Dive Updates From 9/5/10

Bug Catcher, Vic, Eric & I made it off shore this past Sunday... The ocean gods were friendly on the surface! 1 foot swells at about 10 to12 second intervals. It only got better as the day went on. We made our first set of numbers around 9:00 am, on a SWEET ride (900 horses will flat MOVE your bote!). Unfortunately, triple 300s will drink gas by the barrel!.

Made it out to about the 100 ft line & had 30 foot viz until we hit about 75 feet. Absolute soup from 75 to 100. 2 foot max viz. No chance of hunting at all. Somehow, Vic managed to feel up 3 slippers, including a possible 4-5 lb-er!!! Biggest slipper I have ever seen. Not bad at all, considering 1 to 2 feet of viz (and that was before we mucked up the bottom). I did manage to feel up a 5-6 foot nurse shark, before she (or I) realized what she was. Touching a big grey surface AND THEN realizing it's a shark (any kind will do) will get your pulse rate going.

Came back in and hit some numbers around 75 feet, thinking we might have better luck. We were wrong. Decent viz down to about 60 feet, then absolute soup again. 2 foot max viz. Bug Catcher & Eric had to feel their way around the structure. With that sort of soup, there is no reason to load the gun! Bug Catcher got bored of swimming in soup, and came back with about 2500 psi in his tank. Eric went for a slow joy ride out over some sandy bottom, and popped up 30 minutes later.

No more diving for the day, so out came the ice cold beer!

Since we were on "lake Atlantic", with glassy seas, we decided to bottom fish for a little while. Nothing much to show. A few BSB and one white grunt in the cooler... I did manage to hook up on a 4 foot Atlantic Sharp Nose for about 10 minutes. After some good speculation, I got it to the side of the boat. Vic got a little ambitious with the gaff, and tried to club it like a baby seal. Not sure of how that is supposed to work, but the shark decided to spit the hook (Eric was glad to get his rig back) and dove away.

We ran back in at 45kts, and got to the marina way earlier than expected. Now, this is where it gets interesting. The Marina was blocked off, because some numb-nuts decided to fish a large HPA or CO2 cylinder out of the marsh, and rest it near the bridge (the only path in or out). The fire department blocked off the exits, so we were stuck at the marina for about 3 extra hours... Eventually (after much begging, bitching, lying, complaining, etc.), they let us OUT, and all was well.

Good day on the water, with a good crew on a good boat! If only we would have had 30 foot of viz... That would be a perfect day!!!

BTW... Lets keep an eye on the viz off shore... Please post up reports of what you are seeing, so we know what to expect, and when the clear water might move back in.

Thanks much...

Artificial Reef Project, 2010

Here we go again, but lets actually GET SOMETHING DONE this year!!!

I have been in contact with SCDNR, and our options are looking good this time. Over the past few years, there have been many road-blocks in the path of a private organizations that would try to take on artificial reef projects. Based on conversations I have had with Joe Weatherby, Spencer Slate and a few others folks, all of the previous information was discouraging. Too many regulations, too expensive, too many hurdles, etc. This year may be a little different.

I would like to hold a meeting, to explore our options, and find out what sort of project (if any) we can take on. We don't have a name, a checking account, or even a t-shirt, YET!!!! Heck... We don't even know who will be driving the project, so far!!!

Lets change all of that?

What I propose is a gathering of folks, who are interested in helping out with the project. Any task, at ANY level, would be helpful. We need Chiefs AND Indians... If we have enough people with enough interest, we may be able to complete a project, support the fishery AND add some interesting dive locations to our coastline.

If you are interested in participating in the project (at ANY level)... PM me and we can discuss the "where" and "when" of the first meeting...

Even a small "first project" would be a great learning experience, AND may open the door to some much larger projects!!! Get on board early, and lets see where this adventure will take us!

Wed, 9/9?

Have not checked the off-shore forecast completely...

Anyone up for a run off shore tomorrow, if the weather looks good?

Tues, 8/26/09

Weather looks good for now (Tues, 8/26). May head off-shore. Anyone interested???

Dive Club Meeting Agenda?

This forum has been dead, for FAR too long!


Does anyone an agend for the meeting Thursday night? Not a "political" agenda, but an actual printed listing of the topics to discuss?