Capt. Chad Carney
Spring brings great spearfishing to the Gulf of Mexico, like these big hogfish my buddies & I shot in 100’ to 130’ range. Males show huge dark snouts & long dorsal plumes and tails, while females are lighter marked, but can get good sized out deep. In early spring, divers are sporting full wetsuits and hoods for the Gulf thermoclines. I wear a 5mm Dec. – March, then go to 3mm. Atlantic water hogs rarely get over 10 pounds, but in the Gulf they can push above 20 pounds and “kiss their wrasses”, they’re bottom grazers – not hog snapper!
Seasoned spearos favor hogfish for flavor and beauty, but really not sport. Why? Because arguably it’s the dumbest fish in the Gulf & Atlantic Ocean! New spearfishers, you’ve got to love a fish that is not caught by most hook and liners, and will swim right up to you turn and pose for a shot, even many big ones do it. Generally hogs are too weak to break your gear or hurt you. Often they watch their mates get picked off, until they’re the last target. After a haircut shot, some will forget the spearo & resume grazing. They swim slow, and although they could bolt, they rarely do, not even from noisy, awkward spearfishers! Inquisitive till they’re on the dinner plate. As our prey, what will hogfish do to survive? Hmmm…they’re pretty good at hiding once mortally wounded!
Hogfish Regulations in Florida: Go to myFWC.com for more
Minimum Size: • Atlantic – 16″ fork length Bag Limits: 1 per harvester
Season: • Atlantic – Open May 1 – Oct. 31
Minimum Size:• Gulf – 14″ fork length Bag Limits: • 5 per harvester
Season: • Gulf – Open year round
(In July I moved back to the Gulf & SW Florida – primarily because spearfishing & regulations suck in SE Florida – secondary was 6.2 million people in the pandemic.}
Shoot straight and enjoy some hogfish!
Capt. Chad Carney
Captain Chad Carney – Diving Instructor & Journalist
mobile: 727-423-7775
e-mail: chad.carney@yahoo.com
http://floridaskindiver.com/spearfishingphotos.htm
www.deeperblue.com/beginners-guide-spearfishing