Prior to the most recent cold front, anglers had been reporting a decline in bottom-fishing action.
The trend seems to be that the grouper activity is good immediately after bad weather then steadily tapers as the waters clear and fishing pressure increases. Many people question if the fish are there and not biting or simply gone.
Another type of angler, underwater hunters, say that even when the rod-and-reel bite is off at many spots, the fish are present.
Divers have had outstanding catches of gag grouper, hogfish and mangrove snapper the past two weeks. One bunch speared in 70 feet of water its limit of gags, as big as 30 pounds; and hogfish, plus a 54-pound amberjack. Perhaps most impressive was that the divers were without tanks or compressed air.
Freediving, as the sport is known, is done while holding one's breath. It takes a lot of practice and self discipline to dive deep, then find, stalk, shoot and grab a good-sized fish in one gasp.
Being able to relax is critical. The lower the heart rate, the slower oxygen is used, and the longer you can stay down. Most freedivers learn the proper techniques in less than 20 feet of water, then venture deeper as they become more experienced. It can be dangerous and should never be attempted without an experienced partner.
From a spear angler's perspective, breath-hold diving is among the best ways to sneak up on big gag grouper.
Scuba diving requires the individual to wear a buoyancy compensator, tank, hoses and gauges. Bubbles caused by exhaling air create noise that can cause fish to bolt before they are seen.
All of this is eliminated when freediving, which allows the diver to experience the underwater world in its own silence.
Contrary to what many non-divers think, grouper and snapper seldom sit and wait for you to shoot them. In most cases, they spook on sight, leaving only a cloud of dust where they were.
Hunting skills and techniques are learned from trial and error. It is rewarding to outsmart a grouper in its own element.
There is no better way for rod-and-reel anglers to improve their bottom-fishing techniques than to view what's going on under the boat. Seeing how the fish hold near the structure and their reaction to the available baitfish and what else is nearby will give you a better understanding for the next rod and reel-only trip.
Another benefit to spearfishing is that anglers often encounter hogfish. The exceptionally good-eating members of the wrasse family are prolific at depths 12-130 feet. About any rocky spot with grouper will have hogfish. They are relatively easy to shoot and arguably the best eating fish in local waters. The bag limit on hogfish is five per angler, with a minimum of 12 inches fork length.
There is a controversial proposal to raise the size limit to 20 inches and lower the bag limit to one per person. The issue will be discussed with new proposals for Goliath grouper by a scientific review panel Jan. 26-30 at the Tampa Airport Hilton, 2225 North Lois Avenue.
Information on local spearfishing issues can be found online at Spearboard.com.
