La Digue Diver Jacob Esparon Catches Rare 30.5 Kilogram Flannel Fish
VICTORIA, Seychelles — A young and well-known free diver from L’Union, La Digue, Jacob Esparon, has caught a rare flannel fish weighing 30.5 kilograms off the coast of the inner island. The remarkable catch was made this week in the waters around La Digue, and photographs of the diver with his unusual prize have been widely shared on social media by friends. According to those familiar with the story, Jacob has been fishing and free diving since he was very young, and this latest catch is being hailed as one of the most notable of his young career.
The diver recounted how he had used all his experience underwater to handle the fish, which he managed to land near Anse Marron and bring down to the start of Anse Source d’Argent. ‘The moment I saw this fish, I said perhaps God sent it into my path. The flannel fish was quite big and weighed 30.5 kilos. I used my ear sticks to help me. It fought with me but I was able to use all my experience underwater to handle it.’ He noted that bigger fish like sharks and large sailfish had also been caught by him in the past, but that this one was special for its rarity.
Jacob added that free diving is his profession, although he does a little bit of fishing for his mother. ‘My mother always gave me gifts of all the things that could be used in the sea, fishing and diving. I love fishing but my passion is diving and I can do two or three diving trips per day. Just with my snorkel, I can go down to 15 to 20 metres in the sea.’ Apart from his passion for the sea, Jacob is also well known on La Digue for his ability to climb coconut trees, an activity he has done since childhood. ‘Since I was a child, I enjoyed climbing trees. My parents enjoyed going to the forest to do things and they also enjoyed climbing trees. Perhaps they are the ones who inspired me!’
