Dive One:
About 30miles offshore Hudson, FL (est)
Depth 65
BT 1:09
Temp 64
Upon arriving at the site there was a large turtle on the surface. This dive had a LOT of Mangrove Snapper to shoot. A large goliath was nearby. Shot several snaps and hogs, the grouper were too small to shoot.
Dive Two:
Depth 64
BT 1:06
Temp 64
After rolling in, my buddy lost a weight pocket so I made an immediate descent to get it. He went down without it and didnt miss it due to the steel tanks I was loaning him.
I left the weight pocket with the captain on the surface and continued my dive.
Down the reef I shot a few hogs and came on a "snapper hotel". I shot one and all his buddies came out from the reef to watch. I was stringing the shot fish, banding the gun, checking pressure and shooting again. I was shooting so quickly I started to single band the gun, the fish were that close and easy to kill. Then Mr. Big Grouper came by, with only one band I knew I needed a good shot, he gave it to me and I hit him in the head but he was able to shake it loose and get away. Damn, I was disappointed about that! I did manage to get a large snapper about 20" and several about 16" with a few hogs too.
This was the most fun I have had in the gulf to date! I never did catch up with my dive buddy again. I am guessing everyone else on the boat turned the other way.
With all the action I was having I was very low on air on the return. Have to watch that a little better in the future!
The charter was Wet Yet charters w/Capt. Earl out of Hudson, FL