Trip Report Been a long time coming...

[CuzzA]

and finally dove with Dave Brown on 9/24/23.

Yet another weekend hard in the paint diving old spots, new spots, spots all over. I'm convinced the gags were pushed into skinny water. I tried those spots too and we had 3 ft viz... ran straight into the bottom. But there is promise. One spot in 65 ft. had 25 ft+ viz and looked like pre onion hurricane.

Don't let anyone tell you hogs are overfished though. Another easy limit. I saw 300 yesterday. Could have shot a George Foreman size family limit and fed all his kids if we wanted to. Added some stud mangos. One going over 22 inches by Dave.

Just 2 gags and one needed teamwork to put it in the box...

Dave Brown and I dropped on a spot, a nice east west ledge, I see a nice 30 inch gag, but he saw me first. Viz was 20ft. and he's at the edge of that. I kick hard to close the gap as he's turning tail to bolt and then send it. Nailed him hard and he's hurt. The shaft hits his spine, not enough penetration to break it and no flopper hold. He swims off. I give chase and lose him. I think to myself, "Dave should be coming back east up the ledge and I hope he sees him." Out of gas, I come up.

Back on the boat Dave finally surfaces. He's got a gag on his stringer. Could it be the one I hurt and will certainly die eventually?

Stringer hits the deck and sure as shit. He's got two holes in him. Mine goes right to the backbone and Dave unicorned him as he was laying down just beneath an undercut preparing to become crab dinner.

MJ managed to bring one up as well and had a good day putting three 18" hogs on the boat. The biggest of the day.

One final note, the Pink Meanie jellyfish are thick eating the moon jellies, but with up to 70 ft. long tentacles, everyone got tagged hard. I had to spit my reg on one dive as it wrapped my mouth piece and proceeded to french kiss my lips. To think women pay money for botox duck lips when we could just offer up jelly kissing sessions for half the price.

Another week closer to the end of this silly short gag season ruined by the NMFS planned hurricane gag season. That said, the Dive Bomber crew never quits. Goonies never say die. We're not jumping the gag ship. Don't hang up your fins yet. We ain't crying over spilled silt (okay, maybe a little). Pick up that towel you threw. We ain't done yet.

[Dbrown]

LOL!!!
Had a great time. Thanks for the invite. Glad we got to nab some fish. Great work getting your boat together.

[Tyson Brown]

Neat!

[jfjf]

For some reason, I kinda doubt that guy fits in the wheelhouse.

[Dbrown]

I do fit! I was warned ahead of time to duck. There is some padding in place strategically. When I forget to duck, I do pay a price. Here's a little video of what the boat looks like.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y7pr49-KW1s
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y7pr49-KW1s

[CuzzA]

It's 6'2" at the center of the house. I forgot to pay attention if Dave could stand tall and proud I don't think so. But he does indeed fit. =D

Jim came out for ARS opener and we ran out to 120ft to find 5ft viz so he's been on the Bomber. I learned my lesson, if you go that far, bring rods and reels. I owe Jim a better trip.

I'm also working hard every trip to be a better dive boat captain and make sure I'm putting guys right where they'll have the most success.