Diving deep for Grouper on the East Coast of Florida is something usually reserved for Scuba divers. There are a few groups up and down the coast that have the patience and skills to spear these big bottom fish in water 75 feet and deeper and the rewards are usually worth the effort.
While the Scuba guys spend all their time on the bottom and the rest in the boat doing their surface interval, we as freedivers get to spend the whole day in the water and are always hunting even when we are resting on the surface. With the advent of new restrictions on limits and fish species the old way of thinking like a commercial fisherman and shooting as many fish as fast as you can is disappearing quickly. Now you see even the scuba guys buying better quality guns with more range and better line setups so they can save their shots and land those 3-4 trophy fish per dive instead of hurting and losing the big Cobia, African Pompano, Amberjacks and monster grouper shot with a freeshaft or heavy scuba diving gun.
Freediving this week my cousins 11 and 16 years old both had chances at good fish and shot multiple big pelagic fish including a 61lb Cobia. At the other end of the spectrum my Father who taught me to dive freedove alongside me and speared a solid cobia and had 20+ lb Red Snapper around us all day. Freediving is so much easier with less gear and freedom in the water and the amount of time spent hunting is incredible. We are so lucky to have a sport we can enjoy at any age.
This was such a cool spot with Amberjacks and Cobia and big Red Snapper all the way to the surface. We had the Big Snappers chummed up to where they were hitting the baits as soon as it hit the surface. Incredible and painful to see at the same time. I took the three prong and sat inches from their heads counting the days until the season opens. Good times can’t wait to get out there again.
Cameron Kirkconnell
One of these is not like the others.... Cobia amongst the Amberjacks is always a welcome sight
16 year old Spearos Quinn and Aaron
Love seeing Cobia in clear water.
Aaron on his way down to shoo the biggest of the cobia this season
Big cobia with a second shot. For some reason all too often the second shot is right in the exact same hole as the first. Whoops!
Amazing day to be in the water
Aaron getting his hands on the big guy
Amberjacks swirling waiting for the Cobia
Some big Cobia from Aaron and my Dad. I didn't pull the trigger but once this day everyone else was crushing it
Running out at 38 knots. Not a bad way to go
Calm morning. Lake Atlantic
William Scott with a solid Gag Grouper badly in need of a haircut.
Little Cobia from the first day
16 year old Aaron Scott with his 61lb Cobia and my 65 yr old dad Kirk with a 40lb'er
Two full coolers at the end of the day and fish taco parties all week. Cinco de Mayo can't come soon enough again.
Riffe Armor Spectra float line. Jay Riffe and I designed this to be the strongest most durable and abrasion resistant float line in the world. It has a 2000lb breaking strength and a Spectra outer with high visibility Red/Yellow Camo. Its compact and tough as hell. It did the job this week diving deep cutting through the water with little drag and no problems getting damaged around the sharp edges of the wreck. This line is incredible.
3 Responses to “Grouper Season Opener”
I dont know much about your guns,they look great and they must shoot true,and the Generation X divers that are kicking ass with them are the future of your company,what is your plan,I retired 4 years ago,and I was asking why your gun is not more popular here,or become the corvette of guns,ive read more and I think youll make it,you are close to the APEX of guns and I shot commercially for years so I know that you guys look great,and your gun is as good as ive ever seen, best of luck,,someone will send you and your product around the world,if your interested,my non diving novice just informed me that
just a comment i dont want to spark a frenzy or anything but freediving does have its advantages against scuba like u mentioned more time in the water but also scuba has its advantages as in less chance of oxygen deprevity and less lung strain i freedive and scuba dive so i am not pemesist against either of them i think they are equal at chances of taking fish and also some people cant hold their breath for 1:30 or even 1:00 but great article!
Also to all spearfishermen/women please dont take fish that you you, your family, or friends wont eat all of it because while there are plenty of fish in the sea your actions control how many of them are in the sea tommorrow
Without trying to spark any bad comments, in my opinion spearfishing should only be done via apnea. I personally just feel that its way too far an advantage to use tanks. So therefore it takes alot more skill to land that fish that might be a bit deeper than is usually found. Thats just my thoughts. Thanks for an amazing site Cameron.