Thanks for a nice day

[Quetzal]

Thanks for a nice day Killerngriller.

[gumshoe]

Man, it seemed a lot rougher out on the water than it looks on that picture...

[Killer&Griller]

Well, this was my first maiden trip using my boat for divers instead of just fishers. Usually I am the only diver on the boat. We set out to figure a good layout for all the gear along with having three divers on the first rodeo. We were going to start with some #'s that Chris brought but due to wind and waves, we decided to take a different route. We started off getting the boat loaded and heading to the Raritan first. After locating the wreck, ( had trouble since the bait schools were so thick that the entire area looked like a wreck ) Chris said he would go down and take a quick look. There were quite a few boats in the area but only one or two close and we were being careful. Well, 35 minutes later, (a long look, shouldn't have let he go with his gun) he comes back up with hogs and gags and says " it looks alright". Allen, who is gagging to get in at this point (it's killing him in the boat) finally gets the go ahead. Talk about ready, when I said alright "Allen, go ahead and I will go with you" all Allen heard was "go ahead" and he was under.... SPLASH. I think that boy loves that water as much as me. Well wouldn't you know it, all the little gags swimming around have clearly had the fear of Chris put in them and are running frantically telling all of there buddies "there here, there here.....RUN". Nothing very big to shoot at outside of some solid 70 - 100lb AJ's, but since it was my first dive on this wreck, it was ok to take a sight seeing trip along with shooting a small gag. Allen has a knack for finding the only shark in the ocean where ever we are diving and this trip would be no exception. When I finally get in, I drop down and find Allen standing on the bottom, not hunting, but training his gun on a curious sand tiger cruising by. I swim up behind him, start tapping on his tank, he turns around and gives me "one of those looks". Me being a smart a$$ start signing shark? (hand up on your head like a fin) where? where? and he starts pointing with quite a bit of enthusiasm at it. Clearly I could see it since it was only 15' away but still acted suprised. I watch Allen and his new playmate, waiting to see some good hand to hand combat (or at least a poke) for a minute or two, figure he is in no danger, and then decide to take a look around. Chris has come back in and joined me since he still has half a tank from the first dive and isn't an air hog unlike myself. After a decent tour, we decide to call it and try another spot. We run torwards Frying Pan and start looking for ledges. I mark a decent one and Chris volunteers for a quick "bounce" for a look see. (Again, he takes a spear gun "just in case", clearly I didn't learn from the first stop, duhhhh) While I am watching him, I go up a bit, set anchor and drop back to where he is. After awhile, he comes up with a hog and gags and says the current is kinda stong but doable. Allen and I splashed about 100 yards behind were we dropped Chris initially and the current is running the other direction now away from the boat. Allen and I are off the mark and after wasting a half of tank fighting the current, we decide to come up and do a drift dive instead. Back on the boat, change the tanks, pull anchor, run up a bit, and splash again. Finally, we get down to shoot some hogs, red grouper, grab at a couple of lobsters, and gags. We finish out the day with about 20 shot fish and decide to head back to the dock. Now I have a better idea of how to set up the boat for diving trips and all and all, I think that it went pretty well. As for anyone wondering, yes Allen found a shark on both of the afternoon drift dives that were "probably man eaters" or at least willing to attack his stringer. I hope everyone enjoyed the ride and next trip, I will be better prepared for the gear and layout.

[Mako993]

Good on ya, Quetzal! Good kills and grills.