mexican pride 1/5

[webers]

mexican pride 1/5
Let's start by acknowledging that I hate Golliaths. Now that reality has set back in . . .

Let's not all be fooled by the report of 3 grouper on that wreck. That wreck is huge and damn far out-- and just 3 grouper sightings (with only 1 hitting the stringer) is pitiful. We where hitting a deep wreck, in winter, after a cold front, and before it got any pressure!!! We should have loaded the boat. We got slim pickings instead. The Pride was and will remain feaking useless as a meat dive (unless you want an AJ-- and yes, you need not go so far to get them that size right now--AJs are thick on every wreck). So yes, other than the fun of the AJ dance and the Golliaths acting rowdy-- I was actually very disappointed in the Pride. I was hoping it would hold a lot more quality fish. I saw no realy big AJs. Lots of avearage AJs schooling, but that is old news in winter. The impression of their numbers was increased due to the low vis and ther fact that the school came up so close. Once out of the school and over the wreck-- it was a totally different story--a desert. My guess is that when we see the video-- the other "grouper" spotted might just be young Golliaths. I saw no good (legal) grouper on my dive. I was shocked to see so little to shoot other than the AJ's,again, which to no suprise are thick on just about every wreck this time of year. A wreck that big should have a lot more than a few scamp and a snapper. Those Jew fish have eaten everything that is worth eating (shooting). Those two other "grouper' sighted will no doubt become Golliath bait by the end of the week. The tragedy is that, without those Golliaths, many of our wrecks would be logical palces to hit after a big front has moved through. You would expect nice gags to come off the sand and hold up there. But no--- as soon as they get to the wreck-- GULP they are Goliath food!! This is clearly shown by the agressiveness of the Golliaths towards wounded AJs. Its a shame thoes Golliatsh have turned the Pride into a relative ghost town.

I had fun, but it was a long ass ride to shoot what could have been shoot 20 miles closer. The pride is a Golliath feeding station--not a spearhunting destination. Death to Golliaths!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So yes, I'm all for a open season on Golliaths. Perhaps then we can put more that 1 grouper on stringer out of 4 guys on a trip that far out.

[johnhermes]

You know, theoretically, someone could go out to the pride with a quiver of PH loaded shafts and thin out the hebrew mullet herd.

Theoretically, that is.

[richhermes]

I heard Financial Advis was volunteering for that job. He needs the PH practice!

[webers]

Would be a shame if somone "missed" an AJ and happend to pop a Golliath. I'd certainly shed a tear. . .

[deepfish]

I dunno Scottw, sounds pretty fishy to me, like a coverup... Are you sure y'all weren't getting beat up by big gags and carbos and don't want any one going out there?

Hey! Anybody got this secret #? We oughta check er out....:cool:

[Grauer]

yea yea killem killem !!!!!! :) Ill join any efforts to save the grouper.............for my spear that is!

[webers]

No cover up. The Golliaths were and remain a pain in the ass.

[contender]

they should sell Goliath "stampa" that cost $50 and entitle the holder to one Goliath Grouper per year........

The $50 would go to some worthwhile cause and the fewer Goliaths would help grouper numbers EVERYWHERE !

[201proguide]

i think they should do it like they do tarpon,and make a $50 tag to allow you to keep one. i mean if you shot a 250lb jew, you would get your money's worth. i know for a fact that they tase every bit as good as a gag or scamp do. back in the day when harvesting jews were legal, they used to sell them at the resturants as grouper. (well shit, they really are just a big grouper).


i mean even for the commercial guys: a $50 dollar tag for 1 jewfish would be worth in what you would get in return for shooting say, a 350lber. and im sure finding any jewfish over 150lbs isnt that hard.

im not a commercial fisherman or spearfishermen, so you commercial guys, would this be logical or reasonable to do, and still be cost effective?

[seastalker]

It may just be me or my guilty conscience but a 300 pound jewfish is hardly edible unless deep fried and even then it's very grainy......while I'm not a fan of the jewfish it wouldn't take long to devastate the population in a year with a 50 dollar stamp. Maybe an alternative suggestion would be a controlled hunt like they do for gators plus a stamp with a heavy fee and no powerhead. It should gives us a true "rig ride" Fred TY and the Helldivers Rodeo talk about.

[201proguide]

never eaten a jew over 100lbs, so i couldnt tell you how grainy they got at 300...

[contender]

I should have qualified my statement about the $50 Goliath Grouper stamp - it has to work in conjunction with a lottery. Otherwise, as Seastalkers says, we would too quickly decimate the population. Lets face it guys, with PHs, killing Goliaths would not be very difficult - they are not the swiftest (with either brains or speed) fish in the ocean.

There is a reason for the Goliath in the grand scheme. Not sure what, but there is a reason for their presence. I personally think they have proliferated because some natural predator of theirs (perhaps large sharks?) has itself been decimated (by commercial shark fisherman who have unnecessarily killed millions of sharks for their fins).

Anyway, as Seastalker also stated, it should be a controlled hunt through a lottery much like is done with gators.

My $.02.

[Reef Raider]

Contender I think you are 100% on that was what I have though for a long time.

[Diver Dan]

Contender, My .02 I agree whole heartedly