ST. Aug Report 2/12/03

[liberty hound]

Seabeast and I went out yesterday to HG, SS, and DB.Water temp was 59 at hg and ss and 57 at db. Vis was a good 30-40 ft. Seas were nice and the sun was out, overall a nice day and a hopefull reminder of the warmer weather to come.
WE got 1 16lb gag, two 6lb mangroves, 12 flatties to 4 lbs,3 nice sheeps , and one three lb bug.
We also saw some monster redfish that knew they couldn't be shot and one sunfish.

[Demere]

Sounds like a great day in coooold water!

[greyface]

Thanks for the report. If I understood you correctly, you went from the Hospital Grounds, to the St. Aug Shipwreck, to the Desco Boat. That's covering some territory!:)

[liberty hound]

I went to hospital grounds , southeast sixteens and seventeens, and then to db on the way back to st . aug.

[greyface]

Cool. I've fished the HG a few times, years ago, only managed some seabass. What's the bottom like? Anything like the Flagler Grounds?(coquina, live bottom, small ledges) I'd like to see a sunfish, they're just a freak of nature.

[100days-a-year]

Stay outta there!;)Paul and I have had a lotta luck there this winter.We actually saw each other ar SS coupla weeks ago .Good job fellas.We're gonna hit it(SS) Saturday .HG is mostly ledges with a coupla small table tops too.There are a few culverts in the area and 2 barges south of there as well.Saw Mr.Big at HG 2 yrs ago on Mar. 17.Did you hit the old part of SS or the stuff around Mikes lobster spot?

[greyface]

Yo Tony, would that be good Mr. Big, or bad Mr. Big?:D

[100days-a-year]

Grey on top ,white on bottom,triangular teeth and 10' long or better.I don't spook easy.I've been married twice and rescued burning Arabs off tankers in the Persian Gulf.This made me ill.There will be a flotilla there tommorow ,but we just avoid the worst of 'em.

[greyface]

Roger that.:eek:

[aue-mike]

Can anyone give a description of the St. Augustine Wreck? I am curious to what kind of wreck it is - steamer, trawler, barge, etc. Artificial or natural?
Thanks for any information you can provide.
Cheers,
Mike

[greyface]

Hi Mike, 1st off you guys ROCK! 2ndly, the only time I dove there (last summer) all I saw was culverts/junction boxes, but there were other #'s, like a click or 2 away. Shot some nice snapper there. My Ned DeLoach U/W Guide: 18.1 nautical miles on a 117.5 deg. course from the sea bouy @ Augustine Inlet. The WW2 freighter was torpedoed on 12/31/42. The broken wreckage rests in 75' of water.
LAT: 29 46.480 LON: 80 56.320

My Jacksonville Offshore Sportfishing Club chart:
LAT: 29 45 54 LON: 80 55 60

TD's: 44812.0/6196.5 Hope this helps!:)

[100days-a-year]

Mike,all I have ever found there was isolated pieces of metal at any of the published #s.It may have beed demolished or wire dragged.I haven't seen any indication of a large concentration of wreckage.I will be trolling my U/W camera there this summer to get some idea of what's up.

[aue-mike]

Hi guys-
Thanks for the information. I had the numbers, I just had no clue what was really there. I am unaware of any WWII loss being attributed to that wreck's location, so my curiosity was definitely piqued. If there were culverts there it makes me think there may not actually be a true wreck there, but artificial reef material. May need to snoop a little more to see what's what.
Thanks again.
Cheers,
Mike

[100days-a-year]

Mike ,the #s predate the culvert placement.I'd love to hear any stories the older St Augustine fishermen could have.I know of several folks who saw the Gulf America hit off Jax Beach.Do you have any idea about the origins of the "Bear"wreck off St.Augustine?It appears to be an old steam-engined vessel.It is in pieces as well,but they are located within a 100 yd radius,mostly pieces 10'-20' or so.

[aue-mike]

That is interesting to note about the culverts - maybe it is a real wreck. I have not spent much time diving off NE Florida and have not been to any of these wrecks to try and identify them. The problem with tracking down the origins of a lot of wrecks is due to all the local names. I know of a few wrecks that have 4-5 names for the same wreck. I have heard of the "Bear Wreck" also, but I am unaware of its true identity. I would love to dive these wrecks to dig for clues and shoot some video, if anyone is heading out there and has some extra room.
I have also heard of a couple other wrecks up that way, such as the "Chinaman" and the "Chocolat" wrecks, but I don't know anyone that has dove them to get information on what they are like. There certainly is a lot of potential for wreck exploration in this state! Thanks again for the information.
Cheers,
Mike

[liberty hound]

I have never found the st. aug wreck but have dove the bear a few times.I would also like to know the history of the local wrecks.

[100days-a-year]

Jeez,Mike.I never heard of those 2.Looks like we'll never really know where and what everything is.Fun to look tho.The Bear is cool.A great second dive.It's out far ,but it's on a little hill.I get 95' or so and the surrounding areas are 110' to 135'.When the water start pushing the fish around we'll be goin' back.It does get hit hard by hook tho.I've had to show my ass to a coupla folks who kept coming up close with divers in the water.1 even drug his mud anchor past one of my guys.a 6'4" 280lb armed redneck.They left .

[greyface]

LMAO!