frogman_5
Contributor
Hmmm, I should get me a flunky to do the paperwork......
The trip started out a bit bumpy, in more ways than one. Cooltech & Son thought the boat left at 9 and almost got left behind. Fortunately he finally answered his cell and they were able to make the trip. The weatherman had called for 2 foot seas, but as the wind had blown west for 3 days I expected bigger and wasn't disappointed. 3-4' was what we found, smoothing a bit to 3's farther out.
First stop, the Fin Barge. I got in water first, waiting on TheCaptain and Kristina. Looking down, I could see, through the massive schools of fish the end of the shot line 60' below. Suddenly, farther down, a large black silhouette. Surley I was just seeing things. I looked again, and there was another. After the bullshark incident, I was a little nervous. I asked for my speargun, just in case. The other two now in the water, we proceded down the line. The schools of fish were still obscuring the bottom until we were nearly at the bottom of the line. There the silhouettes finally came into focus. They were Jewfish! This is what I had seen from the surface. Top to bottom viz in the Gulf! There were numerous Jewfish and huge as well. Big schools of Amberjack, Jack Crevalle, and baitfish in the tens if not hundreds of thousands. By far the best dive I've ever had on the Fin! Cooltech & Son, and Duncan dropped in as we stopped on the shot line, seeing the baitfish jumping on the surface and our bubbles, and us, directly under the boat. The were equally impressed with the dive.
Next stop, the Chemical Barge. There was a fishing boat there that greeted us with the phrase "Beat It!" as I came along side to inquire how long they intended to stay. And this from the youngest passenger about 6 years old! I said this was rather a rude greeting, and as it would take us at least 30 minutes to anchor and suit up, and would he like to try his greeting again. Again "Beat It", echoed this time by one of the adults, whom I assume can only come from one of the areas fine trailer park communities. We broke off any attemps at civil communication and dropped anchor and suited up a bit faster than usual. We repeated the dive groups from the first dive, and in we went. After about 5 minutes, I realized I had miscalculated the wreck location a little, and called the dive. As we returned to the boat, we heard a boat motor start, speed up and move away. Our friendly fisherman decided to let us have the wreck to ourselves. How kind of them! We pulled anchor, circled and dropped the marker, then the anchor. Much better this time, as our stern hovered almost over the wreck. The viz was not as good as the last dive, but still good enough and we were immediately greeted by a large Jewfish and schools of baitfish and Amberjack. The barge had a lot of red algae, but still the fish were there. We dove until our tanks were half empty, saving air for the last stop. This wreck having many holes, Cooltech & Son practiced swim throughs and penetrations.
Last stop, the Debbie Ann tug. We ran over the numbers and dropped the marker, and went upwind to drop anchor. We drifted back slightly off the mark, but I snorkled over while waiting for the others to suit up and could see a dark shadow below. After my group was in the water, we dropped down and headed for the wreck. As describe in previous posts, a picturesque 60’ tug, fairly intact with swim through and penetration opportunities. This day we also found a visiting Jewfish not seen on the previous trip. The viz at this location was only 20’, but more than adequate for the sight.
Also, as the day went on, the winds died down and we finally had the promised 2’ or less seas. We pulled anchor, set the autopilot, and headed back for the dock. As near to a perfect day as for anyone could ask!
The trip started out a bit bumpy, in more ways than one. Cooltech & Son thought the boat left at 9 and almost got left behind. Fortunately he finally answered his cell and they were able to make the trip. The weatherman had called for 2 foot seas, but as the wind had blown west for 3 days I expected bigger and wasn't disappointed. 3-4' was what we found, smoothing a bit to 3's farther out.
First stop, the Fin Barge. I got in water first, waiting on TheCaptain and Kristina. Looking down, I could see, through the massive schools of fish the end of the shot line 60' below. Suddenly, farther down, a large black silhouette. Surley I was just seeing things. I looked again, and there was another. After the bullshark incident, I was a little nervous. I asked for my speargun, just in case. The other two now in the water, we proceded down the line. The schools of fish were still obscuring the bottom until we were nearly at the bottom of the line. There the silhouettes finally came into focus. They were Jewfish! This is what I had seen from the surface. Top to bottom viz in the Gulf! There were numerous Jewfish and huge as well. Big schools of Amberjack, Jack Crevalle, and baitfish in the tens if not hundreds of thousands. By far the best dive I've ever had on the Fin! Cooltech & Son, and Duncan dropped in as we stopped on the shot line, seeing the baitfish jumping on the surface and our bubbles, and us, directly under the boat. The were equally impressed with the dive.
Next stop, the Chemical Barge. There was a fishing boat there that greeted us with the phrase "Beat It!" as I came along side to inquire how long they intended to stay. And this from the youngest passenger about 6 years old! I said this was rather a rude greeting, and as it would take us at least 30 minutes to anchor and suit up, and would he like to try his greeting again. Again "Beat It", echoed this time by one of the adults, whom I assume can only come from one of the areas fine trailer park communities. We broke off any attemps at civil communication and dropped anchor and suited up a bit faster than usual. We repeated the dive groups from the first dive, and in we went. After about 5 minutes, I realized I had miscalculated the wreck location a little, and called the dive. As we returned to the boat, we heard a boat motor start, speed up and move away. Our friendly fisherman decided to let us have the wreck to ourselves. How kind of them! We pulled anchor, circled and dropped the marker, then the anchor. Much better this time, as our stern hovered almost over the wreck. The viz was not as good as the last dive, but still good enough and we were immediately greeted by a large Jewfish and schools of baitfish and Amberjack. The barge had a lot of red algae, but still the fish were there. We dove until our tanks were half empty, saving air for the last stop. This wreck having many holes, Cooltech & Son practiced swim throughs and penetrations.
Last stop, the Debbie Ann tug. We ran over the numbers and dropped the marker, and went upwind to drop anchor. We drifted back slightly off the mark, but I snorkled over while waiting for the others to suit up and could see a dark shadow below. After my group was in the water, we dropped down and headed for the wreck. As describe in previous posts, a picturesque 60’ tug, fairly intact with swim through and penetration opportunities. This day we also found a visiting Jewfish not seen on the previous trip. The viz at this location was only 20’, but more than adequate for the sight.
Also, as the day went on, the winds died down and we finally had the promised 2’ or less seas. We pulled anchor, set the autopilot, and headed back for the dock. As near to a perfect day as for anyone could ask!
j/k
