Tabasco1
Valuable Member
I recently went to the Cook Islands. I spoke with a local dive shop and said I specifically wanted to see emporer angels. I had seen a juvenile while snorkelling so I knew the big guys were around somewhere. And he said "Sure!" we see them all the time! He was kindof surprised though, he kept asking... you sure that is what you want to see? Not sharks... or turtles... haha. I said, I was sure. He thought I was nutty.
We went out for the dive and got in the water. While we were still at the surface his wife cracked open a coconut. I was a little confused at first, and then he said that they love coconuts and always come for them. I'm glad I didn't know ahead of time that we would be "baiting" them, but went with it in the momment.
WOW! Within a minute of being under I was basically swarmed with fish. Unicorn tangs, bird wrasse, sergeant majors. It was really cool. And then about 3-5 the emporers came. Huge gorgeous show stoppers with 6"+ streamers on the top fin. They LOVED the coconut. I could feel and see them take huge bites out of the flesh. Of the coconut.. not me ;) The sergeant majors were not so picky and got me several times haha.
Anyway... short story long. It got me thinking. Coconuts encouraged a fantastic feeding response. I know for human consumption they are extremely healthy and contain all kinds of electrolytes. Has anybody used coconut meat as an additive to foods? If so, results? I may try it myself. The coconut we used was still fairly young, the meat was a little firmer than a gel consistancy, but not hard yet. So the bigger issue might be finding that perfect coconut. But perhaps getting some coconut milk and letting the cream settle at the top and using that would have the same effect.
And I know it will be the first response. YES I have pics ahah. They are on the camera and haven't been downloaded yet. I will try to get that done and post. I was in 7th heaven.
We went out for the dive and got in the water. While we were still at the surface his wife cracked open a coconut. I was a little confused at first, and then he said that they love coconuts and always come for them. I'm glad I didn't know ahead of time that we would be "baiting" them, but went with it in the momment.
WOW! Within a minute of being under I was basically swarmed with fish. Unicorn tangs, bird wrasse, sergeant majors. It was really cool. And then about 3-5 the emporers came. Huge gorgeous show stoppers with 6"+ streamers on the top fin. They LOVED the coconut. I could feel and see them take huge bites out of the flesh. Of the coconut.. not me ;) The sergeant majors were not so picky and got me several times haha.
Anyway... short story long. It got me thinking. Coconuts encouraged a fantastic feeding response. I know for human consumption they are extremely healthy and contain all kinds of electrolytes. Has anybody used coconut meat as an additive to foods? If so, results? I may try it myself. The coconut we used was still fairly young, the meat was a little firmer than a gel consistancy, but not hard yet. So the bigger issue might be finding that perfect coconut. But perhaps getting some coconut milk and letting the cream settle at the top and using that would have the same effect.
And I know it will be the first response. YES I have pics ahah. They are on the camera and haven't been downloaded yet. I will try to get that done and post. I was in 7th heaven.
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