Captain’s Corner: Bill Hardman

The Tampa Bay Times

Amberjack season only started a few weeks ago on May 1^st, but for our divers who got off-shore in the past couple weeks, they found these fish.   Spearfishermen love the challenge of fighting these big strong fish.  Legal size amberjacks started to show up in depth of 110’ to 130’.  Some 50 to 60 pound amberjacks were taken on the wrecks and springs in depths of 150’ to 180’ of water. The season closes at the end of May, as soon as the amberjack season closes, two popular fish species season open up. June 1^st welcomes open season for gag groupers and american red snappers.  Both fish are very tasty. Gag groupers can be found in all depths this time of year.  Red Snappers are more often found far from the shore.  Depths from 110’ of water and deeper are the usual starting depths for red snappers.  Deeper is better for these snappers. While diving ledges in depths of 180’ last week for big amberjacks, some of our divers also ran into nice sized red snappers. They had a few in the twenty pound class flirt about the pot holes and limestone ledges they were diving.  One of the world’s largest spearfishing tournaments, the “Raymond James – Tampa Bay Spearfishing Challenge”, is set for June 6^th and just in time to attach gags and the red snappers. The public is welcome to attend the event. To find out more go to www.tampabayspearfishingclub@gmail.com or FB at tampabayspearfishingchallenge.

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