Spearchucker
08-21-2007, 10:36 PM
Time to write up a report for my annual trip to the east coast for the Worlds Largest Spearfishing Tournament. Conditions were pretty good in the Sebastien area, with 20'plus vis, and bottom temps in the high 60's. We started the day in about 95', and after a few dives, we came up with some nice 20# class gags, and a few sheeps and lobs. None of the sheeps broached the 6# mark. We did have one nice lob at 7.1#'s, which I thought would produce a 2nd or 3rd place finish in the lobster category. We headed out to 105' and it was gags EVERYWHERE. Any other day, and I would have been beside myself. We EASILY shot our limit, with an average fish size of 20#'s. But, alas, a 20# gag does not even get you to the party in the SPO.
We were really hammering out the drops at a very fast pace, but we were getting discouraged over the lack of a big lob or sheepshead. Lets face it, shooting a sheepshead is easy, finding one past 7#'s can be a chore. Look Out Below called us on the radio, and we told him that we were in great shape on gags, and bagging some flounders and snaps too, but the decent size sheeps or big lobs were eluding us. A couple of minutes later, some guy comes on the radio and asks "what do you want with sheepshead?" We explained the situation, and he told us of an approximate area where he had seen some nice sheepshead. We then gave him the general area where we found the gags.
Well, we headed to the area, and Steve went through his numbers and we went to one of his ledges in that area. Both mself and Steve dropped, and started working the ledge. A nice gag came by, and I went after him. After about a 100' swim, I look off into the left in the sand, and I see one hell of a big sheepshead. Well, mr Gag, this is your lucky day. I broke off on the gag, went after the sheepshead, and nailed him. While stringing him up, I quickly realized this fish was big for a sheepshead. I was about to head up when I saw Steve still working the ledge. I swam over to him, just to make sure he saw what I got ;) Steve fingered 7#'s under water, I thought more like 8#'s.
Back on the boat, we were all collectively surprised when the fish went well past 9#'s. At the weigh in, it tipped the scales at 9.95#'s. That was good for 1st place. Steve's bro Jeromey took 3rd place sheepshead, and Steve and Rich took 4th and 5th place. Surprisingly, the 7.1# lobster did not place.
The SPO is a great tournament. The biggest fish does not always place you the highest. We filled a 270Q cooler full of gag grouper and other misc fish, but a 10# Sheepshead got me a first round trip to the prize table.
I selected Bryan Lee's (nsearch) stained glass hogfish. It will be the centerpiece of my new enclosed patio/bar area that I am starting construction on shortly. :toast:
We were really hammering out the drops at a very fast pace, but we were getting discouraged over the lack of a big lob or sheepshead. Lets face it, shooting a sheepshead is easy, finding one past 7#'s can be a chore. Look Out Below called us on the radio, and we told him that we were in great shape on gags, and bagging some flounders and snaps too, but the decent size sheeps or big lobs were eluding us. A couple of minutes later, some guy comes on the radio and asks "what do you want with sheepshead?" We explained the situation, and he told us of an approximate area where he had seen some nice sheepshead. We then gave him the general area where we found the gags.
Well, we headed to the area, and Steve went through his numbers and we went to one of his ledges in that area. Both mself and Steve dropped, and started working the ledge. A nice gag came by, and I went after him. After about a 100' swim, I look off into the left in the sand, and I see one hell of a big sheepshead. Well, mr Gag, this is your lucky day. I broke off on the gag, went after the sheepshead, and nailed him. While stringing him up, I quickly realized this fish was big for a sheepshead. I was about to head up when I saw Steve still working the ledge. I swam over to him, just to make sure he saw what I got ;) Steve fingered 7#'s under water, I thought more like 8#'s.
Back on the boat, we were all collectively surprised when the fish went well past 9#'s. At the weigh in, it tipped the scales at 9.95#'s. That was good for 1st place. Steve's bro Jeromey took 3rd place sheepshead, and Steve and Rich took 4th and 5th place. Surprisingly, the 7.1# lobster did not place.
The SPO is a great tournament. The biggest fish does not always place you the highest. We filled a 270Q cooler full of gag grouper and other misc fish, but a 10# Sheepshead got me a first round trip to the prize table.
I selected Bryan Lee's (nsearch) stained glass hogfish. It will be the centerpiece of my new enclosed patio/bar area that I am starting construction on shortly. :toast: