July 4th Spearfishing report. Amberjack of a lifetime!

FenderBender · 07-05-2008, 12:54 AM

Made it out today with my friend Drew (lakerivers) on his boat for a little much neededfishing and diving. Made it out to the first spot about 4 a.m. took a nap and woke up to the sounds of blackfin and bonita busting hardtails nearby. I threw on my mask and fins, but the fish were moving too fast and too deep to get a shot. I did get a close encounter with a dolphin in the water with me which was fun. Drew managed to put a nice scamp in the boat while I was swimming around. Well we each did a dive and I shot a 20 poundish AJ which at the time I was quite proud of.

Drew salvaged 3 anchors for his boat

Well the bite turned off and we decided to move to another wreck a few miles away. I jumped on it first and tied the boat into the wreck. Went to the bottom, looked around and didn't see much worth shooting just a big turtle and some smallish snapper. I come back up to around 100 feet and the biggest amberjack I have ever seen in my life charges right in on me and turns broadside not 5 feet away from me. I don't know what I was thinking, but I didn't hesitate and slammed all 3 bands of my woody magnum's steel about 3 inches behind his eye. The shaft didn't even go halfway through his head at full power and close range!!! The fish is stunned, I knew I put a good shot on him my the way he kind of rolled, but he doesn't hesistate to take me to 130 feet like a rag doll in tow! About this time reality kicks in and I realize what I may have gotten myslef into. I wrestle him on the sand and repeatly slam my knife into his head, trying to kill him off. I tried ripping his gills out ( they REALLY HATE that! :banghead) and finally get him somewhat subdued. All the while the shaft is getting looser and looser and I know I have to hurry. I finally get him up to the downline I tied off (about 90 ft.) and feel much more comfortable I have some leverage if he tries to run on me again.

About this time I feel calm he kicks and knocks my regulator out of my mouth, knocking the mouthpiece off the reg. My first stage is free flowing like crazy and I grab my octo and keep moving up. About this time the cudas start moving in. I'm jabbing at them wildy with my knife (actually hit one!) and holding the downline and the shaft and this dinosaur sized AJ and trying not to ascend too fast. Needless to say I decided the 15 ft. stop was not in my best interest at this point and hit the surface saying "Drew I need your help NOW!!" He looks over the side of the boat and says "HOLY COW!!" He manages some kind of superman muscle ninja lift and picks up the fish and shaft and singlehandedly slings them into the boat. Fish goes nuts, proceeds to destroy everything in the boat for next 3 minutes. I'm still in the water half in shock when Drew says there is a shark coming in on me. Screw this, I'm gettin in the boat!! Step in the boat and realize that I truly have shot the fish of a lifetime. Thank God for keeping me safe as so many things could have went wrong on this dive, but everything went just perfect. Thanks Drew, it was a blast as always. Just what I needed to recharge my batteries to get me through another month in hell

see ya'll again in august!

final weight at outcast, 93 lbs 15 oz!!!!

Straining to lift him!

both AJs

Drew with him

big ol head!

filled that box and then some!

half as big as me

drew workin on him

PompNewbie · 07-05-2008, 01:09 AM

Holy Crap man!!! Nice AJ and sounds like a crazy ride to the top.

Glad you made it back ok with a fish like that :clap

3boys · 07-05-2008, 01:13 AM

It was nice meeting you guys. That was one heck of a fish. Hope to weigh in more fish like that in the future for you.

konz · 07-05-2008, 01:33 AM

Holy sh** man!!!

Out Align · 07-05-2008, 01:59 AM

That is unfrikin believable :bowdown

I was at the gas station right there and saw yalls boat there this afternoon, wish I would have stopped in while you where there.

You are my hero

I keep looking at that fish and thinking if you didn't shoot him he might have eaten you.

flyingfishr · 07-05-2008, 02:20 AM

HOLY CRAP MAN!!! You are going down in the PFF spearfishing halls of infamy! Great storry and sweet pics too. Not a bad way to spend the 4th. Wow, that is awesome.

SCUBA Junkie · 07-05-2008, 02:35 AM

That's a freaking sea monster dude. Way to go. :bowdown

FishinFL · 07-05-2008, 10:27 AM

WOW!!!!

clap

:letsdrink

bmoore · 07-05-2008, 11:04 AM

Holy Jesus!

Truly an amazing feat. Great job!

bowdown

LATERALINE · 07-05-2008, 11:06 AM

damn... nice FISH!!! Sounds like fun or spearing a tuna or something!

07-05-2008, 12:54 AM	#1
FenderBender Still haven't caught a Sailfish Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pcola Posts: 1,587	July 4th Spearfishing report. Amberjack of a lifetime! Made it out today with my friend Drew (lakerivers) on his boat for a little much neededfishing and diving. Made it out to the first spot about 4 a.m. took a nap and woke up to the sounds of blackfin and bonita busting hardtails nearby. I threw on my mask and fins, but the fish were moving too fast and too deep to get a shot. I did get a close encounter with a dolphin in the water with me which was fun. Drew managed to put a nice scamp in the boat while I was swimming around. Well we each did a dive and I shot a 20 poundish AJ which at the time I was quite proud of. Drew salvaged 3 anchors for his boat Well the bite turned off and we decided to move to another wreck a few miles away. I jumped on it first and tied the boat into the wreck. Went to the bottom, looked around and didn't see much worth shooting just a big turtle and some smallish snapper. I come back up to around 100 feet and the biggest amberjack I have ever seen in my life charges right in on me and turns broadside not 5 feet away from me. I don't know what I was thinking, but I didn't hesitate and slammed all 3 bands of my woody magnum's steel about 3 inches behind his eye. The shaft didn't even go halfway through his head at full power and close range!!! The fish is stunned, I knew I put a good shot on him my the way he kind of rolled, but he doesn't hesistate to take me to 130 feet like a rag doll in tow! About this time reality kicks in and I realize what I may have gotten myslef into. I wrestle him on the sand and repeatly slam my knife into his head, trying to kill him off. I tried ripping his gills out ( they REALLY HATE that! :banghead) and finally get him somewhat subdued. All the while the shaft is getting looser and looser and I know I have to hurry. I finally get him up to the downline I tied off (about 90 ft.) and feel much more comfortable I have some leverage if he tries to run on me again. About this time I feel calm he kicks and knocks my regulator out of my mouth, knocking the mouthpiece off the reg. My first stage is free flowing like crazy and I grab my octo and keep moving up. About this time the cudas start moving in. I'm jabbing at them wildy with my knife (actually hit one!) and holding the downline and the shaft and this dinosaur sized AJ and trying not to ascend too fast. Needless to say I decided the 15 ft. stop was not in my best interest at this point and hit the surface saying "Drew I need your help NOW!!" He looks over the side of the boat and says "HOLY COW!!" He manages some kind of superman muscle ninja lift and picks up the fish and shaft and singlehandedly slings them into the boat. Fish goes nuts, proceeds to destroy everything in the boat for next 3 minutes. I'm still in the water half in shock when Drew says there is a shark coming in on me. Screw this, I'm gettin in the boat!! Step in the boat and realize that I truly have shot the fish of a lifetime. Thank God for keeping me safe as so many things could have went wrong on this dive, but everything went just perfect. Thanks Drew, it was a blast as always. Just what I needed to recharge my batteries to get me through another month in hell see ya'll again in august! final weight at outcast, 93 lbs 15 oz!!!! Straining to lift him! both AJs Drew with him big ol head! filled that box and then some! half as big as me drew workin on him

07-05-2008, 01:09 AM	#2
PompNewbie Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pensacola Posts: 1,279	RE: July 4th Spearfishing report. Amberjack of a lifetime! Holy Crap man!!! Nice AJ and sounds like a crazy ride to the top. Glad you made it back ok with a fish like that :clap

07-05-2008, 01:13 AM	#3
3boys Member Ruby Red Lip Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 31	RE: July 4th Spearfishing report. Amberjack of a lifetime! It was nice meeting you guys. That was one heck of a fish. Hope to weigh in more fish like that in the future for you.

07-05-2008, 01:33 AM	#4
konz Senior Member White Marlin Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Someplace fishing Posts: 3,100	RE: July 4th Spearfishing report. Amberjack of a lifetime! Holy sh** man!!!

07-05-2008, 01:59 AM	#5
Out Align Senior Member Mingo Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 162	RE: July 4th Spearfishing report. Amberjack of a lifetime! That is unfrikin believable :bowdown I was at the gas station right there and saw yalls boat there this afternoon, wish I would have stopped in while you where there. You are my hero I keep looking at that fish and thinking if you didn't shoot him he might have eaten you.

07-05-2008, 02:20 AM	#6
flyingfishr Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SW Pensacola Posts: 602	RE: July 4th Spearfishing report. Amberjack of a lifetime! HOLY CRAP MAN!!! You are going down in the PFF spearfishing halls of infamy! Great storry and sweet pics too. Not a bad way to spend the 4th. Wow, that is awesome.

07-05-2008, 02:35 AM	#7
SCUBA Junkie Senior Member Trigger Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pensacola Posts: 394	RE: July 4th Spearfishing report. Amberjack of a lifetime! That's a freaking sea monster dude. Way to go. :bowdown

07-05-2008, 10:27 AM	#8
FishinFL Senior Member Trigger Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 260	RE: July 4th Spearfishing report. Amberjack of a lifetime! WOW!!!!clap :letsdrink

07-05-2008, 11:04 AM	#9
bmoore Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Navarre Posts: 607	RE: July 4th Spearfishing report. Amberjack of a lifetime! Holy Jesus! Truly an amazing feat. Great job! bowdown

07-05-2008, 11:06 AM	#10
LATERALINE Senior Member Snapper Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: On the EDGE! Posts: 469	RE: July 4th Spearfishing report. Amberjack of a lifetime! damn... nice FISH!!! Sounds like fun or spearing a tuna or something!

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