Outdoors

Captain's Corner

It's the season: At high tide this week the water at John's Pass looked almost as clear as the Keys, and the temperature pushed up into the 70s, so it's the perfect time to hit shallow water sites for snorkeling and freediving.

By CHAD CARNEY
Published March 31, 2007

It's the season: At high tide this week the water at John's Pass looked almost as clear as the Keys, and the temperature pushed up into the 70s, so it's the perfect time to hit shallow water sites for snorkeling and freediving. Although spiny lobsters go out of season after today, stone crabs remain open until May 15. Scuba divers out deeper are enjoying blue water, too, but below the thermocline water temperatures remain in the middle 60s.

The State Freedive Spearfishing Championship: On Friday, April 13, many of the best freediving spearfishermen in Florida will meet and compete for the title at the Anclote River Park in Tarpon Springs. This fast-growing tournament is riding the popularity of freedive spearfishing and competition will be strong. The clear water and warming temperature will likely assist many spearfishermen to bring in many big gag groupers, mangrove snappers, hogfish and sheepshead. This will be the first year King and Spanish mackerel will be added to the list of pelagic fish, joining amberjack and cobia. For more information on this and other spearfishing tournaments go to www.divefsda.com.

[Last modified March 30, 2007, 22:51:53]