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

This is a compilation of some of the larger white seabass I have on film. None of them were speared, although I clearly could have shot most of them. I've tried to use the clearest clips, being that the compression blurs the others so much. The last clip is undoubtedly the largest WSB ever captured on film as far as I know. The fish it's following is your typical 40 - 45 pounder. The big one has to be somewhere in the 90 - 100+ pound range. Never, ever shoot a fish from the surface. It is totally unsporting and as cowardly an act as you can perform. What a pathetic end it would have been to that glorious fishes life. If you can't take the dive without scaring the fish off, you don't deserve it. Freedive spearfishing is the most admirable and conservation minded way of hunting in the world. Represent us well and respect your prey. Enjoy the video.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Big White Seabass
• Freediving California
• Big WSB
• White Sea Bass
• Spearfishing
• Freediving

[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.

[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.

[Spearomen]

great video!

[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!!!!!