A lot of people ask me about spearfishing tournaments because, for many years, I shot competitively from Florida to Louisiana. It takes a lot of money & time, and my dive buddies and I racked up our share of trophies, memories and photos, including the 50lbs black grouper on my right, which placed first in a Key West Open.
Two Florida spearfishing tournaments remain for spearos in August.
The first is the St Pete Open, a 52 year old classic, from my home town! Aug. 18 – 20 freedivers & scuba divers shoot the Gulf and Atlantic for most all fish species, up to 100+ pounds. SE Florida spearfishermen & women often win with snapper, cobia, and lobsters, (legally harvested of course). See http://www.stpeteunderwaterclub.com for info and registration.
The second tournament is a new-comer of just a few years, known as the Florida Spearfishing Tournament, which is open all year! This is not a novel idea, but Speared Apparel, and their many sponsors, have taken it to a new level. Spearos, with or without tanks, buy a Florida Spearfishing Tournament hat & register online, then spear and measure their fish with a photo, also of the hat, a witness, and date proof, via a phone or dive computer. Divers will find all the information on www.flspearfishing.com, and register there, as well as check the leaderboards. Click their facebook page to see the current leaders, tournament updates or other new spearfishing information, or of course to post a new leader fish! The last few years Florida Freedivers, in North Palm Beach, Florida has hosted the year end Florida Spearfishing Tournament prizes & trophies party.
Nearly 15 years ago, in a similar tournament, I had an 82 pound cubera snapper bumped off a leaderboard by an 84 pounder in December, but I still won a great windbreaker jacket in another category, with my 11 pound sheepshead!
Shoot straight and safe!
Capt. Chad Carney
(727) 423-7775
www.floridaskindiver.com
email: chad.carney@yahoo.com