Fishing off Wakulla.
I finally got to go fishing off Wakulla County!
We went midweek and were amazed at all the red snapper found mid-water column right under the boat. Being spearfisher-people we selected only the largest fish to collect.
Of course we met the limits allowable before dropping to the bottom to seek Grouper, Hog Fish and Lionfish.
We were 30-40 miles offshore in 60-80 FSW. The sea was flat all day. And the water was warm enough not to require wet suits. That was wonderful mid-June, but a concern due to climate change.
There was a thermocline that brought the temperature down just below 80 degrees near the bottom. Perhaps that is why the snapper were near the surface.
I made three of the four dives offered as the day wore on. We got back to Carrabbelle by 7 p.m. and the shop by 8 p.m., a very long day.
My partner, Dr. Joerg Hess, was having challenges with his speargun so I eventually loaned him mine, after which he did much better.
We were chased out of the water by sharks on almost every dive! The first dive, it was a hammer or bonnet head shark that came in fast and furious, clearly in a search mission.
The second dive had a Bull shark (probably) that arrived after 15 minutes.
By the third dive we borrowed the single Shark Shield that was on the boat, and saw no sharks. That’s when I cleaned up on my limit of fish. I stayed out loaning my new gun to Joerg on his fourth dive.
But I heard that same boat diving the next day had major shark problems. I also determined that they did not charge the Shark Shield the night of my dives before using it the next day.
Shark Shields need to be charged every day between uses. Thankfully, no injuries occurred.
I dove using my rebreather, legally used to spearfish in Federal waters. We did not stop in any State waters.
While I used a very advanced Liberty rebreather, which made it heavy and awkward to get out of the water at the end of the dive, it was what I had available at the time.
Next time I will take the much smaller side mount or Dive Rite back mount rig.
Rebreathers are silent underwater, unlike the loud bubble-generating open circuit rigs most folks currently use. So curious fish came right up to or near me.
My newer, smaller gun permitted me to select either those fish already injured by others, or the largest of a selected species.
Yes, a Shark Shield is highly recommended for spearfishing off Wakulla now.
Use one between at least every dive team while in the water. Better yet, use one on every diver, so that when one looses its charge, the other keeps on repelling sharks.
They carry a capacitor and battery to produce a pulse that is at the best frequency to repel sharks by striking their lateral line system.
There is no evidence that such a charge will bother other fish.
Turn off the Shark Shield before getting out of the water as it will shock you on the ladder!
Aloha!
This column was written by Gregg Stanton in June 2021.