Single Day Middle Grounds Report from 10/25

[Steel Shootin']

I'll get the thread started about our trip yesterday, with photos to follow by this evening (I left my digital camera on the boat).

Including myself, a group of 5 met up in Port Richey at 5:00AM. I am sure the sleeping neighbors near my boat lift appreciated hearing about 500#s of ice crashing from coolers into my Venture's fish lockers, tanks slamming into the dock, not to mention the birage of "f-bombs" and jokes of imminent gunnel hunches. .http://www.scubaboard.com/images/icons/icon_lol.gif

The group included myself, and forum members JohnHermes, webers, Rusty, and non-forum member/fish assassin Chris. We shoved off at around 6:00AM, and made the 2.5 hour trip to our first spot in the Middle Grounds about 76 miles from the dock.

The first spot was a wreck that was 130fsw at the bottom. John and Chris dove that, so I'll let John comment. John did bring up a nice AJ and some mangos, and Chris had some nice gags and mangos.

My first dive was in 115 fsw at the bottom, with the top at 90. Suprisingly, it was not that "fishy" at all. Saw a bunch of triggers and short grouper. I was waiting for a hog, but if I had it to do over again I would have started blasting those triggers in hopes of creating enough commotion to draw in some hogs or grouper. Fortunately, the other spots we hit held some nice fish.

Most of the remaining spots we hit were in between 85 and 105 feet.

Visability was not great by Middle Grounds standards. It was about 40 feet, with a lot of suspended white "snot" in the water.

Two very nice Middle Grounds hogs were speared, the biggest by John (17#s), and Rusty had a 15#. I will post a photo of John with that fish when I get my camera back from the boat. John also speared the largest red grouper of the day, and I have a photo of that. (Rusty, if you can email the photo of you with your big hog, I'd like to post that, too).

Made it back to the dock at 8:00PM with the crew showing a nice haul of grouper, triggers, hogs, mangos, and an AJ for good measure.

I'm hooked on diving out there, and will be making the trip as frequently as time and money permit.

[Look Out Below]

Visability was not great by Middle Grounds standards. It was about 40 feet, with a lot of suspended white "snot" in the water.

:eek:

You guys are lucky! Average vis is 15' here, but this year it's been exceptionally well- 25' to 40'...

Sounds like alot of fun. One day I want to make over to the grounds.

[Diver Dan]

Hey Scott, Keep me in mind for some of those trips, especially during the week. I can help defray some of the cost. Although I just dive straight air , those depths are not too bad. I think I haven't gone to mixed gas because I get free fills at the station, and I generally dive under 90 feet. Glad to hear you all got some good fish! Fifteen and seventeen pound hogs are about as good eatin' as it gets! Stay safe. Dan

[Steel Shootin']

Dan, I was actually thinking about you this last trip, but it filled up. When are you on duty next? I guess the best day for you would be your second day off.

You get first dibbs next trip!

Scott

[gumshoe]

I know I have not met any of you guys, but let me know if you have a spot on a mid-weeker. I can shoot pretty straight and never get seasick.

Although I have never taken a dump off the back of the boat, I am willing to try if it will make me fit in.

[richhermes]

Although I have never taken a dump off the back of the boat, I am willing to try if it will make me fit in.

Just bring beer.

Gunnel hunches are optional, but not frowned upon!

:D :D :D

[Steel Shootin']

Here's a few shots from yesterday:

The Sun now out, we must be close:
http://www.npr-florida.com/headingout.jpg

John's nice Red Grouper
http://www.npr-florida.com/johnredgrouper.jpg

[Steel Shootin']

Well, when you're getting the bigguns, you get your photo taken. Here's John's big 17# hog
http://www.npr-florida.com/johnhog.jpg

[richhermes]

****IN' PHOTOSHOP!!

(I had to say it!)

That's a nice hog. John still had it iced down whole at noon today!

[johnhermes]

****ing PHOTOSHOP!! PHOTOSHOP!!!!!!!

Oh wait, thats my fish, never mind.....

[Steel Shootin']

And here is a photo that Rusy emailed me from his camera, which shows his 15# hog

[johnhermes]

Scott's report pretty much covers it. A couple of things to add: The first dive on a wreck was a great dive. A little deep at 130' to the sand, the wreck was completely covered with Mango's. Chris had the tactic, as he pulled 3 nice grouper off, I was not as lucky and could not get a shot off on any grouper. This wreck was the classic case of getting a little greedy. I held off shooting at the Mango's, hoping for the trophy fish. In reality, I should have hit the wreck and started plugging Mangos like a whore on EX. But alas, I did not. The dive still went well, I shot four Mango's and a nice 20# AJ.

The rest of the dives were fairly typical. Mangos here and there with an occasional grouper. I plugged that big Hog as soon as I hit the bottom at about 85-90'.

A good day in the MG's. I do not have alot of experience out there, but I certainly hope to gain some more. Scott, lets go again SOON. The weekday trips are the ticket IMHO. Nov 9 is the Southern Open, everyone sharpen those spear tips.

[Reef Raider]

Sounds like a great trip!!
Scott now you have the ## to the M.G. Wreck you need to dive it in JAN . that place is off the wall if you get it at the right time ask D4B.

[201proguide]

sounds like you had a good time, and those are some damn nice fish. those hogs must have been good eating. i think i would shit in my pants if i ever saw a hog that big.

[f94gator]

Scott, John needs some photoshop lessons from you.

Nice hog otherwise!

[greyface]

Congratulations fellas, on a successful MG trip. That Venture must be the shit! Those hogs are georgous.

[Steel Shootin']

Originally posted by f94gator
Scott, John needs some photoshop lessons from you.

Nice hog otherwise!

I think it's still on ice at his house. Go take a peak tomorrow! :D

That is a nice hog, and after two nice hogs were on board, I was starting to feel like the only guy at the prom that was not going to get laid.

[johnhermes]

I am not gonna lie guys, I just threw a bucket of ice in the cooler and I will clean the fish tomorrow morning.

[richhermes]

Who am I now??


Look at me! Look at me!

I caught a hogfish!


(John admitted he damn near shit his pants when he saw this big hog swimming around!)

[Steel Shootin']

Originally posted by gumshoe
Although I have never taken a dump off the back of the boat, I am willing to try if it will make me fit in.
Man, that cracked me up.

I don't crap off the gunwale of my boat, which is part of what makes the whole discussion so funny. It's just a couple of guys that we routingly hunt with that do it.

[greyface]

John - That's one kickass avatar!:D Now go clean that fish!:D

[dlock]

great catches,especially those HAWGS....sweeeet!!!! Maybe John can show us that "hawg on ice" Wednesday @ Hooters:D A friend of mine always waits until the next day to clean his fish. He keeps them iced down until the next day and they don't really bleed after being on ice that long. I've tried it and it's true but I'd rather clean my fish at the ramp where I can throw the scraps into the water instead of playing hide and seek in my yard with my dog:D

[johnhermes]

Too late, Hog is cleaned. The remains are in the dumpster at Publix :eek:

[dlock]

you should bring those monster fillets to Hooters and have them make some "Buffalo Hawg Nuggets":D

[webers]

Scott, John, Rusty, Chris-- I had a GREAT time! Thanks for the invite! My report:

Well, thanks to the college kids partying on my street until 3am, I got a whopping 40 minutes of sleep before the trip. Gone are the days when lack of sleep would not be noticed. Safe to say, I was dragging a** for the trip. But, I got two great dives out of the day befor my headache kicked in, and I realized I had lost a 30 pony tank, and reg on my dive--without noticing it coing loose during the dive. Caution took over and I decided to call it quits for the day diving, and help put some in the cooler using the ol' hook and line. A few drifts later, a couple of nice reds gave up the ghost and joined their fallen pals in the cooler. Scott-sweet fight in your 30lb Star rod and Tld20 andlb mono! Lost several more that rocked me.

What can I say about the diving before I turned into the undersea zombie? It was incredible! The peaks and cracks were awesome. I ighted a few big grouper, and nice hogs. Good mangos too. Just too slow on the shot to get any. Next time, with a full nigh's sleep, I will do much better (It won't be hard, I went 0 for 5 on my shots-Given that 2 of them were at a hog, I knew I was too tired).

For any of you who have not been out with these guys, all I can say is that they are a great company, and execellent dive buds. All of you at work on Firday sure missed a day I'll never forget.

On thing-- it is a bit of a trick loading the gear in the dark

John or Scott-- either of you looking for a blue and black wetsuit? I'll get it to you this week. Who has my gator hat?

Safe dives, tightl lines!

Scott

[johnhermes]

Scott, I have your emergency bag with your life jacket. I also have your powerhead shells and a speargun tip (yours, I assume)

I can bring it to Hooters on Wednesday if you are gonna be there.

John

[webers]

John, I was so out of it. Anyone also have a Xcell Titanium, Left hand Glove?

[webers]

John,

Yep, they're mine. I'll be at the Wed meeting. How was diving today?

[johnhermes]

We did not end up going, babysitters and such. We are going to shoot for next weekend.

[webers]

I'd reeeeeeealy like to come again, anytime. I had a great time. And, I promise to get some sleep for the next one. I know Scott's reading these posts, so I'll say it again, Thanks a bunch Scott!

Scott

[Steel Shootin']

Hey, Scott. Enjoyed having you, and we'll get out again. My trick for getting sleep is a loud fan I keep in my room to filter noises from outside. :D

That's my 3 mil. wetsuit you have. I was wondering where that thing was. I only wore my skin and was wondering what happened to that. I'll just get it from you at Hooters.

John, I have your sweatshirt and Gators cap.

Man, we have to work on our organizational skills! :D

Scott

[webers]

Scott,

Again, thanks. See you Wed. I'll bring the suit. The blue gators hat is mine. I guess I lead the way for being unorgainzed. Don't know why I brought a dive bag, none of the right stuff went in it.

Scott

[rusty]

It was a great day of diving. Scott, thanks again, a really great trip. I have to say I got lucky on the trip. Everybody was bringing up fish, and after the first dive, all I came back with was a grunt, I was embarassed to bring it back on the boat, after John's 17lb hog, and Chris's grouper and go's, but on the next dive, after getting a small go and hog, a bigger one came by, and I was able to bring a 15lb hog back to the boat, made the rest of the dives much easier. I think I was the only one not to bring back any grouper, but for a first hog, I was real happy.

It was a great day to be out on the water, small chop in the morning, and flattened out in the afternoon. Sunshine, smooth seas and good diving.

rusty

[Shooter Dan]

This is just too funny reading this. I'm going to open a dive shop just to supply you guys replacement stuff.

How about a new post: What I lost on my last dive trip.

Replacement gear is the most expensive type of gear.

John, Wow! nice hog.

Weber, I'm in the market for an extra 30 cu ft tank. Let me know if you find a good deal on one. See if you can work down the price if you buy two. Let me know.

See you guys Wed at Hooters.

[Diver Dan]

Scott,Thanx for keeping me in mind. See ya Wednesday.

[inletsurf]

Damn guys,

Nice report. Nice hog there JH. Actually, it was hard to notice after I caught glimpse of your new signature. You definately get the "signature" creativity award. :p

PS sweet boat scott.