The Tampa Bay Times
Spearfishermen and women are still finding some bigger sheepshead in 20’ to 40’. When the offshore water temperatures move up a degree or two, the bigger sheepshead will be on the move back to the dark water of the bay, canals and other inshore haunts. This is a wonderful time of year for spearfishing. Bottom fish and pelagic fish are both on the hit list. Cobia are showing up in most of the places that are also holding kingfish. The limestone hard bottom areas, wrecks and underwater structures are the choice areas for these pelagic fish. The Gulf of Mexico is producing solid hogfish numbers in all depths. Most of the better numbers of hogfish are in water from 70’ to 50’. The shallower depths in the Gulf of Mexico are having on and off visibility problems. Usually, the offshore visibility is super clear when rainfall has been low. The land run off, from rainfall, tends to make the offshore water murky. We are experiencing well below average rainfall totals for this time of year and that should help keep offshore water clean, but not so for 2023. The deeper water, in the 120’ to 180’ depths, are producing great visibility along with strong bottom currents. The normally strong Spring-time water currents along with the aggravating factor of the full moon cycle makes it hard to comfortably dive in these strong currents. Often, during these strong currents we have to stop up-current from the dive site and drop our divers before the dive spot and let them drift toward the dive site.
- Jay Mastry - March 26, 2024
- Captains Corner, Gorta - March 23, 2024
- Dave Zalewski - March 12, 2024
