Went out this past sunday with my dive crew to take advantage of the nice weather we have been having in Antigua before it passed. We have been relegated to poor shore dives since I sold my boat last year and were adamant that we had to get out on a boat dive to look for some big muttons.
One of my guys found this cool cat with an old school 13ft whaler who agreed to take us out a few miles from shore and all we needed to do was buy the gas and provide a few fish. He didn't need to say one more word!! We were out of port like a texas tornado :outtahere:.
On the first drop, we hit a shallow wreck in 25ft that was teeming with snapper and margets within the 4-8lb region. I came equipped with my trusty Koah 40" shorty on a double wrap and no reel. Took down a 8lb marget and a few small snapper before we decided to hit deeper water. The next drop was about 1-1/2 miles offshore in about 45-50ft of water. As soon as I jumped in, I was amazed by 80% visibility and muttons circling below looking curious. This was the first time that I have seen a shoal of 12 muttons all over 8lbs :@. I immediately dove down on the and picked off a 12lber with a difficult top shot as he passed below me. Dove up and threw him on the boat and went down to spank another! Missed on the third mutton before the rest got smart and scattered for the hills. So I decided to start checking under ledges and in caves for some delicious red hind when as soon as I peeped into a suspicious cave, there was this beautiful grouper just there relaxing. I held onto a the reef and slowly raised my gun center mass and let my spear fly! Perfect stoned shot shattered his vertebra :thumbsup2:. Came back ashore before lunch with a damn good catch :cool2:.
Posts by Diesel
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Diesel that's not true at all, the laws are designed to stop anyone spearfishing. That situation was brought about in 1999 by the then and now still head of the spearfishing association. That's why there was a ban for 15 years, keep informed or face a permanent ban soon.
The laws on fishing as a whole came about by locals asking for regulations in fact, not even a fisheries incentive, much less a push to curb illegal poaching or foreign fishermen. Sad the lack of interest by local fishermen in their own fisheries situation and politics.George it is absolutely true. I went for my license with Kevin (antigua), Nishan (canadian), and bruno (dominican). Kevin and I got ours right away but they turned down our other two friends because they weren't Antiguans (thats what they told us at fisheries). Only Antiguans by birth or otherwise were issued spearfishing licenses specifically. I don't know how they have changed the laws and regulations now but when I got it, that was 100% the case.
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They give foreigners a hard time because they are trying to deter the dominicans from spearfishing. They are who are mostly responsible for the gross overfishing in Antigua and Barbuda waters. The law was tailored to keep them off the reefs.
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Actually the regulations in Barbuda are more strict that those in Antigua. Barbuda has a very rich and diverse eco-system, much better than Antigua. Its reefs are exploding with spiny lobster and there are some really good spots to dive in shallow areas close to shore. Best spots are on the south side as most of the north is protected area anyway. George can probably chime in with more information.
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Oscar, George and I are bosom buddies...we just play rough. Don't mind us at all. There is a lot George will teach me about Blue Water hunting, and there is alot I can teach George about Reef hunting :laughing3:.
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Correction Hank, George is not an Antiguan by birth :D. And I dont give a hoots ass about what studies has been going on since 70's. These studies are usually biased towards the conservationists anyway. I TALK FACTS, and the fact of the matter is that "parrot fish" are still in massive numbers out there. I dont give a cocks ass how much was there in the 70's and 80's. All I know is that NOW they are all around the island in massive numbers (more than triple any other species).
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George I hear you loud and clear, but for a guy that does 90% of his diving in the Deep Blue, you cannot compare to what I have seen in my "7 years" of pure reef fishing in Antigua. I have dove nearly 80% of Antigua's reef structures in my "7 years" of spearfishing and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the parrot fish is in ridiculous abundance in Antigua. If their numbers are in a decline now then back in the 80s and 90s there must have been 1 parrot fish for every grain of sand on our beaches :rolleyes1:.
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Yeah, big ulua not the best meat, so it goes great in the smoker! Omilu, the smaller blue fin trevally is the best meat of all the trevally and even makes good poke. Uhu, parrot fish, not valued as food in many parts of world, but highly prized in pacific, Hawaii, for its juicy, white flaky flesh. in Bahamas the local Bahamians thought we were nuts to target uhu. But in Mexico they welcomed our spearing of uhu because the meat stays so juicy and tender and make great fish tacos.
Would be interesting to have a thread describing all the fish local populations consider valuable that others would consider junk.
Great vid though. Water so clean, fish plentiful, and some good depth. :thumbsup2:
George is 100% against the shooting of parrot fish. They are the key to sand production on the islands and are banned on our sister island of Barbuda. But...my wife loves them :thumbsup2:
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Who doesnt need a sliptip is the better question. With a lightly powered gun for big fish, you have to shoot with a flopper for range and accuracy, and of course be deadly accurate in shot placement or not shoot, plus have a lot of spare shafts. None of which you have Kiwani :laughing:
George I am still waiting for us to do some reef fishing...there is a lot I can teach you my friend :cool2:
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Who needs a sliptip, flopper shaft FTW!
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I agree with ^^^. George definitely doesn't need another gun :nono:
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George I need the exact location to where that mutton was found! And I need it asap! :diver1:
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Were those red snapper I saw in the video? He passed them up to shoot a cuda???
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Dan I don't know about the red ones being the juvenile stage of the green ones at all. I have seen some massive 5-6lb reds that must be fully matured, and I have seen really small greens also. They are different for sure. parrotfish make the best fish cakes you will ever eat in your life.
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I need some help in identifying this fish (think its a grouper).
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88ft that close to shore is crazy :@.
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Stop slacking on the video George :laughing:
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Dan I have the exact same dry snorkel in your original post and a beuchat freediving snorkel. I grab the dry snorkel every single time! Where I live the water is always moderately rough and a soft open snorkel will bend and allow water from swells in on EVERY breath. For me to be pushing water out after every breath is ridiculously exhausting, and takes away from my bottom time. To each his own...dry snorkel for life!!!
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George pm me your number again as I have changed phones and lost it. Also where did you make this haul?? I have been diving around the entire island for 6 years and seen hogfish twice!