Yesterday I drove down to Taverier to dive with Spearchucker. John, his father and I headed offshore through the glassy seas on John’s 32' Intrepid. Our plan was to first do a drop on the Bibb and then hit some spots that I had planned to dive for this year’s SBO before that plan got aborted. Upon arriving at the Bibb, there was already another boat on it with a diver that identified himself as SB’s Makanic. Since Makanic’s buddies were already hunting the Bibb, we decided instead to have John’s father drop us on the nearby twin cutter the Duane where there was just one boat of hook and liners fishing.

The current was moderate and the vis was good as we descended. I swam upcurrent to the bow and saw several permit in the distance but no grouper at all. Finally, one of the larger permit came close enough for a descent shot. After a brief struggle, my first permit was on my stringer - a 22 pounder! Later I saw a big yellowjack. As he turned to swim away, I stoned the fish and added an 18 pounder to my stringer tying my personal best. I also saw a big African pompano in the distance, but couldn't get anywhere near him. John shot a nice mango and a flag yellowtail.

As you can see, the permit was pretty badly scarred up and healing from some extensive injuries although he appeared to be swimming strongly and unhampered. My guess is that a jewfish got a hold of him as I discovered the injuries did not go deep into the meat when I cleaned him. This actually was the fish’s best side.

Please note that this permit was legally shot in federal waters under the FWC’s guidance as discussed at http://www.spearfishingplanet.com/showthread.php?t=24

We drifted some of the nearby reefs, but it was practically lifeless - nothing like what I had seen in the past. The reef seemed covered with a clover like growth. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it.

John decided to sit out the next dive to get a little surface time. I dropped solo on a barge in 143' and was greeted by three fish as I approached the barge: a 20 pound cubera, a 25 pound gag and a 40-50 pound gag. As the first two fish slowly slid away, I focused on the big gag that was all whited out on the sand. I managed to get directly over him and dropped closing the gap for the best shot. At that point, I noticed that my gag had a round tail making him a juvenile jewfish. I can’t recall ever seeing one so whited out before. Of course the other two fish were nowhere to be found. I spotted a 12 pound carbo through one of the holes in the top of the barge and got a lineshaft in him before he turned and ran deeper into the wrech and wedged himself around a corner. The sides of the barge were rusted out, so I was able to swim in from the side and free and string the fish. Back up top, I was a 10 pound mutton. I hit him, but he tore off. I then saw and shot a big-for-the-Keys 7 pound hog in the sand off to the side of the barge and another smaller hog. As I began my ascent, I saw the mutton that I had shot jet in from the sand under the barge. I quickly dropped and shot him before he could get away the second time. It was a great drop and one John regretted passing on.

We then dropped on two shallower barges that held little life. We decided to backdive the deep barge. John shot a 12 pound carbo and I shot another yellowjack and a hog. A drift of the nearby reef showed more life than the other reef, but only produced one nice hog. So it was time for John and I to pop our first beers and head back to Casa Hermes.

A big thanks to John and his family for all the great hospitality. I gladly accepted their kind offer to spend the night. Beer gave way to red wine, and I was able to stay and dine with them on grilled lobster and permit. We traded stories and drank wine until I just could not stay up any longer. I slept like a log. I had a great time!

Great report John. Nice fish, and good news on the Permit.

Dive safe,

Gerald

Nice catch!

Damn, I knew I should made the roadtrip!! Glad you all had a good time!


What is up with the blue shorts/White t's?? some sort of uniform?:D

nice catch guys

Great report.!
Nice looking conditions.!


Dago.

Nice fish you rat bastages,I was hoping those "other" wrecks would be relatively undisturbed :ezpi_wink1:when I got there next week.Did you go any deeper?The stuff beyond rec. limits that way are occasionally pretty fishy.

YOU GUYS suck,,, looks like a killer trip and very nice haul!

Back up top, I was a 10 pound mutton.

:scratchhead:


Nice report.

I didnt read your link, but the last time the permit thing was put up on Spearbored, it was very vague and when I quit reading it, it seemed to make it sound like the State had ruling if there was no Federal ruling on species. I always pass on them, and they come right up and rub it in your face. Lots of nice fish though! Steve.

John, I did read your link! That is great! Can you email me a copy so I can have it on board? I will PM you. Thanks, Steve.

Great photos there, and nice fish. :yay: Your looking good KITE! I posted a photo of you all yesterday in your best uniforms! I don't know why it was pulled.

:scratchhead:

Marcus: That's just my dyslexia. I meant to say that "I saw a 10 pound mutton" :)

Ahhhhh....You guys look so cute with matching shorts and white shirts.:D

Nice catch fellows! Wish we could have made it up on Friday but that is Coffin patch day with the kids.

Nice catch fellows! Wish we could have made it up on Friday but that is Coffin patch day with the kids.


Yeah, I hear ya. We spent yesterday snorkling at the Christ staute, and also at the Benwood. My boys loved that.

I have some more pics from Friday, but they will have to wait until tomorrow. I just got back from trailering the Intrepid back to Tampa and I am tired.

Ahhhhh....You guys look so cute with matching shorts and white shirts.:D

My blue camos were at the laundry.....

Saaaweeet! Nice fish guys and great story.

Damn nice permit, John!!! That thing is a slab!!:smthumbup:

john just curious if anyone saw the permit on land and said anything to you. good job by the way.

jeep

Jeep, nobody except the neighbors saw it on land. However, a dive charter boat was waiting for our mooring when I surfaced and handed up the fish in plain view. We only ran about a mile away to do our drift dive on the reef. The charter captain could have called the FWC - it's not like we were out of his view the whole time. Whether he did or not and whether if he did the FWC chose to respond I do not know. Had we been checked, I was prepared.

On a related note, today I exchanged additional emails with Captain Beaton who sent me the email saying that it was OK to shoot permit, etc. in federal waters. He told me that he was drafting the internal memo to FWC law enforcement informing them of the contents of the email that was sent to me. He expected to complete the memo this week and said he would send me a copy. He had read both the Spearboard and the Spearplanet threads where I had posted his email giving the all clear on shooting permit, etc. in federal waters. He did not indicate that there was any problem with what I was saying. After I specifically asked if there would be any change in policy in the memo, he did not indicate that there would be any. Furthermore, I am guessing that he was aware that I had shot a 22 pound permit as I posted the fact on the Spearboard thread. On the SB thread, Tony later called me "irresponsible" for not waiting for a formal ruling and locked the thread so others wouldn't be misled into following my bad example. :rolleyes: Tony is acting like a jilted school girl. :tool::loser:

Here are some pics I had on my camera of the trip. The first one is the black I shot in around 135':

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x161/johnhermes/Keys2007050.jpg

This next one is the brag board at my folks house

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x161/johnhermes/Keys2007056.jpg

And of course, another family shot

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x161/johnhermes/Keys2007054.jpg

Dat's a real nice Permit der. Kite, I'd like to get a copy of that letter please.

Marcus, PM me your email address, and I'll forward you a copy. My offer is good to all who want a copy.

John,
Could you shoot me a copy.
thanks

gulfcoastmachine@verizon dot net


thanks

Dago.

Nice job MM 96

Cool, my folks are at mm93.5 in Hammer Point.

Ahhhhh....You guys look so cute with matching shorts and white shirts.:D

Agreed! Nice outfits! :fro:

If you look in the last pic above, my wife did not get the memo and has her colors backwards....

Kite/John,

How do you get a boat not registered in Florida?

Marcus, my understanding is that most Florida resident USCG documented vessels still have some form of Florida registration. The only exceptions would be boats registered in another state or another country that have no Florida registration.

If you read through the email that I received, it will become apparent that the Florida registration is largely a nonissue. Although the federal statute grants the states permission to enact rules that govern fishing outside state waters for vessels registered in that state, Florida has not chosen to exercise this right with regard to permit, african pompano, pompano and tripletail. Florida HAS chosen to exercise this right with respect to snook.

In short, it appears that any boat regardless of its registration can spear permit, african pompano, pompano and tripletail in federal waters and lawfully return to a Florida port so long as they comply with the transit rules (no stopping), etc. Please note that Florida bag and size limits and seasonal restrictions DO apply even though the fish are harvested in federal waters. It is very similar to the powerhead rule which allows you to powerhead fish in federal waters and bring them back to Florida even though powerheading is prohibited in Florida waters.

Please see my thread at http://spearfishingplanet.com/showthread.php?t=24 (in particular post #26) for a more complete discussion.

Nice fish, you da man. Da lawyer man.
Nice work on finding not a loophole, but an open gate in plain site that everyone had apparently ignored.

Here are some pics I had on my camera of the trip. The first one is the black I shot in around 135':

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x161/johnhermes/Keys2007050.jpg

This next one is the brag board at my folks house

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x161/johnhermes/Keys2007056.jpg

And of course, another family shot

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x161/johnhermes/Keys2007054.jpg




Dude you look constipated!!!!!!!:rofl::pray::pray::moon:

Not possible with the amount of beer I drank.:chuck:

nice report guys!

Great Permit, John. I think they are one of the best tasting fish there is.

Steve, the meat had a nice fattiness to it - sort of like the fat in a black grouper. The fish came out really white and moist. I'd never tried it before and was very pleased.

Yeah, that permit was good eating. We grilled it up with some olive oil, salt and pepper.