Flounder day

Captain Mickey O'Reilly · 12-18-2008, 03:19 PM

<SPAN class=postbody>Finally, the weather has cooperated and we can go bond with our fishy friends! 12-16-08, Mike Boitnott and I set off to the uncharted unknown of the gulf. It is foggy and as we hit the pass we are met by a glassy 2-4 foot ground swell. The outside vis clears nicely and we scoot over to our first spot, the Mass. There is a little bit of a story prior to even getting on the boat though that will tie everything together later. I hurt my lower back the night before working out, so I am in pain and behind the power curve already. Anyway, we anchor up, get the dive flag flying, and realize that my fins are at HOME!

A good five minute tantrum follows

, and Boitnott offers for me to use one of his fins. OK, lets try it after all, I am already hurting as it is, nothing worse can happen. We splash, Riffes in hand, and make our decent. Vis is great and as we approach the bottom, there are flounder everywhere! We begin plinking away at them. We kill ten, and head back up for some interval and new tanks. Did I mention that my Riffe is brand new, first time in the water? We regear, sit, and splash again. It is the same thing except Boitnott takes a polespear instead of his Riffe. We are merrily plinking away, and I hit a rock under one of the flounder. I don't realize that the first quarter inch of the tip is now broken off and is BLUNT! Not good, because Boitnott grabs me and indicates that he has seen some big fish and that I should follow him. I load up two bands(I know, shoulda loaded up with three

) and swim along. Well Mike was right , as he swims by a hole a Giant Gag Grouper swims out to follow him. I shot the fish a little high and down just above the gill plate, should have at least pinned him if it did not stone him. But the blunt tipped shaft did not go through and that fish promptly bent the shaft and screw on tip!

All Boitnott can do is watch, and miss a shot with the POLE SPEAR! The fish pulls off and swims away. Anyway we end up with twenty flatfish, a $40 dollar broken speartip, a $60 bent shaft, and did all of this using one fin each. What a day!

Capt. Jon Pinney · 12-18-2008, 03:35 PM

how many of those flounder did Mike have to point out to the rookie?

Captain Mickey O'Reilly · 12-18-2008, 03:46 PM

None, a blind man could have seen em, thanks for the support there buddy:moon hope you are feeling better

Rich Lacour · 12-19-2008, 12:54 PM

Nice fish. What was the water temp at the bottom?

Captain Mickey O'Reilly · 12-19-2008, 07:07 PM

low to mid 60s not too bad at all!

recess · 12-19-2008, 08:30 PM

Flounder,flounder and more flounders you guys had a good dive. Thanks for the pictures and report. Gene

Rammer Jammer · 12-31-2008, 04:30 PM

Damn Mickey, I wish I had seen this post before now - I would have come over for the fish fry!

Will (your neighbor)

Captain Mickey O'Reilly · 12-31-2008, 08:52 PM

We will fry some fish soon Will. I'll come knock on your door!

crazyfire · 01-02-2009, 12:15 PM

Mickey, sent you a PM

12-18-2008, 03:19 PM	#1
Captain Mickey O'Reilly Senior Member Trigger Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Navarre, FL Posts: 259	Flounder day <SPAN class=postbody>Finally, the weather has cooperated and we can go bond with our fishy friends! 12-16-08, Mike Boitnott and I set off to the uncharted unknown of the gulf. It is foggy and as we hit the pass we are met by a glassy 2-4 foot ground swell. The outside vis clears nicely and we scoot over to our first spot, the Mass. There is a little bit of a story prior to even getting on the boat though that will tie everything together later. I hurt my lower back the night before working out, so I am in pain and behind the power curve already. Anyway, we anchor up, get the dive flag flying, and realize that my fins are at HOME! A good five minute tantrum follows , and Boitnott offers for me to use one of his fins. OK, lets try it after all, I am already hurting as it is, nothing worse can happen. We splash, Riffes in hand, and make our decent. Vis is great and as we approach the bottom, there are flounder everywhere! We begin plinking away at them. We kill ten, and head back up for some interval and new tanks. Did I mention that my Riffe is brand new, first time in the water? We regear, sit, and splash again. It is the same thing except Boitnott takes a polespear instead of his Riffe. We are merrily plinking away, and I hit a rock under one of the flounder. I don't realize that the first quarter inch of the tip is now broken off and is BLUNT! Not good, because Boitnott grabs me and indicates that he has seen some big fish and that I should follow him. I load up two bands(I know, shoulda loaded up with three ) and swim along. Well Mike was right , as he swims by a hole a Giant Gag Grouper swims out to follow him. I shot the fish a little high and down just above the gill plate, should have at least pinned him if it did not stone him. But the blunt tipped shaft did not go through and that fish promptly bent the shaft and screw on tip! All Boitnott can do is watch, and miss a shot with the POLE SPEAR! The fish pulls off and swims away. Anyway we end up with twenty flatfish, a $40 dollar broken speartip, a $60 bent shaft, and did all of this using one fin each. What a day! __________________ Captain Mickey O'Reilly

12-18-2008, 03:35 PM	#2
Capt. Jon Pinney Super Moderator Sailfish Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,612	RE: Flounder day how many of those flounder did Mike have to point out to the rookie?

12-18-2008, 03:46 PM	#3
Captain Mickey O'Reilly Senior Member Trigger Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Navarre, FL Posts: 259	RE: Flounder day None, a blind man could have seen em, thanks for the support there buddy:moon hope you are feeling better __________________ Captain Mickey O'Reilly

12-19-2008, 12:54 PM	#4
Rich Lacour Member Ruby Red Lip Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Destin Posts: 70	RE: Flounder day Nice fish. What was the water temp at the bottom?

12-19-2008, 07:07 PM	#5
Captain Mickey O'Reilly Senior Member Trigger Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Navarre, FL Posts: 259	RE: Flounder day low to mid 60s not too bad at all! __________________ Captain Mickey O'Reilly

12-19-2008, 08:30 PM	#6
recess Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pensacola Posts: 1,153	RE: Flounder day Flounder,flounder and more flounders you guys had a good dive. Thanks for the pictures and report. Gene

12-31-2008, 04:30 PM	#7
Rammer Jammer Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,092	RE: Flounder day Damn Mickey, I wish I had seen this post before now - I would have come over for the fish fry! Will (your neighbor)

12-31-2008, 08:52 PM	#8
Captain Mickey O'Reilly Senior Member Trigger Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Navarre, FL Posts: 259	RE: Flounder day We will fry some fish soon Will. I'll come knock on your door! __________________ Captain Mickey O'Reilly

01-02-2009, 12:15 PM	#9
crazyfire Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pace Florida Posts: 836	RE: Flounder day Mickey, sent you a PM

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