Nature Coast

Free diving offers plenty of benefits

By ED WALKER, Times Correspondent
Published September 29, 2007

G.R. Tarr holds a gag grouper he speared recently in 40 feet of water off New Port Richey.Many local free divers target gag grouper because they are easier to approach in silence.
	[Ed Walker | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Ed Walker | Times] Hogfish, prolific off the Nature Coast, are not considered the smartest fish on the reef but are popular because of their taste.

Fallis arguably the best time for underwater hunting off the Nature Coast. Blessed with miles of relatively shallow water and thousands of fish attracting natural rock formations, it is one of Florida's top spots for free-dive spearfishing.

Free diving involves holding one's breath. No heavy tanks, hoses or gauges are required as with scuba gear, and there is little risk of getting the bends or experiencing other ailments associated with breathing compressed air. The biggest benefit is its lack of noise. Fish that are difficult to get close to with scuba gear, such as big gag grouper and mangrove snapper, are usually much easier to approach in the silence.

Equipment

A set of long fins, neoprene booties, mask, snorkel, gloves, a sharp dive knife and a weight belt will get you started. When the water gets cooler, a 3-millimeter wetsuit will make your dives more comfortable, and later in the winter a 5-millimeter suit usually becomes a requirement. Some divers wear a neoprene hood in chilly conditions to reduce heat loss.

Hunting gear consists of a gun and a float line or reel. Guns for area reef fish are typically 48 to 55 inches and use one or two thick bands made of rubber to fire the shaft forward. The bands are stretched from the end of the gun to notches on the spear shafts, where they are hooked onto tabs. When the trigger is pulled, the shaft is released. Because of the water's drag, maximum effective range is usually less than 15 feet.

Nearly all free divers rig use a line to connect the spear to the gun. This helps prevent lost fish and shafts. At the butt of the gun is a loop or drilled hole where a float line can be attached. This float line should be slightly longer than the water is deep and rigged with a torpedo-shaped buoy at its opposite end. This way, if a fish is speared and runs into a hole or cave, the diver can let go of the gun and return to the surface for air while still connected to the fish. Floats are helpful should a large pelagic fish such as a kingfish or cobia happen along.

Some divers prefer to rig spears to a Spectra shooting line spooled onto a reel mounted to the gun. When a bottom fish is speared, the diver can swim to the surface while the reel lets out line. This keeps the shaft from pulling out and allows the diver to breathe at the surface even if the fish is "rocked up" far below.

Other accessories free divers might carry are stringers, lights, wristwatch computers and explosive powerheads for protection in case a shark becomes aggressive and threatening.

Where to look

When it comes to choosing a spot to hunt fish, there are several factors to consider. First is visibility. Hunting in murky water is no fun. Ideally you find productive water in a spot not too deep. Each year as water temperatures begin to fall, gag grouper migrate in to the shallow rocks, ledges and reefs from Tarpon Springs to Crystal River. One of the best areas is found outside the offshore grassbeds 8 to 10 miles off Hudson and Hernando Beach. The water is usually clear and ranges from 14 to 20 feet deep. There is a variety of rock formations that might hold good numbers of fish.

What lies beneath

Although gag grouper are the primary target of most local divers, there are many other species to choose from. One is hogfish, often inaccurately referred to as the "hog snapper." These fish rarely bite a hook but are quite prolific off the Nature Coast. They are not considered the smartest fish on the reef, mostly because of their habit of turning broadside to a diver and relying on camouflage for protection.

Other fish commonly speared locally are mangrove snapper, amberjack, sheepshead, cobia, flounder and mackerel.

Stone crabs will be an option when the season opens Oct. 15.

Troublemakers

Any time you are in the water holding a wounded fish, there is a chance something big would like to take it. In recent years, there has been an increase in the Gulf of Mexico shark population. For the most part, sharks simply pass by, but once in awhile they will become excited and try to steal a speared fish. Holding the fish close and not letting the shark have it can be mentally difficult but is the best way to keep them at bay.

Goliath grouper are just about everywhere and for the most part add to the underwater experience. But they might try to take a speared fish, so caution should be used when hunting around them.

The biggest risk

Diving with a partner is key. Exceeding your maximum breath hold results in shallow-water blackout. A trained dive buddy should know your normal dive times and recognize the signs of SWB, which usually occurs upon ascent.

Without someone to help, a diver who blacks out is more likely to die. Once you wake up, your body instinctively inhales. If someone is there to hold your head above water, you will regain consciousness in a minute or two. If not, you will likely inhale water and drown. Knowing your limits and paying attention to them, as well as working with a buddy, will keep you safe and allow you to enjoy a view of the gulf reefs that most fishermen never see.

For information on free-dive safety and training, visit www.performancefreediving.com. Tips and Nature Coast trips reports be found at www.spearfishingplanet.com.

[Last modified September 28, 2007, 20:37:09]