OutdoorAviator

With the end of snapper season approaching faster each day, I got an invite to head out for one last shot at the tasty fish yesterday. After some minor issues, we were off the dock by 10:30 headed for the pass. As soon as we got outside the pass, we could have been flying across glass and it wouldn't have made a difference! The water was flat as could be, and the number of bait balls boiling at the surface were amazing. We weren't a mile from the pass and counted over 25 bait balls of various sizes scattered about. We made the run to our spot, anchored up, and we were ready. We decided to split the crew up intoa few groups, and not long after we were anchored up, bodies were splashing over board. Some time goes by and we see our first victims... 3 decent size snapper make their way to the cooler. I threw on a rash guard and gear and I'm off with high hopes of nailing my first red snapper, and hopefully anything else that wants to come home with me. Make it down to the bottom, and it was incredible! It looked like I was visiting the aquarium! There were fish everywhere..... except I couldn't find a single red snapper. I must have swam past 80 fish, trying to figure out where to find one. Just as I'm looking for a shooter, a decent AJ comes to investigate. As he got closer, I started lining up a shot and them BAM... right through the gills. I didn't expect him to fight as much as he did, and he just about kicked my a$$! Knocked my reg out of my mouth twice before submitting to the stringer. Alright! First legal AJ! And then a curious thing happened; just as I finished stringing him up, I realized that the blood he was bleeding was a light blue/grey color....... That's what color all the other fish were that I had just swam by! Nobody explained to me that the red snapper don't look so red under water :banghead:banghead Hmm, chalk one up for bonehead rookie move. After that, it took me a few minutes to find a decent shooter. I finally found this one right behind me, and a quick shot to the head and he joined my new AJ buddy. Shot another one, but poor shot means escaped fish. Took a peek at my pressure gauge and decided to play it safe. 75 ft of water with 600 lbs left. Time to head to the surface.

All in all, an absolutely great trip. I've been out with these guys before, and we killed em this time. All my diving has been in Monterey, CA where I'm used to 7 mil 2 piece suits, hoods, gloves, boots, 20ft vis AT BEST, and pole spears. I'll take diving out here in just board shorts and a rash guard any day! Thanks for reading, and if anyone's looking to get out, my freezer is calling for more fish!

countryjwh

nice report. i remember my first fish till this day.