Key West Waterman Merch - Charter Recommendations & More www.keywestwat... Want to follow Aaron and the crew as they live the KW Life on Instagram? @dibsonbottom_adventures ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just watched this entire video and loved every second of it!!! I'm thinking I should get in touch with this fella and go do some spearfishing!!! If this comment can get a few Likes I'll do whatever it takes to get in touch with him and set up a video!!! (I have never spoke to him in my life)
This person deserves the most honorable feedback. Several reasons: 1. He is not trying to persuade you to follow him along with his skills and capacity. 2. He is advising you all along the way on things that you are not familiar with. 3. This person is a real free diver, with a lifelong experience. 4. If you are not at that level, watch the videos with a lot of respect. 5. I am an experienced spearfisherman, if I was in you, I would follow his advice.
I 100% agree with how you view spearfishing as the most effective commercial method to harvest fish. I watched the gill netters in the early 90s completely destroy the Indian River (St Lucie County) and saw more dead by catch wash up on the shore than ever got to market. To selectively pick out a fish one at a time without killing 4 more in the process is highly commendable. Keep up the great sportsmanship and videos !!
yup very sad the amount of fish those nets took out. amazing to me that long lining and some forms of gill netting are still legal today. but what can ya do! thanks so much for watching!
As a guy who doesn’t buy red meat from the store because his freezer is full of venison, I have lots of respect for you and your ability to make a living spear fishing. I hope to retire one day near the ocean so I can take up activities like spear fishing, crabbing and lobster hunting. I’d rather eat a fish that was shot with a spear than a farm raised one any day. Keep up the good work. Really enjoying your content.
I will be here for the first hour or so to answer any questions or comments you may have about tonight’s episode! Thanks for watching and be sure to smash the like button!
As always, job well done - and great thinking on holding back on teaching people to breathe online. I also think the philosophy amongst instructors has changed a bit in the past decade. Perhaps mostly as a precaution, but nowadays, deep breathing is almost considered hyperventilation. I know a lot of guys who dive 200-250 feet on nothing but totally relaxed breathing, like you would in the moments before falling asleep (slightly deeper possibly, but not super deep) followed by just one, last big inhale. When I took my first course, the breathe up taught was deeper and yes, 1:2 ration of in:out followed by five deep breaths before diving. That became three and now, some organisations advocate just one. I think the latter is prudent especially for beginners and spearos who don't practice the outmost buddy system - which is to say almost everyone including the vast majority of the ones who like to say/think they are buddying up.
I like the voice over. For all the people that hate its great that you educate! Lol keep em comming! Need to do a collaboration with rob on deer meat for dinner
spearfishing is THE most ethical and clean way to harvest fish, theres no point mad people are those who dont know anything about fishing long lines have a ton of bycatch / same for deep drop / hooks / same for netting and trawling ( the worst ) and gillnets keep up the great content thumbs up as usual 👍👍
I feel you are doing a great job Aaron. You educate and encourage people on how to respect our natural resources in any type of fishing and showing them how to have fun at the same time. Great video thanks for sharing. Glad your finger is ok👋
@@KeyWestWaterman I’d hate to get bitten by one, the sucking bite and rear facing teeth! I knew a lady who was harvesting tropical fish and baby sharks, if memory serves me it actually broke her leg and had to be cut off of her. Stay vigilant around them!
I think it's the best way to fish commercially while conserving at the same time. Only get what you need and not killing unnecessarily. Great fishing man! This my first time watching your video and loved it! 👍👍
Spearfishing IS the ecological way to fish. No by-catch equals no unnecessary deaths. It's humane as the fish is despatched far quicker. Anyone who eats fish and espouses negative views is quite simply a hypocrite.
I love the commercial fishing videos the most. Quite frankly it's a world I will never experience and has always fascinated me. Thanks for including them.
You're the man Aaron. Ever since I started watching your channel I've started working out and lost 20# so I can get into spearfishing shape. You're the best spearfishing channel on RU-vid dude keep it up.
I love your stuff....Anyone that watches with a critical eye, knows your are a steward of the resources you harvest. I enjoy all your stuff: commercial, charters, cleaning fish, cooking, I can't get enough. Keep up the good work. Already jonesing for my next Key West Fix......
He absolutely is... Seen plenty of fish that he passed on because he was being selective. This is about as sustainable as you can get, environment undisturbed... Man WITH nature, instead of against it.
One of the things I enjoy most is your identification of the fish that are a part of the images, but not of commercial interest. So when chubs or grunts or angel fish, or bar jacks etc. are a part of the frame, including that info is a real bonus for me. Thanks for the vids!
Love the commercial diving aspect. Did this diving as a young man in Destin and I love your financial breakdown and reality of the pursuit. Keep up the awesome content and thank you for your love and preservation of our oceans.
Second post. How are you making out producing a fish identification video so guys like me can learn what is shootable and what is not. A picture of the fish at depth and a description of it's identifying characteristics would be great. So many printed fish identification tables only show the fish as viewed out of water where color is not lost by depth. When I make it down to KW and book your service I would like to be able to not miss an opportunity because I couldn't ID a target.
I have been saving up a lot of clips to get it done! I think it'll be a huge help for a lot of people, just want to make it as comprehensive as possible and have a lot of content for it!
I wanted to say you are doing a wonderful job the way you do it. To many times I see to many people take more than their fair share and deplete the growth of that specific fish. Then they complain when there is not enough of that specific fish. With you, you only take one at a time.
I was on a first date with a girl, and she ordered swordfish, with conch fritters as an appetizer. We started talking about commercial fishing somehow and she said word for word “I despise commercial fishermen. They are destroying the ecosystem & are unnecessarily killing fish for money. I never support the industry. I am a part of a movement to ban commercial fishing.” Keep in mind, this is after she cleaned her plate of both the conch fritters & swordfish. All I said is “interesting position to take, considering what you just ate at a restaurant.” She was all quiet the rest of the time. I split the bill with her & never talked to her again. Sometimes, you can’t fix stupid; only ignore it.
haha that has got to be one of the best stories I think I've ever heard! sounds like most of the viewers who disagree with commercial harvesting. Too funny.
Another great show. I see your right next to Hogfish, used to fish the Old Yankee Capts with Captain “Crabby” Pants years ago. Keep up the good work, very educational and informative to viewers who don’t quite understand how “selective” spearfishing is vs the other commercial methods.
I'm a tugboat captain and a inshore/offshore Fisherman. We are the chosen few who get to make our living on the water. I consider myself lucky everyday when I'm on the tug or any day I'm out on the water fishing. Keep it up boss. Love the videos
Seeing as how I used to spear and rod&reel commercial fish mainly just to pay for fuel and ice, I love this video!!! We used SCUBA when diving… I’ve never “free dove” like you guys do. Looks like a lot of fun! I sold all my scuba and my boat and only go out front now with friends that still have a boat to fish… 13 years diving for our sheriffs search and rescue team ( all black water dives) spoiled my “Sport Diving”!!! In my opinion, spear fishing is the most humane way to catch fish! I was born and raised on the Mississippi gulf coast fishing both salt and fresh water! Really never thought about being humane to a fish! I’ve always just fished for meat ,mostly for personal consumption and always obeyed size and slot limits. The cost of fuel has really put a damper on our fishing these days!!! “Let’s go Brandon” Right??? Lol 😂
love watching you aaron, i work on a boat in st pete and ive been dying to get down there and shoot some hoos, my cousin caught an 83 pounder on rod and reel here but shooting a 100+ wahoo is my dream, keep up the great work aaron.
Another great + informative video...and appreciate you patiently taking the time to explain the SUBSTANTIAL pro's of this fishery. Here in the Pacific Northwest we have gill netters that catch everything including bycatches of endangered runs of salmon (Steelhead, sockeye, chum etc.) and most diners don't understand this when they sit down for their salmon dinner...unless, of course, it's farmed salmon. Exceptional video Aaron...thanks for the great content.
Not sure you will see this comment but wanted to say i love your video's. Love you are doing what you love to make a living. I like your narrative during the videos. I am envious of your ability to free dive and hunt.
First of all amazing video, as usual. The clear explanation of your dives is a great way to understand and learn spearfishing. Love it. Do you ever connect your speargun to a floatline, breakaway or do you go with reels only ? Thanks in advance, you’re a great SPEARO man 👍🏻
really happy to hear it! and when we do bluewater stuff we shoot float lines with breakaways. but typically if its reefs and wrecks we are shooting with reels! really do appreciate it!
Fish too big fish to small. I could be wrong. Those in the know have studied and poured over reams and reams of data. Those same folks make suggestions to the powers that be. Hence fishing regs change all the time. Ethical fishers such as this man even refine it further as conditions indicate. He states he no longer harvests Hog Fish. Sir you're a shining light in a world of despair. Have a great day.
Straight up love these videos Aaron. I fish a lot and help friends with charters up here in Ontario. I can never figure out cancellations. For the most part, it's just ignorant. Sure, there are justifiable excuses, but four in one week? Ouch!
Anyone who consumes any type of seafood has no room to complain at all like you said some methods are more friendly some are not and I have to say you were probably one of the most transparent RU-vidrs I hope you see this I’ve been following you for a while catching up on all your older videos
Great video love watching you make these! I have a question you said you gut the fish do you get a different price break for doing that? Doesn’t it take away some of the weight which turns into less money? Or is it so minuscule that it doesn’t make much difference. Just curious love the videos!
I’ve been spearfishing via scuba for 26 years out of Venice, LA. Your skill level is off the charts! Love your conservative outlook towards harvesting!
Hey Aron i recently got into diving and i have to ask a question, do i wait for fish to come to me or do i go after them might seem like a pretty dum question but i really would like to know your opinion. Love the videos!
wish there was an straight edge answer for that. all depends on the fish and its behavior. majority of the time you have to engage the fish to some extent, sometimes its better to wait. all about being able to read the situation.
I respect your position on sustainability. I wish more people who choose to harvest natural resources looked at it the same way. Nice video, if I make it to the Keys again, I'll look you up.
Great job Aaron, thank you for sharing. Love your videos. I’m from south Louisiana and know the effects of other forms of fishing on the fisheries. Your method is absolutely the most responsible. The bycatch alone in other forms of fishing does much more damage to marine life than most people realize.
I love it, spearfishing is the most ethical and sporting way to harvest. You hit the nail on the head about no by catch and selecting one fish at a time. Ive found the majority of people that leave uneducated comments, are the ones that not only know the least about the topic. They also are normally the ones that are to afraid to go past their knees into the ocean. So free diving 75ft down to a ship wreck would never happen. Love the video and break down of the prices. Keep doing you, im envious of you sir.
So much educational info included in all your videos , I just got home from my first unguided trip to the keys landed my first u guided tarpon over 75 pounds and really my next feat is spearing I hope I can get a trip with you before this film making becomes full time for you lol great job man great roll model for others on the water , me and my kids love watching your videos !!
I found you a few months back and subscribed, so I have been watching quite a few of your videos lately, so I guess the algorithm gives me more and more of your older stuff to watch. I really like the variety of videos you make. It keeps me coming back for more because the content always seems to be fresh. I 100% agree with your approach to the sea, and your ethics on stewardship. Also enjoy seeing your lifestyle, and home life stuff, landscaping etc...Keep it up!
Hi Aaron, I just recently started watching your channel and love everything about it. Your ethics, demeanor, honesty are all so admirable. I want to start spear fishing and your videos are excellent resources. Well done. I wish you continued success with this channel.
Also a lot of people who don’t like this type of stuff aren’t going to go out and do something about it you probably help the wildlife more then them and you still fish it your what more people need to be like and a great roll model for kids I hope kids are watching this abs learning something.
I belive that spear fishing is the most conservative responsible way to commercially harvest fish. Your videos show that you are very responsible in the way you go about it and very educational for those who watch. Keep em coming, they are quite enjoyable!!
Aaron, thanks again for taking this old man from Illinois under the surface n giving me a little more to knowledge of your Life ! Totally Enjoyed it All ! Take Care !!!
The first fish at 3.35. Perfect shot. You are right about the clutch shot. I often did this the first three years I was spearfishing in my teenage years. Now I only do headshots or neckshots and on rare occations a solid shot at the sides. Headshots makes sure the fish dont get away and neckshots knocks it out. I always feel like shit wounding a fish so its better to not shoot if your angle of attack is bad
First time watcher/subscriber. Found you by Bluegabe,Kelly Young. Enjoy the footage. And you earn every penny seems to me plus good common sense approach to harvest selection. Happy hunting, gotta pay the bills.
I can't imagine a better way to provide fish to market then spear fishing. Fish is the best protein in the world and to know it was harvested quick and clean is top notch. I'm getting into spear fishing and for those reasons specifically.
@@KeyWestWaterman thanks for all the wonderful content. For a new spear fisherman, a video on different species and their preference for meat, especially smaller fish new fisherman would be targeting would be an interesting video.
I don't see why any one would say any negative comments when you're living from this and not being wasteful. In my opinion you're doing great things while educating. 👍💯
Your point is well made. It is common today for people to hate those that bring food to their table, many of the restaurateurs love to besmirch others from their high backed air-conditioned feeding trough, spending mummy and daddies munny. Spear fishing and individual hook and line fishing are exceptionally clean even in the worst of times. What's worse is most of them really have no idea what they are actually eating, do they really think it is red snapper? The End
Im from the Caribbean on a little island called caye caulker… I’ve been watching your videos and it have helped me improve my hunting skills, not only that.. it also helped me be cautious underwater.. looking forward to your next video!!!! Keep doing what makes you happy.. its the best way to live life!! Oh i almost forgot my name is johny cantun 22 years old and im a local fisherman/ construction worker.. but i prefer being in the water because its fun!
had to google it but that looks like an amazing place! really happy you enjoy the videos and that they have helped you! thanks so much for watching and taking the time to share!
Love these videos man! People that complain about spear fishing are absolutely ignorant. We have a HUUUUGE trawler bycatch problem in Alaska. We’re talking 5-10k lbs of throw away daily. Absolutely sickening. Spear fishing is TARGETED! No bycatch!!! The only sustainable fishing practice.
lol it really is wild, its so sad to hear that kind of stuff really breaks my heart. they won't realize its a problem until its too late unfortunately.
Bruh, every time I see a Mutton I go completely still and they just dart away. But when you do it you just swim right on top of them still swimming being a “threat” they stop swimming and turn broadside🤣
I absolutely adore you. Your just a nice sincere guy trying to do what you Love and honestly one of my favorite channels. You seem like the kind of person who doesn't care about money as long as you have enough to support yourself and your family doing what you love. Support this guy if you're reading this.
can't thank you enough for the kind words! truthfully just want to enjoy my life surround by people I care about. I fell out of love with money after realizing it had nothing to do with my happiness. unfortunately the world we live in requires it so I try to find that happy balance! thanks so much for sharing and supporting the channel!
Very ethical practices brother, I prefer your non commercial content, it’s very wholesome but it’s very interesting and impressive to watch you work aswell.
I pick up a ton of little tricks watching these videos. Really appreciate the documentation and explanations. Its also really awesome to see a people fishing commercially with good ethics. Small operations with conscious fisherman is the way 👍
Keep all of this coming! You are living the dream for many of us who don’t get to do this. We would likely do the same to keep the bills paid. People will always hate hiding behind their keyboard. Don’t fret over those people. Keep doing what you’re doing Aaron we love it and wish you the best!
I really enjoy the videos and have seen many of the recent ones and now are looking deeper into your archives because they are so enjoyable. These are great, educational and insightful. I'm glad I found the channel!
@@KeyWestWaterman By the way, don't worry about the negative comments. I worked for SeaWorld for 30 years and can tell right away how much you care for the ocean and fish you take both as a charter and commercial fisherman. We would all be better off if people shared your perspective and experience!
Definitely a sustainable way of fishing I worked on a shrimp prawn trawler and all the smaller fish etcetera are packed into the net and suffocated There are thousands of fish dying each time the nets come up it’s all sorted on the tray and the waiting sharks are there for it they now exactly where the Shute is
Man…. I know this is work but what a job! Seems beyond exciting. Like every job good days and bad. But $$ isn’t the most important thing to me so this would be amazing to do. Great video!
Great video; great commentary. Can’t imagine why anyone would have a negative comment at all about anything you do. Great messages and as always thanks for sharing your passion. We appreciate it.
First time watching, can tell you're a "no-nonsense" kind of person, (RESPECT!) You obviously know your business and care about the environment. I'll be back..... CHEERS!
Really enjoyed the commercial explanations! Great work. And you are right: there is no more selective method. Love what you are doing and I can’t wait to look you up the next time we are down to the keys.
My opinion is spearfishing is the best way to get fish to a table. You’re so right in everything you said about bi-catch and unnecessary fish dying. Thank you as always for taking us along. ❤
Very educational and it good to know how things works from the other side of the spectrum. I like informative vlogs/ videos like this. It is very interesting to me as I have never really looked for or seen other vlogs about commercial fishing and it's operational cost.
Spear fishing is definitely a sustainable way of commercial fishing. Its better than nets which is more prone to bycatch. I Love your choice of fish man. Keep it up! Stay safe!
Aaron just stumbled across your videos, and love em! I'm sitting up north in Michigan and have to live vicariously through you and folks like you. My wife and I went to Key West last summer (first time in the keys) and loved it! I am not an over the top tree hugger type, but I do believe in being good stewards of the world we live in as well as our bodies. I respect the selective fishing methods and not over fishing or killing of non targeted species to be thrown back in and not used. Keep doing what you're doing! We plan on coming back, maybe I'll be able to hook up and give you some business.
