Anyone doing the Boca Grande pass clean-up dive?

[Ed Walker]

I think its in the next day or two. They get a group of experienced divers and volunteer boats to dive the pass and remove as much of the trillion tons of lost fishing gear caught up on the big ledges where the tarpon gather.
I always wondered what it would look like down there but you wont see me going in this time of year. I have seen the most ungodly shark attacks in there at least a hundred times. The place swarms with big nasty bulls and hammerheads. Ive seen 4 huge bulls at a time grab a 150 pound tarpon at the surface and rip him to shreds in 30 seconds leaving only crumbs and a big slick on the surface. There was a period early last season where the bulls killed nearly every tarpon hooked by the entire fleet for 5 or 6 days. No sir, Ill pass on the pass.

[Steel Shootin']

I don't know who is in charge of this clean up, but why in the hell would they choose this time of year? Like you, I'd be very interested in diving it, but in April? Call me in October.

[Spearchucker]

I always thought that. All the money in the world, I am NOT diving that pass. I have seen those sharks too, holy crap. How about a big magnet to get that lead off the bottom?

[Young-Gun]

Hey guys, just thought i'd post a report on Mondays Boca Grande Clean-up dive.
We had about 40-50 divers on just over 15 boats. Divers ranged from local Sheriffs and Fire Dept dive teams to highly experienced local divers and marine lab employees. We headed out after 7am on board the boats of local tarpon guides who volunteered to help in gettin us to the big deep holes which collect the most debris. Divers splashed in just before 8am. Most debris ranged from 60-85 feet deep. The visibility was 10 feet or less. The temp ranged from 74-78 deg. We were just able to catch slack tide long enough to make two long dives. Sun Harvest Citrus(Ft. Myers) donated grapefruit bags which were used to collect the debris which ranged from seemingly endless collections of polypropelene trap line, heavy monofilament, dacron line, and hundreds of large jig heads used in tarpon fishing. Also, numerous derilect stone and blue crab traps were brought from the depths. :D These collected into dozens of large garbage cans back at the docks. The fish populations looked quite healthy. Many gags and large mangos piled up in the canyons as well as dozens of small jew fish. I saw no tarpon and thus no sharks throughout the dive. Come back in two weeks and they'll be stacked in there thick! Looks like we just made it in time. After words there was a giant fish fry (mucho delicious!), and a raffel where many tokens of thanks were handed out to the divers and capt's, including gold tarpon pendants and an Atocha silver coin! (you heard right.) This is a fabulous dive and i would recommend it to any experienced divers looking to help keep our fish habitats clean and safe. Just remember to bring those lift bags!

I would especially like to extend my thanks to the capt's and tarpon guides who donated their time in helping us keep the pass clean. If anyone is interested in some awesome none-stop tarpon fishin give me a buzz and i can set you up some great guys who really know the area.

We are doin it all over again Tuesday morning as there is quite a bit more to be done.

Later y'all......Carson

[Steel Shootin']

Sounds like a good time without those poons drawing in the sharks. Thanks for the report. Interesting.

[Ed Walker]

I heard that there was a bit of controvery that came up (imagine that in Boca Grande). Supposedly one of the divers found, and managed to raise, a 100 year old anchor and plans on keeping it. The folks on the island said they wanted to keep it. Hmm. Anyway, thanks to you divers who participated. Its a great concept, cleaning up the pass after losing all that tackle down there. I cant tell you how many fish I have lost during tournaments in there that got wrapped up in underwater junk. Interesting that there was mono and dacron. The dacron guys claim they dont snag bottom and that the mono guys are the real polluters of the pass.

[Faust]

That pass is (or was) a great dive.Just dont do it when the tarpon are running.Used to go the regular basis in the early 90s, that was also before there were several hundred boats always sitting sight in the middle of the pass wanting to play ping pong with your Float.Anyhow Carson you got any more room for anyone who wants to dodge Sharks and Boats ? Ive got a few folks who would be more than happy to help out above and below the water ? let me know