Braving the cold – Port Everglades 01/07/06

[deepdown]

We managed to brave the cold Saturday morning in anticipation of a busy day of spearfishing. JC, Speedy, 3 new guys (sorry guys my brain is still defrosting and I can't recall your names) and I met up at the ramp and headed out of Port Everglades. It was cold as shit, and for the first time in my diving career pulling the beaver tail between my legs didn't bother me, as my nuts had retreated far up my abdominal cavity.

I felt for 2 of the other guys, as they were only wearing 1.5mm omer suits with the air temp only being around 48?F when we left the dock. They handled it really well though, and never complained. No way I would have gotten wet if it were me in their place.

I was excited to try my new Manny Diaz 120cm Wood eurogun, and eager to see some results. I didn't have to wait long when on my 3rd drop I ran in to a nice, fat "Ft. Lauderdale" hog. Nailed him, and was excited to find out how accurate the gun shoots with its thin 6.75mm shaft and 2 9/16 bands. In sort succession I shot a bunch more nice fish, pretty much everything I aimed at bit the dust, except when I got cocky with a fat mutton and gave him to much of a head start and didn't lead properly. Speedy who wasn't feeling to hot and wasn't planning on getting wet couldn't stand it any longer and enter the water in the 4th quarter. He shot a real big hog by Ft. Lauderrdale standards and a really fat black of 30 or so inches. Another highlight was the Fat Ass sheepshead one of the new guys shot, and JC's big 'ol grover.

My group shot came out blurred, but JC took some also. Hopefully he'll post them. Below are some shots of part of my catch after I got to the house. And a cooler shot before we split up the fish.

Enjoy,

Gerald

[kitefisherman]

Thanks for the report Gerald. Still trying to figure out whether I'm going in the morning. I have a ride and an up to the last minute option. Just don't know if I want to be wet in that cold air.

[Rinaldo]

Nice Fish !!!

[deadend]

Good story. Those are some good photos too.

[Into The Blue]

Well i was one of the "New Guys" to make it out with Gerald, Speedy, JC, my cuz Chris, and my friend KC. Honestly it wasn't that bad being in DRY 1.5 wetsuit in the cold air. When we jumped in the water wasn't that bad. I thought it was going to be colder. The worst part was when you had to get out of the water then you FROZE!!! The water was some what of a relief to be in after being in that cold air all wet.

When we got to the first spot bait was jumping every where. It was awsome to see the waves of bait jumping out of the water. We jumped in to find the viz really nice. We could see top to bottom in 30 feet of water. Once i calmed down after the initial shock of cold water i began to make my dives. I dove down to see two hogs shooting the bigger of the two. I was like sweet, fish in the boat for me. Now i don't have to go home scunked!!! Once i got everything back together Speedy told us to swim north because there was a hard current and we had drifted off the spot. As i was heading that way i dove down to see two nice sheepys on the bottom just chillen! Made my way up to them and popped the bigger one!! This thing was massive. A really nice sheeps head. Hopefully we will get some pics posted. After that the day got slow for me. WE went to the jaxs and i saw some illegal grouper which sucked. We moved to another spot and i dropped down on to a nice hog and blasted him. That was it for that spot. Really the only fish i saw. The last spot was the jaxs again where i shot a yellow jack and finished up the day!!
I had a great day diving and hanging with the guys. Thanks cpt. Speedy for letting us joing you. Gerald and JC very nice to meet you guys and i had a lot of fun. Hopefully we can do it again.

[chasintail]

Nice mutton and brown snouter.

[Rolo]

Forget the cold, there was a small craft advisory out, glad to see someone made it out there. Probably didn't have to deal with too much boat traffic. Nice Fish!

[Johnoly]

Big East coast hog!!, Congrats!

[SeaBass]

Nice fish geraldo, throw up some pics of that new deathstick

[El Cid]

Back in Charleston depressed as hell, but glad to see you guys scored! Great looking fish!! Now where's that bottle of whisky to drown my sorrows...

[Omerbrother7]

Couldn't have put it any better. I was one of the other "new guys" Chris. The water, despite the air being absolutely f---ing freezing, was quite warm. I believe 70 or something? anyways, i was wearing the 1.5 omer suit and it was extremely cold , damnit it was cold. But, the visibility was beautiful by the jacks, adnd got a little cloudy as the day progressed. Speedy kept telling me that if we didn't shoot fish he was going to jump in and do it for us. My cousin Mike had shot a huge sheephead while i was trying to fix my old shitty mask that was leaking. Gerald and JC were slingin fish what seemed like back to back. (gerald, that 2 gun technique was sick by the way). We made it to the jacks and after i had switched out my mask with one of JC's (thanks again man) i saw a nice sized mackeral swim away from me, i dove down and just relaxed, i waited for him to flatten out and caught him right in the side before he took off. My friend KC had caught the same size mack as i. After we reached another of the spots Speedy jumped in and shot a nice black. I heard it was lit up when brought on board. The water was real flat in the later afternoon, and was probably the best day in a long while of this cloudy shit water streak. Thank you Cpt. Speedy, JC, and Gerald for an awesome day. Even though i didn't have the greatest luck, you guys did awesome; My cousin and I hope to spear again soon with you all.

[deepdown]

Thanks guys.

Good to see you all had a good time despite the cold.

Sebastian, I'll snap a pic of the gun when I get a chance. It is sweet!

G

[Into The Blue]

Hey Gerlaldo do you know if JC is going to post his pics and can you send me some of the pics of the group. That would be sweet!! Thanks bro

[Spearo_Fla]

Sounds like you guys had a great time. Dang Gerald that's a lot of fish for you, is some of those JC's? Sweet Pig Gerald. Hope you new guys learned something.

Go Exteme Divers!

[deepdown]

Nah John those were all mine. That's only about half of what I shot. I donated the rest to Speedy since he didn't get a s much water time...

ITTB, the group pics from my camera were messed up, are blurry... I must have smudged the housing before passing it to KC for the pic... Sorry.

G