Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By CHAD CARNEY
Published February 4, 2006

Brent Argabright has joined the short list of spearfishermen who have speared a black grouper weighing 100 pounds or more. On Sunday, Jeff Hunter dropped Argabright on a southwest Florida wreck with a buddy who shot first and speared a big gag. Argabright scanned the wreck from above and spied a much bigger black grouper that retreated parallel to the wreck.

He flanked his prey and fired a freeshaft that hit the grouper, but the huge fish swam on seemingly unaffected until it abruptly made an about-face. While in pursuit, Argabright speed-loaded his spear gun and launched a second freeshaft to the head of the grouper, which dropped tail-first to the sand.

Argabright thought victory was at hand and grabbed the grouper by the gills, but was then slammed against the wreck by the still-live fish. Argabright continued to fight the grouper until it finally began to fade.

Twenty minutes after surfacing, Argabright took photos of the 101-pound prize black grouper, still kicking on the boat deck. The captain and divers commented that both the fish and the spearfisherman looked to be in similar condition.

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

[Last modified February 4, 2006, 00:32:20]