Report from Saturday (In photos)

[Steel Shootin']

Excellent weather today, and enjoyed seeing everyone. Here are a few photos:

Water was like glass today:
http://www.npr-florida.com/oct12waterisglass.jpg

This shot was taken to show good vis. Here, Shooter Dan and Reaf Raider make there way down the jug line, a minute into their ascent, but still visable from the surface.
http://www.npr-florida.com/oct12diversonjug.jpg

Shooter Dan surfaces with a couple of jacks and some scamp.
http://www.npr-florida.com/oct12daninwaterjacks.jpg

Here dabulltrouble assists Reef Raider, who surfaces with some AJs and a nice Cobia:
http://www.npr-florida.com/oct12georgeenteringwjacks.jpg

I didn't get any shots of dabulltrouble's fish, because he and I were teamed up and in the water at the same time, but he had a jack and several nice hogs.

Damn, I've hunted more this week than every before. My right thigh looks like Galooli beat it senseless with his Kerrigan stick.

It's a "good" kind of pain....

[greyface]

No pain, no gain! :D

[johnhermes]

Ugggg - You're making me sick....

Lets see, the FS show sucked, then I watched the Noles lose (a good thing), now I am watching the Gators lose (a bad thing).

Sure wish I could have been there, looks like the next week is gonna be nasty.

[Spear One]

Man, you could have skipped a nickel all the way to Mexico on that sea. I love being on the water when the seas are like that. When I get back from this trade show on the 28th.........

A WHOLE LOTTA FISH ARE GONNA GET THE BIG STEEL!!!!!

PS. I see they are using the right kind of guns. Looks like you guys had a great trip. I'm jealous!

[Steel Shootin']

Okay, I am going to tell my jack story (heard already by Dabulltrouble, Reef Raider, and Shooter Dan). Feel free to tell me everything I did wrong.

I was at depth and had a couple of hogs on my stringer, but now wanted to get a jack. Here comes a school of maybe 40 jack right by me. It's funny how many things can go through a person's mind at once. I'm thinking:

1) Find the biggest MFer in the pack, and
2) Remember Spear One's article and place the shot at the right angle (especially important since I was set-up for free shafting).

I accomplish number one, place my shot, and BAM, right through the gill plate. I'm feeling immediate relieft because he rolls, and stops. But then, he starts swimming away with my shaft at a perfect verticle angle, swimming sideways. So I am hauling ass after him, up the ledge, and my computer starts going haywire because of the ascent violations. And I'm trying to grab the shaft.

I finally get it, and horse the fish back down to the sandy area at the bottom of the ledge. Three barracuda are watching and seem especially interested with the fish a full shaft length away, so I move in on the him while grabbing my stringer, and in one last burst the SOB shakes the shaft and swims sideways with enough speed to elude me. I screwed up by not knifing him in the noggin when I first had him trapped on the beach.

On the boat, dabulltrouble asked if I shot an AJ, and said he thought so because he swam by that area a few minutes later and could see a still twitching jack carved in two by the cudas.

[Spear One]

I'm afraid there were multiple "operator errors" in that story!

If you are going to freeshaft a jack, you had better stone it. If you don't stone it, you had better have your second shaft ready to whack him again.

Since I know you didn't have a second shaft, you should have hooked up the line and shot him with a lineshaft!!!!!!!!

Once you had him pinned to the bottom you never should have lost him. Pin him, grab him in the throat, and kill him with you knife. Then string him!!!!!!!!

Greenhorn! Ha!. I will definitly take you up on that ride. I can't have guys shootin my guns and acting like that, now can I? I'll take you down on some spots that "RAIN" 40 lb Aj's and tune you up!

[Steel Shootin']

Originally posted by Spear One
Once you had him pinned to the bottom you never should have lost him. Pin him, grab him in the throat, and kill him with you knife. Then string him!!!!!!!!

Yeah, one of the things I'm learning is that there is a "knee jerk" reaction to get the fish on your stringer as quickly as possible. I did move in on him, but while grappling at the stringer, as well. Should have just incapacitated him first, and worry about the stringer second.

Live and learn. Bring on those jacks.

[Reef Raider]

Get him a power head too !

[dlock]

you guys are having way too much fun...I'm dyin' over here!!:D

[dabulltrouble]

o.k,i guess i,ll tell my fish story.although i,ll be admitting to multiple errors.well a big cobia swam by me at the bottom of the ledge.was undecided if i wanted to shoot himwith my little pea shooter but he kept swimming around me and i couldnt resist.tried to get a head shot but he started swimming away from me at the last minute.took my shot and the spear only went half way through him.thie fish probably would have went every bit of 30lbs.he immediately started dragging my little ass around at about 5 knots.he was heading for the surface and i couldnt stop him.was getting a little concerned cause i knew i was going up way to fast.he started heading down to the top of the ledge and pulled me right past a decent size hog nose.finally the shaft pulled loose and i went back and got the hog nose.nice day spearing,good company,sweet boat,calm seas.what more could i ask for.o,yes there is one thing,a real speargun like one of spearfishin speacialties.kevin, i have to get with you next week and get that gun before i go huntin again...dave

[Steel Shootin']

See Kevin, were like a sales force for you out there (actually, your product sells itself). I thought you'd like that nice photo of one of your guns.

Just wanted to mention that I appreciated everyone's team work on the boat. You're always a little concerned the first time you hook-up with someone on your boat, but RR, Dan, and DT were not only excellent company, but well organized and ready when it was time to jump in. Hope we can get out again soon.

[rusty]

Sounds like you guys had a good trip. Water and vis. looked great. Looks like the conditions couldn't have been better.

Nice pictures.

[Spear One]

An excellent crew is a captains dream! Having a good, experience crew is one of the greatest assets a captain can have. It really makes a big difference on a trip when everyone chips in and does his part.

Dave, never shoot a Cobia in the head!!!! You must "neck shoot" them. Their brain is very small and protected by armor plating. The only way to kill them is sever their spinal cord, or pin his neck so he cannot swim with any real power.

[Steel Shootin']

Originally posted by Spear One
Their brain is very small

Hey, we just learned that Genesis has something in common with cobia!:p

[johnhermes]

PHOTOSHOP PHOTOSHOP!!!!

Sorry, had to throw that in. Extreme jealousy does things like that.

[Spear One]

Comparing Genesis to a Cobia really isn't fair to the Cobia!

Have you no compassion for noble creatures?

[MarkD]

Glad to hear you had a good trip. I saw ReefRaider at the boat launch and Scott headed up river for the pick up. I was out with a boat from my LDS. We hit a couple of reefs in 45 - 50 feet out of Port Richey.

I finally had my first face to face with a monster Jewfish. He was definitely the king of the reef. I am estimating 7 feet and 400#. What an awesome sight. Saw two others in the same area, both around 100#. Gives you idea about the number of fish in that area.

My first shooting trip, embarrased to say I didn't put any fish in the boat. I did get to use my new Spearfishing Specialities 52" Rhino. Worked great, now just need to learn to shoot it. :o

Great shooting guys. Congrats.

Mark

P.S off to read Spear One's articles about how to shoot!

[Reef Raider]

Mark you have the best gun just keep diving it and your time will come.

Scott thanks again SSSSSSOOOOOOO much I would dive with you any day maybe next time we can get up to DDs neck of the woods for some shooting!!!He says theres loads of hogs up there.
Sounds like that would be a good place to start tuning in to that gun.
After that some GOs then the AJs hows that sound Spear One.
Luck is where preperation meets opportunity

[Spear One]

Rogers on that Reef Raider!

Hey Mark...Never mention a "zero take" trip and one of my guns in the same paragraph! Its bad for business..Ha! just kiddin.

Keep pluggin away, there can be a learning curve to using that gun. Be patient and take close, easy shots at first. Then gradually stretch your distance.

Also, try using only one shaft in the gun for a while so it isn't quite so heavy. This will help you reaction time and shot compensation ability. After you are comfortable and hitting the majority of the fish you are shooting at, add the second shaft!

[Reef Raider]

****in photo shop !! ****in photo shop!!
Just wanted to try it and it feels so good!!

[MarkD]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. Shooting sure brings a whole new reason to dive, I can't wait to get out again.

Kevin, I purchased my Rhino at Narcosis Scuba in Tarpon Springs. Just wanted you to know that I spoke with Jesse there and he was a fine spokesman for your equipment. Gave me some good ideas about how to handle the gun and highly recommended your equipment.

Mark

[Spear One]

Thanks Mark. Let me know if you need any help.