Didn't dive the Wilkes, but still made out!

[keyspearfisher]

Johny longblades came down from Tampa this weekend to make up for the lousy showing we had in the Spearboard open. On the way he stopped and picked up Freedive slayer. We dove out of KW on friday and then moved up to Marathon on saturday. The rough seas and our finding out about the lack of fish on the Wilkes made us not want to try it this weekend. We went to the Thunderbolt instead and when we first got there it was top to bottom vis in 115 fsw. Lots of fun freediving this with a couple of good energetic divers. I'm not as comfortable at these depths as those two but even just watching them would have been fun. I did manage to get a couple fish though, just culling the really dumb ones if I could get to them. Lots more to tell but getting tired of typing, I'm sure John and Bryan will put in their two cents. Bryan got this one freediving in 40 fsw.

[keyspearfisher]

Got this mutton in 40 fsw after Bryan shot his black, thanks for the assist. The black was taken on air in 65 fsw of the seven mile bridge. This was the first time I had ever seen cobia under water, they happened to be trailing a 6-7' bull. Awesome sight. That bull acted like they should, interested in what was happening, but not aggressive. In fact he ran off when I shot the black that was trailing him. Of course it did come back.

[fishkilla]

nice fish doode. are we gonna head out on sunday next week if the weather is good?

[keyspearfisher]

John is supposed to go to Rays and buy me some more 72" back up shafts, maybe you could bring them down with you. Sunday sounds good to me. Are you guys staying in Marathon? I can trailer the boat up there. Note: do not put your speargun in the vertical speargun racks when running an 18' boat in 4-6 foot seas. I just broke a commercial 60" that way. Broke right on the side of the trigger. I guess the weight of all the wood above it, acted as a lever and snapped it. Damn and that gun shot so nice, anybody ever fixed a gun that this has happened too?

[fernandezh]

Those are some great fish you guys got. Glad to hear that you had a productive trip.


Hector

[jeffe]

Good report, good shootin'.

[fishkilla]

yeah i can bring the shafts with me no problem. we'll be staying on long key so i could meet you on marathon.

[Screen Name]

Sounds like a good question for Spear One. PM him if you havent already. See you round!

[keyspearfisher]

I'm not really expecting any one to have a fix for this problem. I thought I might warn people of a potential hazard. It never crossed my mind that a gun could break this way. From now on mind are coming out of the rack and laying on the deck in rough seas.

[keezdiver]

looks like you guys had a great trip, very productive.

just curious...what do you consider "rough" seas?

were they anything like what we went out in last month?

[keyspearfisher]

they were better; solid 4-6' in the morning. can you say hang time? I'd say the were couple standing 8' right at the reef line. Not so much fun in an 18' boat, glad to anchor and get in the water.