Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By CHAD CARNEY
Published May 28, 2005

It looks like the twice postponed State Freediving Tournament will have good weather and visibility today in Bayport. The rescheduled date will make big sheepshead hard to find, but there seems to be no shortage of gag grouper out to 60-foot depths. The new category of cobia and amberjack may be easiler to find due to larger bait schools than seen while scouting the original dates.

Despite rough seas and strong easterly winds sisters Jaclyn and Jamiee Afeld began summer vacation by completing scuba certification dives on Thursday and Friday. In 45 feet of water, the South County artificial culvert piles have top to bottom visibility and the water has warmed to 75 degrees. A dozen goliath grouper hovered above the largest of five rubble piles just west of the yellow reef marker, but moved off as we approached. A 6-foot nurse shark lying between the pipes paid the teens little attention.

Scuba spearfishermen diving deeper than 140 feet are still encountering thermoclines with mid-60 degree temperatures, and amberjack on wrecks and sink holes.

Memorial Day weekend typically marks the arrival of yellow algae called "gumbo" by local divers, but this year only slight amounts have been seen in about 100 feet northwest of Tampa Bay and in some areas of Big Bend. The algae often collects on the bottom around limestone ledges, but usually does not affect the clear spring waters.

Chad Carney teaches diving and spearfishing in the Tampa Bay area. Call 727 423-7775 or e-mail chadcarney@verizon.net

[Last modified May 28, 2005, 00:09:12]