How much better does the viz get in the winter?

[True spearo]

I'm new to the st.Pete area and I'm just wondering how better the viz gets in the winter?

[spearhunter11]

You will see way better!!

[stevemc1]

The viz gets better the less rain we get. About mid October the rains slow down and it can be real dry. Same time the water starts getting cool. Same with Spring, it can be a drought. Also the wind which in the Fall and Winter are cold fronts can whip it up. In the Spring stationary high pressure systems outer winds can cause winds and that can last for a week or more. They arent as bad as Winter storms though. Summer can be real clear if it is a drought, but it has not been a drought this year. I have been out here at different times of the year and it can be gin clear. Out far it is very clear almost always.

[fishingdude]

Can't wait for november!!!

[spearhunter11]

Same here!!

[Capt.Gene]

I think May and October are the best GOM dive months.
Just a small drop in water temp seems to clean up the water.

[stevo1001]

wet suit time....!!!

[fishingdude]

Originally Posted by UaVaj

get ready to run far offshore if you want manageable vis. i usually want 30' plus vis and that usualy means 45 miles offshore on any given day. during winter. that usually means 30 miles offshore and icy cold.

Im not sure where you dive, but if its not after a front, or a storm, or rain, the viz in 45 - (~12mi) is really good in the winter months. Alot of the plankton, algae, and gorilla snot isn't in the water column anymore. I def dont have to worry about 45mi runs in November.

[spearhunter11]

Uavaj Mabey on the east coast but true spearo is on the west coast and if the weather is nice for awhile we get top to bottom right off shore. There has been times we were going full speed and you can still make out the bottom. I love the winter cold water, great vis, and big fish.

[UaVaj]

you two are talking about tip top condition. I am talking typical condition.

get ready to run far offshore if you want manageable vis.

i usually want 30' plus vis.
on any given day during the summer. that usualy means 45 miles offshore.
on any given day during the winter. that usually means 30 miles offshore and icy cold.

[Nathan Florian]

Originally Posted by UaVaj

you two are talking about tip top condition. I am talking typical condition.

get ready to run far offshore if you want manageable vis.

i usually want 30' plus vis.
on any given day during the summer. that usualy means 45 miles offshore.
on any given day during the winter. that usually means 30 miles offshore and icy cold.

The viz can change by simply moving a few miles north, south, east or west of your current position. Its a crap shoot. Viz is typically better in the winter months than the summer when the weather is calm.

[UaVaj]

speaking of great visibility nearshore for mid west florida. i did get lucky one time in dead winter of 2007. it was calm for a few weeks. it was solid 30' of vis 12 miles offshore on south county reef - 45' depth. Temp was an icy 59 degree. As soon as I jump in I could see the shadow of the barge below. holy cow.

I shot and lost my biggest cobia on this day too. that cobia was north of 70lb. it was like 5' long and extra extra thick. peeking from the deck to see what is below on the sand. at first glance i thought it was a bull shark. the cobia was laying on the sand a few feet beside the barge. at the time, i only had a weak biller 48. unicorn a shaft 90 degree between the eyes. damm shaft only penetrated the skull with the flopper still sticking out. this was about 5' shot. the fish was stun. dumb me decide to go grab it bear hug style. wrong move. that woke up the fish. two kick and given only 30' vis the fish disappeared into the shade.

I was shivering after the first dive - 3/5 mil full suit. given the nice vis. went in for a second dive after warming up in the sun. afterall I have never seen the reef like that. i have dove this site a dozen times before and it was always 10-15 vis with lot of mangrove snapper and jew fish. this time was like diving a whole new reef now that I am able to see the adjacent piles and adjacent barges. as for the fish. it was loaded with sheephead, mangrove, hog, and grouper.

[Nathan Florian]

Originally Posted by UaVaj

speaking of great visibility nearshore for mid west florida. i did get lucky one time in dead winter of 2007. it was calm for a few weeks. it was solid 30' of vis 12 miles offshore on south county reef - 45' depth. Temp was an icy 59 degree. As soon as I jump in I could see the shadow of the barge below. holy cow.

I shot and lost my biggest cobia on this day too. that cobia was north of 70lb. it was like 5' long and extra extra thick. peeking from the deck to see what is below on the sand. at first glance i thought it was a bull shark. the cobia was laying on the sand a few feet beside the barge. at the time, i only had a weak biller 48. unicorn a shaft 90 degree between the eyes. damm shaft only penetrated the skull with the flopper still sticking out. this was about 5' shot. the fish was stun. dumb me decide to go grab it bear hug style. wrong move. that woke up the fish. two kick and given only 30' vis the fish disappeared into the shade.

I was shivering after the first dive - 3/5 mil full suit. given the nice vis. went in for a second dive after warming up in the sun. afterall I have never seen the reef like that. i have dove this site a dozen times before and it was always 10-15 vis with lot of mangrove snapper and jew fish. this time was like diving a whole new reef now that I am able to see the adjacent piles and adjacent barges. as for the fish. it was loaded with sheephead, mangrove, hog, and grouper.

We have seen it "keys like" in the winter months when the water temp gets down in the high 50's low 60's. 7mm suit with boots, hoodie and some Crown Royal after you surface is all you need for a great day!

[iFoundNemo]

ehh 59 degrees?.....*gulp* lol

[Kraken]

I can count at least a dozen separate trips this year that I had true top to bottom visibility in 45ft or less out of clearwater pass. The beginning of summer was some of the best vis all year and I took advantage of it with my buddies. When I say its top to bottom, I mean you can see the grunts and hogs on the bottom while im up top.
Every one of these pictures is from a different day out here in less than 45ft of water. And thats not to mention the offshore days when we have 80ft+ vis!