BigBendFishing.Net

Tom Wil, and I ran the river in the dark this morning to insure an early start. When we got past the bird rack it was a little choppy. But we ran to Marker 24 to catch some bait. None there. Caught a total of 3 small cigar minnows. We moved on to the first spot of the day. After about an hour and a half of trolling, we had one keeper gag, and several shorts for our effort. Tom and Wil brought their dive gear with them, and were going to get us a few delicasy fish. Wil went in first, to check out a spot. He couldn't see his own fingers on the bottom. The water was Coke colored. We fished another spot for a while, to no avail. About 1230 we went to 33 feet of water. Tom and Wil went over the side, and I drift fished. The wind had died by then. Visibility was a little better at this spot. Wil didn't stay down long. No keeper fish. Tom stayed down for quite a while, swam with the current, and came up about 150 yards from the boat. When we got to him he was screaming and shouting. The boy was delirious. Something about the biggest grouper he had ever seen. But, he didn't bring anything to the surface. It's now 1400 and we have one fish in the boat. I suggested they secure their 748 pounds of dive gear. I headed to the spot I caught fish 2 weeks ago. We drift fished the area. We made 2 drifts, and had 6 more keepers in the boat. Headed in at 1500 with 7 nice keepers.

It was slick coming back in. The water temp was 74 degrees, and dark stained. The fish were caught on jigs, and LY's.

I'm sure Tom is going to have something to say about the monster grouper he claims to have seen. But, he didn't bring anything up with him.

WTG....

Nice report TC-
I knew you'd come through...

A little more detail.

When I went down on the spot, the bottom was very nice but not many fish around. The coke layer ended about 15 feet down and the vis would have been really good, but for the fact that when light from the surface filters through 15 feet of coca cola, it becomes really diffused and amber, making it difficult to see.

Anywho...I decided I couldn't fight the ripping current so I went with it and parallel to it doing a zig zag. I thought I had screwed up when I was over sand. Just then I spotted a small red grouper and followed him to paydirt. A large expanse of live bottom with the infamous "swiss cheese" holes in it. When the red got up to the holes he ducked into one and came up 4 or 5 feet down out of another hole. Just then I started seeing the familiar sillouettes of gags just out of range. I got one about 26" to stop and turn around to face me. Mistake...I put one just below his eye and out behind his gills. Not a stone shot but I felt confident in the shot placement.

I got up to the fish, grabbed him and made sure he was on the spear good and proceeded to reload with my spare shaft. About that time I looked up saw him. Every bit of 36-40" long and very think across the body. He and about 6-8 of his smaller buddies were watching me and the speared fish. Oh yeah the other fish....about that time he gave a good kick and off the spear he came and joined his buddies seemingly none the worse for wear. I loaded my other band and gave chase up current trying to get a shot on big boy. I couldn't make much headway but he finally slowed down enough for me to take a really, really long shot. Even with 2 bands, the spear just glanced off him and he was gone. He will forever be in my nightmares.

I saw a few more gags and one big king, but I never could see them until they moved and by then it was too late. The low light really makes them blend in. After the good bottom ran out, I surfaced and called to the boat to come get me. I was not "delerious" just very, very frustrated at the turn of events.

I'll be back Mr. grouper. Count on it.

Do you have a scuba GPS yet

Nope.

Tom, you may have come back empty handed, but that was a great story!! got me all tear-e eyed (wish I could have been there!)