Jan 13 Back in Key West Water Again

[Md Spear]

Todays the day. After 3 days of wind, we headed out @ noon. The dive shops said it was murky [10-20 ft vis @ Sand Key to Sambos ] so we went West. In the harbor , water was 68'F , but 2 miles before the K marker blue water started. When we arrived @ east end of the Bar 12 miles W of KW, blue water 75.5'F ,& we could see bottom in 60 ft of water. Seas 3-4 ft w/some 5s. Some current. Was an effort to get to the ledge where anchor was , but there he was Mr Grouper & friends. SHOT A 26" black , then before I got him on the stringer, his bigger buddy appeared. Shot him too 100ft from anchor. [even a blind hog finds an acorn ] this black grouper weighted 19 lbs. Their blood seemed to attract about 15 ocean amberjacks who stayed w/ us thru the dive.they looked to to be 3 feet plus in lenght. Fantastic dive. The Bar is always alive w/ fish. Did 2nd @ same spot, we chased some more grouper under a ledge but being tourists from Maryland, we never got a shot @ these fat boys.

Brian the Sugarloaf KeySpearFisher, you certainly must be hardcore to hunt in Sat's 5'chop cause todays 3-4's slowed me up, but the next 3 days are supposed to be calm.

1/14 saw area around K marker blue yesterday so hunted that area 1-1.5 milels east of Marker today. I'm usually shut out here in Jan w/ no vis green water so I figured I needed to hit this area today. 2ft seas in am 75'F water 30' vis. Hunted 3 spots killed limt on hogs [they were abundant ] 2 grouper 25"+28" [ saw no big ones like on the Bar ] scooped up our limit on 18 Lobsters . Just ate fried grouper got to get back to cleaning fish and processing the lobsters. WADE

[Mobile Diver]

Thanks for the report. I will be going out the next few days to take advantage of the good weather. Check out my post @ private trips if you're interested.

[keyspearfisher]

Don't know if it is hardcore or dumb. It looked so nice in the morning, I never thought it would get so bad so quick. Just did one dive and the ride home was not fun.

[from the sea]

i agree with brian, it was hell...it was awsome in the morning but it got real bad real fast........i got skunked.....i was freediving and a wave striped my mask and stuff :( hopefully this weekend is better