Tenneco Towers.
Amberjack Spearfishing at Tenneco Towers
Perhaps the most underrated fish found offshore in SE Florida, is the greater amberjack, commonly defiled here as a “Reef Donkey!” I first heard that name in Tampa Bay in the early 2000’s, from charter customers from Fort Lauderdale, who like Outer Banks fishermen, wanted no part of the “Jackass of the Sea!”
Fast forward – now I live in Fort Lauderdale, and in winter when so many fish are off the table, I went out to an artificial reef site made up of oil rigs brought here by Tenneco Oil back in 1985. We were on the Deep Tenneco Towers site which is in 195 feet of water, with 65 feet of relief. My dive buddy Fred is not a deep diver, but knows how to handle a camera – see attached photo! We agreed to stay shallow, and at 80 feet I could just see the dark structure below. The first fish to come up to greet me was a nice AJ. My speargun is a 55” enclosed track, with a reel that I keep locked down while scuba shooting. The shot was a hair away from stoning him, and the fight was hard as expected, but seconds later my stiletto finished the struggle.
Smoked amberjack is the most popular dish I serve at seafood parties, only second choice to stone crabs! Medium sized AJs are the perfect size to spear, because the big ones usually have lots of worms. And now you can choose an award-winning Tampa Bay Brewing Company, “Reef Donkey” American Pale Ale to wash down this tasty fish!
Good shooting!
Capt. Chad Carney
(727) 423-7775
www.floridaskindiver.com
email: chad.carney@yahoo.com