Great Day on the Emerald

[OceanEd]

I was a great day on the Emerald. Only 3 shooters on the boat, BiminiTwist, Randy, and myself.

BiminiTwist managed to get a "twofer" and bagged both of his gags with one shot.

Randy ended up with a 52 lb. cobia and a very nice grouper.

The fish are out there, no question.

[Tosi]

Two gags with one shot? I need to get out there!

[Paralizer]

Nice job!

[aquaMaureen]

AWESOME JOBB!!!! JEALOUS! LOOKS LIKE A GREAT DAY!:thumps:

[CBP]

awesome work guys

i'm jealous

[PrincessSlaya!]

SCHWEET!!!! Way to Go!

[saltydog7seas]

Nice job. What were the conditions? (depth, temp, vis)

[reef roamer]

i'm on for wednesday, but i'm wearing 2 wetsuits. just can't wait:D

[shcubasteve]

BiminiTwist managed to get a "twofer" and bagged both of his gags with one shot..

There should be an award for getting your limit in one shot! Way to go!

[reefthief]

Hell, Props to Rachel for holding up that 52+ pound Cobe.
Also, much thanks to Captain Tony for putting us on the fish.
Getting the "two-for" wasn't as tough as elbowing off the crazed Reef shark trying to wedge under the ledge while I was already head and shoulders under there managing two very pissed off grouper:thumps:....
Guess that shark wasn't counting on the beat down he got.
Always an adventure with the Emerald crew.
John

[profishndive]

Nice fish guys. Real nice cobe. guess I know what you guys will be doing all week - should be a good time to be had by all.

Looks like the grouper stock is real healthy by recent pics. I really think the fish you are seeing right now are mirgratory just like the body of fish we have come in up here at the Cape and Sebastian this time of the year. They visit for a couple of months then leave, leaving on the local fish for the balance of the season.

Remember to keep dilligent on the SAFMC issues and support the FRA. If they pass the grouper closures next year, it would tough going with a Feb and March possible closure. Could you imagine not being able to shoot grouper at all right now........ with those pics recently posted by the Republic IV and the Emerald it would really be sad if they closed things down. ..When things get quiet is when get slide in on us so don't let your guard down.

[IslandFever]

Nice fish guys.

Two fish with one shot? :cowboy: You teach that at one of your seminars Steven?

[FishTracks]

Randy,

The Ft. Myers Krew needs to come back over to help you with all the fish off Jupiter.

Well done :thumps:

[OceanEd]

Maureen:

Wish you had have been with us. There were more fish down there we didn't get a chance to spear.

[mjmpcguru]

Congrats to everyone! :thumps: What a gigantic haul! How do you do it? and here I sit with ball and chain at my land locked desk!!! :( I have got to get out there soon, I feel withdrawal coming on.....

[Mobile Diver]

Damn nice gag double & a fine cobia!!:thumps:

[snokat]

YIKES! John told me the news when I called to sign up for thursday. Save me a turn at those fishes!:cowboy:

[rjnjupiter]

NEED HELP> Tony (profishndive). Why don't you come down Wed or Friday and help with a grouper fish count. We'll shoot and you can count them in the cooler!. RU ready to get back in. Reefroamer. the Wednesday trip should put you up as the Champion LADYG. Hope you sharpened your tips. I know it looks good but John was only shooting at one gag up under a ledge. The by-catch just got in the way. I came up on the spot a few minutes after him. TYere were still 2 gags in the sand . I scared one into our secret hiding spot AKA Trap and nailed him. John had the sharks so worked up, one just slammed along side of me and ate the whole grouper. Very exciting. Nice job getting the 2 to the surface , John.

The Cobia on the first dive 52#7 oz scared the crap out of me. We were watching Lemon Sharks and this beast just slid into my peripheral. I managed to squeeze off a shot. Thank god my safety was on or I would have missed. I collected my thoughts, took my safety off and the Cobia posed fop a second shot. First time I have ever stoned a Cobia, I thought. I just knocked it out. When it hit the surface, Captain Tony said it went ape. Steven told me he thought a shark got it. Everything held and I got it to the market. Thanks to Capt Tony and everyone for their help/

[reefthief]

http://spearboard.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=94836&stc=1&d=1234278920
Sorry for the scary photo kids...
But RJ was a brain surgeon on this run, everything got it's head opened.
Not bad for a guy guiding 4 photographers...
OceanEd deserves honorable mention for assisting a diver on each drop back to the boat AND still shooting the biggest gag
(I chased it to him from the sand, seemed like the least I could do)
Good times as always. John

[reef roamer]

oh yeah my tips are sharp, just burnt my finger putting a point on a new stainless stringer. can't wait to get wet and kill some fish, been out of the water 2 long:D by the way, nobody can beat MrsRodgers, right mermaid........

[DiveGal]

Damn Randy! No sportsman poses there! :D Looks like your straining yourself.

[Gradyman]

Wow...two for one with circling sharks...sounds like a TV show pilot!

[profishndive]

Nice cobia Randy.
Appears Steve is only inviting women on the boat :) I am beginning to better understand his recuitment methods now.....I had a vision of that pole on your boat and his orange banana hamocks...that just aint' right.....too funny.

On a more serious side, It is getting real close till I am back in the action. I am not one to sit and watch fish come over the side at least not being in the mix to try and at least add to the count. Those pictures sure give me a litte more incentive in PT.

[OceanEd]

Randy deserved the c0bia he shot on that first dive. As he was heading for the bottom I looked up and saw a very unconfortable diver still at 20 feet so I went back up and helped him to the boat. I then had to take care of a second problem with someone else (still did not get down) and then the first person wanted to try again so I made a second drop with him. He once again was not comfortable before we got to the bottom so I took him back up to the boat. When I FINALLY made it to the bottom there was not a shootable fish in sight for the whole dive!!! To add insult to injury Randy is telling me about a huge school of African Pompano, groupers fleeing everywhere, and 3 cobia. Oh well, can't win them all.

Tony:

You can wear my speedo's anytime. I know you secretly want to. Come down and dive with us sometime when your knee heals enough to get wet. In the meantime I think Randy had a great idea of you coming down and sitting on the lid of the fish box so nothing spills out!

[OceanEd]

Tony:

I KNOW you have been losing weight for the last year. Those speedo's will look great!

It's been too long. Come dive with us.

MJ:

Perhaps we can schedule a hunting dive at the end of the course you and I will be taking at the shop.

[mjmpcguru]

MJ:

Perhaps we can schedule a hunting dive at the end of the course you and I will be taking at the shop.

Sounds great Stephen. I'm ready!

[reefthief]

http://spearboard.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=94933&stc=1&d=1234320593
For the record, this is joy, not strain: Even Rachel hefted that fish, no worries.
Steve- We will take those Africans next time, here a pic of my "two-for" at the house.
Maybe see you Friday or you can come to Lauderdale, been hurtin the lobster.
John
http://spearboard.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=94939&stc=1&d=1234320687

[rjnjupiter]

Thats cold. Posting that picture. I look much better in the dark!

[biggsy]

Some nice gags there! :up:

Must be nice being able to shoot those this time of year...

[Johnoly]

Thats cold. Posting that picture.

It sucks getting old. Happy Birthday today!

[DiveGal]

Nice cobia Randy.
Appears Steve is only inviting women on the boat :) I am beginning to better understand his recuitment methods now.....I had a vision of that pole on your boat and his orange banana hamocks...that just aint' right.....too funny.

:lol: The pole HAS been used - and I got pictures! :D

[OceanEd]

John:

I will be working on Friday, but I know you will come back with at least one more big gag.
I would love to get into thos African Pompano's.

[reefthief]

No worries Steve, I might have to go local just to verify the Gags aren't arriving here too.
I really want to catch them during the "stupid, slow and numerous phase".
See you out there!
John

[PropMan]

Happy Birthday to Randy .Feb 11

[OceanEd]

It's Randy's Birthday????

[louis1981]

Happy Birthday Randy!

[SaltCreekSlayer]

I assume the Emerald is a charter. if so can someone give me some info on them.

Thx

[DiveGal]

Great charter out of Jupiter.

http://emeraldcharters.com/ will give you all the info you need.

[mjmpcguru]

Happy Birthday Randy!!!! :thumps:

[snokat]

Hey old man, see ya 8:30!!!!
FYI I stopped by the dock as Capt. Tony was pulling up to the bulkhead. Where did RJ find all these divers on a Wednesday with 4-6' seas? The Emerald was packed. Must have had 15 spearguns, but only 3 fish.:eek:
My guess is that this was the gang that couldn't shoot straight.:confused:
95070

[Capt.Gene]

Interesting day. Don't worry about West Coast gang being able to shoot strait.

[saltydog7seas]

Hey Capt Gene. How did Russ shoot on the trip? Did he get any bugs?

[Capt.Gene]

Russ did dive #1 and went a little deep and a little long with the bottom time, Caught 1 baby bug. He definately was not expecting the sea conditions.
Great guy, never a complaint. Unlike me.(GRIN)

[rjnjupiter]

Russ did great considering he wasn't used to current diving or depths. He hit about 130ft and was bugging. He had no problems decoing on the boat for the next two dives and like Gene said, never complained. Actualoly a grat groupof guys and hearty given the nasty 4 to 6 ft seas.I wish I could have offered you a better fare.Good to see you again Captain Gene!

[saltydog7seas]

yeah, Russ is a good guy. This is the second year I've fished with him. I geuss he has been diving for awhile, but I've just this winter got him really into spearing. I think he's hooked now. Did you guys see many lobster in general? How were the shark conditions? I'm hoping to bring back some bugs and grouper when I head over with him.

[Capt.Gene]

Nothing like getting up at 2am, catching the boat to dive in a 55F upwelling and 6' seas in shark infested waters. Now if I can just figure out who's body I'm in!
I love this stuff!
Happy Birthday Randy!