Hole hunting for grouper in Croatia 🇭🇷 | Northern Adriatic spearfishing.

[@BeefLoverMan]

It's impressive how you went from barely managing to even see fish in the Mediterranean to casually pulling out dentex and groupers :)

[@DanielMann]

I’ve had a lot of failures over the years but the key has been always trying again.

[@kilobytefishingtv]

Still cant resist calling my wife and my kids just to watch together everytime theres a new upload from your channel 🎯 divesafe always ang stay healthy to make more adventures like these😍 keepdiving everywhere🎯🐟

[@DanielMann]

Thanks mate! Glad you and a family are enjoying the videos 🙌

[@kilobytefishingtv]

Yeah, and we are looking forward for Montenegro🎉😁👍 cheers

[@enricobartolinibaldelli7193]

12:00 it's not what you think, this is not poisonous, we call it ghiozzo in Italy which is different from the tracina

[@ncstudio333]

Daniel when it’s a 500g fish- “this is just the PERFECT size for us to eat”. Daniel when it’s a 3kg fish- “this is just the PERFECT size for us to eat”.

[@DanielMann]

Relative to the species!

[@ncstudio333]

@@DanielMann so your hunger is species-dependent? ;)

[@DanielMann]

Obviously not, but I wouldn’t need a 20kg dusky grouper and probably wouldn’t shoot them less than 2kg. It’s all relevant to the situation and the species.

[@ncstudio333]

@@DanielMann cool stuff

[@DanielSergoTomasco]

I have to praise you for a great video, nice to see you in my hometown, I hope you like our Zlahtina, because there is nothing more beautiful than when a fish swims in good wine, visit us again

[@DanielMann]

Thank you! 😃

[@liamcannon5667]

Another Daniel Mann video to warm me up after the cold of Ireland lately

[@DanielMann]

Been Baltic in England as well. Definitely pub weather.

[@ZeusFaber91]

That's not a weever fish, it is a goby! Congrats on the grouper ;) Greetings from Croatia!

[@christophermoffitt9044]

Grouper? They call that a chick. They should keep their hands off grouper in the med. They are dying out.

[@anthonytipping9322]

Another entertaining video Dan, most of our better half's have the special spearfishing/fishing clock worked out. "I will only be gone a couple of hours" 3-4 hours, "back by lunch" 2-3pm, "back this arve" anytime between 5-7pm, "back late" sometime before midnight. Luckily you have found yourself an understanding one mate.

[@Timbuctoo]

Love it, like a travel postcard and a lovely groper. You will find spearfishing so easy when you get back to Australia, Europe looks really tough.

[@DanielMann]

I found the spearfishing in Australia last year a little less exciting as there are so many fish to choose from that are good to eat.

[@Timbuctoo]

@@DanielMann yep and accessible. But we are very weather dependent here and more sharks. Over there it looks like good vis is normal. Why is the Med less fishy, or is it?

[@DanielMann]

@Timbuctoo overfishing, unsustainable fishing methods like dynamite was normal a few decades ago and still happens in some places. Plus it’s a sea which doesn’t have currents that bring in nutrients like an ocean does. Easy to see on a map why.

[@croatianmaster8178]

This guy knows what is good !

[@simple_adventures]

Congrats for the grouper, they are really difficult to fish in the med...

[@DanielMann]

Thank you. I got lucky with this one but still very happy!

[@johnnyesleo]

Brother that grouper was DEEP!!!

[@DanielMann]

Only 18/19m so quite reasonable. I’ve seen many people shoot them 30, 40, 50m +.

[@johnnyesleo]

@@DanielMann very difficult fish situation mate, great fish, great video as always! Keep it up bro!

[@YLL01]

I'm glad to see more videos from Croatia :D. Great video tho.

[@AnteGV1950]

man, i'm so ,proud watching you in Croatia!!!great video, as always

[@damirlisjak1690]

Yellow soft corals are actually Aplysina aerophoba sponges, they turn black when taken out of water. As usual great video and nice catch, keep up the good work, nice to see you in my country.

[@DanielMann]

Very interesting, thank you for that 🙏🏻

[@ArnovanWyk-q2j]

Great eating fish! its crazy how far they are spread, in South Africa we call them Yellow belly rock cod.

[@DanielMann]

They are all down the west coast of Africa too I think. Certainly in the Atlantic Morocco they are very prevalent.

[@KevinDaly]

Cool vid Daniel, and congrats on a lovely kirnja. Very good especially in northern Adriatic. 👌 Those rocks can be a special kind of torture 🤣

[@DanielMann]

At least the rocks have some utility of helping straighten out my spear 💪

[@dimitriosstefanis9396]

One more awesome video from Daniel again!!! Thank you for sharing a lot. You were so lucky with grouper i cannot believe It!!! Greetings from Palma de Mayorca and DIVE EVERYWHERE......

[@DanielMann]

Thank you Dimitrios!

[@clifbradley]

Daniel the Dentex Desroyer, Sargo Slayer, and the Grouper Gatherer Mann. Wait until I get your business cards made. Lol.

[@DanielMann]

😂 I think there is a slight hint of poetic license there!

[@patrickvella3740]

Nice grouper well done

[@DanielMann]

Cheers, Patrick.

[@Dirrtza]

same in montenegro,a lot of sharp rocks

[@mrpulpol]

Fantastic video, Congratulations on the capture, and spectacular Italian accent ¡¡¡¡Dusky grouper!!!!

[@DanielMann]

I’ve spent a lot of time with the Italians over the years 🤣

[@LouisJullanDayot23]

Yessss another movie to watch,

[@taylorshattler]

Beautiful dive, looking forward to new episodes. Cheers 🇨🇦

[@DanielMann]

Thanks Taylor!

[@mattw5684]

Your wife seems to be a pretty badass rope skipper in addition to being a quickly-evolving freedivier. Good for her!

[@DanielMann]

She does some insane moves on the skipping rope - I’ve stopped trying to even understand how the rope is moving a lot of the time and just accept physics don’t apply to everything 🤣

[@alexharalambiev2873]

Great one as usual! BTW the fish @ 12min is not a weever fish, it's a goby.

[@DanielMann]

My bad 😞 I thought it was just a juvenile or female weever.

[@pjah2031]

It is not goby. Daniel was right

[@alexharalambiev2873]

Not here to argue, but it's definitely a sand goby@@pjah2031

[@jovan4290]

Dan, what you called the weewr fish was a sand goby

[@DanielMann]

I've since been informed, my bad!

[@ulrichkrenn3649]

After nearly 2 years without spearfishing, upcoming weekend i´m going do nothern croatia!! I'm really looking forward to it!!! Your vids helped me throug the "no fishing" time 😉 Keep on filming! Also my 8 year old daughter loves diving... and your videos! She is in croatia now with my parents and is looking for fish that i can hunt on the weekend 😄😋😍 Best regards Uli

[@DanielMann]

Thanks Uli, good luck 🤞

[@moritzdreesen6300]

Wo gehst denn hin ich werd 3 wochen im September in m. Draga sein 🎉

[@ulrichkrenn3649]

​@@moritzdreesen6300 Sorry! Gerade erst gelesen. War im Norden, knapp an der Grenze zu Slowenien. Werde im Oktober wieder dort sein.

[@stevenemes3937]

As usual, an awesome video mate. I'll be out again soon, and hopefully, I'll get my hands on a nice mangrove jack.

[@DanielMann]

Always a fun fish to shoot!

[@stevenemes3937]

@DanielMann All I've shot so far is a flathead, some bream, and a nice Australian salmon.

[@mariocinque8588]

Complimenti per il bel video e per la bella cattura, ciao Daniel & co.

[@DanielMann]

Grazie Mario, la cernia è molto gustosa!

[@daiquiri.]

Wow, never seen a grouper in the Northern Adriatic, even though I fish there a lot! Croatian waters are full of surprises though, last year I had 3 human-size tunas swim right in front of me there in like 2 meters of water right next to the shore, scaring the crap out of me, while I was hunting for mullets (apparently, they were too) 😂 Nice catch!

[@DanielMann]

Cheers! You never know what will turn up and those bluefin are particularly unpredictable.

[@grygamer6671]

Great vid! Hyped to see you in Montenegro 😄. I caught some mullet there once and fried it (absolutley delicious)😮

[@gracinvicko]

The weaver fish was actually a type of gobby, you can find them in front of small cracks all over the Croatian coast. Weawers prefer clear sandy bottoms.

[@DanielMann]

I thought it was a juvenile or female 😔 I see the weever fish have a black dorsal section now.

[@gracinvicko]

Lots of people confuse them, better to be on the safe side :D

[@Itzmfalex]

That camera work was smooothhh. Sick video yet again Dan

[@DanielMann]

Thank you! All thanks to Hannah on the camera this video 💪

[@thijssie1987]

ah yes, lets dive and watch fish and the nshoot them for fun, great video!

[@DanielMann]

If you actually watched the video you’d see it was for food. Nothing goes to waste and much better than buying fish which has come from destructive commercial fishing methods.

[@dantrailwilliams8801]

As always mate, another banger. Love it

[@DanielMann]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@ipojucanrocha8300]

i forgt to mention that Orca Speargun looks like a awesome gun, hope to find in Brasil

[@massimo.serra.spearfishing]

Nice video! Thank you.👍👋

[@amitiu1]

Nice video! Congrats! I understand your Octopus dilema! 🙂 Since I saw " My Octopus Teacher" on Netflix, I can't retain or eat octopus anymore...

[@DanielMann]

I have no moral dilemma about octopus, it was more that we had enough food and I didn't have a float to put the catch on. I also watched my octopus teacher and it reinforced my choice to eat them. They don't live very long so any mature sized ones have already mated. Plus, intelligence is not a measure of if something should be consumed or not in my view.

[@p3gula]

Love ur videos!! Greetings from Croatia😎

[@DanielMann]

Hvala!

[@AlphaGatorDCS]

looks like an amazing time...I need to take my wife on a trip to southern Europe again (live in the US)

[@DanielMann]

You won't regret it!

[@Jacedives]

Always wondered how you manage to switch to holding the gopro from your head mount. I feel like fumbling with the thumbscrew mounts in the water is such a risk compared to DJI hotswap ones. Great vid as always :)

[@DanielMann]

I’m using the Osmo action 3 exclusively now. I always just unscrew it from the head mount. The screw that comes with the DJI camera is much easier to undo than the GoPro one, it has a two sided flat grip like a wing nut instead of the GoPro with its four sided grip.

[@MrPatrik246]

Those sharp rocks must be in Istria, I always go there during summer, but also during autumn it's very beautiful

[@DanielMann]

Very close to Istria.

[@Swimmarko]

Cool video! Cheers from Slovenia!

[@DanielMann]

Thanks Marko!

[@coastlol1]

May God always bless and enlighten you and your family! May God always bless and enlighten whoever is reading this comment and your families too!

[@jasonheyne9293]

Aweh! Lovely Mero Dann...😊

[@DanielMann]

Thanks Jason 🙌

[@Chilliwhip_Spearfishing]

Amazing video as always brother!! Thank you!!

[@DanielMann]

My pleasure!!

[@rowanvirbickas-kiwispearo6285]

Very cool! I’d love to dive the Med some day

[@DanielMann]

Barcelona is off the cards for now then I take it?

[@Kuliwa]

12:01 I am so glad you bring that up. Do you have an explanation for it, do the fish really realize the potential danger of a speargun? I only go spearfishing very few times when on vacation at the mediterranen sea and mostly I do a bit of snorkling first to check the area. While doing that I am often stoked seeing plenty of fish, so I decide to get my equipment but suddenly the fish stay away from me.

[@DanielMann]

I think fish do know what a speargun is but also you’re way less distracted without a speargun in your hand so you can see fish easier. Also seeing a fish and shooting a fish are completely different stories a lot of the time.

[@ApneaPlanet]

Cheers from Austria, I used to dive and fish on the exactly same spot for many years (always using your second, much better entrance 😉) and I assume you went to the left.., many years ago this place was full with sargos, white seabream aka branzino and a lot of octopuses - but now it is a very empty place. So you where extremely lucky to find this grouper - on the other side, due to the climate changes and the warm up of the med more fish species are traveling north giving spearfishers more chances. By the way - on this island you could catch really big dentex..

[@DanielMann]

Thank you very much, yes left indeed. If I had a boat I’m sure I could have found some more dentex 😎

[@ApneaPlanet]

Your place was never the best for dentex - if you have went slightly right and out - I am sure you did see the shallow on the map - there it is another situation. With the boat it is always more easy but there are a lot of spots especially on this island which you can enter via land and find the dentex - by the way I also like to swim big distances instead of using the boat..., already waiting for your Albania video...@@DanielMann

[@sparcousa]

You should add tumeric powder and maybe chilli powder to fry together with the salt. Hopefully those spices are easy access over there.

[@DanielMann]

I’ll give that a go next time.

[@hldemi_fishing]

Adriatic is full of groupers. Its just that they are much more common in south and pretty rare in north adriatic.

[@ascend9327]

Awesome dan another great vid, nice looking grouper

[@DanielMann]

They are really beautiful when they are lit up but like most fish, quickly fade.

[@davegodfrey6428]

Great video mate. Really enjoyed this one

[@DanielMann]

Cheers Dave!

[@janzkrs8006]

99% sure 11:56 is not a weever fish. They are definitely present in Croatia, but the one in the clip is not it. Not sure what this one is called in english though. The weever fish has a more vertical mouth, the stinging fins are black and should have less of a pattern more plain. Love the vid :)

[@alexharalambiev2873]

Sand goby

[@JhunardLapena]

thats a sick gun

[@JoskoSpearfishing]

Odličan video. ❤

[@loki5481]

are you guys going to go souther in croatia? maybe on the island of Korčula? 🤗

[@sporranheid]

🤣 Is the "Sharp Rock" song available for download? I want it. 🤣 Fantastic. Feel privileged to join you on your epic adventure. Dang, that looked tasty! (Shhh. Note to Hannah. As you know, men are quite fragile creatures. Reality is best delivered in small portions. Micro dose. 😉) 👍

[@DanielMann]

It's from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack!

[@denisozdogan2954]

awsome video, how do you find those spots i struggle to find everything, does anyone have some tips? thak you!

[@DanielMann]

I mention some tips about using navionics and finding rock when I first get in the water.

[@yonialm2073]

amazing fish bro !!

[@DanielMann]

Cheers Yoni!

[@J.A.D_96]

very amazing friend❤

[@DanielMann]

Thank you!

[@BRICK_RUST]

you needa do some videos in Australia loved the ones u did awhile ago

[@DanielMann]

Hard to do when you live on the other side of the world to Australia 🤣

[@BRICK_RUST]

@@DanielMann 😔ik

[@guzotak]

When was the video taken? Really cool shots, cheers!

[@DanielMann]

Late September

[@fuaad.c]

This grouper looks almost identical to our yellow belly rocked in South Africa

[@DanielMann]

Same species 😎

[@benjamindozic514]

I go spearfishing every year in Croatia and I film my hunting with a Gopro. Unfortunately I never managed to get such good videos unlike you. Could you make a video about how to film and edit these sort of videos. Great catch, cheers from Croatia!

[@DanielMann]

Cheers Benjamin, plenty of film making tutorials online but not so much for underwater stuff. Key is to grade in da Vinci resolve!

[@benjamindozic514]

I also use da Vinci resolve, mainly because it is free but I don't know how to color grade my videos and such. It is winter now so no filming anyways hahahaha.@@DanielMann

[@MariaMorales-tw3jr]

Look delicious, when are planning to get to Turkey, because i fish in Fethiye ( karaot beach)

[@DanielMann]

I have already been there actually. I fished in Çeşme & Bodrum.

[@MariaMorales-tw3jr]

Ah right, looking forward to see the videos

[@PillowOfEvil]

Funny how I could run across these super sharp rocks when I was younger no problem. Teen Croatians are built different XD

[@pablomojarra6503]

hey brother @daniel mann ! what mask do you use? looks like the best gopro mask ive ever seen

[@DanielMann]

In this video it's the Omer wolf mask. I never use a Gopro mask though, always the head strap so you can use whatever mask you want.

[@PillowOfEvil]

11:57 That was actually a regular gobby.

[@naturethings1075]

I hope you will have good time in Montenegro,my country! Wish I could be of help to you,but I am more of a fresh water fishing guy :) All the best regardless!

[@marin7615]

What a catch Daniel! What's the thickness of the wetsuit? Now the sea should be around 15°C, freezing for my standards, and you even dressed in the water just like that!

[@DanielMann]

This was in late September so water was around 23°C. I was in a 3.5mm so probably a little thin for deeper diving.

[@marin7615]

@@DanielMann got it, now I understand, last time I dove was 1st of November and it was already quite chill, lasted less than 2 hours with 5 mm, it was also cloudy weather.

[@igse7720]

Nice video, great fish. Is it on Krk ?

[@DanielMann]

Yes, it is

[@phorcys7801]

I am diving in Mid Adriatic (Dalmatia) , not so deep. My best dusky is 5kg on 7m. But rather live bait trolling with squid for big AJ and Dentex , last Christmans i got Dentex 11,5kg from 70m and 10years ago big AJ 40kg on hand system no rod or reel :) Montenegro should be good. I can't wait to see how it goes there 🤘

[@funnyuploads202]

Verry nicee mann as always lovee your videoss best contentt. What is your camera zoom linear or superview

[@DanielMann]

The head mount camera is my Osmo action 3. I have it on wide.

[@kenyoung5604]

Another great video, Daniel! Congrats to Hanna as she improves her freediving skills! Question for you. Are you using mono or dyneema/spectra for your shooting line? Do you prefer one over the other? Thanks

[@DanielMann]

Thanks Ken, I use monofilament for my shooting lines. I don't like using dyneema.

[@kenyoung5604]

@@DanielMann do you find dyneema too stiff, more subject to tangles or does it not do well with crimping? Or is it just easier to work with and gets the job done? I appreciate your experienced input. Thanks!

[@DanielMann]

@kenyoung5604 you have to use knots on it, doesn’t have any memory, gets tangled on the bottom and muzzle often.

[@WhiteDovePBB]

Nice video, just subscribed.

[@DanielMann]

Cheers! Thanks for coming along for the trip.

[@antoniokamber4705]

Great footage mate, I'm local so I'm curious to hear where exactly is this place, and which month was it?

[@DanielMann]

Late September 👌

[@pathosprospearfishingtunis9371]

Great 👌✌️

[@micheleborgia6419]

Hey Daniel, if you’re interested in Corvine, you should get in touch with Francesco Sena and Luigi Poretti, spearfishing KZbinrs from Puglia, in they’re videos you see lots of Corvine spots

[@DanielMann]

I know both of them - amazing divers and in their area they have a lot of them. Check out my video from Bulgaria to see clouds of corvine!

[@EpikFPV27]

What sort of training did you do to be able to held you breath that long?

[@DanielMann]

I just go spearfishing as much as I can and try to relax.

[@K-2SpearoHelong]

🤙🤙🤙❤amazing video my brother🤙🤙

[@DanielMann]

Thanks for the visit

[@K-2SpearoHelong]

@@DanielMann okey bro🤙🤙

[@jovan4290]

Lets goo!!!!

[@r3dluoma483]

Hi Dan, what are you using to hold the floppers closed when hunting?

[@DanielMann]

Silicone o rings from oneshot in Greece 👌

[@hokindee8044]

Love your work Dan, watching from Brisbane. Random question what is you diver watch you're wearing at the end while cooking? Looks so good

[@DanielMann]

Thank mate! It’s from a Danish watch company I do some work for occasionally with product shots and videos. aboutvintage.com/products/1956-marine-automatic-steel-black

[@LykeArgy]

1:15 LMAO hahah, they are fcking sharp, that's why i always admired sandy beaches because of these rocks, but never been to a real one, only a "half sandy half stone " beach

[@matijajanic9584]

is this the village of Šilo, the island of Krk, because I have been fishing here for 2 years

[@costantinoneri3057]

Hey Dan watch out with the torch from what I recall you are not supposed to use torches in croatia.

[@DanielMann]

Definitely allowed to use a torch in Croatia. I checked with many local divers.

[@tabbal]

"Great video! Why does the Mediterranean have a low quantity of fish? Is it due to overfishing? In Lebanon, we used to have many groupers (Dusky, Goldbutch, Mottled), but now the numbers are decreasing, and you have to dive deep to catch a few. I thought the European part of the Mediterranean is better, as fishermen adhere to policies related to the size and quantity of fish."

[@lukegavigan5212]

What light are you using?

[@DanielMann]

Omer eyelight 2. Really like the switch on it that retracts when you let go so you don’t leave it on. Much better than an on/off button.

[@antepazanin1418]

Welcome to Croatia long time watching your videos and really enjoying them hope you come in the future again sorry to admit but fish in Adriatic is not easy to find anymore remember the old good days when we catch fish anywhere anytime good luck in the future )))))

[@dwaynetalks1170]

What do you do to hit such depths? I tap out at 40ft 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@Dingich]

What time of the year did you spearfish for the grupper?

[@DanielMann]

23rd of September 😎

[@davo8074]

Great video, as always! Can someone tell me, wether i need the additional spearfishing licence If i have the "sport fisheries at sea" licence? The additional spearfishing licence is found in the category recreational fishery, but then it says, you cant go spearfishing on the reacreational licence?! I find the process of buying the licence quite confusing :/

[@DanielMann]

I got the sport fisheries at sea license.

[@TheMaladan]

Wich diving torch do you use ?

[@DanielMann]

Omer eyelight 2. Fantastic torch, highly recommended.

[@TheMaladan]

@@DanielMann Thanks sir

[@miketsako]

Are you always diving alone?

[@DanielMann]

90% of the time, yes.

[@ArymaNAdramelecH]

garlic make everything better true 👊🏻🤘🏻

[@ipojucanrocha8300]

Hi Daniel greetings from Northeast of Brasil tha land of the sun, got a question, are you using monofilament ou dynema?

[@DanielMann]

I use monofilament for my shooting lines.

[@pisojnamsed972]

Love your vids!!!Is this Lošinj? That is not a weever!!! Predivna kirnja!! Uzivaj u hrvatskoj 🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷

[@DanielMann]

I wish it was Mali Losinj but closer to the mainland.

[@martingruber4426]

Peltastis

[@ivanklanac4589]

Hi i am from croatia and a im starting spearfishing, last summer i speard with friends 75 and i want to buy my speargun what lenght do you suggest for 15m dive in croatia and some tips for my area love your vids

[@DanielMann]

I am far from an expert on the fishing in Croatia but if I would chose one speargun for the area I would probably use a 105cm. The 75cm is great for looking in holes though.

[@ivanklanac4589]

@@DanielMann thanks helped me a lot,sorry to bother you but i have one more q, i have budget of 300 to 350 euros for speargun can you recomed something thats proven good speargun so i dont wast money on speargun thats not good as others thank you werry much.