SpearMax - Fishy Labor on Labor Day!

[SpearMax]

Stabbin Boy Todd and his son Logan were my guests on my boat for some fishy labor on Labor Day 9-3-07. The results were sweet. The boys had a good time as we plied the ocean trails off Palm Beach Inlet. Todd was testing his gun some more and it was jack city for these dudes. I did one deep drop that produced a 20 pound gag grouper and a 30 pound warsaw grouper.

[SpearMax]

The conditions were nice as we headed out Palm Beach Inlet toward flat seas and sunny skies. The current was mild South all day. There was a mild thermocline below 120 feet where I was hunting. The viz on all dives seemed to be between 30-50 feet as I recall.

[SpearMax]

These images are my deep drop backroll entry as seen from the boat going into the water - Kersplash!

I always look up at the repeater display on my T-top that reads out the bearing and distance to the mark the boat driver is seeing on my GPS. That way, I know EXACTLY where he is putting me and how much to compensate for the current on the drop.

[SpearMax]

First fish is the 20 pound gag which wrapped me up a bit, but I mamged to send him up on a lift bag.

[SpearMax]

A few minutes later, I put a steel shaft through this 30 pound warsaw!

But, it was not a stoner and he fought VERY hard and pulled me down under some structure while I was trying to go up as my trimix was running low.

[SpearMax]

I wished Slingador had been with me to help with this wrestling match! ;)

Finally, I wore him out and send up my surface marker buoy on my big reel.

Guess what happens? :confused:

Mr. Warsaw starts floating up due to his ever expanding swim bladder.

Next thing I know is I am fighting to stay below my deco stops as the beast is pulling me up! :eek:

[SpearMax]

Thanks goodness I have a reel on my gun and can release line to compensate. :scratch: :slap:

Next, I am thinking OK I have at least another 40 minutes of deco, the fish is breaking the surface and flopping around up there, the sound of the boat engine is near...........what will Todd and Logan do? :p

So, I decide to make their lives easier and send up my gun on a small see-me tube.

It worked............they boated the fish while I did my deco. :thumps:

[SpearMax]

Here is another angle on the fish. All in all that was a good dive for me that helped to make up for the many dives where I was skunked with a "water haul" in recent months. :cowboy:

The firm white meat on the warsaw is very good!

[SpearMax]

Thanks Todd and Logan for joining the "Enterprise Team" for the day! :thumps:

[StabbinBoy]

Was a great time diving w/my boy. Thanks for your hospitality Tony.

Congrats on bringin two respectable fish up from the 200' + deep like that. Still dunno how ya do that. :scratch:

[waterbug]

Nice work Tony, and I do mean work! Sounds exhausting, but well worth it. :cool: Hope to be back in the water again real soon!

[NOTANX]

nice warsaw tony!!

[SpearMax]

Nice work Tony, and I do mean work! Sounds exhausting, but well worth it. :cool: Hope to be back in the water again real soon!

nice warsaw tony!!

Thanks Bobbi and Shane! The smaller Warsaw meat is fantastic tasting fish!

[IRONHEAD]

nice job, looks like a couple decent fish. what is the deal with warsaws? are they typically a deep water fish? i have only seen one boated in any of my dive trips and he was a small one maybe 15 lbs fat as a football though

[SpearMax]

nice job, looks like a couple decent fish. what is the deal with warsaws? are they typically a deep water fish? i have only seen one boated in any of my dive trips and he was a small one maybe 15 lbs fat as a football though

They are typically below 200 feet and like cold water. :eek:

[Old Bateman]

Those are beauties! Nice account of the hunt.

[kill shot]

Tony, I like your display that you are able to look at before rolling off. Interesting idea. I've always had to squint looking halfway across the boat at mine. Probably still not sure what I am looking at from that distance.


Eric