My plan was to meet two new freedivers and dive
the jetties of Perdido Pass. Jon Ashworth had contacted
me over the winter expressing a desire to learn spearfishing
freedive style and resides in Mobile. David Biron is an
experienced freediver from Rhode Island and recently
relocated to Gulf Breeze, Florida; a stones throw from
the coast of Alabama.

We were to meet at the Perdido Pass seawall near dusk.

Since Jon lives in Mobile, I picked him up at his house
so that we could get to know each other on the way. Turns
out he is a regular nice guy. There was not a silent minute
as we made our way to the point, or back for that matter.

Upon arrival, David was standing by his car all geared up
and ready to go. We did a quick check on the current and
visibility. It looked like 3 feet at the most and murky.
Normally, we would not dive with such poor vis but
since David seemed eager to go, we geared up and headed
down the seawall to the beach without a second guess.

David had on a full suit, as did Jon, while I was in a 3 mm
shorty. I knew it was going to be chilly but as it turns
out, I would be warming up in a hurry as there was a strong
rip current that wanted to pull us out and into the pass.

It was a steady kick from the time we entered until we got out.

This was Jon's first night dive and I couldn't think of worse
conditions to have to deal with. The first thing Jon had to do
when we met in the water was to cut off an entanglement of
kite flying string. Before long, I was cutting it off of me as
it drifted my way. David just breezed on out the jetty. It
turns out the visibility depended on how well your light
worked. David claimed to have 1 foot with his extraordinarily
bright dive light while Jon and I were using my UK-1200 lights
with last years batteries still in them, however, they were bright
enough to give us a good 6 inches of visibility.

Jon appeared to do well and made it out to the end of the jetty.
It was hard to keep and eye on him in the conditions so I
encouraged him to head back staying close to the rocks. The
current was swifter near the channel. While Jon swam back,
I started hunting more seriously. It was very hard to find
the right spots in such bad vis but as luck would have it, I
come down right on top of a flattie. I may have willed him to
me because even seeing a fish in this vis is a miracle. I knew
that I would lose him if I surfaced, so I took my light off of him
quickly and readied my spear. The next movement was to shine
the light back on him and let her rip. The fish kicks kicks as I
make my shot. I bear down trying hold it. Kicking like crazy,
I manage to get the spear through and grab the backside. Got 'em!
He weighed almost 4 pounds.

David and I spend a while longer out near the channel but
eventually head back to the beach. The walk back to our
vehicles wasn't to bad considering all the body heat we
were expending and the north wind had slacked a bit.

Back at the parking lot, we got changed into our street
clothes and swapped stories for about 45 minutes. Everyone
got along well and made a cohesive group. I'm looking forward
to our next spearing adventure.

Mike Wade
Stickmen
Mobile, Alabama