Our honeymoon in Fiji was nothing short of incredible. We flew halfway across the world for the elusive dogtooth tuna, but what we found was so much more than we imagined. Pristine waters, vibrant coral reefs, and an ocean full of life both above and below the surface. We dove Rainbow Reef and saw some of the most beautiful reefs I’ve ever experienced—so much life on the bommies, it was a truly magical underwater world. 🐠
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The Joy of Being a Fish Wife: Sorting Rock Shrimp
The other day, CJ brought home some fresh rock shrimp, and I couldn’t help but feel like a true “fish wife”—the one who sells fish and loves every moment of it! 🦐 After we got them home, it was time for the real work: sorting and cleaning. This process involves removing the heads and deveining the shrimp. It was my first time ‘‘processing’’ shrimps and every time we bring a fish or seafood home, I find it fascinating and I am always learning something new.
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Why I Choose to Harvest My Own Food (And Why It Matters)
You wouldn’t believe the number of comments I’ve received lately suggesting that I should "just go to the grocery store" instead of harvesting my own food from the ocean or my backyard. It’s as if people forget that the pre-packaged meat or seafood they buy didn’t magically appear on the shelf. The reality is, if you’re eating meat, shrimp, oysters, or any seafood, the process of getting that food to your plate isn’t clean or pretty—you’re just letting someone else do the hard part.
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Unleash your inner mermaid with Neritic Diving
When it comes to freediving and spearfishing, having the right gear is crucial for a successful and enjoyable experience. My favorite brand for diving essentials is Neritic Diving. Their products are top-notch, offering both quality and performance that I can rely on during every dive.
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Costa Rica Jungle Adventure
Our 2024 Costa Rica adventure was an unforgettable experience filled with romance, thrill, and natural beauty.
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Christmas in the Keys: Fresh Stone Crab Cakes for Dinner
Spending Christmas in the Keys was a unique and delightful experience. One of the highlights of our holiday was checking our stone crab traps and making fresh crab cakes for the whole family.
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Cooking is My Love Language: Preparing Hamachi Crudo
Cooking is my love language 🤍🐟, and one of my favorite dishes to prepare is Hamachi crudo, a delicate Japanese appetizer made from raw yellowtail. Crudo, which literally means “raw,” can include fish, shellfish, or beef. Unlike sashimi, where the fish is dipped in soy sauce, crudo is topped with olive oil, citrus, or some type of vinaigrette to enhance the dish.
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The Wagyu of the Sea: Bluefin Tuna Toro
Bluefin tuna toro is often considered the wagyu of the sea, and it’s easy to see why. The rich, buttery texture and delicate flavor of this prized cut make it a favorite among seafood lovers. I was thrilled to prepare meals for my friends and family with the bluefin tuna we caught on our travels.
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Diving in the Kelp Forests off Catalina Island
Kelp forests can be seen along much of the west coast of North America. Kelp are large brown algae that live in cool, relatively shallow waters close to the shore. They grow in dense groupings much like a forest on land. These underwater towers of kelp provide food and shelter for thousands of fish, invertebrates, and marine mammal species.
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Discovering Tuna Spinal Jelly: A Culinary Adventure
CJ brought us a bluefin tuna while spearfishing in San Diego, and in an effort to use every part of the fish, we decided to try tuna spinal jelly. Inspired by a video from @sooziethefoodie, I asked CJ to save the bluefin tuna spines for me.
Read MoreBahamas Birthday Bash - Spearfishing for Hogfish
Celebrating my 31st birthday in the Bahamas was an unforgettable experience, filled with adventure, laughter, and the thrill of the hunt. Surrounded by friends, we embarked on an exciting spearfishing trip, targeting the elusive and delicious hogfish.
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Harvesting Stone Crab | Salt Life Podcast
A few weeks ago I was with host Kieran Anderson from Salt Life to discuss stone crab fishing in Florida and why it’s considered one of the most sustainable forms of fishing. Listen to the Podcast!
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Diving with Kelly Young in Key West | Hand Spearing fish in murky water (catch, clean & cooking over primitive fire)
I went diving with Kelly Young a few weekends ago in Key West. I was busy taking pictures of mangroves and crabs but she was hand spearing mangrove snappers in murky water and the made dinner over the fire in the backyard! She prepared it with pineapple and Valentine Thomas’ Bahama Mama blackened spice mix and it was 🔥
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Sustainable Fishing - Save the Mermaid Podcast Interview
In this episode of @savethemermaidspodcast I have a chat with Chelsea & Blake (@themermaidchelsea @blakeintheblue)
As a water woman, photographer, and spear fisher, I have a massive love and respect for our oceans. We chat about my journey to the water, sustainable fishing practices, and what it means to care for the sea. You won't want to miss this interview!
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Spearfishing for Yellowfin Tuna in Costa Rica: A True Test of Teamwork
Our recent spearfishing adventure for yellowfin tuna in Costa Rica was an exhilarating challenge. I worked incredibly hard for this tuna! I shot at 4-5 tunas, and one of them was almost 200lbs according to CJ. Unfortunately, they all ripped off or barely poked the fish because I was just a little too far. Despite the frustration, I did some of my best diving.
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Why are stone crab claws so expensive?
Why are stone crab claws so expensive? The reason fresh stone crab comes at such a premium is because of the short harvest season and how carefully regulated stone crabbing is by the state. Florida’s stone crab season is monitored closely to ensure that stone crabs aren’t over-harvested and that just the claw is removed without harming or killing the crab.
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Weekend Trip to Dry Tortugas
I just spent an incredible 48 hours immersed in nature. CJ and I, along with 3 other couple of friends, left early on Friday morning for an adventure in the Florida Keys.
Ponce de Leon discovered the Dry Tortugas in 1513 when he caught over 100 sea turtles there. Subsequently the islands were referred to as the “Tortugas” (turtles). During the 1600s and 1700s the area around these islands was used by pirates as a base for attacking merchant shipping in the Gulf.
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Sustainable Fishing with Gabriella Gerbasi & Salt Life
Sat down with Salt Life to talk about sustainable fishing because it is our duty to protect the water we all enjoy. Environmental conservation and species protection ensures future generations can enjoy the water as much as we do. As a diver and spearfishingwoman, I want to see our ocean full of life for years to come.
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Bahamas Adventures - The Ocean Provides
I am incredibly grateful to have been introduced to freediving and spearfishing by no other than Valentine Thomas, a freediving instructor, published chef and advocate for sustainable eating, who quit her job in London to live a simple life and to spread the word about eating responsibly and following her dreams.
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Sisters of the Tide
We all come from the sea, but we are not all of the sea. Those of us who are, we sisters & children of the tides, we are bound by sand, salt, sea and we must return to it again and again 🧜🏼♀️🌊
I love how diving and the ocean forms bonds with people. Ocean people are my people. We still like to play just like when we were kids meeting after school. We look outside in the morning and when the weather’s nice and the water is calm, we make plans to spend time outside, no phone, no distractions. Just friends, nature and stories to tell.