Plenty of Fish in the Mix

By Capt. Bill D’Antuono:

Winter time diving and spearfishing in Florida separates the locals from the vacationers. Water temperatures will range from the low 70’s to the mid 60’s locally. Now would be a great time to invest in a 5mm wetsuit with a hood at SCUBA Adventures. Naturally, we lose most of our body heat through our head, so having a good hood will go a long way. I recommend using Lavacore which is lightweight and gives substantial warmth. Having a good thermal suit will enable you to stay offshore longer which means a higher chance to get your next fish story.

Let’s talk fish. Cobias are definitely out thick during the colder months. This is something to look forward to. They will inhabit almost any higher relief structure and can even be found on the ledges. As always, be prepared to tangle with this pelagic powerhouse. You will get dragged and beat up, but the key is to get a good enough holding shot to keep the fish away from any structure. Once you land a shot, keep a tight grip on your shooting line, but don’t wrap it around your fingers in case something bigger wants a piece of your dinner! Always carry a dive knife and make sure to make your shots count.

Sadly, gag grouper has closed and also amberjack season has been delayed per FWC rulings. More on that in the next issue. Colder temperatures can be a detractor from venturing offshore, but winter time has the best visibility near shore, with plenty of fish still in the mix. Hogfish, sheepshead, red & black grouper, and kingfish are at the top of my list for winter-time spearing. As long as I’ve mentioned black grouper, we have been seeing a surge in their populations in recent months. This is ironically due to Hurricane Irma shifting things around a bit. The spearfishing has been phenomenal and will continue to be awesome. Take advantage of calm, sunny days after cold fronts and you’ll be rewarded with good visibility and fish.

For all your SCUBA and spearfishing needs, SCUBA Adventures has what you need. Located at 971 Creech Road, Naples, FL 34103, phone 239-434-7477.

We have just announced our 2018 Winter Spearfishing Challenge. It is a tournament based through online submissions and lasts until April. As always, check our FB, https://www.facebook.com/NaplesSpearfishingLeague and Instagram @naplesspearfishingleague & contact me at Offshore Naples LLC if you want to get in the water this soon.