There exists at UCSC a small community of spear fishers. Often comprising marine biology students and SCUBA enthusiasts, these aquatic-minded students traverse the California coast in search of rock fish and Perch. Having only heard stories of this, I ventured with recent marine bio graduate Brian Repp up Highway 1 to Greyhound Rock County Park, located just seven miles past Davenport to see for myself. Spear in hand, Brian marches confidently into the foamy surf. The three-pronged spear he carries is propelled like a slingshot and has surgical tubing that stretches across the length of his arm. When released, the tubing flings the spear forward. After several minutes, Brian emerges empty-handed, defeated by the rough, breaking waves. Brian did not catch anything that day, but come calmer waters, he’ll be back, spear in hand.
