Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By BILL HARDMAN
Published December 31, 2005

If you can find visibility offshore, you can find fish waiting on most of the ledges. Our divers have found better visibility in waters out to 80 feet and hopefully the more shallow ledges will clear up by this weekend. Serious spearfishermen brave the cold water just to get a chance at landing a good-sized grouper close to shore. In years past, we have speared gag groupers in the 30-pound class on ledges in less than 40 feet. The sunny, warm days this week can lull a diver into forgetting how cold the water is. The offshore bottom temperatures are down into the mid 50s. This week I listened as one diver told others how he was only going to wear his 3mm two-piece wetsuit on his next dive trip. Most well-prepared divers use a good 5mm-7mm suit and a hood is mandatory. Trim your hood to fit your face comfortably and get used to wearing it before you go offshore.

Bill Hardman teaches scuba, spearfishing and free diving through Aquatic Obsessions Scuba in St. Petersburg. Call (727) 344-3483.

[Last modified December 31, 2005, 00:48:13]