Caloosa Spear-Board Newsletter
May 03, 2008

The first weekend in May proved to be another Great weekend in spear-fishing history. Two of the most re-known Captains of the Caloosa Dive Club went somewhere out West.
Captain Ron took out 2007 Silent Auction winners Barry Donegan and Frank Panhuise out west approximately 15 miles or so somewhere, some west ledge where they visibility of 20 or maybe even 30 feet and whopping flat seas, and a water temperature of 76 degrees. Somewhere in 60 foot of water Frank, Barry and Ron came up with a whole lot of fish and to Barry’s credit a whopping 3# 7 oz. Red Snapper to put him on the spear-board in second place. Captain Ron at the same time is putting another notch in his gun and another grouper (14 # 13 oz.) on the spear-board but you have to wait for the meeting to find out where he will be on the board.
Next Captain Rich took out “Big Stick” Bob Stafranko, “Young Gun” Dan Maloney and up and coming new comer Jerry Frease. Again you ask where. And everyone said, “Somewhere out West”.
The following information comes from our new reporter at large “Young Gun” Dan Maloney who had firsthand experience and knowledge of the good, the bad and the ugly on this trip.
First in the water were Bob and I. In approximately 85 foot water this reporter tried for the first time to free shaft. I shot the first grouper, but he got off the shaft before I was able to reach him. My second shot I shot two snapper, but one got off before I could string them. My third shot was a grouper but he came up a little short for the sandwich, if you know what I mean. Bob on the other hand got himself a couple of really nice snappers.
It was soon time for Jerry and Rich to dive and on their first attempt in the water they found nothing and came up and were relocated to another spot quickly. Once in the water, Jerry found himself a nice grouper, but he (the grouper) decided he didn’t want to stay on the spear. Unfortunately for Captain Rich, 2 very nice nurse sharks got to his fish before he did.
Next stop Bob and I were back in the water, we had a little bit of a swim to find the ledge. But before we got there I shot what I thought was a good size grouper I bet even money it was every bit of 15 #’s. This is where the fun started and he, being the grouper, swam off with my shaft in his head. I loaded another shaft and started to swim in the direction of my grouper, fortunately for me I found him and this time shot him the back of the head. Now I have both the grouper and my shaft. Now this is where it gets tricky the first shaft was easy to get out but the second shaft went through the jaw bone leaving me in a bit of a dilemma. So I put the grouper on the stringer, loaded my gun with the one shaft and continued on. Where I came upon a nice school of AJ’s (Amber Jacks). I slowed up, tethered my shaft and looked for the biggest one I could find. With my gun drawn, I took aim and I shot the big one. Letting him drag me around for a while, I worked the other shaft out of the grouper, reloaded with both bands. This time I was pondering whether to shoot the AJ again to finish him off or get me another. I decide to stinger the AJ at which time I clipped the stringer to my BC, or at least I thought I did, so when I let go of my stringer I also let go 2 of my best looking fish of the season, swimming off in the Gulf of Mexico. The chase began and soon I was finally able to catch up with them. I thought at this time it would be a good time to check my air and started to head up. On the way up I saw some AJ’s that were following me, was I dreaming and or did I have enough air to shoot one more time. I checked my air one more time and made a decision that if one more AJ circles around me, (would I shoot) but if I shot him and he dove down I may get into trouble. So I decided to leave him for another day. I’m not sure what Bob got on that dive. But whatever it was it added greatly to our catch of the day. Next Captain Rich went down and came back with 3 really nice snappers and a grouper to add to our collection. The last dive of the day Bob and I went down, the current was sporty, so we had a bit of a swim to get to the ledge, but we did find it. I proceeded to get another grouper and a Hog fish. As I was finishing, stringing up the fish, out of the corner of my eye I saw, Hooooolllllly Sh*t, the biggest Goliath Grouper I have ever seen and I have seen some big ones. Being around him made me feel tiny and I’m 6 foot tall and 220 pounds, and I wasn’t about to share my dinner with him. I swam a little longer and then there he was again, the Goliath Grouper, no not really it was his younger brother, smaller then the first, but every bit of trouble, he just wouldn’t stop following me and there were grouper and snapper everywhere, enough for everyone. You ask where? Somewhere out west. Even though the seas got a little rough on the way back, another day of GREAT diving was had by all.
Happy Hunting from the spear-fishing news guy, get it, got it, shoot it, until next time…….