No Ice Needed

With the newest kid coming in February, I wanted to get some fish home before I was relegated to daddy-duty. I tried going out the end of the year, and twice in the new year, but got blown out both times. Finally, the weather held enough in mid-January to give it a shot. When I called, I found out that the boat had three more on it, so we were a go!

I had been skunked, or almost skunked my last two times out, so it was important that I bring home some fish! The wife was complaining about the cost-per-pound of fish, so something had to be done. The problem was that there were a lot of men in gray suits hanging around most dives and they seem to like the same fish I do. I resolved to get some fish home regardless.

The day started out pretty dreary- snow was due back in Raleigh on the way home. Captain Leroy had the satellite picture, but it was incomplete because of the cloud cover the past few days. It did look like a patch of warm water was to be found on the 'east side', so we headed that way.

Since there were non-spearos on board (all but me actually), he decided to hit the Atlas Tanker first. The girls had done this dive with me before, plenty of big grouper, but it had some giant Sand Tiger sharks on it last time. I've gotten to the point of not enjoying going into the water without my gun, so I brought it with me even though I wasn't planning on getting fish. Unfortunately, the visibility was terrible. The water was cloudy on the surface, and it got darker on the way down. When I finally got to the wreck, I had trouble telling the hull from the walls of baitfish everywhere. I swam up and down the wreck for a while, not seeing many big fish, but some Tautog, and some big Black Sea Bass- not worth an encounter with the taxman. Finally, at the bottom near the bow of the wreck, I scare up two good sized sharks, and see a third one later in the dive. I thought I knew where the anchor line was, but couldn't find it. So I ascend nearby and find myself pretty far from the boat. It was a long swim back in some decent (3-4) seas, and when I get onboard, I decide to get rid of my Hardees breakfast. I was out of dramamine, so I had bought some Bonine at the shop and took it on the way out- too late, apparently. Ugh.

The captain was disappointed with the reports of visibility and temperature. It was 63 on top, and in the 50s on the bottom, with 10' of visibility. Captain Leroy was somewhat at a loss, because everywhere else should be colder and less vis. He mentioned that there was a small wreck not too far away where he could drop me (less shark potential) and then take the other guys back to the Atlas if they wanted. The wreck is called the Amagansett. I think everyone was tired and cold, so they all decided to jump in the water with me to get it over with.

I went down the line quickly this time and was greeted by an upside down wooden hull. I peer over the edge and see three decent sized (amazing how 'decent' moves upwards the more fish you shoot) grouper and immediately shoot the first one with my re-rigged line spear. I stoned him, which was good. I put my dud powerhead on the second spear, and sure enough, a big sand tiger comes by. I nail him with the dud and he swims off- I'm wanting to bring in some big grouper to take a look at their buddy, but instead a second sand tiger takes a look. I give him the same treatment and head to the surface with the fish dangling below me. I get to the boat and give Leroy the fish on a spear, but it won't come out- I hit the spine and the tip lodged there. He unscrews the spear, and takes the line off my gun and I go down with just my freeshaft. I move a bit forward and see a really nice (30+#) grouper at the edge of vis and follow him a bit and come up on some juvenile sand tigers who are just stupid. I poke one away with my speartip, then shoot another black grouper. I unhook my stringer from my gun- but forgot to shoulder my gun, and it goes shooting up the water column. I chase it for 20', then decide not being bent and coming back with a fish bonus should be worth the loss of the gun. I manage to find the uneaten and stoned fish on the bottom with my spear firmly through it and swim back to the anchor. Meanwhile, I'm feeling like I've got a shishkebab grouper and am tempting the gray suits. I see two of the guys on the dive with me and sign-language try to ask where the anchor is- they don't know either. It had come unhooked! The cold (50 degrees!) water has done a number on the LCD display of my computer- I can't read it- so I probably go up way too quickly. This time I'm closer to the boat, get back to it with my shark-bait, and ask if anyone's seen a speargun float by. Leroy spotted it, so I jump in and swim to it.. yay! I get back to the boat, tired, but not too tired to blow chunks again. The vis was better here- closer to 20', but the cold water was brutal- when my computer warms up, we'll see, but I think it was 50. I actually was warm enough in my new semi-dry 7mm with 5mm hood.

This trip would have been lousy- except I got some decent fish!

And the cold water ensured the fish were fresh- and the white stuff everywhere kept them cool while cleaning them.



No ice needed!