tom wicker
Contributor
I would like to thank the Alabama Spearfishing Organization along with Garys Gulf Divers on behalf of the Lost Boyz (Terry, Tom and Shane) Even though we had no fish to compete with we did put fish in the box and have a blast. A special thanks go out to Mrs. Linda for those that dont know her she is Garys better half she was a life saver when we had a buckle to fail on one of the new fandangle DUI weight belts . Say what you will but it is hard to beat a plane old SS Buckle.
Our day began early with everyone pumped and ready to go boat loaded tank racks filled to overflow with tanks strapped to the floor off we went we had a dive plan of four different dive sites but after all was said and done just two was used. On our first dive of the day we suited up rather quickly I was dropping with Shane reaching for my Rhino I noticed it stood all alone proudly in its rack I said to Shane ah hey buddy ah where is your gun? With a funny look on his face he said I forgot it He lost that funny look quick enough while riding the forty five minute ride back to the truck while wearing a wetsuit in the sun today. For the life of me I cant understand why he didnt take it off. Anyhow to make a long story short we did return to the site which yielded very few fish.
As the day grew longer we decided to try out luck along the beach but cheating a little to keep from having to make that long walk across the sand arriving at the whiskey wreck the Viz was about a good 5 to 10 foot while there we met up with a old boy from Mobile offering up some pretty cheap classes as he broke of from a local dive shop over that way I stand by the old saying though you get what you pay for in the end. Anyways Snorkeling up to us he was quick to say be careful a blacktip has been harassing them the last couple of days I sorta chuckled to myself yea right a blacktip sure. Anyways with Snorkels covering the wreck and very limited Viz and no fish we moved on west.
Dropping in on Mats dive hole the Paddle wheeler (Miami) with about 10 limited viz we find some fish and put some in the box. Small Mangrove snapper where abundant Sheepshead came in a close second . I ask you Have you ever had one of them days you just dont seem to miss? Well today was my day I say this for a reason later to come. I dropped to the floor just off north side of the wreck and took up squatter rights just as fast as I could load I was firing filling a stringer attached to my side .
The old Rhino gave me some trouble the trigger hung-up and wouldnt allow me to load my shaft at one point it took me about 20min to free it up. If I had only none what was to be in store for me I would have left the water rather quickly at that time.
Shane taped me on the Shoulder and showed he was running low on air I called the dive and motioned upwards unloading my gun as we surfaced waterlogged and worn out Im ready to go. Again Shane taps me on the back and says hey Tom what is that fast moving black shadow :11: (typical Yankee) here I am with a stringer full of fish and a unloaded gun and this Yankee is asking about a large Black shadow that keeps zipping by (talk about brain dead)
I lower my head to get a look with a puckered a## and sure enough there was a large believe it or not Blacktip charging in swinging around and running back out faster than any shark Ive come across in the water. I look to Shane and say Blacktip and he kinda cocks his head to the side with a dumbfounded expression on it. I then say Shark well now the lord would have been proud of old Shane he parted the water like Moses
leaving his buddy with a stringer of fish and an unloaded gun . I yell for him to at least throw me his gun since it still had its bands loaded so he throws me this little aluminum JBL hell I would just piss it off with this gun
so I decide to use it as a hand spear if need be.
I want to state once again just how fast this shark moved it was unbelievable anyways about 35 and several Charlie-horse later with my stringer in tow I make it out of the water to a buddy who said I had your back
All in all it was a great day and as far as the Paddle wheeler it is a must see that baby is uncovering great. I got to get out there with a tape to get some measurements . Has anyone seen the object towards the west end yet it is off kinda to itself could this be a large encrusted anchor?
If the pic's come out there should be some good ones
Our day began early with everyone pumped and ready to go boat loaded tank racks filled to overflow with tanks strapped to the floor off we went we had a dive plan of four different dive sites but after all was said and done just two was used. On our first dive of the day we suited up rather quickly I was dropping with Shane reaching for my Rhino I noticed it stood all alone proudly in its rack I said to Shane ah hey buddy ah where is your gun? With a funny look on his face he said I forgot it He lost that funny look quick enough while riding the forty five minute ride back to the truck while wearing a wetsuit in the sun today. For the life of me I cant understand why he didnt take it off. Anyhow to make a long story short we did return to the site which yielded very few fish.
As the day grew longer we decided to try out luck along the beach but cheating a little to keep from having to make that long walk across the sand arriving at the whiskey wreck the Viz was about a good 5 to 10 foot while there we met up with a old boy from Mobile offering up some pretty cheap classes as he broke of from a local dive shop over that way I stand by the old saying though you get what you pay for in the end. Anyways Snorkeling up to us he was quick to say be careful a blacktip has been harassing them the last couple of days I sorta chuckled to myself yea right a blacktip sure. Anyways with Snorkels covering the wreck and very limited Viz and no fish we moved on west.
Dropping in on Mats dive hole the Paddle wheeler (Miami) with about 10 limited viz we find some fish and put some in the box. Small Mangrove snapper where abundant Sheepshead came in a close second . I ask you Have you ever had one of them days you just dont seem to miss? Well today was my day I say this for a reason later to come. I dropped to the floor just off north side of the wreck and took up squatter rights just as fast as I could load I was firing filling a stringer attached to my side .
The old Rhino gave me some trouble the trigger hung-up and wouldnt allow me to load my shaft at one point it took me about 20min to free it up. If I had only none what was to be in store for me I would have left the water rather quickly at that time.
Shane taped me on the Shoulder and showed he was running low on air I called the dive and motioned upwards unloading my gun as we surfaced waterlogged and worn out Im ready to go. Again Shane taps me on the back and says hey Tom what is that fast moving black shadow :11: (typical Yankee) here I am with a stringer full of fish and a unloaded gun and this Yankee is asking about a large Black shadow that keeps zipping by (talk about brain dead)
I lower my head to get a look with a puckered a## and sure enough there was a large believe it or not Blacktip charging in swinging around and running back out faster than any shark Ive come across in the water. I look to Shane and say Blacktip and he kinda cocks his head to the side with a dumbfounded expression on it. I then say Shark well now the lord would have been proud of old Shane he parted the water like Moses
leaving his buddy with a stringer of fish and an unloaded gun . I yell for him to at least throw me his gun since it still had its bands loaded so he throws me this little aluminum JBL hell I would just piss it off with this gun so I decide to use it as a hand spear if need be.I want to state once again just how fast this shark moved it was unbelievable anyways about 35 and several Charlie-horse later with my stringer in tow I make it out of the water to a buddy who said I had your back
All in all it was a great day and as far as the Paddle wheeler it is a must see that baby is uncovering great. I got to get out there with a tape to get some measurements . Has anyone seen the object towards the west end yet it is off kinda to itself could this be a large encrusted anchor?
If the pic's come out there should be some good ones
