These very elegant golden-black inhabitants of the deep sea bear the harsh name of a croaker fish due to a peculiar withers resembling a wild boar. Another fish is called a drummer, grumbler, corvina, meagra, umber, melakopia. Some nicknames were given to Gorbyl for his ability to make peculiar sounds, reminiscent of the sound of drumsticks, grunts.
The croaker does not like fuss
The croaker is a fish that loves to hang out among the underwater rocks and stones. Divers moving around the gloomy realm of Neptune recognize the drummers by their rounded flattened silhouettes and lazy stillness. It seems that the flock is held in place by a lot of invisible ropes. The sleeping state is deceptive: the awkward movement of the diver - and the "company" of crooks instantly hides in the grotto.
Although the croaker is a large fish (some individuals reach a length of 70 cm, more solid specimens are also found), 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 vigorously scurrying small fish: here he is always ready for both a table and a house.
Caught close to a dense living curtain of drummers, the hunter immediately tries to 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 chop fish so easily, since corvina has a lightning reaction.
Trusting but cautious
Indeed, the fish is not afraid of the croaker of divers (the small habitat counterparts generally seek to drive). But acting on the principle of “impudence is the second fishing happiness” is not worth it for a person. The flock instantly mobilizes: there was a fish - yes it swam, only a tail in a dark cleft wagged. The second exit will happen only after a few hours and will be much more careful. True, the very next day, they hunchbacked “they don’t remember evil,” they are again calm and trusting. A smooth ride, an accurate sight - and luck awaits the harpooner. He will definitely return home with glorious booty, 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 more! At the forum "Russian fishing" fish, a light croaker is described as a rarer species, which is larger than its dark counterpart. He has a mustache on his lower jaw. He is a tasty catch of fishermen. Amateur fishermen successfully catch umber (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 off into the rocks. Pulling it out of there, remaining on the surface of the water, is very difficult. More often preference is given to rods, since modern gear can be thrown at a distance of up to 50 meters from the location of the fisherman. A rigid carbon-fiber fishing gear or bottom fishing gear is suitable (since hooks are possible, you need to take a strong fishing line with a thickness of 0.6-7 mm). Spinning is also good, which is easy to remove grumblers.
So, you decided to go for such prey, like croaker fish. What to catch her on? This question worries many anglers. There are so many fishing methods that their description can be a weighty volume.
Changes color
A freshly caught dark croaker is a spilled chameleon, originally golden black, nobly shiny. However, after a while it turns white. A little more passes, and the original form returns, only more dull. Nutritious, tasty, rather expensive fish, croaker (the price, according to some information, ranges from 300 to 1000 rubles per 1 kilogram) is appreciated in cooking. Many dishes are prepared from it, even entrecotes.
In the native water element, the corvina looks much more “fun” (than in the pan): black, or rather dark purple, is shaded by light bronze on the sides and gills. Abdomen silver-white, snow-colored fins. Complete elegance! 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 animals, mollusks, adores crabs. At night, at high tide, he rakes to the shore to easily collect prey. In other cases, the croaker prefers to be at a depth of 6-8 meters. In families, schools live individuals of different sizes and ages. Large stone blocks and deep slabs serve as houses.
Lives settled
Flocks do not like to change habitats. In drawing up a plan of action, sea hunters take this principle of settledness into account. After approaching the fishing place, they just need to carefully comb through large crevices, stones, wander among the underwater rocks, go into the grottoes, look under the plates. There he is, a croaker! The fish will certainly 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 attacks. An insulating tape is used. Wrap rifles and receivers rifles with it - a matter of minutes, but what good! To soften the contact of equipment and underwater objects, craftsmen also use the used rubber of cameras from a bicycle.
The backlight will help
In the Black Sea, underwater “croaker lands” have long been developed. Numerous hunters and divers have changed the habits of fish. Usually gullible, the croaker hardly walks in the open, all the more it doesn’t stand as a family jambs and, as hunters say among themselves, does not form a "hanging".
Having seen the long-awaited group of croaker-fish in the open, do not rush to release the harpoon. Catch the fish in the shelter - that's what you need! Even when it seems to you that the stone is empty - do not believe your eyes. Better turn on the underwater light and check again. Surely in thick darkness lurking chic specimens! Carrying a beacon all the time is optional. You can leave it on a buoy, and if necessary use it.
In search of fish, move along the coast in a zigzag: now moving away, then approaching land. If the stones are less than one and a half meters in diameter, you can bypass them, carefully examine large ones. Examine the shelf, the terrain, the location of the cliffs. Talk to the locals - any information may come in handy. The high cliff on land is continued under water. In terms of hunting, narrow stone rows (ridges) are interesting.
Stock up on a bobber
Come from the side of the closed ridge in the direction from depth to shore. Looking into the crevice, keep your gun ready. By the way, the croaker loves the space under the pieces of plates falling off from the underwater elevation. Often a signal that there are large drummers somewhere nearby is the presence of schools of small fish - swallows. 15-centimeter “girlfriends” “curl” over the stone - check all the shelters below. Swallow, unlike croaker, can be seen from the surface.
Having discovered the stones where the grumbler has lodged, mark the place with a bright inflatable buoy. Otherwise, you can easily lose it. Thus, it is worth making sure 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) on it, a spare gun, etc.
Take the right position
A few additional hunting rules:
- The point of the harpoon should be directed strictly in accordance with your gaze (sight).
- In the event that the burrow in the mink is relatively easily accessible, you can shoot right away, but if the fish is turned with your head or tail towards you, wait until it turns around.
- It happens that drummers are in a difficult position. Maybe they are barely visible in the gap, covered with stone or shy from side to side, trying to dodge the uninvited observer.
- But what if you take a flexible position? For example, to enter from the right side, leave a glove or a lantern there, and to jump over to the left side of the shelter yourself and stick a gun deeper? Cramped by circumstances, the croaker will stop turning and become affordable prey.
- Before you pull the trigger, figure out if you can eventually get a grumble. Pull carefully, otherwise it will fall off the tip - and goodbye, catch! You can try to act by the method on the contrary: going on the other side of the stone, drag the fish with a harpoon and only then take up the gun.
- As soon as the opportunity to grab the fish appears, do it. Holding the harpoon with one hand, press the croaker with the other. Strong fish easily breaks, so it is better to play it safe. Before removing the drummer from the spear, put him on a kukan, piercing the head with a needle through the gills from below.
Wherever a croaker-fish — the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the ocean — is no reason to behave predatoryly. A true underwater hunter never seeks to destroy the whole flock. Caught two or three fish - and enough. This is the wisdom of life, however!