So I'm finally going to get a chance to get wet and maybe try to shoot some fish. I've been reading and lurking for a couple months now, and I finally have most of my gear assembled. This weekend my wife and I are headed down to the Port St. Lucie area to visit some friends, and I think I might try to do some spearfishing, or atleast maybe some recon/practice and get used to the gear.

I have read that there are a lot of areas to shore dive around Fort Pierce, specifically Vero beach. I know I should never dive alone, and I'm kind of leaning away from actually spearfishing. But I would definitely like to go out to 15-20ft of water and practice with my new gear(minus the gun). I have a good bit of common sense and I'm a pretty strong swimmer. Do you guys think this is a good idea in that area? Would you guys recommend any beach specifically for this purpose? Do I need to watch out for rip currents or anything like that? I know sharks can be a problem in that area?

I spearfished when I was in Jamaica a few times with a crappy homemade gun that I borrowed from the locals and some walmart special snorkel/mask/fins. I had a blast and shot some fish, but nothing to really brag about. That was probably in 10-20 ft of water. I'm excited to use a gun that shoots straight and some decent gear! I will be freediving.


Also, aside from Hogs and AJs(which I might avoid shooting due to their ability to beat the hell out of you) what other fish are good to eat that I may come across in that area?

Be safe and you should 100000% have someone in the water with you if your freediving or scuba... no need to take chances.....

__________________
WWW.DRYNTIME.COM
1-877-687-4DRY

I normally take the boat out to the wrecks and don't freedive from the shore in the saint lucie/ft pierce area like I do down south, but the water was really clear today out surfing in Jensen bch. We do have a decent swell hitting so it might be shut down close in this weekend?? I've been told there is great structure close to shore in ft pierce/vero. A patient of told me the other day there is nice structure like 20 yds off pepper park in ft. pierce.Close to shore Your likely to see little black seabass, sheepshead, spanish mackeral (maybe a king if your lucky), possibly cobia if your really lucky, black margate, small mangrove snapper. All can be eaten and aren't too bad (margate maybe being bad or the worst of the bunch?). You might also see some large jack crevalle which probably wouldn't be good to eat. The little mackeral are great, especialy sashimi.
I don't want to sound dramatic or anything, but there is also a really good possibility of seeing bull sharks. There have been ALOT of sharks out this year as you may have read from posts. I know of some pretty close encounters from guys shooting fish and getting chased out of the water. Please have someone watching your back if your shooting fish. Obviously it is important to always have a buddy watching you dive as well. Best of luck and give us a report! If there is a swell you can expect rip currents, but if your a good swimmer with gear on I wouldn't be too concerned. The currents are often really strong over the wrecks and deeper stuff locally, but you'd have to swim a pretty long ways to get to that.