All the talk from Skinneej and Greg1 about spearfishing peaked my, Chunky Dunk’s, and Pallet’s interest. Pallet got the dive gear together, Chunky prepared the boat, and I called Yellabird and told him we would take him on a ride if he would put us on some fish. We met at GT ice and loaded up with supplies. Pallet’s girlfriend was working so he brought her sister instead. Yellabird brought one of his buddies to run the boat while we were down so the 7 of us headed out to some classified numbers. Beautiful ride out.
Joined 6 other boats at our apparently not so classified numbers.
First dive was alittle slow. Yellabird brought up a nice red but after I missed a lobster we came up ready to move to some better bottom. Punched in spot #2 about 2 miles away. Just short of those numbers I crossed a ledge with a 15 foot drop. We deployed the marker and anchor. Chunky was feeling under the weather so Pallet, Yellabird and I went down to check it out. The fish were there. Nothing really big but a large number of keepers. I was trying to find a big fish when all hell broke loose. Pallet stuck one and I went over to assist (he left his gloves in the boat) while I was stringering his fish he took my gun and shot another. I became the worker and he became the trigger man. It was a bloody massacre. Pallet was hot on the trail of a BIG red when the dive computer starting beeping time to go up. I grabbed Pallet and much to his disagreement we headed up the rope. Followed by a school of cudas and what ever else was lurking in the distance we made the 100ft trek to the surface. Ended the day with 7 grouper and a trigger fish. Saw the storm brewing and decided not to risk it so we headed back in. I know where they are now.
No Skinneej or Greg1 quality pics but not bad for our first trip.
I learned a bunch down there about bottom fishing (as you said I would) diving and spearfishing. If the weather is nice we may give it a try this weekend.
You are on that “A” list we discussed at edisto.
Give me a call we can go when ever as long as mother nature says it is okay!
You do any fishing in Fla?
“Don’t worry, I have a plan!..
Great a plan, Custer had a plan.”
All Rise - 31 Contender Fish Around with a pair of 250 Yamahas
Nice work getting in the water and making it home safe. That’s the most important thing. Also, it’s nice to see that you guys have learned the art of dive cockpit organization. I almost thought I was looking at a picture of my boat for a second!
Congrats on the underwater excursion. I can’t wait to get down there myself. My birthday is Thursday and the wife is giving me dive lessons and cert along with equipment as a present.
Congrats on the underwater excursion. I can’t wait to get down there myself. My birthday is Thursday and the wife is giving me dive lessons and cert along with equipment as a present.
Mark
Mako 262
You ain’t got no legs Lt. Dan
It is a bunch of fun! But as with everything we do offshore it has its risks. I have logged years of diving in less than 60 feet but not very many in this 100 foot range. I learned a new respect for those guys that do alot of this type of spearfishing. When you get down there there is a bunch of stuff to keep up with! Take small steps and get comfortable before you pull everything together. It only takes one mistake and things get very bad very quickly.
Well lets just say we have some areas for improvement based on these dives.
The first step is getting in the water and believe it or not it is much bigger than you would think.
“Don’t worry, I have a plan!..
Great a plan, Custer had a plan.”
All Rise - 31 Contender Fish Around with a pair of 250 Yamahas
No doubt… my wife gave me the lessons for Christmas, but if she had any idea what I paid for all the gear, I’d be screwed. Like the old saying goes: When I die, I hope to hell my wife doesn’t sell all of my fishing equipment for what I told her it cost!
My wife rocks, she is the one that suggested repowing the boat instead of fixing the old motors. She wants me safe but at the same time to have some fun, not to mention that she likes to fish and eat the critters of the sea as much as I do.
S4G, I am going to take it slow. I respect the big water as I have seen what it can do and how big it will get real fast. I’m envious of you guys hunting those sea monsters from below, I have always though it would be fun but now I’m gonna get me some.
What type of spear gun do you guys reccomend for the beginner. I was looking at some of the Cresse stuff.
We have the 52" “Rhino Sport Classic”, the one with the yellow butt which we
use to signal the boat when we surface. This gun comes with a line shaft
setup which is cool, but you can just disconnect the line and use it as a
freeshaft after you are comfortable shooting. You should order it with a
spare shaft holder that mounts on the side. The 52" gun is VERY popular
around here and florida for big grouper and snapper. You also might as well
order a spare shaft. With no shafts in the gun, it is positively bouyant so
if you aren’t careful it can float away on you. With at least one shaft in
the gun it will sink. Normally, we shoot a fish and we throw the gun down
on the bottom and come back and get it after we stringer the fish."
Also, you life is going to rely on your gear. At these depths under these conditions it is a bad time to budget shop and trying to save money on cheap stuff.
“Don’t worry, I have a plan!..
Great a plan, Custer had a plan.”
All Rise - 31 Contender Fish Around with a pair of 250 Yamahas
Yellabird brought one of his buddies to run the boat while we were down so the 7 of us headed out to some classified numbers. Beautiful ride out.
