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Written by: Bob Diaz

Category: SpearBlog 2006

Published: May 22 2006

Winds: 5-10 variable
Seas: 1-2 feet
Surf Temp: +/- 80F
Viz: 15-25 feet
This weekend the water was fairly clean in spite of the fact that we had a whole bunch of rain during the week. Too much fresh water usually clouds the viz and makes the water cool (it did do that). We missed high tide by about  1 1/2 hours on Saturday morning, but were able to swim right through to low tide by moving around so the current didn't affect us as much as it could in the wrong spots.

We really racked up the Hogfish this weekend. We were able to pass up as many of the smaller legals as we wanted and still limited out on Hogs. We were able to find the Mangroves too, but every time we started getting into the big 'uns, we would run into a bull shark. Three times we had to move because of run-ins with our local aggressors. I never want to be remiss in reporting our encounters with our not-so-friendly fellow underwater hunters, so everyone remembers that they are ever present and when you are fortunate enough to see the ones that are around, you need to heed their warnings and move on.

Remember, as we always say... "It's the one you don't see that's gonna get you". That's something we always say to each other after an encounter to make light of a situation that can always get serious in a hurry.

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Written by: Bob Diaz

Category: SpearBlog 2006

Published: May 30 2006

Winds: 5-10 South
Seas: 1-2 feet (maximum)
Surf Temp: +/- 80F
Viz: 15-25 feet
The viz was about as good as it was last weekend, but the important thing is... NO BULL SHARKS! It sure was nice to be able to actually shoot more than 1 or 2 fish before having to move to another location.

We took our time picking out the best of the schools and ended up shooting a couple of really nice mangoes and hogs. We've been going more for quality than quantity lately and it has been very gratifying.

The mangoes are still where we expect them to be in and around structures, but they also seem to be moving offshore a little earlier than in other years. We had noticed that some were already carrying roe, so I guess it shouldn't be too surprising that some of the more prolific breeders are already heading offshore to spawn. We don't usually see this kind of behavior until middle to late June most summers.

One thing that I have noticed this year is the incredible number of Goliath Groupers that we are running into. So much so, that I honestly believe they are running out our regular Black and Grey Grouper quarry. I actually did not see one legal Black or Grey Grouper this weekend, but yet I spotted well over 15 Goliaths. The Goliaths are notorious for finding the smallest grouper hole and then opening it up so it can take residence in it. When the numbers were less, it was great because all lthey did was open up our grouper holes to hold more fish. But this year it's almost as if they have run them all out of the area. I hope my theory is proven wrong over time, but if it isn't, I honestly believe that the protected status of the Goliath needs to be re-evaluated.

The FWCC has been increasing the size limits on the Blacks and Greys over the past 5 or 6 years to find that perfect size where they begin to breed before we can keep them. I think that the 24" limit is just that. We were seeing a tremendous jump in the number of groupers at all of our diving spots over that period. But if the continued protection of the Goliath is going to jeopardize all that work, then it's time to open it up again! Don't get me wrong, I don't think they should make it open season on the Goliaths, but open it up to tackle only and 1 per boat per day. This might actually help some of the smaller members of the species keep from being run off.

Oh well, I guess I will get off my soap box now... but if you are noticing the same thing, I implore you to write a letter or send an email to the FWCC!

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Written by: Bob Diaz

Category: SpearBlog 2006

Published: June 04 2006

Winds: 5-10 South
Seas: 1-2 feet (maximum)
Surf Temp: +/- 80F
Viz: 25-40 feet
Another beautiful weekend in paradise. The winds were mild and the temperatures hot! We dove some of our preferred patch reefs this weekend. We knew it was still a little early to catch those large mangroves we love so much, but we just couldn't resist. We only took a few, but they were choice! We even got a couple of nice mackerels.

As long as you arrived before the tide line, the water was pretty clear... green, but clear. We dove in anything from 25 to 40 feet and were able to see the bottom from the surface at almost every location. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to let us find one of the longfins that flew overboard during a situation with some inconsiderate (spelled a-s-i-n-i-n-e) boaters that got a little too close for comfort during one of our dives.

Other than that, it was a great weekend to be on (or rather in) the water. It was another weekend with no serious bull shark encounters. Any dive with clean water and no sharks is a good one in my book!

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Written by: Bob Diaz

Category: SpearBlog 2006

Published: June 11 2006

Winds: 20-30 Variable
Seas: 3-5
Surf Temp: Like I went in the water...
Viz: Unknown, but most likely nil
Well, thanks to our first official tropical depression (later to become Tropical Storm Alberto) of the 2006 hurricane season, we did not have much fun at all this weekend. The weather was miserable to say the least. The tropical depression was sitting just below and to the west of us and kept pounding us with winds and cyclical rain (almost like bands in a tropical storm).

All was not lost however, because we were able to take advantage of the ill weather and mount the new depth finder in the boat. We didn't get to finish installing the transducer and speed pickup, but we should be able to finish that off very soon.