The water is getting warmer with visibility at about 30 to 60 feet after you get though the green layer on top. Most of the bigger fish are hanging on the taller structures like bridge spans and fully intact ships, but the grouper have been on hard bottom areas more than the wrecks. With red snapper season opening on the 11th there will be increasingly more boats out there so be careful running though the pass. The weather is normally pretty good during June. Don’t be afraid to go out if the forecast calls for rain because most of the weather forecasts are for the land/beach and not out to sea and let’s face it you are going to get wet anyway! We all know that it always rains in the mid-afternoon here in the Panhandle. Be on the lookout for the lionfish tournaments. You can win some cool stuff and they are a lot of fun. The tournaments help to get rid of the nuisance lionfish which in turn should increase our game fish like snapper and grouper.
Safety tip: remember to look up at the top of boats that are already on a site for a dive flag and to use EXTREME CAUTION within 300 feet of a dive boat. I have already had a few close calls with boaters not paying attention this year.
As always, Plan your Dive and Dive your Plan.
Thanks for reading.
CAPT. JAMES TEW
Kitchen Pass Dive & Fishing Charters
850-896-6476