What's that? You just dove in the SBO, and are too tired, too hen-pecked at home to go out again so soon, and have too many chores around the house? Well time to trade in that skirt for a tank of nitrox you Nancy-boy, it's steelslinging

Jolly Rogers style !!

Guests
The Boca All-Stars in the mf-ing house!! Fishhunta, kitefisherman, conspearasea, and SLAYER. That's right, we were graced with the presence of SLAYER, the camo thong wetsuit wearing, cuda killing, crown prince of SLAYING fish by every method imaginable. Fishreaper came onboard last minute, and held his own very well with the Hall of Fame lineup already assembled. Thanks to Kite who came through with his usual bonus culinary offerings, this time with smoked fish dip, and Canadian goose gumbo.

Since the Tooth Fairy has yet to visit Jimmy Z to fix his tooth-squeeze inducing temporary filling, we had John Riddick (aka-Redneck) round out the fish assassination duties for the crew. Admiral Jim had to stay contented with being our bus driver for the trip, and regaling us all with his amazing insight on the LA Lakers (we really care......honest !).

Sea Conditions
An hour into the trip, NOAA was looking at a serious ass whipping from us. The 2' or less forecast translated into an actual solid 4' sea that we rode in the trough almost the whole way out to the MG. Luckily for us, it laid down as we approached, and stayed flat calm for the rest of the trip. I guess we'll go kick NOAA's ass another day. Vis is incredible right now in the MG, blue water averaging 80'-100', and water temps are in the low 70's.

Freeshaft Schmeeshaft!!
Of course on the trip that you come prepared with all the accoutrements for sashimi is when there's not a tuna to be found. Instead we had small sandbar sharks tearing up the flatlines each night. Spear One, when are you going to take care of the greysuits for us ? We arrived late, and missed the bite Tuesday night because we traveled to a farther area of the MG than normal. Wednesday was the opposite however, with many mangos, pink porgies, and red grouper going over the rail, and into the pail for those that stayed up late.

Both days of steelslinging were very steady with almost every dive being productive. It was one of those trips where you don't realize how good you did until after unloading the fish box. I won't steal anybody's thunder, and let the guys tell their spearfishing tales of the trip at their convenience (read- I'm tired as hell!).

I had an off-trip compared to most everyone else, getting fish on every dive, but scoring no double digit fish-count hoops. My highlight was on Wednesday seeing a large male hogfish beelining off the ledge out to the sand onto the deep side. I went into full pursuit at 130 fsw (on 34% ), and chased that dude for over 50 yards finally arcing a Hail-Mary that achieved the infamous "anti-stone" tail slot. The fish went apesh*t, now thrashing away in hyperdrive. I kept swimming, and ran into another break. After a minute, I saw a shaft poking out of a crevice in the ledge wall. That's all she wrote, sayonara, good night nurse, turn the lights off Gracie. A minute later, the Mark Spitz of hogfish was taken to visit the surface world, transportation courtesy of the hoop of death.

Kitefisherman was the trip photographer, and will no doubt provide mass quantities of eye-popping pics, and witty captions for your vicarious steelslinging enjoyment. First let's let him get home, and let me go to sleep. Standing by.

Slaytistics
Mango Snapper=118
Hogfish=27
Grouper=55
Amberjack=3
Red Snapper=3


AJ Suarez