No. I did not go after C bass because of them closing last night at midnight.
I thought about it, but thought about how …
well…
“it’s only c bass.”
How could I go after c bass when there was no wind in the 10/16 PM forecast?
I put the sword light in the boat instead of the bucktail jigs.
Problem was that the wind hadn’t laid down even around 2PM yesterday. We wasted some time catching bait in the harbor, and it worked out okay because my cousins were able to get down and we picked them up from another ramp.
Hit the ocean a little before 3PM, and it wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t bad either though, and it seemed the wind was laying down even with the confused ocean keeping us from doing what we wanted. We got to where I planned to fish after a while, and Circle Hook sounded like somebody’d stabbed him in the arm when he got the first fish hooked up on a jig. Grouper came over the rail as I dropped down. I got slammed repeatedly but couldn’t hook them up. Finally hooked up on something that tried to freight train me, but I buttoned the drag down and felt something break free. I yo-yo’ed back, and hooked up with something ridiculous once again. Broke free again, so I reeled up thinking something was screwed up with the assist hooks or my knot or something. Sure enough, one assist hook had been broken all the way off. The other was straightened.
These fish were not going to play nice. We dropped a few more times with what rods we still had left with ammo locked and loaded. Got a couple more grouper and a couple big AJ’s. Time to get serious…
Dropped the hook, and slid back close to where I wanted, but the current settled us out differently. Moved for a second try and it was only 20ft closer to what was 75ft away. Third time was a charm. Got hung good and then the pain session began. It it wasn’t a 50lb AJ, it was a 20lb gag. If it wasn’t a 20lb gag or AJ it was a scamp. If it wasn’t any of those it was a straightened hook or broken line. I have never broken line as much as I did
Nice work! Never seen divers pull up that many fish in 2 hours!!! Maybe this puts the old debate to rest
You’re finally agreeing that grouper can be found and pinpointed with a sonar?
That must be what’s being put to rest because I know there’s no way you’re saying that divers you and I personally know haven’t gotten significantly more grouper than above in under 2 hours time on the bottom…
I will say that viz in 75-100ft is terrible right now. Fishing should out-produce spearing for a few more weeks. Water temps still in the mid 70’s on the surface.
Relatively new to the area but I have to say you are the class of the offshore bottom fisherman. My hat is off to you! If you ever need a good deck hand (ha) I would love to learn your techniques. Congrats!!!
It’s always fun to talk about spearfishing right after I have one of the best trips we’ve ever had on our boat. I like to chalk it up to a great fishery and encourage others to go catch some of these soon-to-be-closed fish instead of talking about the time and effort that goes into it leading up to the 2 hours of bait in the water that we hope results in the above picture- or something like it. I am not that good of a fisherman, but I ALWAYS work pretty hard at it I feel.
Not everybody can dive and shoot fish. It’s pretty difficult to do even if somebody’s physically and mentally capable and they work hard at it. (that could be a bad opinion since this is coming from someone who’s never tried to dive and shoot a fish).
If you want to keep my respect for what you all do, then you may want to ease up a little on the pretending you don’t have trips that blow this one away with 2 hours spent in the water during a day…
I understand why you don’t post pictures of your full hauls, and there are some that tell me posting pics that I post is a bad idea as well. I want people to see what’s out there and be motivated. Otherwise why go to the trouble of figuring out how to catch these fish or what details may or may not matter. I don’t understand people who don’t have the same attitudes about the sport they’re dedicated and love. Share what happens when you’re successful and don’t hide or pretend regarding the relative results…
Maybe if I was a diver I’d understand. I hope to one day.
Relatively new to the area but I have to say you are the class of the offshore bottom fisherman. My hat is off to you! If you ever need a good deck hand (ha) I would love to learn your techniques. Congrats!!!
Not everybody can dive and shoot fish. It’s pretty difficult to do even if somebody’s physically and mentally capable and they work hard at it. (that could be a bad opinion since this is coming from someone who’s never tried to dive and shoot a fish).
Nice day. We had a day much the same out of Murells. Limited on Gags, Scamps, BSB’s, Could have hammered the B Liners more than we did, but I had as many fish as I wated to clean. It’s disgusting that they are closing a fishery that has absolutley nothing wrong with it. We got on a spot where you could have limited on BSB’s in 20 mins.
OK Wes. You lured me out of hiding. You’re right…and a little wrong. Those of us who do well with spearing don’t post pictures, especially not on this site anymore. It’s a bit like hugging a porcupine…you like the love but get pricked every time. The truth is that no one (other than those of us who do it and do it right) understands the strategy, the planning, the physicality and the pure work that is required of a truly successful spearing trip. Even with those tribulations comes days of failure; due to current, viz, sharks, or just plain bad luck, ie., sand dives. But when all the hard work comes together and a trip pays off, it’s usually much more rewarding (to me) than a fishing trip. Why? Because it requires more. You’ve heard the old adage, you appreciate it more when you have to work for it?? Well, the same holds true to spearing vs. fishing. Fishing to me is easy…whether you catch them or not. Spearing is anything but easy…whether you catch them or not. It’s a chore that becomes a habit and eventually an addiction. As for the pictures…as I grow older I feel less of a need to convince people of how superior spearing is to fishing. The truth is that it doesn’t matter. What ever floats your boat is what you should do and love. Spearing floats my boat. And I’m not all that excited about getting harassed by guys who want to call me a reef rader or bottom raper. If you want to see cool pics with big fish, get on our email lists. But those pics will stay off this site as long as I have anything to do with it.
Yellabird, in my opinion, based on my experiences, you’re missing out on a lot by not sharing success. It’s not bragging unless you take all the credit. I report every result we have on here following a trip. I owe more to the people who read this site and our community than I’ll ever be able to share.
There was a time when most of what I’d say on here was heavily scrutinized. Over time people understand and respect hard work and dedication. There are still those who will throw a jab or belittle the time we put in and even the fact that I share. It doesn’t and shouldn’t matter.
You should share. Jealous people should tell you how successful you are. Why let them take away what the rest of us love reading or seeing?
Video or pictures taken by divers inspire th to work hard.
If you don’t share, what you love never gets the attention it should… And I dare say it becomes less popular. What has the govt been doing to less popular activities lately?
Just my opinion- and I still don’t see the need for anyone to come on a fishing or diving thread and compare the two… Especially if they’re going to pretend. If I’ve compared the two in the past, even out of defense for what I love, then I was wrong and I apologize.
If I ever get to dive, btw, I want to learn from you guys. I hope you understand the level of respect I have for what you do.
Ive always liked that boat Phin what kind is it? Almost looks like an old whaler with the wood components.
17" War Eagle 25 Mercury
17" Boston Whaler Montauk 90 yamaha
Thank you. It’s an '88 Mako.
My wife likes the teak as well. thinking about getting a few components made in teak to replace what star board has been added to the boat before we owned it.
