Octopus hunters in Cove 2 ...

[Grateful Diver]

So I'm pulling into the parking lot at Cove 2 around 4:45 today. My buddy Mark is already there. As I'm getting out of the car I see two guys surface swimming in, towing what looks like a large octopus. I said to Mark "what are they doing? They must've found a dead one somewhere." He said no ... they were punching it as they were towing it in, and it was obviously alive. So I walked down to the water's edge as they were dragging it ashore and asked them what they were doing.

"Hunting octopus", says one of them ... "I went to school for this, I know what I'm doing."

"Oh, you went to octopus hunting school ... and did they tell you it's seriously uncool to take octopus from popular dive sites? People come here to see those."

"So", he says ... "it's legal, and there's lots of them down there. I might come back tomorrow and get another one."

I tried explaining to the guy that female octos use this cove to lay their eggs. He told me this one was on eggs ... now it's not.

This guy was a young fellow, serious smart-ass, from the gear I'd say a fairly new diver. My dive buddy took some pictures of him and his pickup truck, with the octopus in the back. We'll post them later. Lundy also got some shots. I'd like to identify this fellow ... and if possible find out where he's getting his fills ... and where he went to "octopus hunting school".

When I tried explaining to him that I don't have a problem with hunting, but it's bad form to take these critters from popular dive sites he said he didn't care ... that there was nothing we can do to prevent him. Maybe not ... but I want his identity public. I want the shop who fills his tanks publicly identified ... and let the diving public decide what, if anything, can be done.

The guy is young ... maybe 20'ish. He was wearing a hoodie that said "Tahoma Lacross" on the front and "Mayer" on the back. I'm assuming that's his last name. He drives a red pickup truck. I'll post the pictures when I get them ... probably later tonight or tomorrow. If anyone can identify this guy, I think we all need to know who to watch out for.

The guy told me I was being an asshole. Yup ... I can be at times, and this is one of those times. I plan to do everything in my power to let him know just how much of an asshole I can be. And, if possible, to make it financially unwise for any dive shop in the area to fill this guy's tanks. Seems to me that the only power we have to stop this sort of activity is the power of public opinion ... it's time to use it.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[Alaska-Herb]

it sure would be nice to see his picture posted at every fill station with a note that say no air for the hunter

[Linedog]

OK now that I have calmed down a bit, ya he is a complete asshat. He needs a talking to about how we all enjoy this site and would appreciate it if he would respect it also.

[HakkTW]

Let him get fills...just fills with 10%...enough for him to not notice until he goes to visit the wizard...and the octopus can do as she will with him

Not cool on so many levels

[Grateful Diver]

[Dusty2]

It's a shame there are people like that in the world but other than black listing him there is little we can do. I thought you had to have a permit to take them? It take a real a** to take one that's on eggs. He not only killed that one but hundreds. This why we need to be discreet when talking about Octos and where they are.There are places that will pay well for fresh octo.

[Nwcid]

Well if he is part of a school or other "social" club post these pics and the report and let his peers know.

Did he say what he was gong to do with it?

[Grateful Diver]

I hope he eats it ... considering where he took it from, it'll probably give him tumors ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[Waynne Fowler]

A quick Google search brought up a Tahoma Lacross player by the name of Calen Mayer, just saying.

Not to offend here... but we may want to be a bit extra careful here.... especially when talking about a subject that can get people VERY polarized and HOT..

I think we should be very SURE that the only name that gets associated with this jackoff is really his name... IMVHO I think the above name should be removed until we know for sure that is the name of the asshat...

[Tom Nic]

Grrr.... Those pictures just make me sick.

Too much testosterone. Young and dumb. Turn up the peer pressure people!

I am all for hunting, but doing it at a popular dive site is so wrong. And he better eat it. All of it.

The guy told me I was being an asshole.

Yeah, and there's a few more of us that will join you. This guy should be surrounded by them every time he dives.


Grrr....

[Don-B]

There are deer that live in my neighborhood.
I could legally hunt them but i don't.they are more like pets then dinner.
but it dosn't keep some jack-wad that moves in next door from shooting one.

What this guy did was not go hunting out in the wild but took the neighborhood pet.

they only way to stop something like this is to impose seasons or area closures.

I have also had poeple threaten me while legally hunting on public lands.
i did not care for that at all.
keep in mind this is a public forum.
if you try to make this guys life miserable he could really make yours.
he can find out who you are too.

Young people do dumb and stupid things.
As you get older and wiser you realize your actions have an impact.
Hopefully he will .

[lundysd]

This kid was a total punk. He threatened to come back and harvest another one tomorrow, so if anyone happens to be at Cove 2 in the near future, please be on the lookout for a red Ford Ranger and give him a piece of your mind.

Hopefully we can also find his shop and persuade them to choose between a rather large and influential group of local divers (NWDC), or a dickhole kid with no respect for our local dive sites.

[deep diver]

get a rope
It is amazing how anyone that dives would do something like that in a local dive site
my wife likes the idea of cutting off his air... but I told her ...only at the shops for now

[dsteding]

Lundy-

Can you enhance your pictures and see the VIP stickers on his tanks?

[lundysd]

anyone recognize this sticker?

[Jeff Pack]

If you can verify that plate picture, I'll run his plate. Cant tell if last is a digit, or letter.

[lundysd]

maybe this one will help

[Jeff Pack]

will take me about 48 hours to get it non priority, let me get working on it.

[Zen Diver]

I don't care for the practice of octopus hunting, especially at popular dive sites, either, but the sad fact is he did not break any laws. I would caution people to not cross over into bullying or harassment behaviours that could backfire for everyone. The more he's pushed, the more he may take just to be spiteful. And really, does any dive shop ask what kind of diving the tanks are going to be used for? It's quite possible the shop had no idea what he was up to.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Valerie

[johnclark]

This is just sad. =(

[Tom Nic]

And really, does any dive shop ask what kind of diving the tanks are going to be used for? It's quite possible the shop had no idea what he was up to.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Valerie

Not only possible, but most likely they did not have any idea.

Agreed, no laws are being broken. If the public opinion of the larger dive community means anything them perhaps peer pressure can be brought that will result in changed behavior.

[Scubie Doo]

What a shame. Good job handling the situation

BTW, I held back on all my WSU comments.

[Mortuus]

First off, what the actual F**K!!!!! Second, <deleted>

[seainggreen]

This makes me so, so sad. :( GPO eggs all too frequently do not make it to hatch as it is. To have a diver intentionally cut off the chances of future GPOs at our dive sites is just unconscionable. Sigh.

I hope that someone is able to get through to him in terms of appreciating the beauty of these animals enough to let them be. Especially those that are sheltering broods. A mother GPO is completely defenseless and is a sitting duck for a human with no conscience.

Seems like someone capturing footage of this guy killing GPOs and then contacting local media would lead to some interesting paths... like the potential to create protected areas and/or defend these amazing animals. While I can't obtain footage of this activity given where I am at the moment, I will happily donate footage I have to help in any efforts along those lines.

Good on ya Bob and Scott for having the courage to confront this person.

Laurynn

[Sea Goat]

Asshole.

I just think people should not go to a site where lots of divers go to LOOK at octopus, and TAKE THEM from there. And I really wish you had punched him in the face. Sorry, I know, not politically correct, but that picture made me cry.

Please someone find a way to make Cove 2 off limits for this.