and scents.Meant to have been designed in Japan

Nathan

does anyone know if the fish are running in sound at the moment and were abouts i would be able to catch them in the sound