Off Shore 6/6/11

[REELING 65]

Nice job Coe!
Now I am jonesing to get out there soon.
The weather started getting rough...the cooler was full. There were Ice cold beers...waiting at the dock...Lol.
Thanks for the report.

[darstm]

Coe,
Planning on renting a house June 30-July4. Bringing the Grady White with me. Let's go out! Never been out of Galveston. Your boat or mine doesn't matter. If we get enough people maybe run out tandem. I don't know much fishing off shore in your neck of the woods. I know Port A like the back of my hand.

Let me know. Rob is down!

[WestEndAngler]

While spearfishing, unless you're anchored to something, a big one will take you on a trip.

The only thing our guns are anchored to are us, then we release them & the guns are on the float line, return to surface fight fish as needed.

[Oleander Kayaker]

Also, don't target the bruiser mossbacks, just the good eaters like that one. Big one wouldn't even fit in the coolers anyways.

While spearfishing, unless you're anchored to something, a big one will take you on a trip.

[Milkjug]

A cuda from the rigs is better than one from a reef like Flower Gardens. Also, don't target the bruiser mossbacks, just the good eaters like that one. Big one wouldn't even fit in the coolers anyways.

A lot more cig poisioning comes from amberjack, and I've heard of big snapper having it too.

You can always give your neighbors some fresh fish first. :rofl JK

[Robalo]

I've eaten barracuda and am just fine!

Actually, it is an excellent table fare, but ciguatera is definitely an issue but more so in reef environments.

[WestEndAngler]

did y'all go to the claypile?

and do you guys eat the cudas? I've heard it's delicious, I'm just worried about ciguetera poisoning

I think we were near there... I wish I had written down the rig number. I can check GPS coordinates but will be a few weeks until I can get to the plotter.

Yan eats them I'm scared of that ciguetera stuff

[RSN]

did y'all go to the claypile?

and do you guys eat the cudas? I've heard it's delicious, I'm just worried about ciguetera poisoning

[SCHU]

That happens out there & you just have to be prepared for everything. It can be fine one minute & bad the next.

Glad yall got in safe and GREAT CATCH!!!

[Milkjug]

My chest is black & blue from loading the gun so many times and I need to remember my gloves!

Gotta have those gloves, especially when your braided cable starts to get a few loose strands, or you are sticking your hand into a fish's gills.

My chest is all busted too. I am gonna buy one of these for when I hunt without a wetsuit.

No taking pics when I have the thing on though

Question: Cuda's tend to stay to the edges of the rigs, watching the action. How'd ya get close enough for a good shot?

They are all up under the rig too, they will find a nook in the rig legs and set themselves in there ready to attack. A lot of them outside the rig too and circling the boat. Anywhere in the top 15' in and around the rig will have a lot of them. Getting close is not a problem, they are fearless at first, and only a bit cautious once you bust a couple. You could spend all day shooting them at the top, but then you would never get to dive and try for snaps They are strong fish and will wrap you up and bend your spears if you let them, so I try to go for the ones outside the rig, or wait for them to at least be facing out so they take off away from the structure.

[Nwilkins]

Nice read Coe, scary stuff on that open water and bolts coming down, thank heavens for getting in safe

[WestEndAngler]

Good times Coe, and nice write-up.

There were a lot of nice snaps down there, we would have gotten more but my aim was terrible, lots of misses and azz-shots. Need to get some off-season practice.

That cuda was a hoot! One of those numbers where the spear goes in halfway (instead of a full pass-through). He sat there shaking in place, then took off to the surface. Very cool visual of that fish jumping out of the water with a spear in his head. A bit scary when he started coming at me with the mouth open though.

I thought they were mangroves, but they could be dog snapper (cubera?). Definentley the biggest non-red snapper I've caught. 13~lb or so.

The ride in had some major pucker factor going on. That lightning bolt was ~150 yards away, and even closer to the other boat. Thank God we made it in alright.

In all, it was an awesome time diving in some clear water, hanging out with good people, and bringing some tasty fish to the boat!

Yan I had like 7 shots pull off. I had somewhere well above 10 misses. I have no clue why I was having such difficulties with snapper pulling off. My chest is black & blue from loading the gun so many times and I need to remember my gloves! Couple of those snaps look like dogs for sure probably all of them besides the reds

[Oleander Kayaker]

What a trip! Great report and a great adventure.
Question: Cuda's tend to stay to the edges of the rigs, watching the action. How'd ya get close enough for a good shot?

[rha]

You should try writing for an outdoor magazine. good narrative.

[Gilbert]

last video is a chub not a grub.