Shooter Dan
12-23-2002, 11:49 PM
Posted on Sun, Dec. 22, 2002
In shark waters, big tuna speared
195-pounder a perilous catch
BY SUSAN COCKING
scocking@herald.com
Overlooked in the hoopla of Capt. Mike Delph's potential state record 240-pound yellowfin tuna caught earlier this month at Key West were the accomplishments of another Key West fishing guide, Steve Rodger.
Two of Rodger's clients caught huge yellowfins during the species' brief run along Boca Grande Bar, a drop-off located about 12 miles southwest of the island city. Bobby Newman's fish weighed 216 pounds, minus the tail, which was believed to have been bitten off by a shark. Tom Reilley's tuna weighed 192 pounds. Both were caught while chumming with live pilchards and bonito chunks at the end of the bar in early December.
But between those notable catches, Rodger and three friends -- Jake Perry, Ricky Ventimiglia and Kevin Young -- went fishing for yellowfins with spearguns in the bar's shark-infested, heavily chummed waters.
Their bravery was rewarded: Rodger bagged a 195-pounder while freediving -- holding his breath with no scuba tanks.
Rodger said he was ''totally too excited'' to worry about sharks.
''The water is so clear, you don't fear sharks,'' he said. ``I've shown sharks aggression with my gun and they ran. They're no dummies. They know what's going on.''
The four men approached the trip aboard the Spear One almost as if it were a regular hook-and-line outing. They first cast-netted a livewell full of pilchards and caught a couple of fat bonitos for bait. They carried a few heavy-duty fishing rods.
They anchored on the edge of the bar and chummed until the yellowfins' golden arcs slashed the waters astern.
''They were sickling, busting on bait,'' Rodger said. ``They eat pilchards, roll back down and have their wheel thing going. Jake and I suited up, got in the water and watched them for 15 minutes. The baitfish were hiding under our armpits.''
Rodger and Perry hovered quietly in the water, watching the tunas, selecting one to shoot by size and proximity.
''I waited for the right one to come along -- where we'd have a good shot and be guaranteed at landing the fish,'' Rodger said.
When one of the monsters passed about 10 feet in front of him, Rodger held his breath, went down, aimed and fired his Riffe speargun, striking the tuna behind the head.
The tuna, only vaguely aware that it had been speared, took off -- going out about 700 feet of line attached to the shaft and to a lifeguard buoy aimed at preventing it from sounding. The fish swam so fast that it bent back the three-eighths-inch shaft sticking out of its head.
Rodger and Perry held onto the line and held their breath as the fish towed them one-quarter mile around the bar.
After a 15-minute ride, they were able to pull the fish toward them and head for the anchored boat. Surprisingly, no sharks menaced them. Ventimiglia and Young gaffed the tuna and brought it on board the Spear One.
It was weighed at Murray Marina and turned into steaks and sushi.
In shark waters, big tuna speared
195-pounder a perilous catch
BY SUSAN COCKING
scocking@herald.com
Overlooked in the hoopla of Capt. Mike Delph's potential state record 240-pound yellowfin tuna caught earlier this month at Key West were the accomplishments of another Key West fishing guide, Steve Rodger.
Two of Rodger's clients caught huge yellowfins during the species' brief run along Boca Grande Bar, a drop-off located about 12 miles southwest of the island city. Bobby Newman's fish weighed 216 pounds, minus the tail, which was believed to have been bitten off by a shark. Tom Reilley's tuna weighed 192 pounds. Both were caught while chumming with live pilchards and bonito chunks at the end of the bar in early December.
But between those notable catches, Rodger and three friends -- Jake Perry, Ricky Ventimiglia and Kevin Young -- went fishing for yellowfins with spearguns in the bar's shark-infested, heavily chummed waters.
Their bravery was rewarded: Rodger bagged a 195-pounder while freediving -- holding his breath with no scuba tanks.
Rodger said he was ''totally too excited'' to worry about sharks.
''The water is so clear, you don't fear sharks,'' he said. ``I've shown sharks aggression with my gun and they ran. They're no dummies. They know what's going on.''
The four men approached the trip aboard the Spear One almost as if it were a regular hook-and-line outing. They first cast-netted a livewell full of pilchards and caught a couple of fat bonitos for bait. They carried a few heavy-duty fishing rods.
They anchored on the edge of the bar and chummed until the yellowfins' golden arcs slashed the waters astern.
''They were sickling, busting on bait,'' Rodger said. ``They eat pilchards, roll back down and have their wheel thing going. Jake and I suited up, got in the water and watched them for 15 minutes. The baitfish were hiding under our armpits.''
Rodger and Perry hovered quietly in the water, watching the tunas, selecting one to shoot by size and proximity.
''I waited for the right one to come along -- where we'd have a good shot and be guaranteed at landing the fish,'' Rodger said.
When one of the monsters passed about 10 feet in front of him, Rodger held his breath, went down, aimed and fired his Riffe speargun, striking the tuna behind the head.
The tuna, only vaguely aware that it had been speared, took off -- going out about 700 feet of line attached to the shaft and to a lifeguard buoy aimed at preventing it from sounding. The fish swam so fast that it bent back the three-eighths-inch shaft sticking out of its head.
Rodger and Perry held onto the line and held their breath as the fish towed them one-quarter mile around the bar.
After a 15-minute ride, they were able to pull the fish toward them and head for the anchored boat. Surprisingly, no sharks menaced them. Ventimiglia and Young gaffed the tuna and brought it on board the Spear One.
It was weighed at Murray Marina and turned into steaks and sushi.