Recent Adventures

April 29, 2001 Ponoquogue Bridge
What a day. First good visibility of the season and life is starting to prosper once again under the sea. Sea Robins and a few small blackfish were around as well as billions of grass shrimp that were hitching a ride on the outgoing tide. It must be time for them to take to deeper water. I had hoped to see a few stripers but there were none around. I did however, come upon a large blackfish. I spooked him out of the main channel and followed his dust to the new bridge. I flushed him again and ne tirned a corner around some pilons. I held my breath and turned the corner myself to see " Big Daddy" the biggest blackfish I have ever seen. FWAPP!! my spear was true and I was very proud top come out of the water with a 12lb blackfish. Some folks took pictures and said they will send them to me. I will post them as soon as I get them. I think the stripers are going to be with us soon.

A hero in our midst
It goes without saying that multiple skills and a cool head make for a good diver. This is the heroic tale of one such diver that I am proud to call a buddy. Billy Hughes an ex reconisance ranger of the U.S Marine Corps was spending a gloomy Saturday morning fighting the current under the ponoquogue bridge. The Ponoquoge poses some real challenges to the best of divers and this day was no different for Billy. The Current was running particularly hard that day and by the time Billy got out of the water he was exhausted and his single tank held only 50psi. He was just about to dump the weight from his Zeagle BC when he heard a cry for help. As Billy turned he saw a large exhausted diver flailing his arms about on the surface as the current took its hold on his life. The other divers in the area offered the OK sign but Billy knew it was a time for action as he watched the stressed diver sink beneath the bridge. Billy bit down on his mouthpiece and went down after him. The current was stronger than anything Billy had ever been up against before but he had to try. Billy does not like people to know this but he was born with a very rare birth defect E.S.K. (Extraordinarily Skinny Ankles). Though his tiny ankles were on the verge of snapping as he kicked, the low drag coefficient allowed him to reach the now unconscious diver. Without any air left Billy decided to go for an emergency ascent. Blasting to the surface with the diver in tow he struggled to keep them both afloat. He was about to go under when a large piece of driftwood and an idea struck him. Billy had recently begun woodworking as a hobby to help him forget the horrors of PT duty he had seen in the corps. Using his dive knife and regulator he quickly fashioned a child's doll stroller with enough bouncy to float the two of them to safety. Upon reaching the shore Billy easily rolled the diver in his little doll stroller to a waiting ambulance. We caught up with Billy later that day and asked him about the ordeal. He said we could buy one of the strollers for $50. Not likely Billy. But hats off to our hometown hero

Krazy Karl
This just in from Krazy Karl. It seems Karl lead an expedition to the bulkhead of the Riverview in his quest to film the winter mating dance of oil soaked skimmer clams.Despite the frigid water temps and the 3 inch visibility, Karl found his prey in 5 feet of muddy water. All was going well and it seemed his documentary of the Skimmer clam would bring him fame and fortune. Unfortunately for Karl the mating dance of the oil soaked skimmer is quite arousing and he became entranced not realizing his meat valve was stretching the seams of his dry suit beyond factory reccommendations. Just at the height of his rapture the seams gave way and the cold water rushed in. His camera was lost forever in the ten feet of silty mud and Karl escaped death by mear inches.We interviewed Karl in the hospital later that day and despite his loss he said "Adventure like this is always a win!". A great tale about a great man and a great diver!

Shinnecock Inlet 1/7 (pics below)
Back to the Hamptons with my wife and my camera. Because I missed so many good photo ops the day before I decided to take advantage of the break in the winter cold and head east again. Grabbing up camera and wife we headed out. Our first stop was at the Old Ponoquogue Bridge to look at some mergansers and brant that were in the channel. Also there is a duck blind anchored in the channel. I kept thinking about the insane nuts that sit in that death trap. I dive that channel and I can tell you that maneuvering a boat or trying to do anything in that current is dangerous. The inlet on the other hand was nice and quiet. We enjoyed our walk to the end of the jetty and were surprised to be met by a harbor seal. He was probably up on the rocks and we spooked him into the water. He hung around for a few seconds checking us out and submerged. He came up a minute later way down the beach. I guess he didn't want company but my wife was sure glad to see him and watched him swim away through her binoculars. Along the beach there was a mass of gulls picking through a pile of small skimmer clams that had washed up in a neat little pile. I myself picked through it to find a multitude of large hermit crabs and some sea snails all alive. Of course I fed some to the gulls. There were oodles of live clams still in the debris pile that must have been washed up by last week's storm. The gulls were looking for the choicest morsels as they appeared to be complacent and without confrontations amongst each other. The water had also cleared up and looked good for diving again. Perhaps next week I will take a dunk in the cold stuff. Enjoy the pictures and feel free to comment on what you would like to see on this site.

Shinnecock, 1/6 Herring fishing

Once again it was Ed and myself braving the winter sea. It was a perfect day at the inlet and we arrived in time to catch the top of the tide. The Gulls and sandpipers were in multitude and chugging through the froth that only a cold lively ocean can produce. All was right in the world. That is, if you consider getting skunked again alright. Not one damn herring. I don't know why I bother to try to catch a stupid little fish I can buy cheaply and already pickled. Some locals I ran into told me the herring split two weeks ago and have'nt been seen since. To top it off my camera broke and I lost some great pictures I was going to share with you folks. I would still rather have a day like that on the East end than spend it on a couch or in an office. Also you "Perfect Storm" fans should take a look at the fishing fleet out there. Your imaginations will run wild.

Upcoming Adventures

May 2001
If you would like to join me for a spearfishing trip feel free to drop me an email or call at 917 566 3007. I would love a photo buff to take a few pics.

April 2001
Been in the water every weekend in April. Many dives in Mt. Sinai harbor and Cedar beach. Nothing is moving yet with the exception of an occasional skate. On April 21 I took a trip to the ponoquoguie bridge. I expectted to see some blackfish and maybe a few flatties. It was barren. Nothing was moving except a small school of baitfish and a lonely skate. The bridge pilings were completely void of fish. I am hoping the warm weather this week will bring the fish closer to shore. If you are not diving cold water you are missing out on peace and serenity that the summer crowds will soon drive away. I will be diving again this weekend so drop me a line if you would like to come along. Msasso@onebox.com

Been Sick!
I caught a damn cold that turned into flu and a respitory infection so I have'nt been takin the cold dunks lately. Also I have had a lack of support from some of my "diving buddies" who are afraid of the cold water. It seems like February is national couch month. I can tell you that I will be in the water again before the month is out and I'll let you all know when that is going to be.

Saturday 1/6
Going to try shinnecock for some herring. A few eastenders have been whispering that I may do pretty good there. All welcome to join.

Sunday 12/31
Big Ed and I will be at the Jones Beach and Magnolia peers trying to hook into some herring. I'm gonna bring the dive gear and take a dip as well.

Wed. 12/27
Stony Brook Harbor/ Porpoise channel. I will be diving off of the Stony Brook Bulkhead. I hope to find jewlery and fishing lures and maybe a little seafood. High tide is at 12:14. See ya then.

Tuesday december 26 Cedar Beach,Mt. Sinai
I'll be taking adunk off of Cedar beach and collecting Scungilli(welch) off the bottom. There's plenty there but you'll need a drysuit. It will be a bit cold but the waters good and clear. Meet me in the parking lot and enjoy the dive. Scungilli salad, Yum!

email me at msasso@onebox.com if you need directions