Marlin Darlin 5-15 Big Grouper

Fished on the Marlin Darlin on Sat. Trolled most of the day but only put 4 dolphin in the box. Time for Plan B. :smiley:

Did a solo trimix dive to 175’ on the ledge. Dear god there were huge gags everywhere and i was pretty narced. I saw at least 8 over 40 pounds. One had to be over 60 pounds but i couldn’t get to him. Shot one nice one that went 42 and got the hell out of there to clear my head. Not sure why but that’s the worst narcosis Ive experienced. One of the guys on the boat swam down and took some underwater pictures while i decompressed at 15’ that turned out pretty cool. Decided I was done deep diving for the day so we came in and did one dive in 90’ . We Grabbed some spiney lobsters and a couple of slipper lobster. No grouper on that spot but Lots of red snapper. Saw at least 30 red snapper in that one dive.

Thanks for a Great trip Capt Mike.

Rob Harding
Charleston diving
http://www.charlestondiving.com
(Fish not Biting? Try a fast presentation of spring steel)</font id=“green”>

Finally got a boat!

Real nice!! :slightly_smiling_face: :stuck_out_tongue:

“Miss Amanda”
-KeyWest
-Bluewater 2020CC
-Yammy F-150

www.joinrfa.orgGod is GOOD!! ALL the time!!
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor.
The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.
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Wow!!! Thanks for sharing!

NICE!! Thanks for the report!!

rob is the king of hot girls on boats

the undisputed winner

tunanut is a close second

Is that shortcircuit in the bottom picture??


Set the trap boys, we going to pass through them again!!

…the whole world thinks that commercial bottom guys are catchin all the breeders. Maybe they are all gettin shot. Try catchin that fish the real way.

quote:
Originally posted by baseballfireh

…the whole world thinks that commercial bottom guys are catchin all the breeders. Maybe they are all gettin shot. Try catchin that fish the real way.


:question:

“Miss Amanda”
-KeyWest
-Bluewater 2020CC
-Yammy F-150

www.joinrfa.orgGod is GOOD!! ALL the time!!
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor.
The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.
</font id=“blue”>

baseballfire u have no idea what u are talking about-- the skill and the balls to dive 175 is on a level u don’t comprehend and seeing a 40 or 60 lb gag underwater and shooting it is on another level as well-- u are very ignorant

quote:
Originally posted by FishnBarrels

baseballfire u have no idea what u are talking about-- the skill and the balls to dive 175 is on a level u don’t comprehend and seeing a 40 or 60 lb gag underwater and shooting it is on another level as well-- u are very ignorant


Yep, what he said! ^^^


Set the trap boys, we going to pass through them again!!

quote:
Originally posted by baseballfireh

…the whole world thinks that commercial bottom guys are catchin all the breeders. Maybe they are all gettin shot. Try catchin that fish the real way.


That fish is actually male.
quote:
Originally posted by baseballfireh

…the whole world thinks that commercial bottom guys are catchin all the breeders. Maybe they are all gettin shot. Try catchin that fish the real way.


David,

You probably mistakenly believe that the big grouper are female “breeders” in fact the big ones are Males. One male can breed many female grouper. The smaller females migrate out to deep water to breed with the males, lay their eggs then come back inshore. There were at least 8 40+ and many other 25+ smaller males within 30’ piece of ledge. Almost every time I have ever dove deep I’ve seen the same thing… lots of mature male gags.

Not sure if your post was out of jealousy or ignorance but i can only help with the latter.

6ft and glassy, I didn’t bring the girls, cant take credit on that one. :slight_smile:

Rob Harding
Charleston diving
http://www.charlestondiving.com
(Fish not Biting? Try a fast presentation of spring steel)</font id=“green”>

Dang nice fish Rob!

Not sure what to say bout the solo trimix dive to 175’ (Dad was NAUI instructor) But Dang, Just Dang!! grande cojones

Russ B.
God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy

quote:
Originally posted by baseballfireh

…the whole world thinks that commercial bottom guys are catchin all the breeders. Maybe they are all gettin shot. Try catchin that fish the real way.


but dude,thats not as cool.

Yeah Rob…STOP killing all the big grouper. I would like the chance to catch one before you kill them all!

Thanks baseballfishguy

.

NMFS = No More Fishing Season

“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”

quote:
Originally posted by skinneej
quote:
Originally posted by baseballfireh

…the whole world thinks that commercial bottom guys are catchin all the breeders. Maybe they are all gettin shot. Try catchin that fish the real way.


That fish is actually male.
Hey skineej how do you tell the gender of a grouper? And can you tell before you shoot it? Also to the hardcore rod and reel guys... its a lot easier to get passed this issue you're having with divers when one offers you a spiney lobster or two!:wink:Lol just sayin

Dude congrats on the fish but a solo deep dive not smart at all. You know all the things that can go wrong there so I will not say any more except please dont go alone again. You are lucky Take care

Local Boy, Just having fun.

quote:
Originally posted by JSimpson
quote:
Originally posted by skinneej
quote:
Originally posted by baseballfireh

…the whole world thinks that commercial bottom guys are catchin all the breeders. Maybe they are all gettin shot. Try catchin that fish the real way.


That fish is actually male.
Hey skineej how do you tell the gender of a grouper? And can you tell before you shoot it? Also to the hardcore rod and reel guys... its a lot easier to get passed this issue you're having with divers when one offers you a spiney lobster or two!:wink:Lol just sayin
All groupers start out their lives as females and as they get bigger, they transform into males. They move out to deeper water the bigger they get. All groupers under 35" long are females and start transitioning after that. Most gags that are 45" or long are males.

Also:

“This appearance of the “copperbelly” coloration was identified with males in 98% of fish histologically examined for the age and growth study in the 2006 stock assessment (SEDAR 2006).”

http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-07082009-144715/unrestricted/ellisthesis.pdf

Nice job, but I gotta tell ya…I’m a retired Navy Master Diver(saturation) and worked at the Experimental Diving Unit in Panama City Beach,Fl for a couple years and we did decompression table validation studies for various depths and mixes, you better watch your ass and with the crazy SH%T I have done, I can’t believe you went to 175’ solo, you are asking for trouble. I know you dive a lot and you are probably great at it, but it takes one awe shi##tter to bite the big one at the depth, especially solo.
Be careful man, I know a few too many that lost respect for the ocean and paid the utlimate price.

42#…pffft…I’ve seen Rob bring up a 55# gag before.:smiley:

“Modern day Robin Hoodism-Steal from the sucessful and give to the poorly motivated.”