Today is the last day of life as our friend Skinneej knows it. He is making a decision that will ultimately result in the sale of his boat, tackle, and scuba gear. Poor guy is getting married:roll_eyes: Phin, McMarine, and I teamed up for one last hurrah to send him out with a bang. The weather was… well it sucked. NE 15-20 knots seas 6 foot at 6 seconds. At 10:30 we boarded the All Rise and left edisto destined for some of Phin’s Tip Top highly classified bottom numbers. With Phin and I at the helm and Skinneej and MC holding down the bean bags we headed out. The patented contender cooling system keep us cool and refreshed until the first dive. Vis was good and as Phin promised the snapper and lobster were there. We loaded up and headed to the top. It was during my 3 min deco stop that the stomach began to tumble. Pretty much down hill from there. Spent the rest of the day chumming. Still made my dives but boat side and floating in that sloppy ocean kept my stomach upside down. First time chumming in 3 years. NOT FUN! Second dive had 1 lobster and lots of bait. No shooters. Third dive was loaded with good size gags. Ran out of bottom time due to the smaller tank. We really could have worked them over if we would have had some more air. We made the most of a sloppy ocean and brought home the goodies. Phin’s spots provided for some beautiful sights.
Ended with:
4 Gags
4 Red snapper
2 triggers
1 Hogfish
1 mangrove snapper
3 lobster Left a BUNCH down there due to eggs.
1 rock lobster
Highlights:
Even with all the up coming wedding Skinneej stayed focused and put on a shooting clinic with the lion share of the shots
Phin doing a good job telling what we were going to see. (For the most part)
Sitting boat side with my mask on, holding my reg in hand chumming until Phin said go, stuffing the reg in and flipping off.
Coming up 200 yards from the boat watching Phin head the opposite direction. Blowing my brains out through the whistle till what seemed like 10mins before he finally
You forgot about my piggie fish! Anyway, had a great time despite the sporty seas. The boat handled well and had a fun crew on board. You have to stay focused on the shooting because you will do anything to get your mind off of the wedding.
Also, don’t forget to mention the 6-7’ blue spotted coronets we saw down there. I really thought about shooting the big one.
Sorry I missed out on this one. I owe both you guys a phone call. I got your messages & I apologize I haven’t called you back but I have been traveling ALOT lately.
I’ll be in town this weekend & I’ll get up with both of you.
J - Way to kill 'em one last time before your life is over…
Scott - Way to man up and still get some! I don’t think I could made it in 6x6’s.
Phin - Way to call 'em, bud.
I bet that was a killer “Flyin’ Contender” in 6x6’s.
6’ at 6 seconds??? That would have kept this old man at the dock.
Scott, you are hard-core…
“Never argue with an idiot…he will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.”
It was definitely tough yesterday. We have been in edisto all week and I have been out everyday so far. When Phin made the call to come down and I looked at the forecast and tried to find every reason to back out. My father and brothers did, I spoke with skinnee multiply times leaning on him to reschedule. It was now or never due to the wedding. Then they started with the “I thought you were a Contender man” well… I knew the crew was very experienced and realized what we would be facing so we went for it. We took extra safety gear, 2 epirbs, extra life jackets, and the minimal mount of fishing/diving gear to keep the cockpit clean. Skinnee even brought a bag with some Hawaiian shirts in case we had to go to Bermuda. The boat did very well with it. The motors only barked a few times and seemed to enjoy the challenge. It was fine as long was we were under power and not rocking and rolling. Actually bobbing in the water when I came up was the worse. You could not see the horizon and it wreaked havoc on my stomach. That and watching Phin eat an egg sandwich for lunch. I will give those boys credit the seas did not seem to phase them even with my sound affects.
It was all worth it when we got to the dock and the family came running down, My little one says “Daddys home!” I asked dad if they caught anything and he nodded no. Asked how we did I told him we had 2 triggers. “That’s it?” Well… look in the starboard box.
I almost forgot to mention that I did catch my biggest lobster (by a long shot)
It was definitely tough yesterday. We have been in edisto all week and I have been out everyday so far. When Phin made the call to come down and I looked at the forecast and tried to find every reason to back out. My father and brothers did, I spoke with skinnee multiply times leaning on him to reschedule. It was now or never due to the wedding. Then they started with the “I thought you were a Contender man” well… I knew the crew was very experienced and realized what we would be facing so we went for it. We took extra safety gear, 2 epirbs, extra life jackets, and the minimal mount of fishing/diving gear to keep the cockpit clean. Skinnee even brought a bag with some Hawaiian shirts in case we had to go to Bermuda. The boat did very well with it. The motors only barked a few times and seemed to enjoy the challenge. It was fine as long was we were under power and not rocking and rolling. Actually bobbing in the water when I came up was the worse. You could not see the horizon and it wreaked havoc on my stomach. That and watching Phin eat an egg sandwich for lunch. I will give those boys credit the seas did not seem to phase them even with my sound affects.
It was all worth it when we got to the dock and the family came running down, My little one says “Daddys home!” I asked dad if they caught anything and he nodded no. Asked how we did I told him we had 2 triggers. “That’s it?” Well… look in the starboard box.
I almost forgot to mention that I did catch my biggest lobster (by a long shot)
PI, give me a shout.
Yes, we knew the weather was going to be horrible, but it was my last day diving as a free man and anything was better than sitting at home during the final stages of wedding planning. I would have had to call off t
We need to take up a collection to buy scootin4propvents a dive alert. I barely heard his whistle over those OX66’s and slop against the hull as he was 200yds down-swell and into the sun.
That stuff scares me, and I was not even in the water.
Y’all did a fine job staying safe and getting the groceries.
semi-pro-tip:
Save barf in large zip lock bag. Take to bottom. Open bag. Now its really chum. Enjoy shooting.
Rob and I tried to get down there today, but you wouldn’t call me back. Now I find out your phone is on the bottom of the ocean. Nice going Scott. Really nice.
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
…Crabman
Photos were took just before we left to come in after the 3rd dive. It did lay down a bit for us. 4s would be a good guess for the ride home. Look at yesterdays edisto bouy if you are questioning the weather.
Yellabird, I will remember the protip and pack a zip lock next time… or better yet I will double up on the dramamine on those days and use Phin’s egg sandwich as chum.
Rob, you and yellabird are welcome anytime. The contender cooling system water logged my phone yesterday so I did not get Steven’s message till this morning. Sorry bout that.
Phin, you were scared??? Let me tell you about blowing a whistle as hard as you can so that your ears are hurting watching the boat get further and further away. I will have diver alert horn before next trip along with a big boy spear gun.
Getting ready for a fresh grouper sandwich for lunch. That thing is going to be good!
REPUBLICAN
Because not everyone can be on welfare
All Rise - 31 Contender Fish Around with a pair of 250 Yamahas
I will give those boys credit the seas did not seem to phase them even with my sound affects.