July's Spearfishing Report- bang, bang, bang with fish and shellfish!

Big Slabbers are in for the  BANG month!  and Permits still around

Every year July 1^st  the kids and I go to the nearest fireworks display and rape the shelves for fireworks well July's just not only  for Independence Day  Fireworks, but it's also banging with Fish… and Shellfish as well!!! July is an explosive month to be out on the water spearfishing.

Scallops in grass beds

Every July 1 scallop season begins in Florida, but this year it snuck up on us on June 28th lol. Clean water, high salinity and a healthy seagrass bed is where these tasty critters live, but these same conditions is what has reduced its range- primarily from the Pasco Hernando County line northwest along the Big Bend region to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal and Bay county- not too bad. Generally in years of high rain fall induced flooding, the rivers excess fresh water and sediment dumps into the Gulf Coast waters resulting in a poor harvest season, an indicator of the sensitivity of the scallop to thrive in reduced salinity and clarity.  Hunting for scallops in the clear waters of the Gulf is a family experience fa’su! Hunting for scallops is easy, it takes no experience, special spearfishing equipment or training- just a snorkel, mask and pair of fins and you’re in business (and most of us own that already right?).  Jump in on a sea grass bed and look

Scalloping a fun family treat!

for the scallops "Blue eyes" about 20 pairs (I think) in total, lining the edges of its shell, which is about 3" wide, and is a brown/white mottled color which can be easy to spot on occasion, but sometimes they have that mossy algae growing on the shell camouflaging it with the sea grass and of course if they are nestled in the sand it can make it a bit challenging.  Once you spot one, be quick in snatching it up, because they are self-propelled, rapidly clasping their shells together jetting water out of its rear.  Btw these shells can also

The Blue eyes!

pinch your fingers so gloves and a mesh bag comes in handy- fellas you don't want to put scallops in the pockets of your swim trunk lol. A Florida saltwater fishing license is needed to harvest bay scallops even when scalloping from shore.  The daily bag limit is 2 gallons whole in the shell or a pint of scallop meat per person- there is a maximum of 10 gallons whole scallops in the shell or half-gallon shucked meat per vesse.  Also know your boundaries it is illegal to take scallops in waters outside of the designated harvest zone.  Also remember if you are hunting from your boat to have your designated diver down flag exhibited- this is very important as a lot of boaters are in the scallop hunt zone boating around looking for the same thing.  Scalloping is lots a fun if you want to learn more head over to the site its packed with 411 on

Easy pickins'

everything scallop!

While we are on the topic of shell fish creatures let's not forget the monumental lobster mini season.  This two day spiny lobster "sport season" is always the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July.

Mini Season Line-up

It begins at 12:01 AM on the last Wednesday in July and ends at 12 midnight and the last Thursday in July.  The bag limit is six per person per day from Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, and 12 per person per day for the rest of Florida. The possession limit on the water is equal to the daily bag limit and off the water it is equal to the daily bag limit on the first day and double the daily bag limit on the second day.  Possession limits are forced on and off the water. Spiny lobster has a minimum size limit that must be larger than 3 inches carapace measured in the water.  Remember nighttime diving is prohibited in Monroe County (only during the sport season) also

SuperSize'em both

keep in mind lobstering is prohibited in John Pennekamp State Park during mini season as well.  In Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, and specific no take areas in the Florida Keys national Marine sanctuary lobstering is prohibited.  A few other clauses within Monroe Countyapply: Islamorada, City of Key Colony Beach, City of Marathon, or any of unincorporated Monroe County there is no diving or snorkeling rule applied within 300 feet of improved residential or commercial shoreline, as well as no diving or snorkeling in any man-made private canal and no diving or snorkeling in any public or private marina-and they enforce this law to the limit!  A recreational saltwater license and crawfish permit is needed for harvesting these tasty critters. Regular spiny lobster season is always August 6 through March 31 the same bag limits during the sports season harvest.

Here are a few important lobstering tips/boating safety pointers during the mini season:

1-Prepare your boat before you launch it

2-Have all your safety gear and boat/trailer papers in order and up to date

3- Familiarize yourself with the local waters and/or your lobstering guide

4- Be cautious of skinny (shallow) water

5- Keep an eye out for divers and steer clear of them; slow to idle speed within 300 feet of a dive flag

6- Watch out for divers where you don't expect them, which could be further away than 300ft from their boat

Bugs! Its whats for dinner

7-Don’t navigate with your dive flag up

8-Be cautious of your divers coming near, into, or out of the boat-ALWAYS keep it in neutral or OFF

9-If it all possible have all divers carry a dive flag tethered to them while in the water-this could be lifesaving especially during mini season.

10- Don't drop the hook on a coral reef, but rather in its outskirt on the sand

11- Keep track of the tides, especially if your off a shoal around Key Biscayne/Elliot Key

12- Check the weather forecast frequently, July/August forecast can change fast!

13- If pulled over by Marine Patrol or FWC, being friendly, polite, and cooperative is the key to a happy ending, remember these guys are just doing their job, and guaranteeing future bugs for our next generation

14- Aside from the saltwater license you also need a lobster stamp

15- Gear such as spears, hooks, wire snares and any device which could puncture penetrate or crush the shell of the lobster is prohibited

16- Always measure lobster in the water before bringing them on the boat

17- Every harvester must have a gauge for measuring lobster, while in the water at all times while lobstering,

The other Taxman

18- Lobster must remain in a whole condition (all parts intact) while at sea, in other words not till you reach terra firma dockside can you wring them!

19- If at all possible keep your bugs alive till dockside (or till you get home) it makes a huge difference in quality

20- If the bug is caring eggs (a bright orange spongy looking sack under its tail) very carefully release it where you got it from-Egg bearing females are illegal to harvest.. 

Finding bugs is pretty easy, look under, in and around rocks, ledges and structures.  Also around shoals with grass ledges. Pretty much anything "crawlable and protecting" can be home to a lobster- tires, tubs, and even metal plates, and cynder blocks are all lobster hotels The best lobstering equipment is dependent on a few factors, but pretty standard is a good pair of dyneema gloves, and a quick pair of hands lol.  Now if you wanna get fancy a spring loaded snare like this one on youtube works pretty well, I prefer the green snare personally, and finally the old reliable tickle stick/net..."the Lobster Assasination Kit" if you guys remeber those back in the days lol..  Here's a great write up on how to use one too.  Finally a mesh bag or a lobster inn bag wraps up the rest of the lobstering gear.  An important consideration especially during mini season, is a float/dive flag combo attached to the divers like this one sold by Austin's Dive shop is great and doubles as a lobster boat lol.

JULY is all about “Strategic Hunting”

The heading echoes what we must apply the next couple of weeks spearfishing in July for the best results. As we head deeper into summer the key word is going to be "Strategic Hunting", and any spearfishing guide will have his/her game plan in place for the very best spearfishing results for their client!

When spearfishing in the month of July- Tides, Moon phase, currents, overall water tempt as well long turn weather (eg repeated afternoon showers over the course of a week) and its effect on spearfishing throughout the week are important to monitor.  The best spearfishing captains will  score consistently if they micro manage these variables- as during these hot as hell months fish will react/move with the slightest of deviations.

WEATHER

Spearfishing weather for July is purdy consistent, calm seas almost every day with that midday breeze from the south and knurly afternoon showers with a few lightning storms thrown in for good measure.  Luckily for

Strategy is the name of the game for July

us spearos/spearas the ocean often serves as a pressure front preventing the storm from going on water this is especially noticeable when spearfishing from Key Biscayne to Elliot Key, in the Keys they cross through fairly rapidly and thus are pretty easy to avoid, also most not being to massive one can maneuver around them, not that it matters much…we’re wet anyways lol!  Another summer weather obstacle to watch for is water spouts….very cool to watch from a distance, but also quite deadly if you’re in its path-STEER CLEAR of water spouts!  Daily rain has its detrimental effects on spearfishing-wash off from our canals make our spearfishing waters dirty, which inturn makes fish spooky.  Rain also changes the waters salinity which causes “algae blooms” turning the water green, worsening viz.

MOON PHASE
The moon has always had on effect on spearfishing, and during July’s summer full moon quite a few species are spawning aside from Mango’s, and yellowtails; that tasty odd looking fish we call the triggerfish is also romancing. During the full moon fish will be more actively feeding, which means during the day they will be

A July weather water spout

less active.  In other words, hogfish will be hugging seafans and similar structure camo’ed and motionless, blacks will be holed up and snapper will be under their favorite ledge.  If doing Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Florida Keys bluewater spearfishing for  mahi, wahoo, or kings you’re allowed an extra few hours of sleep as these pelagics will start feeding later in the morning, after feeding heavily at night during the full moon.  Tides behave very differently during the summer full and new moons and their consequential effects must be taken into consideration when spearfishing
TIDES/ CURRENTS
Tides shift from highs to lows within 6-10 hours and depending where and what you are spearfishing, affecting fish differently.  An incoming tide is bringing in bait as well as clean water, so you can be closer inland (say Hawks channel in our Florida Keys) and find good spearfishing.  An outgoing tide is pushing water out of the bay so it’s going to be dirtier, meaning you’re going to have to go further out (maybe the first reef in our Miami waters) but it’s also pushing bait out with it, so fish might be stacked in certain pockets waiting for food. Also during the full moon tidal current picks up which causes fish to move around, these are great times to be in the water spearfishing while drifting with the current with a great spearfishing captain tracking his clients. New moons will cause the bottom and tops of the tides to be very powerful….any station in tidal creeks could produce some quality fish.  A good current=a good fish.  Anywhere you find good decent current you are more likely to find fish, current keeps fish moving, and it also brings bait in.  Find some structure that has a horseshoe or “cove” type shape and you’ll likely find bait

Typical July spearfishing weather

in these pockets….and with the bait are big pescados. 
WATER TEMPT
During the July heatwave it’s not uncommon for water temperature to hit the 80’s causing fish to move to cooler waters- not necessarily deeper waters, but water that is a few degrees cooler- under ledges, in a current pocket, even a slight depth change within a reef structure could cause that few degree temperature change that fish cool off in.  If doing bluewater spearfishing a surface temperature warmer than surrounding water could mean stressed out bait…which could only mean pelagics are below chomping on that unlucky bait. 

Speaking of baitfish and its influence on spearfishing, around this time every year the Gulf Stream buzz slows down a tad, as Gulf waters warm up.  This inturn pushes huge schools of bait closer to inshore bottom structure- humps, high points, pinnacles. The large mass of baitfish sardines,cigar minnows, big-eye shad (goggle eyes or chicharro) and Ballyhoo migrate to the cooler inshore waters (which are still quite a ways out but not in the Gulf Stream) over wrecks and reefs to spawn, these type structure act like fish eateries for large pelagics.  Any good spearfishing captain will know these migration routes caused by water temperature changes which occur usually around the same time of year, every year, almost assuring  pelagics will be there also.  The best spearfishing guides will have a log of these routes, and will consistently score on pelagics for their bluewater spearfishing clients.
Its no secret during the summer months especially July the Gulfstream gets pushed in tight, around Fowey

The "reef" baitball spawn

Rocks onward south and it’s like a highway for pelagics.  Dolphin, Wahoo, Kingfish, BIG Mackeral, Yellow Jacks, Tuna, Bonitos, and even Cobia are all migrating south in front of Miami around Government Cut which in itself serves as a huge baitfish biomass funnel!!!  The best Miami, Florida Keys, and East coast spearfishing guides will look for the color change from green water to Blue, that’s where your large kingfish will be patrolling, and with them you’ll find Bonito which are making their annual migration through our Florida waters.  Bonitos are found by many to be too bloody to be good eating (although I have heard if bled quickly they make exceptional sashimi) but they do make outstanding burley…if you are fast enough to spear one!  Wahoo and Blackfin tuna spearfishing at the Marathon Humps is excellent right now, with some good size fish in the 12- to 15-pound class being skewered.  Dolphin fishing remains hit or miss, with mostly small numbers of schoolie size fish.   Although elusive, there are some gaffers

A Big Florida Hamachi

and slammers to be had as well, but you have to go way further offshore in the 15-20 mi range.  Finally don’t overlook those real deep water wrecks in the 300’-500’ depth which can have wahoo stacked in the upper water column less than 50’ below!

During this time of the month a bit closer inshore in 30’-100’ you’ll find good yellowtails in the 16”- 18” range and mangrove snapper with some good size to them; some being “slabbers” in the five pound range and above.  Muttons are around mostly in deeper waters coming off the wrecks or a bit shallower on an outgoing tide, keep an eye out for permits (in federal waters) too they’re still lingering around out there!!!  Speaking of wrecks brute amberjack are in the vicinity as are some nice cobia….if your looking for something to wreck your gear!  Speaking of wrecking spearfishing gear Cubera snappers are on these wrecks too as August rolls around and the full moons spawn draws near.

BEST BET FOR JULY SPEARFISHING-MANGROVE SNAPPER

 Call it what you will-gray snapper, mangrove snapper, black snapper, mango snapper- leave the relative safety of the mangrove roots in and around Key Biscayne, Matheson Hammock, and Sands Cut channels , bays, backcountry and Gulf side of the Florida Keys to rendezvous on the outer edge of the reefline on the Oceanside for the purpose of procreation.  The spawn can be found anywhere from patch reefs in as little as 15 feet of water out to the deep edge of the outer reef in 100 feet or more.

The mango July spawn

 The spawn in the lower keys along the reef line is evenly divided between state and federal waters. The rules regarding the taking in terms of size and bag limits vary greatly between the two approximately east of American Shoal the reef line is in federal waters and to the west of the light the reef line is state water.

Mangrove (Grey) Snapper *STATE WATERS
Size limit: 10"
Bag limit: 5 per person/day (included in 10 snapper aggregate bag limit)

Mangrove (Grey) Snapper *FEDERAL WATERS
Size limit: 12"
Bag limit: 10 per person/day (included in 10 snapper aggregate bag limit)

If you want to score on big “slabber” mango’s now is a great time to go spearfishing for them!  From Sebastian Inlet, through West Palm Beach, onward down the east coast to Haulover, Miami Beach, and the Keys mangrove snapper are on the move.  One great spearfishing tip for mangrove snappers is to be on the water during July’s full moon, actually a few days before and even a few days after, but you already know that, so here’s another spearfishing tip for mango snapper-find the numbers!  Numbers here does not refer to great waypoint spearfishing numbers, but rather “quantity”. Mangroves are spawning so the more the merrier is the key.  Although the big slabbers usually are in small pods throughout the year, this time of year in July the slabbers and small snapper are all mixed in, so where you see a large number of small to medium size fish, you will also find the big mammas!  Another one

Big Slabbers are in the Bang month

of the best spearfishing tip for snapper is find good structure, especially a big depth change as found in many reefs throughout Tavernier Key to Marathon Key….ledges, humps, plates are great, and if they drop from 10 feet down to 50’ it can be 1000 times more productive.  You see these type structures will hold bait on the top, so snapper below don’t have to go too far for a meal, so now the same ledge is home, feeding, and spawning grounds all in one!  Probably one of the absolute best spearfishing methods for mango snappers is the aspetto, agachon, or lie&wait…all meaning the same thing (depending where’s your homeport) which is to lie on the bottom (not necessarily motionless).  Some aspettos you want to blend in and be still, a snapper agachon is a bit different, you actually want to stir a little sand, tap a few rocks, twang your bands…as the mango has one downfall-curiosity!  During your lie&wait keep your gun in close under you…and wait, as generally the smaller mango’s will come in first, the slabbers take a little longer…so just be patient!  Another great spearfishing trick I have passed on to many spearo/a is to dress the tip of your gun with some reflective tape and even a fake lure-type fish eye or 2 on the muzzle.  I have had 5# slabbers come right up to my muzzle for a bite of steel!  In fact this spearfishing trick works so well that I include it standard in all my custom made enclosed track Euro spearguns.  If you’re having a hard time locating snapper find any good structure and chum at mid-depth, if within 15-30 minutes you’re not seeing any move on.  Once you locate them bring the chum up to the surface tie it off to your boat and chunk some ballyhoo, this usually brings the slabbers out of hiding.   If you are spearfish  stalking mango snapper on a ledge locate the “snapper train”, a few gray snappers sitting around together, who usually as you are dropping will come up to greet you then swim away in a train-like formation.  Follow them closely looking over your shoulder.  I have noticed the snapper train, on the move, will lure in more snapper, as well as make the bigger smarter snapper follow behind the spearo/a, instead of joining the train, that’s another

great spearfishing trick or technique that I use.  Another spearfishing technique for mangrove snapper is hole hunting.  This is a fast style of shooting fish, and a short one band speargun really helps.  Find a structure that’s holding fish, and has a few holes in it (this is important) so snapper can move in and out and around, lie at the ready on one hole- and wait.  Often a few small snapper will poke in before the bigger one shows himself, shoot fast as the chances are he won’t show himself again.  If nothing happens on that first drop, on your second drop go to the next hole, and so on.  Most good spearfishing charter captains know the snapper spawn will continue even into August (to a much lesser extent) so having a good amount of spearfishing waypoints that have produced snappers in the past during the spawn will really fill the cooler, and the best thing is the great mangrove snapper waypoints will produce big fish year after year
 

 

HAVE A SAFE AND GREAT 4th of JULY

Till next spearfishing report, tight bands, straight shafts, and smooooooooth triggers! 

Tone 

http://www.settingsteelspeargear.com/