Blue Heron Bridge Trolls III

[PBcatfish]

I understand what your saying, however, if an area is filled with dive flags, IMHO then no approach to the area is reasonable. Not sure if this is a good analogy, but imagine people in a crosswalk but they are crossing against the light, that doesn't give drivers the right to ignore them and run over them. I see this on the westside on the section south of the big bridge, and either north or east of the channel. Occasionally boats come in there when there are a bunch of dive flags scattered about, any boat leaving the channel entering that area while dive flags are about, is not making a reasonable effort to avoid dive flags by 100 feet never mind 300ft. Many of them are divers which makes it even worse. They just don't care, if you are in their way to bad. I understand people wanting to use a boat at BHB for night dives, or when the ocean has five foot swells, but why dive there on a boat when the ocean is nice? One of the major attractions of BHB is you don't need a boat to dive it.

In my experience, most of the boats passing under the small bridge are either small fishing boats or small pleasure boats. They are mostly slow boats that are taking a short cut to Peanut Island or the inlet. The bigger, faster boats generally have no problem going around the park & under the big bridge. For the slow little boats, going the long way around can add a fair amount of time, & if someone is looking to be set up on a fishing hole before a current change, the difference can be a deal breaker on the bite. ...then there are also the people who just don't know, or to put it more politely, lack local knowledge. Some people who put in at the ramps there, have no idea that there is a dive haven right next to them. Also, in Florida, there are few rules concerning who can drive a boat. The requirements for knowing the COLREGS (rules of the road) and proper boat handling skills are quite sparse. The skills & knowledge bases of the "captains" out there, varies quite a bit.

As for me, I try pretty hard to avoid getting close to dive flags, unless they are on some boat that is parked at the sand bar & just has the flag up (illegally) as a status symbol. Not all of the other "captains" out there really know what to do when they see the flags. Occasionally, I come across public service announcements about the dive flag rules. There should probably be more of them. More signs should probably be posted at the boat ramps, especially that particular boat ramp. The guys who fly the dive flag when divers are not in the water should probably get their wrists slapped a little more often too.

The only time I've dove BHB from a boat is when I was anchored up near there to overnight. That's not very often.

 

[Pipehorse]

Went to the bridge for diving today. Arrived at 0730 for an 0820 high tide. Most of the southern facing parking was occupied, but the rest of the parking was empty. Entered the water at 0800 on the west side. Visibility was 40feet sea temp was 87f. Spent a bit of time north of the pier, and went all the way to the northwest corner of the park. The riprap is piled in a steep slope at the northwest corner and it is a very fishy spot. Did a REEF fish count 67 species in 65 minutes. Observed a Blue Hamlet at the northwest corner, granted not an unusual species for out on the reef (seen 14% of the time), but I generally only see Butter Hamlets at the bridge, Blue Hamlets are a rarity there (seen less than 1% of the time). Respectively, Barracuda, Beaded Seastar, Blue Angelfish, Blue Hamlet, Foureye Butterflyfish, Mangrove Tunicate, Pair of Scrawled Filefish with a pair of French Angels, Queens Helmet, French Grunts and Sergeant Majors gone wild video, Juvenile Scrawled Cowfish Video, and Leopard Sea Robin Video

 

[Pipehorse]

Went to the bridge for diving today. Arrived at 0905 for an 1105 high tide. When I arrived there was plenty of good parking to be had. Went snorkeling on the trail prior to diving, did a REEF fish count on the snorkel trail 45 species in 45 minutes. When I returned from snorkeling at about 1000, the parking lot was relatively filled, given that Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue took up a lot of spaces because they were training it wasn't to bad. Nevertheless, I continue to be surprised at the amount of people that show up to go diving on a weekday at 1100. Doesn't anybody in Florida have to work? I know what your thinking, well how come you're there, don't you have to work? I am retired. And it is certainly not the case that all the people diving today are retired, but I digress from more important matters. Entered the westside on scuba at 1010. Visibility was 30ft with overall color blue, sea temp has dropped to a refreshing 84f as opposed to the bath tub water of 87f last Friday. Did a REEF fish count 64 species in 70 minutes. The standout for today was a juvenile Short Bigeye, a rarely observed species. According to the REEF database it has been observed 70 times in 181,000 surveys in the tropical western Atlantic. Lauderdale By The Sea (8 times in 1500 surveys) and Blue Heron Bridge (6 times in 2500 surveys) account for 20% of the 70 observations. Short Bigeyes make good photographic subjects because they have a tendency not to move around much. Also ran into a pair of Caribbean Reef Squid. Located on the southside of last bridge stanchion before the channel barrier. In this particular case they stayed close by so I felt obliged to film them. Truth is I could spend hours watching them. Respectively, Channel Clinging Crab, Mutton Snapper, Short Bigeye Head On, Short Bigeye Profile View, Zig Zag Scallop Shell, Short Bigeye Video, Chalk Bass Video, and Caribbean Reef Squid Video.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

I've seen a short bigeye at the bridge once, and once off Ft. Lauderdale beach. Very pretty.

 

[Catito]

Went to the bridge for diving today. Arrived at 0730 for an 0820 high tide. Most of the southern facing parking was occupied, but the rest of the parking was empty. Entered the water at 0800 on the west side. Visibility was 40feet sea temp was 87f. Spent a bit of time north of the pier, and went all the way to the northwest corner of the park. The riprap is piled in a steep slope at the northwest corner and it is a very fishy spot. Did a REEF fish count 67 species in 65 minutes. Observed a Blue Hamlet at the northwest corner, granted not an unusual species for out on the reef (seen 14% of the time), but I generally only see Butter Hamlets at the bridge, Blue Hamlets are a rarity there (seen less than 1% of the time). Respectively, Barracuda, Beaded Seastar, Blue Angelfish, Blue Hamlet, Foureye Butterflyfish, Mangrove Tunicate, Pair of Scrawled Filefish with a pair of French Angels, Queens Helmet, French Grunts and Sergeant Majors gone wild video, Juvenile Scrawled Cowfish Video, and Leopard Sea Robin Video
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Thanks. What are you calling “the pier”? The bridge near the cut through where some people fish? Just trying to orient.

 

[Catito]

Went to the bridge for diving today. Arrived at 0905 for an 1105 high tide. When I arrived there was plenty of good parking to be had. Went snorkeling on the trail prior to diving, did a REEF fish count on the snorkel trail 45 species in 45 minutes. When I returned from snorkeling at about 1000, the parking lot was relatively filled, given that Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue took up a lot of spaces because they were training it wasn't to bad. Nevertheless, I continue to be surprised at the amount of people that show up to go diving on a weekday at 1100. Doesn't anybody in Florida have to work? I know what your thinking, well how come you're there, don't you have to work? I am retired. And it is certainly not the case that all the people diving today are retired, but I digress from more important matters. Entered the westside on scuba at 1010. Visibility was 30ft with overall color blue, sea temp has dropped to a refreshing 84f as opposed to the bath tub water of 87f last Friday. Did a REEF fish count 64 species in 70 minutes. The standout for today was a juvenile Short Bigeye, a rarely observed species. According to the REEF database it has been observed 70 times in 181,000 surveys in the tropical western Atlantic. Lauderdale By The Sea (8 times in 1500 surveys) and Blue Heron Bridge (6 times in 2500 surveys) account for 20% of the 70 observations. Short Bigeyes make good photographic subjects because they have a tendency not to move around much. Also ran into a pair of Caribbean Reef Squid. Located on the southside of last bridge stanchion before the channel barrier. In this particular case they stayed close by so I felt obliged to film them. Truth is I could spend hours watching them. Respectively, Channel Clinging Crab, Mutton Snapper, Short Bigeye Head On, Short Bigeye Profile View, Zig Zag Scallop Shell, Short Bigeye Video, Chalk Bass Video, and Caribbean Reef Squid Video.

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Thanks. Love the bigeye. Yup…sometimes the weather is too tempting so those of us who have yet to retire take a day off to dive the bridge and when I arrive to a packed parking lot on a Tuesday morning I always say, “Doesn’t anyone work in Florida?” Now I realize it IS the workforce, taking a break because the bridge conditions are too tempting! I appreciate your reports but sometimes I cannot read them because I am too envious…three more years.

 

[Pipehorse]

The "pier" is the fishing pier, on the westside. For whatever reason very few people dive the area immediately north of the pier.

 

[Lostdiver71]

Many of us work weekends, so we get to go diving during the week!

 

[Pipehorse]

Went to the bridge for diving today. Arrived at 0945 for an 1147 high tide. Parking lot was not crowded when I got there, took on of my preferred parking spots, shade and trees on one side so only one car can park next to me. Suited up and entered the eastside at 1010, current was ripping under the east span but I have strategy for that. Nobody under there except for me. Visibility was 35ft, and sea temp was 86f. Did a REEF fish count, 60 species in 65 minutes. Exited the eastside at 1115, went to my truck and changed tanks. Was using a 50cuft tank so that's why the need for the change. Parking lot was close to full at this point. Entered the westside at 1140. Did another REEF fish count 65 species in 85 minutes. The Short Bigeye from yesterday was in the same place. Normally if I was devoting 85 minutes to a fish count it would have more than 65 species. However I was preoccupied with taking wide angle shots of Porkfish and French Grunts at the rubble pile under the fishing pier. When I was finished with that I started heading back to exit, except the Scaled Sardine baitball had taken up residence around one of the main bridge stanchions. Spent another twenty minutes swimming through, around, on top, and underneath that baitball. Exited the water on the westside at 1320. By that time the parking lot was less crowded than it had been at 0945 when I arrived. In case anybody notices the Barracuda included in the images below is the same Barracuda I posted last Friday. She was in the same place, and posing cooperatively like she did last Friday. So who am I not to take her photograph? I don't know what was going on with the 2 parrotfish in a lip lock. Different species Redband and Stoplight. I have never seen parrotfish do that before. I was not fast enough to catch it on video. But they were biting each others lips and swim wrestling something fierce. Respectively, Wide Angle Abstract under East Span, Cooperative Barracucda, Liplocked Parrotfish 1, Liplocked Parrotfish 2, Porkfish Wide Angle 1, Porkfish Wide Angle 2, Porkfish Wide Angle 3, and Porkfish Wideangle 4.

 

[JaxSpearDiver]

Went to the bridge for diving today. Arrived at 0945 for an 1147 high tide. Parking lot was not crowded when I got there, took on of my preferred parking spots, shade and trees on one side so only one car can park next to me. Suited up and entered the eastside at 1010, current was ripping under the east span but I have strategy for that. Nobody under there except for me. Visibility was 35ft, and sea temp was 86f. Did a REEF fish count, 60 species in 65 minutes. Exited the eastside at 1115, went to my truck and changed tanks. Was using a 50cuft tank so that's why the need for the change. Parking lot was close to full at this point. Entered the westside at 1140. Did another REEF fish count 65 species in 85 minutes. The Short Bigeye from yesterday was in the same place. Normally if I was devoting 85 minutes to a fish count it would have more than 65 species. However I was preoccupied with taking wide angle shots of Porkfish and French Grunts at the rubble pile under the fishing pier. When I was finished with that I started heading back to exit, except the Scaled Sardine baitball had taken up residence around one of the main bridge stanchions. Spent another twenty minutes swimming through, around, on top, and underneath that baitball. Exited the water on the westside at 1320. By that time the parking lot was less crowded than it had been at 0945 when I arrived. In case anybody notices the Barracuda included in the images below is the same Barracuda I posted last Friday. She was in the same place, and posing cooperatively like she did last Friday. So who am I not to take her photograph? I don't know what was going on with the 2 parrotfish in a lip lock. Different species Redband and Stoplight. I have never seen parrotfish do that before. I was not fast enough to catch it on video. But they were biting each others lips and swim wrestling something fierce. Respectively, Wide Angle Abstract under East Span, Cooperative Barracucda, Liplocked Parrotfish 1, Liplocked Parrotfish 2, Porkfish Wide Angle 1, Porkfish Wide Angle 2, Porkfish Wide Angle 3, and Porkfish Wideangle 4.View attachment 741001View attachment 741002View attachment 741003View attachment 741004View attachment 741005View attachment 741006View attachment 741007View attachment 741008

Those shots are awesome! I'm taking my newly certified teenage kids to Blue heron this weekend. I know it will be super crowded, but I think it will be a super cool first saltwater dive for my kids. thanks for posting the pics.