Posts by Mighty kc

Cool fish John,

I am heading out that way this weekend if the weather is ok

Keith

When I started diving the Northern Gulf of mexico, you only had 2 choices for spearguns, seahornet or voit (JBL). Everyone that I dove with used the JBL because the 3/8 shaft was less prone to bending on the rig legs. I would over band the gun so much that the barrel would bend. I am sure that this affected the accuracy, but I guess I compensated for it. All of the scuba guys used these guns, and I have seen some huge fish brought in with the magnum and 450 magnum. Later I purchased a Riedel speargun with the undersee mech. you could load that baby up with 4 bands and a 3/8 shaft and have no barrel flex or trigger issues. I used that gun for years, and still own it. I shoot the roballens and other euro guns now, but I killed a lot of fish with the JBL'S "back in the day". Heres a picture from over 25 years ago. notice the heavy bands on the gun and the "trotline" cord on the reel.

KC

Lets go man, we can get on the kings and mangrove. I like sheepshead and bluefish also. Did not see any cobia where we were at, but I usually do.

Hey John,

The king was maybe 30", just the right size for Sashimi. My oldest son and I are the only ones that enjoy Sashimi, so we grilled this one along with a couple of the Mangrove. If you have not tried King sashimi, you wont be dissapointed. Have you heard of using Barracuda in cevichie? someone told me about preparing cuda that way, but I did not believe them. I usually Grill or blacken mine.

Finally got to go today!

Been on vacation for a week, weather has been bad up to yesterday. Got 4 mangrove, several sheepshead, 1 kingfish, and this Barracuda. Lost a shaft, that is the last time that I am going to use mono on the rigs. Never ever used it on anything other than some small guns till my buddies talked me into it last year. Lost a couple of shafts last year also.Going in the morning to get some cable at the ships chandlery store. Had a good time with my son, plan on going again soon. Saw thousands of Red Snapper (literally) and some big Gags.I guess thats why the season is closed on them. I heard a guy talking on TV about the "old days" on the Gulf Coast, and how there was more fish back then. This guy was younger than me, so I remember those days. We did not have Snapper in the 70's and 80's like we have today. We did have more big Amberjack closer to shore back then, and we speared the occasional Jewfish. But the snapper population is better than it was back then.Hopefully the season will be set soon, and we can shoot a few

Oh yeah, been there done that. I have done that several times over 30 plus years of rig diving. I remember asking my son to look at my head, and he replied "dad, it looks like someone un zipped it". One time, a collision with the rig left me with several sea urchin spines in my forehead. Glad to see someone got out, I have not been in several weeks. Get up with me, you would like diving with my crew. We are old, and you will have to shoot most of the fish.

Keith

Welcome Dennis,

I live in South Alabama also. I mostly leave out of Dauphin Island. Like you, my crew is also Deer hunting. My son is addicted to deer hunting and I will be with him till after the season. Maybe we can get a trip up this winter after the season closes. Cant help with the wood guns though, I am an aluminum and carbon Man myself.

Keith

Off this week also, I am competing in a local spearfishing tournament this weekend. Went on a scouting trip yesterday, had some ear issues so I stayed shallow. Took my oldest son (who normally doesnt spearfish), He got some assorted stuff shown in the attached picture. Had a good time watching him.

Nice fish John, had a similar experience with missing last week. I have a Picasso Century carbono that I have been shooting for several years, shot the 2 in the first picture on my post with it. Last friday I couldnt hit a barn with it. Got back to the house and found that the articulated wishbone was bent. Replaced it and went back to killin'

Keith

Yes they were there, good divers and good friends.

we have some natural bottom and a few wrecks, but i mostly dive rigs due to fish holding at every level. also the wrecks are usually around 90-100', and past my abilities now. this is a picture from this morning, the last trip of vacation. I really enjoyed myself this past 7 days, got some fish and spent time with friends and family.

Keith

Not that far, 7 miles or so. We have been seeing some nice Cobia akso. The visibility is not that good due to the river run off caused by the flooding up north. See the attached picture, I took it today with my new camera. Sorry about the focus, but you can get some idea about the visibility under the rigs. It is like diving at dusk due to the layer of muddy water on the surface. Got these 2 in a hurry due to an approaching storm. Never put on my suit, just took my keys out of my pocket, got my fins mask and gun and jumped in.

Keith

Thats my buddies gun, Its a 120, but I am not sure about the bands. His wife shoots a Wong hybrid. I shoot single band Arbalete style guns (Picasso, Roballen).

More from today, I am off for another week and plan to go as much as possible. My dive buddies are down for the week and we got out today. The big fish of the day was the Cobia shot by my dive buddie on her first dive. I had a badly bent spear from Wednesday and didnt notice it till I started missing everything. Thought it was me until I missed a 5 ft shot. Switched to the 130cm Rob, the first one that I shot broke the stainless cable shooting line. Finally got my crap togeather and finished my limit. Had a good time. I have the best dive buddies, they are experienced and a pleasure to dive with.

Got our limit in about 20 min. yesterday, left the dock a 1:00 and was back at the house at 4:00. These 2 were the largest, I got them in about 60ft. My Boys got three smaller ones. Had some friends over for a fish fry last night when we got back. Small craft advisory kept me inside today, but we are going back in the morning.

Good fish man, and you got it on shore dive! we dont have any shore diving in my area, other than flounder. I went out 22 miles a couple of weekends ago, and didnt get any cobia.

the hole is rather large, but it is on the other side. shaft hit in the lateral line behind the gills and broke his spine. Never heard of a incident of ciguatera this far north, and I have been spearing and eating them for 30 years. (grilled some of that one yesterday). I dont shoot them much when the other seasons are open. I have had guys on my boat who say that they would never eat one, they stink, they are poision, bony etc. and these are the same guys that enter the local spearfishing tournament, and eat the fish fry after the tournament. I know for a FACT that the fish at that fish fry were barracuda and spade fish, because I saw them donated. That was in the 80's, it may be different know, I havent entered that tournament in many years. Do you have cig problems in your area? dosent it show up in other large predators such as Amberjack and large snapper?

Got to go out yesterday, 2nd time this year. My boat was in the shop, so a friend of mine asked me to go with him and his wife. Seas were flat, but the vis was bad due to the flooding, and there was some top current. I shot this Barrcuda, 2 mangrove snapper, and various sheepshead. My buddies wife shot a Barracuda bigger than the one in my picture, and they got mangroves and sheepshead also. Saw several Gag grouper, and tons of red snapper. I think they know that the season is closed.

I am jealous John,

I am stuck at work while you guys are slaying the fish. My regular dive buddies went this week and filled the box also. I have got some days off in May and the first 2 weeks of June. Get up with me and we will kill some fish then.

How far out did you go? see any Cobia?

I had a boss once that told me that, and I informed him that although there was no "I" in team, there is an "I" in "winner", "first", "king", "rich" etc.