Carabelle 3-26-07
Posted: March 27th, 2007, 10:25 pm
Got down to Dockside around 8:00 AM. While the guys were launching the boat, me and another buddy decided to cast net some live bait from around the dock. The guys in the boat inform us that his new bottom machine will not turn on. I go inside, check the fuses, wiring, etc., and can't find anything wrong. The unit was getting juice and well grounded, but not powering on. We decide to just head on out with some live bait caught around the dock (greenbacks?), LYs, spanish sardines & squid. The forecast called for 2 ft. or less and we were greeted with 2-3's with 4 ft. swells 
This was starting to make me wonder what kind of day we were in for 
We got to our first spot in 70 ft. and sent down a spanish sardine, LY and some live "greenbacks" (about 2-3 in. long). Almost immediately the grouper were hitting the live bait. Nothing on the frozen. One buddy was using a light action spinning reel with 10 lb. test just for fun. He was the only one catching fish
The first 5 grouper were short, but fun to catch none the less on such light tackle. The bite was good for about an hour, then slacked off. With no bottom machine, 2 of the guys decided to put on their diving gear and see what was down there. They were down for about 25 minutes, and finally surfaced with some nice hogfish. They said they chased a few nice grouper in the 30-40 lb. range, but visibility was poor (about 6 ft.) on the bottom, so they spooked the fish before they could get close enough for a shot. We decided to go try another spot and see if the bite was any better.
We anchored up on spot #2 (at least according to the GPS, remember....no bottom machine ) The bite was slow and I managed only 1 nice red snapper (23"). The divers in the group decided they wanted to dive one more time, so went shot out to the O Tower 6 miles away. We anchored up to the tower and sent a few baits down. Nothing. So, the boys suited up again and went down for a peek. About 15 minutes later, they surfaced with 4 nice flounder and a huge sheephead....one of the biggest I have ever seen. They said there were some BIG grouper underneath the tower, but were very familiar with divers. Couldn't get remotely close to them before they shot off for cover. Only the juveniles hung around. We decided that enough for one day and headed back to the hill. The seas had calmed way down and it was a very smooth ride in. Great day weather wise on the water, but I learned that it's a little more difficult to get a good grouper catch without a bottom machine 
TOTAL FOR THE DAY: 2 GAGS (24", 32")
3 HOGFISH (19"-23:)
1 SHEEPHEAD (18")
4 FLOUNDER
NUMEROUS GRUNTS & SHORT GROUPER
Bait of the day seemed to be anything LIVE. Ly's were 2nd best....then sardines. Nothing on squid. Water temp averaged 64-68 in 70-75 ft.
No pics. The camera wasn't working either Azz usual, got a few things to fix before the next trip offshore.
This was starting to make me wonder what kind of day we were in for We got to our first spot in 70 ft. and sent down a spanish sardine, LY and some live "greenbacks" (about 2-3 in. long). Almost immediately the grouper were hitting the live bait. Nothing on the frozen. One buddy was using a light action spinning reel with 10 lb. test just for fun. He was the only one catching fish
The first 5 grouper were short, but fun to catch none the less on such light tackle. The bite was good for about an hour, then slacked off. With no bottom machine, 2 of the guys decided to put on their diving gear and see what was down there. They were down for about 25 minutes, and finally surfaced with some nice hogfish. They said they chased a few nice grouper in the 30-40 lb. range, but visibility was poor (about 6 ft.) on the bottom, so they spooked the fish before they could get close enough for a shot. We decided to go try another spot and see if the bite was any better.We anchored up on spot #2 (at least according to the GPS, remember....no bottom machine
) The bite was slow and I managed only 1 nice red snapper (23"). The divers in the group decided they wanted to dive one more time, so went shot out to the O Tower 6 miles away. We anchored up to the tower and sent a few baits down. Nothing. So, the boys suited up again and went down for a peek. About 15 minutes later, they surfaced with 4 nice flounder and a huge sheephead....one of the biggest I have ever seen. They said there were some BIG grouper underneath the tower, but were very familiar with divers. Couldn't get remotely close to them before they shot off for cover. Only the juveniles hung around. We decided that enough for one day and headed back to the hill. The seas had calmed way down and it was a very smooth ride in. Great day weather wise on the water, but I learned that it's a little more difficult to get a good grouper catch without a bottom machine TOTAL FOR THE DAY: 2 GAGS (24", 32")
3 HOGFISH (19"-23:)
1 SHEEPHEAD (18")
4 FLOUNDER
NUMEROUS GRUNTS & SHORT GROUPER
Bait of the day seemed to be anything LIVE. Ly's were 2nd best....then sardines. Nothing on squid. Water temp averaged 64-68 in 70-75 ft.
No pics. The camera wasn't working either
Azz usual, got a few things to fix before the next trip offshore.
Those big ones are really rare in the local waters...in the last 1000 spearfishing dives out here I have only seen and shot about 2 at 30lbs and no 40's.