These very elegant golden-black inhabitants of the deep sea bear the harsh name of the croaker fish because of the peculiar withers, reminiscent of a wild boar. Another fish is called a drummer, grumbler, corvina, meagr, umbrina, melakopia. Some nicknames were given to the croaker for the ability to make peculiar sounds, reminiscent of the sound of drumsticks, grumbling.
Slab does not like fuss
Slab is a fish that likes to hang out among underwater rocks and rocks. Divers, moving through the gloomy realm of Neptune, recognize the drummers by their rounded flattened silhouettes and lazy immobility. It seems that the flock is held in place by many invisible ropes. A sleepy state is deceptive: the awkward movement of a diver - and the "company" of croakers instantly disappears into the grotto.
Although the croaker is a large fish (some individuals reach a length of 70 cm, there are also more solid specimens), it cannot be seen from the surface of the water. A lover of quiet and secluded places, the croaker prefers to stay close to algae and briskly scurrying small fish: here both a table and a house are always ready for him.
Caught close todense living curtain of drummers, the hunter tries to immediately throw a harpoon at random, hoping that he will immediately return with prey (or even double). But as a rule, it is not possible to prick fish so easily, since corvina has a lightning-fast reaction.
Trustful but cautious
Indeed, the croaker fish is not afraid of divers (it generally tends to drive small fellows in the habitat). But a person should not act on the principle of “impudence is the second fishing happiness”. The flock instantly mobilizes: there was a fish - yes, it swam away, only its tail wagged in a dark crevice. The second exit will occur only after a few hours and will be much more careful. True, the very next day they croaked “they don’t remember evil”, they are again calm and trusting. A smooth move, an accurate sight - and luck awaits the harpooner. He will definitely return home with glorious prey, for the sake of which he started his underwater voyage.
In the Black and Azov seas there are two types of croaker - light and dark. Black is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. So the geography of hunting can be very diverse, the main thing is to learn the features of fishing well - and go ahead! On the Russian Fishing forum, the light croaker fish is described as a rarer species that is larger than its dark counterpart. It has antennae on its lower jaw. He is a tasty prey for fishermen. Amateur anglers successfully catch umbrina (light croaker) from the shore, as well as from a boat (boat). The latter method is inconvenient: the croaker quickly grabs the bait and runs into the rocks. Get him out of there, staying onthe surface of the water is very difficult. More often, preference is given to rods, since modern tackle can be cast up to 50 meters from the location of the fisherman. A rigid carbon-fiber fishing gear or donk is suitable (since hooks are possible, you need to take a strong fishing line 0.6-7 mm thick). Spinning is also good, which is easy to bring out grumblers.
So, you decided to go for such prey as croaker fish. What to catch her? This question worries many anglers. There are so many ways to catch that their description can make up a weighty volume.
Changes color
The freshly caught dark croaker is a spitting image of a chameleon, initially golden-black, nobly shiny. However, after a while it turns white. A little more passes, and the original appearance returns, only dimmer. Nutritious, tasty, rather expensive croaker fish (according to some sources, the price ranges from 300 to 1000 rubles per 1 kilogram) is valued in cooking. Many dishes are prepared from it, even entrecote.
In its native water element, Corvina looks much "more fun" (than in a pan): black, or rather dark purple color is set off by light bronze on the sides and gills. The belly is silvery-white, the fins are snow-colored. Sheer elegance! The slowness and importance of the breed is explained by the fact that it has few enemies in the water element.
The drummer feeds on small living creatures, mollusks, loves crabs. At night, at high tide, it rows up to the shore in order to easily collect prey. In other cases, the croaker prefers to be at a depth of 6-8meters. Individuals of different sizes and ages live in flock families. The houses are large boulders and deep slabs.
Settled down
Packs don't like to change habitats. When drawing up a plan of action, sea hunters take into account this principle of settled life. After approaching the fishing spot, they have to carefully comb through large crevices, stones, wander among underwater rocks, go into grottoes, look under the plates. Here it is, the croaker! Fish will definitely show up.
We have already said that you need to look very carefully. Metal parts of underwater equipment rattling against stones can ruin everything. Experienced hunters have come up with many methods to muffle and soften possible blows. Insulating tape is on the way. Wrapping guns and receivers with it is a matter of minutes, but what's the use! To soften the contact between equipment and underwater objects, craftsmen also use used rubber tubes from a bicycle.
The backlight will help
On the Black Sea, underwater "crooked grounds" have long been mastered. Numerous hunters and divers have changed the habits of the fish. Usually gullible, the croaker hardly walks in the open, all the more so it does not stand in family shoals and, as the hunters say among themselves, does not form a “hanging”.
When you see the long-awaited group of croaker fish in the open, do not rush to release the harpoon. Watch out for the fish in the shelter - that's what you need! Even when it seems to you that under the stone is empty - do not believe your eyes. Better turn on the dive light and check again. Surely chic specimens lurked in the thick darkness! All the timeIt is not necessary to carry a beacon with you. You can leave it on the buoy, and use it if necessary.
In search of fish, move along the shore in a zigzag pattern: either moving away or approaching land. If the stones are less than one and a half meters in diameter, you can bypass them, carefully examine the large ones. Study the shelf, the terrain, the location of the cliffs. Talk to the locals - any information can come in handy. A high cliff on land has a continuation under water. In terms of hunting, narrow stone rows (ridges) are interesting.
stock up on a float
Come from the side of the closed ridge in the direction from the depths to the shore. Looking into the crevice, keep your gun ready. By the way, the croaker loves the space under pieces of slabs that have fallen off the underwater hill. Often a signal that there are large drummers somewhere nearby is the presence of flocks of small fish - swallows. 15-cm "girlfriends" "curl" over the stone - check all the shelters below. Swallows, unlike slabs, can also be seen from the surface.
When you find the stones where the grumbler lay down, mark the place with a bright inflatable buoy. Otherwise, you can easily lose it. Thus, it is worth taking care that the float is always with you. A buoy is a multifunctional thing: you can hang a lantern, a kukan (a device for carrying fish), a spare gun, etc. on it.
Get in the right position
A few additional hunting rules:
- The point of the harpoon must be directed strictly in accordance with your view(sight).
- If the croaker in the hole is relatively easily accessible, you can shoot immediately, but if the fish is turned towards you with its head or tail, wait until it turns around.
- It happens that drummers find themselves in a difficult position. Maybe they are barely visible through a gap, covered by a rock, or scuttled from side to side, trying to dodge an intruder.
- What if you take a flexible position? For example, go in from the right side, leave a glove or a flashlight there, and go over to the left side of the shelter yourself and shove the gun deeper? Squeezed by circumstances, the croaker will stop turning and become available prey.
- Before you pull the trigger, consider whether you can eventually get the grunt. Pull carefully, otherwise it will fall off the tip - and goodbye, catch! You can try to act by the opposite method: going from the other side of the stone, drag the fish with a harpoon and only then take up the gun.
- As soon as you get a chance to grab a fish, do it. Holding on to the harpoon with one hand, press the slab with the other. A strong fish breaks easily, so it's better to play it safe. Before removing the drummer from the spear, put him on the kukan, piercing the bottom through the gills of the head with a needle.
Wherever the croaker-fish is found - the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, the ocean expanses - this is not a reason to behave predatory. A real underwater hunter never seeks to exterminate the entire flock. Caught two or three fish - and enough. This is the wisdom of life, however!
