For the divers who made it offshore this month, the hogfish, mangrove snappers and sheepshead have been the mainstay for spearing on the ledges and hardbottom areas of the Gulf of Mexico. The water temperatures are still in the mid to upper 60’s and that keeps the fish moving swimming in and around the structure in slow motion. The larger male hogfish are harder to find as they are not flirting up and down the ledges like they do when the water is warmer. There are a lot of female hogfish to be had and they tend to move together up and down the structure. They may not be side by side of each other, but they tend to be only a few yards from each other. Mangrove snappers are still holding tight to the deeper areas of the structure. If a diver can successfully sneak up to the deeper holes, they can get a fair shot at a big snapper. As soon as any commotion starts, the bigger snappers are the first to disappear and the last to come back out. Sheepshead are still in water depths out to about 30’. Limestone areas just north and south of the inlets and channels leading to the Gulf of Mexico harbor larger concentrations of sheepshead. Just like most fish, the bigger sheepsheads are the first to notice the diver and the hardest to surprise. The bigger sheepsheads are wary and quick to disappear – sometimes even before the diver ever saw them.
- Jay Mastry - March 26, 2024
- Captains Corner, Gorta - March 23, 2024
- Dave Zalewski - March 12, 2024
