Captain’s Corner: Bill Hardman

The Tampa Bay Times

Gag groupers season closed on January 1^st and will not re-open until July 1, 2021, so many divers are moving their hunting focus to other fish.  Sheepshead are on the list.  This is the time of the year when the bruiser sheepshead come out of their dark summer fortresses and venture out into clearer water.  They can now be spotted just offshore and flirting around the heavy structure just inside the bay waters.  When the winds calm down and the underwater visibility clears, diving in 15’ to 30’ offshore can be a fun and exciting time.  The bigger sheepsheads have been through this scenario many times and they are crafty.  The bigger sheepshead can be just as wary as a seasoned gag grouper.  They won’t dash away from your approach until the last second and usually they will head in a direction that makes it difficult for you to move and re-aim your speargun.  A shorter speargun will help when aiming changes need to quickly occur.  Spearguns with a smaller diameter barrel will allow you to turn the gun and make faster aiming adjustments.  Typical freedive rail guns are good at this type of hunting.  Many manufacturers make quality “rail” guns, such as: Hammerhead, Omer, Mares and more.  You can buy new one of these type guns for under $100. Go to a dive shop that knows how to help you rig a rail gun and your success will be improved.

Capt. Bill Hardman teaches classes and runs trips for Scuba, Spearfishing, Technical & Freediving courses at Aquatic Obsessions, 6193 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL  33710.  You can reach Capt. Hardman at (727) 344-3483 (DIVE) or CaptainBillHardman@gmail.com