January 22, 2007

 
 
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Gone fishing                              Capt. Larry Blue
     1/22/2007
 Fishing Archives               Finally a break in the offshore grouper fishing. The past couple of weeks we
    have been catching more shallow water black grouper than we have for the better
    part of the past few months. The grouper have moved into the 35 to 60 foot depths
    making the long run offshore almost unnecessary. The king mackerel that have taken
    up winter residence have provided great deep water trolling action and the Spanish
    mackerel have covered the near-shore areas.
     
   

            Last week, I took a couple of diver friends of mine out with me as the water

    was as they say; “top to bottom visibility.” My mate, Aaron Kalwa and Chad
    Campbell; owner of Suncoast Dive Center, in Seminole, accompanied me to take
    advantage of a calm day and gin clear water. We started the day just after sunrise,
    meeting at my boat behind “Gators Saloon.” After stowing 6 tanks of air and all the
    necessary dive gear and wet suits onboard, we began filling the Igloo cooler full of ice
    in expectation of a good day on the water.
     
   

            Passing under the John’s Pass Bridge I pointed the boat offshore headed for

    a small natural ledge off of Treasure Island in 55 feet of water. After a 40 minute run I
    slowed the boat to read the GPS for the telltale numbers and locate the exact location
    of the sharp limestone ledge. Circling around for a few minutes the bottom machine
    ticked away watching the bottom outline and when the moment was just right Aaron
    tossed over the weighted plastic jug to mark our spot. Running into the wind about a
    hundred feet in front of the marker jug we released the anchor and let the boat settle
    back on the hook.
     
                Aaron and Chad took their time putting on their wet suits and gear without
    saying a word as though thinking deeply about what they were doing. Perhaps they
    even pondered how cool the water would feel on their skin when it penetrates the
    neoprene covering. Checking, double checking, and even triple checking each article
    needed for life on the bottom they began to hurry their effort. Soon afterwards they
    were both over the side and in the water, in a flash were beneath the surface headed
    for the fish below.
     
   

            From the deck of my boat I could see them moving effortlessly along the

    bottom sliding from left to right and then back again. Crisscrossing the ledge checking
    under every place that might hold a fish they searched even what they checked
    before. The water was so clear it was possible to see the fish moving out ahead of the
    divers in pursuit. Forty-five minutes later the divers’ bobbed above the surface,
    dragging stringers loaded with fish that they gathered from the lime stone ledge.
     
   

            Aaron was first to the boat, he handed me his dive stringer and I heaved it

    onboard. With a bang it came down on the deck of my boat with fish flopping and
    slapping their tails on the fiberglass floor. Aaron then slipped off his flippers and mask
    and threw them into the boat, landing on top of the pile of fish. He then tied his BC
    and tank to a safety line cleated to the stern of the port quarter. Seconds later he
    climbed up to free himself from the water. He turned to retrieve his air tank and BC
    from the water. Chad then swam to the stern and repeated the routine that Aaron had
    just completed.
     
   

              Removing the fish from the stringers they were placed in the cooler and then

    covered with ice. There were; black grouper, scamp, mangrove snapper, triggerfish,
    large sheepshead, and the most sought after of all fish by divers; hogfish. Hogfish are
    colored a brilliant red and yellow and have huge fang covered mouths. Most of the
    time they won’t take a baited hook, they almost must be taken by divers. All of these
    fish are great eating and would make for a great fish-fry when we got back to the
             dock.
     
   

            Chad and Aaron told of the fish that stayed out of their range and the many

    fish that they could see that scooted off into the sand area to escape the divers spear.
    Next time I come back to this spot I’ll have to use rods and reels to try my luck. But
    I must admit, today we loaded the cooler and never even cut one bait, or tied a fish
    hook to a leader. Not bad. Now would you please pass the tartar sauce! I’m getting
    hungry.
     
   

Good luck and good fishing, Capt. Larry
   

Copyright 2007 CLB
     
     
    Capt. Larry Blue is USCG licensed full time charter boat operator and guide,
    departing from The Kingfish Dock, at “Gators on the Pass”, in Johns Pass -
    Treasure Island . He is a member of; The Maritime Consortium, The Florida
    League of Anglers and The Florida Outdoors Writers Assn. For charter
    information call: 727-397-3773  or  727-871-1058 cell   OR
    Capt. Joe:  727-678-2959.