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View Full Version : Dive Report, Port Richey 10/12

Shooter Dan
10-14-2002, 09:04 AM
It was a slick ass day as you can tell from Scott's photos. Viz was a good 30'+. The Pirates: Reef Raider, Scott, Dabull Trouble. The stage was set and we had high hopes for our three-tank day.

My take was it was better than a day at the office. We were hitting 65' to 70' area. By the number of boats in the area, this was a popular weekend spot for the local warriors.

My most memorable dive was on a ledge that had a nice show. The show was a school of bait hugging the 6' ledge. The first fish I saw was a 150# Hebrew Mullet. I took a few of the larger scamps and a few hogs. A school of Jacks buzzed by, one fell to the .223, and the others scattered. A few minutes later they came back & I switched my line over on my Rhino to prepare for battle. I picked out the largest and placed a shot 2-3 inches behind his eye at a 65degree angle. My entry spot penetrated thru and the exit was just a 1" lower than the entry. This Jack was Stoned! I thought of Kevin's "Spear One" article as I was lining up the shot. We took our limit of 5 jacks in the 20-25lb range. (We had a hook and liner on board, so I had no problem helping them get a Jack) One cobia lots of local hogs, some goes and a few scamp.

The Cuda were thick and up to about 45#s. I thought a few times about helping myself to a few Sun Coast Seals points for the club, but I just decided that as long as they didn't bother me I would bother them. It sure was tempting.
Steel Shootin'
10-14-2002, 09:14 AM
That was a hell of a shot on that jack. You brained him.
Spear One
10-14-2002, 05:42 PM
I believe there is hope for you guys! You can teach an old dog new tricks! Good job.
dlock
10-14-2002, 09:03 PM
I been around fish/fishing my whole life, but I have never learned how to differentiate a scamp from a grouper. Someone fill me in...please. Is it the shape of the tail or just the markings.
Steel Shootin'
10-14-2002, 09:17 PM
That's actually a very good question. I examined the scamp in the fish box, and one of the things that jumped out at me was the difference in the shape of the markings. The color is so close, it's hard for me to tell. I'd welcome someone giving a more full explanation.
johnhermes
10-14-2002, 09:20 PM
I say shoot em all, we'll sort em out on the deck. :p
Reef Raider
10-14-2002, 09:34 PM
I look at the tail and the fact that they come to me most local gags head out of town. Out in the M.G. I can get a hole heard to follow me you turn shoot 1 head out turn shoot 1 head out its so easy.
Spear One
10-14-2002, 10:28 PM
Scamps have long, thin tail feathers protruding well past the fork of the tail. Gags don't.
dlock
10-14-2002, 10:44 PM
ahhh, I thought it was something like that. The size limit is smaller than a grouper isn't it?
greyface
10-15-2002, 06:10 AM
If I'm not mistaken, a scamp IS a grouper. :)
Steel Shootin'
10-15-2002, 06:37 AM
Originally posted by dlock
ahhh, I thought it was something like that. The size limit is smaller than a grouper isn't it?

16" for scamp, I believe.
Reef Raider
10-15-2002, 06:50 AM
16" over all ?
They sure are good eat-in .