SpearMax shoots Pargo!

[SpearMax]

I figured this title would make you look at this thread. :slap:

This dude thought he was tough. He’s got some bite to his bark. He tried to give me the slip, but I nailed him. :cowboy:

A 21 pound Pargo Cubera! :eek:

Check out the common names of Lutjanus cyanopterus here at:

http://www.fishbase.org/comnames/CommonNamesList.cfm?ID=1427&GenusName=Lutjanus&SpeciesName=cyanopterus&StockCode=1482

You will see that the Cubera Snapper has a common name with “Pargo” in it in these locales: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Spain. :whistle:

Our Spearboard friend “Pargo” has a good sense of humor, I hope! ;)

[SpearMax]

My first technical dive was solo to 210 feet on Saturday where I was marking a location for my friends at the County who are dropping a big ship there this week. Here is an interesting red algae that is growing on the sailboat and barge that is already in this location. This is the steel sailboat.

[SpearMax]

The grey and black glove, brown speargun gun, blue pole spear and yellow light in these shots verify the color trueness of my camera at that depth. Those UR pro filters are amazing! This second photo is the barge.

[SpearMax]

OK now, the pargo hunt!

My next solo technical dive was to 130 feet amongst some culverts and other structure. As I approached one large culvert, I spied a nice fish in the distance with a straight tail. :p

As I moved in, he came out the front of the culvert and started to bolt. I lead him for my shot calculating distance and time. My gun hurled a steel shaft his way in the true spirit of this “contact sport.” :bashhead:

[SpearMax]

Alas, the shot was a little low, but stuck. Upon impact, he raced into the next culvert and spooled out half my reel line. :eek:

I am glad I was not freeshafting. I spent the rest of the dive following my line through a maze of culverts and blocks in order to subdue this fish. The current was moderately strong and I had to hip hop over structure with my float line reel while dealing with the spun out gun reel line. :(

[SpearMax]

I had my trusty pole spear at the ready as I traced his path. :cool:

[SpearMax]

:yay: Finally, I found my pargo cubera and planted my pole spear paralyzer tip firmly in his dorsal fin area. :toast:

[SpearMax]

I strung him with a kill spike stringer and sent him up on a lift bag. Look at the stripes on this challenging fish. :graucho:

[SpearMax]

My boat driver buddies Scott and Troy made a fine meal out of this cubera snapper! :yawwn: :yippee:

[Man-O-War]

Haha awesome play-by-play, nice fish....that title *almost* got me thinking there was a street fight gone bad :)

[GRIM REEFER]

Nice one Tony, They are some mean fish.
Good thing your not an idiot like me and stick your finger in his mouth :eek:
It wasn't the tooth that hurt, It was the pressure. It was like I slammed a door on my finger.
That's what happens when your narked :D

[SpearMax]

Nice one Tony, They are some mean fish.
Good thing your not an idiot like me and stick your finger in his mouth :eek:
It wasn't the tooth that hurt, It was the pressure. It was like I slammed a door on my finger.
That's what happens when your narked :D


A good argument for trimix...I guess! :D

[Petra]

Awesome report! Love the play-by-play!

[Corpsman]

Great report as always.

[KEYSKILLER]

nice.. love the play by play video.

[SpearMax]

Nice fish. Good action. Does sticking the paralyzer tip in the dorsal area usually paralyze a fish? If so, up to what size and usually what species will this work on?

Works well on most species including big cobias.

[OceanEd]

Great story, Tony. I love seeing the pictures that you take to go along with it.

I chased one of those things for 3 days straight in the Bahamas. Each day I would find him in the same area and each day, for about 2 hours each time, he made a fool out of me as I chased him up and down and in and out of a reef. After the third day I actually called it quits.

It's nice to see someone can nail one of those suckers.

[Seahuntress]

Great story ;) Cubera are my favorite fish. I found one at 65 feet one time on a Deco stop. Best fish I've ever eaten.

[chuckle head]

great report...and nice pics

[Screen Name]

Nice fish, Tony!

[Johnoly]

Nice to see the Enterprise as you were coming through the WPB inlet as we were headed out. I'm just hoping the Viz starts to clear out and clean up for the weekend.

Gotta love those pearly whites on that fish!!

[Big Perm]

Congrats on one heck of a fish! I managed a 12 lber while freediving - what a great tasting fish. As always, great report. :thumps:

[inletsurf]

Nice cube tony!

[SpearMax]

My girl Kitty loves the action shots! :toast:

[Aquatech]

Nice fish there Tone!!

[waterbug]

Great shots Tony. Those are some very tough fighters, I fought a 40+ pounder on H&L for over an hour one time (with help, of course!) and thought I had Moby Dick himself! Wish I could have seen you hopping through those culverts, I laugh just imagining it! By the way, what is that red algae? I've seen it lately, too. Is it bad?

[MACKFISH]

Good eatin for sure.

[mcbas]

Great story, Tony. I love seeing the pictures that you take to go along with it.

I chased one of those things for 3 days straight in the Bahamas. Each day I would find him in the same area and each day, for about 2 hours each time, he made a fool out of me as I chased him up and down and in and out of a reef. After the third day I actually called it quits.

It's nice to see someone can nail one of those suckers.

I have yet to get a Cubera with a sling in the Bahamas, they are just so skittish and those scales are like a coat of armor that the sling doesn't do the trick unless you have him holed up. I've gotten a few with my Riffe here in South Florida though!

Nice work on that fish Tony! Love teh pics.

[Ray Odor]

Click on this to see the 72 pounder I got with only my pole spear.
http://www.spearfishing.cc/Pole%20Spears.htm
Thanks, Tony, for taking the time to excite the whole board again.
We needed that, with the Grouper closeure.
Ray

[biggsy]

Nice report Tony! :up:

[Mobile Diver]

Your pics & stories are always fun, Tony. :thumps:

Ray, that is a monster fish to take with a polespear! :thumps:

[SpearMax]

Click on this to see the 72 pounder I got with only my pole spear.
http://www.spearfishing.cc/Pole%20Spears.htm
Thanks, Tony, for taking the time to excite the whole board again.
We needed that, with the Grouper closeure.
Ray


Wow Ray! Great catch! and with a pole spear no less. :eek:

Some people think one can't take big fish with poles and slings. ;)

You are the man! :thumps:

[rjnjupiter]

What's the new coordinates?

[apexpredator]

Nice fish Tony!...having the pictures and play by play almost takes you there. Thanks for sharing them.