The Red Tide fish kill affected some areas in the gulf; however, many areas look untouched by the fish kill. On my last dive trip, we found only about 15 percent of the ledges in 40 to 60 feet seemed to be missing fish. One ledge produced nice groupers and hogfish and a half-mile away its neighboring ledge was void of life.
The springs and wrecks past 100 feet are producing some nice amberjacks. For the sneaky spearfisherman, there are a few bigger mangrove snappers on these wrecks.
Lobster season has been good, with lobsters of more than 10 pounds caught. A diver got six spiny lobsters on one spot in 42 feet. Check for egg-bearing females. I found two big females carrying their brood of more than 4-million eggs per female. Before attempting a catch, look under their tails with your dive light for orange to brown colored eggs. If you disturb an egg-bearing female, she may abort her brood.
In tournament news, the St. Pete Open is today and the weigh-in starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Tierra Verde Resort. This event is open to everyone and there is no fee. The next tournament is the FSDA Southern Open, Sept. 12-14. Visit www.fsda-wcc.com/SouthernOpen
- Capt. Bill Hardman teaches scuba diving, freediving and spearfishing, and runs daily spearfishing trips. Contact him Aquatic Obsessions Scuba, 6193 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL.; (727) 344-3483.
