Safety warningSpearos it would be remiss not mention today’s shark attack on a swimmer at Coogee around noon today.
We hope the lady has a full recovery and are thinking of her and her family and friends at this time.
I know many of you are still going to enter the water regardless, but just please consider with the whales currently along our coast line and the whites and other sharks species are hunting them.
Please be vigilant when you are in the water. I really feel at the least you should be with a dive buddy or buddies when you enter the water and “watch their backs”; be aware of bait movements; be alert when your buddy spears a fish; listen to that sixth sense too, it tingles for good reason; finally please let someone know where you are going, and when you will be back.
There’s more you could do, but please discuss with your crew and have a plan in case of a run in with a shark. I said a couple of years ago the shark incidences have become unprecedented, unfortunately this is now becoming the norm and will continue to increase until we see government delivering a mitigation plan that sees all ocean stakeholders can safely co-exist with nature.
Dive safe, keep safe people. Much love to you all.
Adrian joined the USFA in 1961, in 2005 he became a Life Member of the USFA, and his club the Mosman Whalers and too the AUF gave him life member recognition.
Adrian was generous beyond measure to spearfishers. I never knew him not to be thinking about spearfishers rights of which he was a determined advocate whether to have equal access to the seas as other stakeholders, or, to be included as a valued stakeholder in any discussion concerning the Fishery and outcomes that would impact spearfishing. Adrian traversed the coast of NSW attending any meeting that would have an impact on spearfishers. He was tireless, and carried a particular torch that spearfishers whether young or old, new or experienced should have safe access to spearfishing all along the coast and not be “locked out” therefore depriving the next generation of spearfishers developing.
I fondly recall Adrian bamboozling Marine scientists from around the world at a Grey Nurse Shark seminar where he got them all to admit that spearfishers have zero impact on this animal, it was a “mic drop” if ever there was one, fantastic. This action, and his champion efforts in and around the court judgement on Grey Nurse Shark habitat areas where the Judge threw the “green” case out that would have seen all rec fishers severely impacted with access to prime fishing locations should always be remembered as benchmark victories for spearfishing.
Adrian (whose brother Phil, and sons Steve and Kevin are champion spearfishers as well) for many decades worked tirelessly for spearfishing in New South Wales and around Australia. He managed National Spearfishing Teams including World Championships, was the convenor of at least two National Championships and too many State and Zone Championships to list, often stumping up the prize pool with his own money.
I will always remember Adrian happiest after a dive, talking fish with his friends, smoke in one hand, a “Turkey” Wild Turkey in the other, life was great.
Rest in Peace Ado and thank you for all you did for spearfishing, you saved the sport so many times, you will be missed and impossible to replace, there was only one of you made mate.
The USFA members send their respects and are thinking of Adrian’s partner Jackie, and Steve, Kevin, Lani, and their families.
This year’s NSW State Titles were held by the Norah Hammerheads Spearfishing Club, the new kid of the USFA NSW. Receiving plenty of help and keenness from Hammer’s members and the other NSW Clubs there was plenty of talk about the event leading up to the weekend. In the week before the 2 day Championship the weather reports all started to look extremely bleak and many people wondered if this would be another year when Poseidon would stir the oceans up, too large to dive, the State Championships is traditionally a rock-hopping event, a true test of skill, stamina and discovery. On the Friday morning the committee made the call to have a 1-day competition based on the forecast of dangerous swell warnings for the Sunday, the Saturday it seemed would be good for diving.
The day started at 530am with a small swell and no rain! Many helpers arriving early to help set up for the day. The Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party brought their boat along to act as one of the two safety boats for the day. Once the area was set up “Uncle Bob” started signing people on and next thing we know there have been 45 divers sign on; including 4 Ladies with 4 Juniors, and several distinguished gentlemen.
Pat Mullins
750am Justin Elsey held the safety briefing and at 8am sharp the NSW Titles commenced! Many divers headed towards the Lighthouse while others headed north towards Lakes Reef. Visibility ranged from under a metre to 10 metres in some places, and though it was challenging conditions 36 of the 45 divers weighed in fish!
All divers were back by the 2pm finish time and there was plenty of quality fish to check out and everyone was keeping a keen eye on the scales as they tried to figure out who would walk away the victor.
The weigh in completed, (we would like to say special thanks to the Sea Lions, Seahawks, Dolphins and Neptune’s for their assistance in the clean-up and pack away) everyone headed to Norah Head Sporties for dinner and the presentation.
Jai Gibbons, Keiran Timp, xxx, Alex Bond, Pat Mullins, Josh Green, Mark Banasiak, Al Cooke, Mick Martin, Lachlan Green
The 2025 NSW Ladies Champion is Shelley DeCourcy of the Norah Hammerheads, Shelley won the McComb Spearguns custom speargun which doubles as a trophy with its custom plaque.
Open 2025 NSW Champion is Josh Green who under challenging conditions managed to weigh in an extraordinary number of quality fish.
NSW Pairs Champions – Josh and Lachlan Green
NSW Teams Champions- Josh Green Lachlan Green and Sam Morgan.
It’s our understanding the last name Green works wonders in the green coloured water haha.
We had plenty of prizes to hand out from our sponsors, the participants’ were blown away by the generosity and quality of the prizes, thank you to – McComb Spearguns, Osprey Spearguns, DiveR, Dive Cave, Adreno Sydney, Knife Merchant, EKF, Shark Eyes, Dive Imports, Throw Flashers, KHJ photography, Wettie NZ, and, Online Dive Gear.
The highlight for me was when Chris from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party won the Osprey speargun then gave it to Joe one of our Hammerheads Juniors. The junior we call “Spewy” hugged and cuddled the gun with an ear to ear grin the rest of the night.
Thank you to all involved.
Mark Banasiak – presentation
Shawn Anderson – safety boat
Chris Dorahy- safety boat
Kristen – photographer
Bob McComb – sign on / sign off and weigh master.
Justin Esley – scoring program and competition organiser
Brett Carter – event organiser
Vince Bertolli – sponsorship organiser
Craig , Therese, Stuart – BBQ experts.
Beau, Rob, Spewy, Andrew and all the others for cleaning the fish that were donated to Coast Hands to feed people in need with fresh local seafood.
And, of course my family for putting up with it all for the last months or so.
It was a pleasure to host this year’s NSW State Titles and we look forward to doing some more feature USFA events in the future.
SUBJECT: Sanctioned USFA and AUF events – no extra joining fee
To: Spearfishers of the USFA and AUF
Great news for USFA members!
Financial USFA members will no longer be charged the full AUF membership fee when entering an AUF spearfishing event. The USFA will no longer be offering the $10 temporary memberships to financial Australian Underwater Federation (AUF) members who wish to attend USFA major events, there simply will be no charge to either Association’s members. This is ongoing.
To protect the organisers of the event a diver must be a current financial member of USFA or AUF. The diver will need to show proof of their Association’s membership to the convenor at time of sign on. (USFA members you receive emails from our platform approving your payment please show this).
The USFA and AUF retain the right to discern entry to their events as per their code of conduct and membership stipulations.
The Sealions have done it again! Their inaugural Crevice Creeper event was a great day for the eager divers in attendance with conditions seeing an average of 10m visibility across the Central Coast with the better visibility being on the south end of the coast; a one meter NE swell with the same wind direction 20-25 knots.
Thanks go to the 39 divers who travelled to Terrigal many from as far as Sydney’s southern suburbs, to Newcastle entering in this first time event. The Neptunes, and Dolphins were prominent in attendance.
A pairs event, each pair was allowed to enter two crayfish, two slipper lobster and two abalone between them, a very conservative amount being well under bag limits. Boats were used, too, many divers drove to locations and entered the water from the rocky coastline.
Wenjun with his outstanding 17.5cm Eastern Rock Lobster, heaviest on the day
Invaluable Research
Back at the sign off a total of 16 Eastern Rock Lobsters were presented to the weigh master, along with abalone and Slipper Crays. Marcus Miller a crayfish researcher from NSW Fisheries was invited by the USFA and he took valuable data of the captured Eastern Rock Lobsters. The USFA again assisting with scientific research to ensure our fishery is well managed into the future for generations to come.
Eric Yue a well known blue water hunter is also pretty adept with crevice creeping. Eric with this ERL over 17cm.
Results
Biggest Abalone – Kearin Timp – 570 gms
Biggest Slipper Lobster – Eric Yue – 770 gms
Biggest Eastern Rock lobster – Wenjun zhing – 2120 gms
Pairs 1st place – Eric Yue and Wenjun zhing – 6345 gms
Pairs 2nd place – Josh ward And Corey Thompson – 3520 gms
Pairs 3rd place – Steve Montgomery and Josh Green – 3470 gms
Congratulations to Wenjun and Eric with their terrific catches.
Thank you go the Sponsors – Under Pressure Spearfishing – a new player in the spearfishing equipment industry, Hohnke Spice Rubs, Wet Mammal, EKF and Adreno Spearfishing.
Well done to all who entered the event and we look forward to a bigger, better Crevice Creeper tournament in 2025.
Harry Howes dialling in on Slipper Lobsters
thanks to Josh Ward the President of the Central Coast Sealions for providing information and images.
New Spearfishing Club from the Central Coast joins the USFA
Exciting news as the USFA welcomes the latest spearfishing club to join the USFA – The Norah Hammerheads! The continued growth of spearfishing in the outer reaches of the greater Sydney area continues, and the Hammerheads will be a tremendous asset to spearfishing, based loosely around the Norah Head to Swansea region, Norah Head boat ramp being the local, the Club Committee consists of
President: Alex Bond Vice President: Brett Carter Treasurer: Craig Bond Secretary: Justin Elsey Sports Secretary: Beau Mellon
The foundation for the club is based on bringing families and the community together for a bit social fun and some friendly competition with the added bonus of putting some fresh healthy fish on the dinner table. A focus on giving education and support to new members of all ages to the sport, teaching safety awareness, understanding the rules and regulation in regards to safe boating and legal capture of species, and to promote the sustainable sport of Spearfishing in a positive way.
The Hammerheads will have regular meetings at the Norah Head Sports Club, third Sunday of the month from 1630. The USFA Committee and members wish “The Hammers” all the best and we look forward to seeing you grow and develop your membership under the auspices of the Underwater Skindivers and Fishermen’s Association.
Sutherland Shire Council Meeting – Mayor’s Motion regarding boundaries for Spearfishing – Shelly Beach to Bass and Flinders Point. Creating a new Aquatic Reserve therefore increasing the spearfishing exclusion boundaries. USFA protested peacefully against these Mayoral motions and offered solutions.
USFA Members hold your heads up high!
Last night’s Sutherland Shire council meeting saw an overwhelming number of recreational fishers attending to offer solutions to be able to share the marine resource rather than have spearfishers excluded losing safe access to more of our treasured shallow water hunting grounds.
Every single fishing representative in attendance, close to 150 rec fishers showed class and dignity and gave respect to others of the public, showing the Council the quality of people involved in recreational fishing. Council staff mentioning they had not seen such numbers in attendance at any Council meeting previously.
The Crux of the matter: A protected specie – the Blue Groper was speared, by an unlicensed fisher new to the country, therefore due to the actions of one person fishers are to lose territory.
Julian, Hon. Mark Banasiak MLC, Alex Bellisimo, Simon Trippe USFA President
Our Association and its members boast many generations of experience dealing with issues relating to sharing the spatial areas that we use with other stakeholders and this again came to the fore as the talks given by David McGowan (Pt Hacking Penguins) and Charl deVilliers (St George Dragons President) were on point.
Dave McGowan
David mentioning the benefits of the ocean for our health and well-being “the ocean is the antidote to modern life”; David expressing that we could flip this problem to an opportunity to solve this together, “as changes to the rules wont change behaviour… yet an engaged community from all sides with guidance and leadership from governing bodies could lead to great things for the marine environment further benefitting the community… Do we turn our backs on each other, close the door and lock it down, or do we open for community collaboration and positive change?”
Charl pointing out that the La Perouse aboriginal land council had not been consulted. Charl expressed there were 40 000 rec fishers in the Shire; he queried the lack of good, respectful and collaborative approach liaising with the community to solve the problems, and finally he asked Council to stop special interest groups who request exclusive access to the public domain.
Note, the USFA, and its speakers representing tonight absolutely condemns the taking of Blue Groper by spear. Spearfishers are not at fault here.
We suggest to the Minister, her Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, and the Sutherland Shire Council the following:
Education: The USFA would like to be involved with the Department to assist concerned locals in communities, and recreational fishers on the fishing regulations, and to promote spearfishing in its best light where people are realising the huge positive impact it has on fitness, well-being and mental health. An open day at Oak Park promoted by governing bodies assisted by USFA local members would be a great start to this ongoing education. Too, encouraging local dive and tackle stores to promote awareness of the Blue Groper.
Science: That there needs to be an index of abundance on Blue Groper. The species have been in an eruptive phase for several decades and it would be worth looking to see if they are a threatening process to other species due to their inter-specific hyper dominant nature, and their sheer biomass. You would look to adaptive management based upon the science and monitoring. The USFA would be happy to assist with this research.
The Mayor and Councillors were impressed by the spearfishers and had good discussion and decided to make amendments to forward on to the Minister. Council looks forward to positive collaboration with community stakeholders and USFA in the ongoing education of people in the benefits of spearfishing and those coming into their community enjoying the wonderful Marine environment the Shire offers.
Thanks must go to the Hon. Mark Banasiak MLC and his amazing team from the SFF Party, Mark you have always stood by the spearo, thank you so much; the amazing crew at St George and Sutherland Shire Anglers Club who turned in in great numbers; various members of the Stop the Lockout Alliance with their banners; the Spearfishing clubs, our tribe! Port Hacking Penguins, St George Dragons, Sans Souci Dolphins, North Shore Sea Hawks (at least 7 members from the Northern beaches came to support!) plus, legends like Alex Bellismo; the Wild Foodmeister; Fergo’s Tackleworld staff, cheers Johnny and team! Adreno Legends – thanks Craig Seadog for being there too, and lastly Danil Hike, Nick Tang, Melven Brown AO, and Bob McComb, what a think tank and awesome action group you guys were with the countless days combined you spent on this with Charlie and David, thank you all so much.
You all came, you were respectful, we left a great impression, thank you! Now for the Minister’s announcement to come, watch this space…..
3 USFA Presidents Bob McComb, Jack Jones, Simon Trippe. Jack is now a keen angler with St George and Sutherland Shire Anglers.
Jonathan Cassell from the always progressive north coast club the Coffs Harbour Bluewater Freedivers has landed quite the fish. This amazing Green Jobfish is the new USFA NSW record and was speared in the Solitary Island group, it was 106cm long and a couple of grams over 13 kilos.
A handsome, wily, strong fighting fish Jobbies can really work your breath hold. Splendid specimens like Jonathan’s are definitely a top tier specie to land, as Jonathan expressed so well in his application, “…into the boat where we rejoiced in amazement” definitely a stoke specie, and, they are a great eating fish too.
Coff’s Harbour is known as the gateway in NSW for the warmer water species and with this great mix of reef and pelagic species some amazing spearfishing both on and off the shore can occur, it is well worth visiting the Solitary Islands Marine Park you will enjoy the experiences the water will give you.
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