Ultimate Big White Seabass Clips Ever - Watch Full Screen For Full Effect

[Spearomen]

great video!

[keithangler]

I love it for the shots you Did Not Take.  A true sportsman. l appreciate the love for the sea and the creatures in it.

[MONKNER]

Thanks, friend. I appreciate your comments.

[modelleg]

It's amazing any of those noble fish are left.

[MONKNER]

The super amazing part is that are more now than there have ever been. You can thank the inshore gill netting ban for saving them.

[modelleg]

@MONKNER Here in the east we have striped bass which also benefited from the ban on commercial netting. Whenever I see videos of White Seabass I think of Carlo Eyles. He must be a god to western freedivers.

[MONKNER]

His book is still one of the best ever written on the subject as it actually occurs. When you read it you get a really good idea of what the experience is actually like. And if you've actually done it, you have a real appreciation for how accurately he captured it. There is nothing like hunting WSB. It never gets old, it's always crazily exciting in your imagination as you hunt. Your mind is constantly trying to stay focused, knowing the slightest wandering of thought could blow everything.

[Jswanthespearo]

Hey I really respect that you only shoot from underwater, I see your point about shoooting from the surface and it not being like the hunter/prey that nature would encounter. I love spearfishing and have never seen anything like your videos in the water. But how on earth could you possibly give up the chance at a WR sea bass just because you happen to be on the surface when you saw him? and if you dove down you would have scared him. I just don't know how well I would have restraint like that

[bigbenelisbe]

This is so beautiful monkner...please! more!

[bodjanace]

Post some more footage!!!!!

[MONKNER]

That's just like watching the olympics and saying how easy it is to do what they do. What you're not understanding is how rare this kind of footage is. That's why I posted it. They don't let people just sit there in their presence like this. It takes years of practice and a hyper-ethical stand that is second to none. Typically I will shoot about 6 fish out of 150 days of diving a year. If you knew what went into it you would be embarrassed at your comment.

[shaunsipos]

Capital "A" Amazing video! Thank you for showing that just because you see a fish doesn't mean you need to shoot it! I am new to spear fishing but, am addicted. Do you have any advice to a new spear fisherman?? I don't shoot from above.. always dive down to get the broadside of the fish and try to have patience.

I have no problem with kelp and am curious where this is since I live in Los Angeles and you said it's in California. Any advice would be appreciated! sss_sipos@yahoo.com

[toddels9972]

awesome vid mate, im form australia and im just wondering if your allowed to spear them where you are??

[aLilBitOEverything]

@toddels9972 yes, it is legal.

[normos11]

I found myself screaming "SHOOT!!! SHOOT!!!" great vid

[MrNicksta100]

where is this at



[sushiboy71]

Awesome.I think perhaps some of this footage is LJ.I got a 65#er there last year.I love the shots of you looking up at the fish.You have honed your skills to perfection.

[rocco2458]

@Monkner. Was this filmed in San Diego? Nice.

[cameronwick]

man its creepy down there you got balls

[iamdodgerblue32]

Hey, I was wondering what time of day it was when you took this footage.

[icanrunveryfast]

Way to go with the film. Where did you get this amazing footage if you don't mind me asking.

[mikegehres123]

what part of catalina is that at

[laxmonster100]

how deep is this?

[FreediverMan]

That's a great point and I'll have you and your way of thinking in my mind all year. Thanks for your time and input.

[MONKNER]

You won't regret it. You'll see more than you ever have before. Good hunting!

[FreediverMan]

I would love to do this but I kill fish for food as much as I do for fun. I have killed a couple fish over 50lbs, but don't know if I'm ready to pass on another. I am on that track but not there yet. I do however have the desire to film more than hunt sometimes so should be there before too long I hope. I could only imagine what I might see if I hunted the way you do and will try that this year after getting some meat in the freezer. Thanks for the really great advice.

[MONKNER]

I hunt for food as well. In hunting this way you pull the trigger less, but when you do they are really nice fish. I dive an average of 125 days a year, 3 - 4 hours a dive and probably shoot about 6-8 WSB and about a dozen halibut. And my freezer is packed all year long eating fish three nights a week. If you just hold off for the big ones, it's way more rewarding in every way. You shoot less and see way more.

[FreediverMan]

Just getting ready to get my boat and head for the water and decided I would watch this first. Thanks for taking the time to put it together. It's truly epic and well put together. Makes my enjoy taking my camera out more seeing that other people can have the self control to not pull the trigger. Maybe one day I'll have as much as you, but noooot quite yet:)

[MONKNER]

Glad you like it. If you really want to see things like this, do this: Don't shoot any WSB under 40 pounds. Start there. After you get a 40, move the bar up to 50, after a 50 move the bar to 60, after 60 move it up to 70, which is rare of course. Let everything swim off that is in the ten pound range you've already landed. You'll be absolutely amazed at what you learn and see if you hunt this way. Imagine all the clips I wouldn't have if I would have shot the first fish I saw.

[reefrydr]

Hey bro you must have issues with seabass, 'cuase why wouldn't you shoot one of those beutiful Fish!

[MONKNER]

Because I already had fish in the freezer. Why would I kill another beautiful fish?

[DrBillBushing]

Fantastic footage. I've only seen two and filmed just one of those, but I dive on SCUBA so they are usually long gone by the time I get near. Appreciate your respect for these magnificent fish. I've only eaten them twice.

[TheDoddly]

thanks i wont sleep for a month now!

[Dwikkles]

Very well said brother and gorgeous footage.

I would dive with you any day.  I'm a SoCal boy too.

[MONKNER]

It's always nice to hear there are other divers that "get it". Most are so convicted by the footage they burst into flames. :)

[morgasticmorgan]

awesome vid mate and great fish well done

[sdlocalkid85]

My hat off to you, I would have taken one of the bigger ones to stock my freezer, but i sure wouldnt take more than one. Awesome video though, nice camera work and a lot of respect for the wsb. Most people dont understand how slow this fish grows, and thats partially why the limit is 28 inches. great work, i hope you got one of them, seeing as how you had your speargun the entire time

[MONKNER]

Thanks. And no, I didn't take any of them, although many are clearly over 60 pounds. Once I've landed a fish over 65, I just leave them alone until I see one over 70. It gives me great pleasure to swim with the big ones, knowing I could take any one of them, but instead to let them live. The "Passing on Massive White Seabass" clip fish is over 65. I really struggled with that one, but now I have it forever. And the 90 -100 pounder.....One of these days.

[Frankpro1]

@MONKNER Thank you for doing so. Too many of your fellow spearmen don't have the restraint and respect you give towards the WSB.

[TheFisherdude123]

i looked this up and it inspires me to see a video with respect to such great fish. ive watched other videos and first chance they get they hit the lunker over and over untill its safe to say they beat it to death.p;s i love the music and im in music so can you tell me where you got it @?

[MONKNER]

Thanks for the comments. Much appreciated. The music is "Enya", album "Watermark", song "Cursum Perficio". Haunting, just perfect for gliding through the murky kelp, never knowing what's coming around the next corner....

[bigbenelisbe]

you are my hero....:,)

[freedivingdan]

I really enjoyed watching this video!

[OceanCouncil]

Respect!

[MONKNER]

I'm glad to see there are some guys that get it.

[jgiddo]

how deep are u diving

[flatr0ck]

I really respect not surface shooting fish. I do the same, but for the not-so-pure reason of not wanting the fish to make a beeline for the bottom (60-90 ft) before it starts its run. With regards to the last fish, I must ask, what is the full story. There is no way I would let a pb pass under me without trying to get a shot later. Did you wait for it to pass and do a drop to the bottom to hit it from below?

[MONKNER]

Funny you should ask. It's a long story, but to make it super brief, the day before, I blew a filming opportunity on a 60+ pounder that I was 5 feet away because I assumed it was on camera. I just got the tail. So this time when I saw a big fish coming, I made sure I only looked through the viewscren to make sure I got it. The 40+ pounder I watched with my eyes, then I fimed the big one from the screen. Took a half hearted dive after it swam by and spooked it. When I downloaded the video........

[MONKNER]

That's what you call conviction.

[AXIS2935]

where abouts are these WSB? i am from australia and they look alot like what we call jewfish...but they are usually in much different habitats than kelp beds...usually estuarys and reefs

[MONKNER]

This is in California. They do look a lot like Jewfish, but they are super jumpy and very difficult to approach. In California it's the most prized fish to hunt while freediving. That's the thing that makes the video so appealing to people. You rarely see anyone pass on them if they get a chance to shoot one. To pass on really big fish like many of these is unheard of. Then to have it on film, astronomical.

[blueH20hunter1]

wow man most likely the greatest dive vid iv ever seen good stuff

[MONKNER]

Thanks, friend. Glad you like it. I have a lot of really good footage, only problem is, most of the time when you see a big WSB the water is dirty. I had to use some of the clearest clips, otherwise with the compression it would be hard to see anything. I'll have to see if there's a way I can work around that so I can make another one.

[blueH20hunter1]

@MONKNER ya thats always a problem. i was out a few days ago huntin for some but didnt see any big enough worth taking. where are you shooting?

[MONKNER]

I'm sure you'll understand when I tell you that it's an ancient chinese secret. :)

[blueH20hunter1]

@MONKNER you know i knew that was coming but thought i should give it a try anyway :p

[inshanity84]

Awesome video!

[ladvr89]

Great clips. Surface shooting WSB is lame.

[MONKNER]

Glad to hear there are some real hunters around. You're right, surface shooting is for punks.

[silleiro]

Castas de un verdadero cazasub.

mis respetos. disfruté con las imágenes

[NoahAcevedo]

Thank you for posting, Noah Acevedo

[fishmunger123]

dope video

[Marco15499]

The video is nice. However, I don´t see the BIG difference between shooting from the surface or while diving. The end result is the same: seafood.

If the size is legal and they are not protected, spearing one fish won't hurt the species.

[KelpStalker]

Are you handholding the camera? Great video and ethics that challenge most of us, thank you.

[Spearfisher4Future]

Finally! A video by a real spearfisherman! Somebody who understands and appreciates the difference between the all-too-common chest-pounding "look at me" race to shoot fish, and a genuine appreciation for the valuable sense of stewardship and life-enriching opportunities that mature hunters possess.

Thanks for a great set of clips and a reminder that we don't have to pull the trigger on every fish we can.

Thanks for everything!

[abzde]

Amazing video! Made me want to give a small wsb a sporing chance yesterday when I saw it at the surface, but he spooked like mad when he heard my snorkel bubbles. Would have been more bummed out if I hadn't caught a tanker 57lb fish the day before.

By the way what happened to all your videos of wsb being shot? I'm sure you've got something more visual eye candy worth sharing.

[Cubanistico]

Pretty good video, very nice filosofy.