Underwater Camera System Test

I went out on a power boat **gasp**, yes I admit it.  But it gave me a chance to test my underwater camera system.  I thought I had video taped a decent battle with a 15 pound ling cod only to find that the camera wasn't running.  Well that's why ya test things I suppose.  Couldn't keep the ling anyways.

So video of pulling up nearly dead rockfish (baro trauma) isn't all that good but it gives a little look at light levels 70 to 80 ft down. 

So not trying to show off a vid since it sucks, but more looking to get ideas on how I can get better pictures if it's possible at all.

It's a gopro mounted in such a way I can clip it to my line.  I was nervous as a friend of a friend had snagged up twice and broke my line twice already along with 30+ bucks of my shimano jigs.  I didn't want to lose a 200 camera system either but what the heck.

I have studied everything about lightwave length and such but it's still cool to see it in action.  Notice how everything is green at the bottom as only green and blue wavelength light makes it to the bottom.  It's interesting to see what stands out in the videos.

I like it, guess I will never be done shopping while on NWKA web site!

Barotrauma just looks sad.

A scrappy lingcod or halibut fight would be awesome to watch but you would be risking your gopro much more I suppose

Barotrauma just looks sad.

A scrappy lingcod or halibut fight would be awesome to watch but you would be risking your gopro much more I suppose

Yah, makes it tough to stay on fish since you really don't want to release them.  If it makes ya feel any better, I kept both fish.  We are allowed 5 rockfish of which two can be non pelagic. First one was a dusky (pelagic) and also kept the quillback and yellow eye (non-pelagic).



I did have the camera on a 25lbs test line battling a 15 pound ling for 5 minutes or so since it hit my light salmon rod.  That was a bit scary since my leader was 30 pounds meanning if anything broke, it's the mainline and bye bye gopro.  The camera, due to operator error, was shut off.  So big risk for no reward!

Some of the things I took away from the video were:
1) Why can I see my floroucarbon line so well?  That's not why I pay a premium for the line!
2) I think black is a good color.  You can see the contrast on the light bottom and makes for a good silhouette.
3) My strip herring spins the way I want it too.
4) I can bang my gopro on the bottom and its ok.  Lens was fine.
5) I thought the way the belly of the rockfish almost glowed like the surface reflection even at 50 ft or so was neat.  I have no idea how that's going to help me catch more fish. 
6) The way everything was green was cool...I knew the theory but interesting to see it.  That has to be useful info somehow...
7) I need to figure out a way to stop it higher on the line without causing issues when landing due to too long of "leader"

Is the Flourocarbon your mainline?  Was their a light source on the camera?

Is the Flourocarbon your mainline?  Was their a light source on the camera?

No, I was using mono or spectra for mainline.  It was my leaders.  But after watching the video, I can see the hooks aren't the one I thought I was using.  These were pre tied snells (I don't use silver or chrome hooks) since somebody had broken off my line.  So that's why I can see it better than I thought...cuz it's mono!  Phew... Need to see a footage of the flourocarbon now.

No additional light source.

Yah, makes it tough to stay on fish since you really don't want to release them.  If it makes ya feel any better, I kept both fish.  We are allowed 5 rockfish of which two can be non pelagic. First one was a dusky (pelagic) and also kept the quillback and yellow eye (non-pelagic).

Its just sad to see beautiful (and tasty) fish look so "sick" from barotrauma, glad to hear you kept em.

Thats a nice yelloweye

I was wondering how exactly you mount the go-pro to the line so the field of view is on the fish and not facing elsewhere, if you don't mind sharing. I have a go pro to play around with.

It was good footage, I want to try!

Yah, makes it tough to stay on fish since you really don't want to release them.  If it makes ya feel any better, I kept both fish.  We are allowed 5 rockfish of which two can be non pelagic. First one was a dusky (pelagic) and also kept the quillback and yellow eye (non-pelagic).

Its just sad to see beautiful (and tasty) fish look so "sick" from barotrauma, glad to hear you kept em.

Thats a nice yelloweye

I was wondering how exactly you mount the go-pro to the line so the field of view is on the fish and not facing elsewhere, if you don't mind sharing. I have a go pro to play around with.

It was good footage, I want to try!

I bought a surfboard mount and cut it down.  Drilled holes and added clips.  Attached a 4oz banana sinker with a rubber band and voila!  A line mounted camera.  It's pretty heavy on a lighter rod.  I may try to use a lighter sinker. Pretty low tech applied to something a littler more high tech like the mini camera. 

Well dang.  I just found the clear box and base  the gopro came in and I bet you could cut back that base if you wanted to and save yourself 20 bucks...