Guests
The return of the Sarasota wild boys bringing along a a few Hatch
virgins. Gillfish (Carl), Trails End (Sam), Chuck Vanness, Phil,
American Spearit (Tom) as the token hook n' liner and the madman himself
Marty Martel.
BIG thanks to Trails End for bringing some grade-A lobster bisque and
Brunswick stew from his Dad's restaurant. That was some primo stuff that
one would expect to pay $5-$6 per cup in a restaurant, and we had a
couple gallons of each. They both hit the spot after a hard day of
diving, but Phil's prediction that there was "going to be some mud
butter" the following morning came true with the very filling, and rich
entrees. The line to the gunnel, and the head resembled a Manhattan deli
at lunchtime.
What's up with all our charters opting to bring their own dinners
lately? Are you trying to tell us something ? No Jolly Dogs were harmed
in the making of this dive charter.....
Sea Conditions
Despite the weather forecast, our first day was picture perfect with
flat calm seas and blue cloudless skies. Later that night a front came
through which jacked up the seas to 3'-4', and remained that way until
the ride in when it began to lay down. Water temps off the Hatch were
80*-82* with top to bottom vis in the 55-70 fsw range.
Slay Report
You can feel it. With the water temps dropping ever so slightly, the
fall-winter dive season off the Hatch is getting ready to explode. This
was verified by the ample population of gags that we saw on the rock
piles that just a couple months before were pretty spotty which is
unprecendented even for the summer in the Big Bend. Nothing huge, but
the 20# plusses will be here soon enough. Give it a few more weeks, and
you will be diving down into cold, crystal clear water where dozens of
10#-25# gags will greet you as you descend to the rock pile below. Work
the site correctly, and you should have your pick of groupers before
they bug out. Mop the place up with the swarming hogs, mangos,
sheepshead, and triggers before taking it to the roof 70' above you.
Almost topped the boxed off on just a four tank single overnighter trip
with very little filler (only one amberjack). The rowdy crew got the
party going on the ride in as per usual, and the Captain Morgan's was
flowing. By the time we hit the dock with subsequent beverages at the
tiki bar after loading out, one unnamed individual was as shitfaced as a
freshman co-ed on roofies at a fraternity kegger . Bottoms up, big guy !
Great trip, standing by.....
AJ Suarez
