7-8-00
Andy, Tony, and Tom headed out into the wild blue in search of something to eat. I had other obligations so I could not make it. The thermocline is creeping in and finding clean warm water is getting tougher. There is no way to predict the areas with clean water, so you have to go try to find out.
MOOSE
We were undecided on the game plan at the ramp Sat. morning. One look at the smooth Inlet, and we made our decision.
We headed South in search of new grounds to call our own. We made great time in the calm seas around 30knts, so the ride went by quick.
Tom and I made the first dive on one of Andy’s # that he had not been to in awhile. We had perfect vis.....till 40' when we found the cold water we were trying to avoid that far south. The bottom temp was 73F with 10' vis max! I went South, and Thomas headed North. I found many tropical fish, and a couple of bugs hiding in their holes. Thomas and I managed to find each other and head to the surface with stories to tell of the bugs we saw.
Andy had suited up already, and had his spot plotted in the loran. He was a little disappointed by the reports of bad vis, but was ready to go explore. His dive had the same vis, but still managed to surface with a 20# red snapper (a true Seahunter....I couldn’t find the end of my gun at times, and he pulls a rabbit out of the hat!)
We move towards a new # and found a small ledge far from our destination. We jugged it, and Thomas and I made it our second dive. The vis and temp were still the same, but we worked up and down the small ledge. It was 300' long and covered with life. I found a large rock that was covered with living coral. It was fun to explore a new ledge.
We headed North toward the Inlet and did our last dive on an artificial reef. We had never dove this site, and were not sure what we would find. We hit the bottom with 73F and 10-15' vis. Lots of bait could be found at the thermocline along with one of the biggest Jack Crevalle I’ve ever seen. A large school of snook were hanging around the structure. Thomas had the privilege of sighting two Jewfish. One around 90lbs and the other much larger 300+. As we made our way to the surface we watched the 'cudas swim through the warm surface water.
Moose
We dove out of Sebastian Inlet this
weekend and had good spearfishing.
Several nice grouper, flounder, and sheepshead. Even speared a dolphin while
doing a safety stop at 20'!. The reefs were loaded with lobster and
visibility was 5-10 feet at 70-80 feet and 10-20 at 90-100 feet. Not much of
a thermocline.
Thanks for your reports.
Best,
Tom