Well we had the bachelor [arty fishing and diving weekend planned for some time and the time finally came this last week! While we didn't get out fishing the deep water as much as we wanted, we had a great time nonetheless!
We got a little of a late start on Thursday and Dave had some trouble with his boat. We worked on it for a while but to no avail. We ended up heading out in my boat around 11 with the intent of diving the Keshana wreck. Well, saying the inlet was a bit sporty is a big understatement! Looked a bit rough from the sound side of the inlet but once we were committed, it actually was pretty damn rough! We ended up taking a whole series of waves over the bow! They were stacked up so tight there was no way I was turning around, just had to take them head on and hope the engine didn't quit! Wasn't too bad out the inlet but they were definitely stacked up and slowed the trip out. Got out to were the wreck was supposed to be but weren't able to locate it. Don't know if we had a bad number or what. Ended up heading over to the Abrams to dive. Unfortunately, one of the guys became REALLY sea sick on the way over. He proceeded to vomit recently eaten pretzels all over the side of the boat! With him in that shape and the weather we decided it was best just to head in.
With the rest of the guys coming in late Thursday night and the hopes of Dave fixing his boat early, we had some great aspirations for Friday and we weren't dissapointed!
Took my boat and 3 guys out to the Abrams to dive early so we could get back to take the other guys in case Dave couldn't fix his boat. First divers in the water were the bachelor, Drew and his little brother Adam. Adam is a videographer/photographer for NBC so I'm looking forward to seeing the pics and final video!!(will post soon)
Their dive went well but they failed to find the big part of the wreck. Visibility was great at the surface but dropped to 20ft below the 45ft thermocline.
Briane and I were up next and were able to find the main wreck right away. COVERED with bait fish and AJ's. Saw a few small gags, triggers, and BSB as well as the biggest puffer fish I've ever seen. Shot a couple of good sized trigger fish and we called it a dive at 30 mins.
Since we knew were the wreck was, Drew and Adam decided they wanted to head down for a bit, take a look and see if Drew could shoot an AJ. Shoot one he did and he was pretty stoked at his first kill with a speargun!! Adam was able to get the whole thing on video and it's pretty hilarious as the AJ swims Drew in circles, green blood everywhere!!
What made the dive even greater was Dave showing up midway through with the rest of the boys and a working boat!
Off to blue water we headed! We decided to start at the triple 0's and troll our way up to the rock pile. On the way we happened on to a cooler floating all by it's lonesome. Threw a squid on a hook as we neared and BAM, nice bull in the boat! Drew followed suit and tossed over a squid to hook up with the cow for his first saltwater fish on the rod and reel! That was all we could pull from the cooler. After reaching the triple 0's we trolled for a bit but our only look was on the planner and that was only enough to pop the band and loose the bait.
After trolling the length of the rock pile and not seeing ANY sign of life, decided to take a left and see if we could find the temp break or a weed line. Boy did we ever! Nice weed line in about 450ft. TONS of life!! Birds, turtles, flying fish, bait fish, dolphin...had it all. Trolled along the weed line and after seeing my third Mahi under the weeds without it coming out to play I decided we would just pitch to them. Well as we slowed down, they decided to play and covered up the spread! Got two more into the boat when they all started free jumping around us. Not sure if something was chasing them or what but it was pretty cool! Started trolling again and the left rigger goes SCREAMING!! I think awesome, something nice for the boys!! Tried tightening the drag down trying to slow him but it made no difference! Finally after a good 200yrds, the line popped! Cut clean off! Hit a black/purple sea witch behind a pink squid daisy chain. Made a few more passes around the area but to no avail. Decided to head on in about 7pm. Needless to say it was dark when we hit the inlet. Long, GREAT day on the water though!!
Saturday was beset with dive issues from the start. Ended up having to wait a LONG time at the dive shop for them to refill the tanks. Didn't start heading out until 130! Wasted half an AWESOME weather day. Oh well, we headed to the Diamond Shoals tower with hopes of diving the tower as long as there weren't a whole lot of boats. There wasn't so down we went!
INSANE number of cudas!! Well over 100 sitting around the tower. I decided not to spearfish this dive! Saw some great life under the tower. Tons of AJ's, rays, spadefish, small BSB, blue runners, and a couple of starfish. Great viz and it was pretty cool to look up at the tower and see all the AJ's swimming around with the cuda above them lining the tower. If someone lost a pink 12oz abyss jig, I found the AJ that stole it! Also, Briane pulled up a fishing pole with the anchor in case someone lost that recently too!
Drew and Adam took some REALLY great shots under the tower on there dive. Look forward to putting those up. After that we jigged up a few AJ's that were mostly destroyed by the cuda's. That was pretty cool to watch!!
After that we headed on back to the hill. GORGEOUS ride in!! Adam got some great shots of Dave's boat with the setting sun.
Needless to say we all had a GREAT time and look forward to getting together again next year. It's great when you can bring a bunch of guys together that you grew up with for something like this. We've talked about trying to make it a yearly thing, hope we can get it to work out!!
I'll try to get those pictures up here soon!!
Thanks again Dave for hanging out with us and letting us use your boat!!
Check out the video footage later on in the thread!!
Tim
First dive on the Abrams
AJ Drew shot
Two super sexy divers!
Ship getting pulled by a tug
Drew's phin from under the cooler!
Catchin' Bait!
Briane's fishing pole he caught with the anchor!
Nice ray under the tower
Nice shot of Dave's boat coming in
Was a bit rough coming in!!
Last edited by cravertosu; 08-16-2009 at 09:55 PM.
Sounds like you guys had a nice trip.
As you found...HI will definitely smack you in the nose.
IMO...when the Mahi start free jumping...Boscoe is lurking near by...Sounds like he should be pooping a purple seawitch in a day or so.
Thanks for the report.
Holwachagot
Great report!!! Know first hand what a great time a bunch of guys can have with a week of boats, saltwater and good weather. Sounds like you had a blast.
Tryin' to be the man, my dog think's I am. marine diesel service owner
Hey Tim,
Sound's like a good time, hope the "town" survived!!! By chance was the "witch" you lost one of the one's I sent you??? By the way, I think that was my Abyss jig I ended up going to OI Mon and Tues, messed around with some blues and spanish Mon, and had a "smokin'" good time with the AJ's Tue. Give me a shout when you get a chance. Frank
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I ended up going to OI Mon and Tues, messed around with some blues and spanish Mon, and had a "smokin'" good time with the AJ's Tue. Give me a shout when you get a chance. Frank
