you got me fired up.... its been so long since i been under water. Corona really threw a wrench in my plans at the end of last season and i HATE the cold so its warming up enough now i can get after it... cannot wait to have a few AJ strung up
Hey Jason, heck yeah, water temp's are def on the way up. I was pleasantly surprised that the water temp on the MG was 67 degrees, sure beats the high 50's we had last trip! Best, Dan
The vis! and the first shot! Dan, I suppose you get dived out from time to time, but a banger like that has to put you back in your happy place. And we're all happy to tag along! cheers!
Hey Zeke, that's the best visibility I've seen in that area in quite a few years, and the water was 3-4 degrees warmer than I anticipated it being! Flat seas and very few Sharks, def put a grin on my face! Glad you liked it and thanks for your comments! Best, Dan
I like your country role and restrictions of fishing limits which keep your blue water always rich with fish, good bless you all.best of luck and good job Dan 💖
Thanks KS! Much appreciated. It's true that American Commercial Fishermen are the most regulated in the world, but like you said, it's the primary reason we have a strong, healthy fishery! Best, Dan
Perfect amount of lead with that shot on the last hog fish Dan. Absolutely nutted that sucker. Take care champion as some great whites have been seen in your region recently. Cheers
BF44, dude I'm still laughing after reading your comments! Trying to figure out if it's a good thing the videos are putting people (and dogs) to sleep!? All kidding aside, super glad you're enjoying the videos! Best, Dan
Always happy to see more content from you! I have to admit that the Middle Grounds videos are some of my favorites. Nice to see if you when you’re not racing the computer on a really deep dive. Sometime in the future could we possibly get a video of you walking us through your gear setup and maybe a quick boat tour? Thanks for all the great videos!
TJ75, thank you! Glad you're enjoying the videos! The MG videos have a special spot in my heart too! Yes, I can def do the gear set up video. I need to do one on the gun as well, if a few people get a couple of tips, that would be great. Best, Dan
Hey Atmm89, lol, yeah, they were moving 1/4 mile to drop another diver. Thanks for the kind words, enjoyed getting out and posting a video. Planning on posting a lot this summer! Best, Dan
That was a nice catch. It's funny when you see a video of a fish but you can't really tell just how big it is until you get it topside. Nice video Dan. Good to see you back action.
Thanks Will, I'm really glad I listened to some of you guys and let the camera run on the boat for a minute or two. Glad you liked the video! Best, Dan
Hey Michael, thanks brother. It was great to get back out there! Weather should start moderating after this month and it can't come soon enough! Best, Dan
Thanks Gary, you're right, those Orange Bands really help in locating the gun in dim/dirty water. Just another small advantage that can make a real difference! Glad you liked the video! Best, Dan
Thanks Captain! I guess if you do something for almost 50 years, you have to improve a little anyway! I appreciate you watching and your comments! Best, Dan
Can’t get enough of your videos, Dan! What incredible bottom structure...almost resembles giant oyster beds. Question please...what’s the gag season for commercial fishermen? Thanks again and please stay safe!
Hey AA, thanks, glad you liked the video! The Commercial Grouper Fishery is managed under an IFQ system. There is no closed season. The yearly total allowable catch (TAC) commercial limit right now for Gags is 925,000 pounds. I believe that's about 39% of the entire Gag catch limit. The remaining 61% is allocated to Charter and Recreational fishermen. Best, Dan
Hey Michael, how you doing over on the other side of the world! Hope things are going your way! Thanks for your words, it was great getting offshore! Best, Dan
Dang Dan you could have filled the boat with fish. I enjoyed the video brother it’s nice when you can have more bottom time. Keep them coming cause they make my day when I see your name pop up
Thanks David, after diving deep all Summer, it is kinda strange to do 15 minutes on the bottom and still have 20 more available. It does become normal after a dive or two though! Thanks for your words, much appreciated! Best, Dan
Dom, they thin out here this time of year (Winter). Just not too many around. I'm sure they'll be showing up in 6 weeks or so and they'll be plenty of video opportunities! Best, Dan
Hey WM1, they really do. I think it's because they usually only use their pecs for forward movement. They just seem to cruise with no apparent body/tail movement. Def cool to see! Best, Dan
Hey SB, that is a very scenic spot! I think I broke the surface around 22-23 minutes which is 5-7 minutes longer than "normal" for that area. Nice to have that much bottom time available! Best, Dan
Hey Jim, yeah some people think a big Hog is a slow moving fish and they usually are. Lightly tick one with a shaft and I doubt there's very many fish that are faster 0-30 than a big male Hog. That big flat muscular tail can flat out move when they're scared! Best, Dan
Herzamanki gibi yine güzel bir video, Tebrikler 👏👏👌👍. Teknede, avdan sonra balıklara yapılan işlemleri de çekerseniz güzel olur. Temizlenmesi ve buzluğa konulması gibi 🤗
Dan another great vid! What gun do you use and I presume it is modified to hold the extra spears and other attachments? I love the way you quickly put on a light and or a PH. Insights on your gun make and set up are much appreciated. Thanks!
Thanks GC, it's a homemade gun we make ourselves. I recently ordered a gopro tripod and will try really hard to make a few "how to" videos including one on the gun. Best, Dan
Sometimes I think how awesome would it be to swim like a fish or fly like a bird... and then I see something like this, and then I'm just glad to be at the top of the food chain.
Hey LL, I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! Yes, once, nobody's fault but mine, I broke the rules and paid the price. No lasting problems but nothing I'd ever want to do again. Probably 10 years ago and no further issues. Best, Dan
Hey Dan. Great video again. I was wondering if you or anyone reading this could recommend a good first time spear gun? Targeting hogs and grouper. Thanks in advance!
Hey 208, lol, sometimes my fish buyer will nudge me towards a certain species but usually he's happy to buy whatever we bring in. 2-3 day old speared fish are superior to all other commercially caught fish (IMHO of course)! I actually try and avoid the really big AJ's, they're hard to handle on the boat, really chew the ice up and are vastly better spawners for the species. I will take a big one occasionally but prefer the 40-60 pound fish. Best, Dan
Rob, I really enjoy free shafting . I know there's some boats that basically PH almost everything. I just never wanted to go down that road. I usually PH the AJ's because it's extremely hard to free shaft them effectively on a regular basis. While a bottom fish will usually rock up if not stoned on the first shot, AJ's will usually swim off, taking the spear with them. If one does swim off, the entire school will usually follow him as well. The other plus of PowerHeading jacks is they're dead instantly (no lactic build up) and they also bleed out almost instantly, both of which result in a superior fillet! Best, Dan
Hey Stuart, usually no more than once a year, sometimes several years (or more) between visits. With diveable waters extending out over 100 miles and 400 miles up and down the length of Florida's West coast, there's just no reason to hit any spot on a regular basis. Best, Dan
Hey dan, big fan just wondering how you make your power-heads, almost looks like a fuel line that holds the round and a drilled out piece of aluminum? Would like to either make some or buy some. Thanks, jacob
Hey JS, yeah I have a machine make the aluminum casinds and use GoodYear air hose for the rubber. Neptonics (813-867-3250) and Spear Gods (727-432-1967) both have similar ones for retail sale. Best, Dan
Nelson, it's a machines aluminum casing that holds a rifle cartridge. Uses the spear point as a firing pin. Commonly called a "slip on" power head. Usually used for taking large fish in deep water or for personal protection. Best, Dan
@@danmacmahon3973 thanks for the info, me and my friend just got back into diving and spearfishing, came across your vids and loved them. Going to try free shifting this year and see how it works out.
Can someone please tell me where to find the powerhead holder he has. And info on the quick change powerheads. Awesome dive by the way. Keep the videos a rolling in
Hey Dillon, I bought a hunk of Rubber (they called it a bump stop for a large truck) at Northern Tool and just cut out a piece. Drilled it out with a drill bit matching the O/D of my powerheads. Easy Peasy. I've been using 7.62/54R cartridges for several decades. They do a great job for us. Neptonics (813-867-3250) and Spear Gods (727-432-1967) both sell a similar product. Best, Dan
Hi Dan, I'm Juan and from Spain, we fish hard which is different but I really like your videos, but you could shorten the time of your life and show more the fish on the surface of the boat to see the real sizes of the fish like in this thanks for your videos
Hey Juan, glad you like the videos. Originally, I had no intent to ever post these videos on YT. So I always cut the camera off upon reaching the surface. When COVID came along, I thought, why not post a few videos during this crappy time, so I did. Quite a few viewers suggested that I leave the camera running and capture some deck footage. so I started doing that late last year. All future videos will def have deck footage with them! Best, Dan
I know you went through many of shafts but.since you start to use rob allen shafts how many you bent or has failed you. Pros an cons for the flopper on top vs bellow?
Kevin, I love the RA shafts. RA worked with me and let me custom design what I wanted. They're very strong and extremely hard to bend. Because I prefer a 7.5mm diameter, it's basically impossible to make a SS shaft in that diameter that will hold up to medium sized bottom fish and not turn into a pretzel. Because they're not SS, if you ever do manage to bend one, you can usually bang it out straight. The only drawback to them is like every other non SS shaft, they will eventually rust. No big deal to me, all their major advantages easily outweigh that. As far as top or bottom mounted floppers, I have mine made top mounted. The reason is that every gun I've ever used had the flopper on top and I'm used to it that way. I doubt that it makes a real difference either way, but one things for certain. The flopper position absolutely makes the shaft fly a certain way. All other factors being identical, a top mount will fly differently than a bottom mount. All of us acclimate to how our guns shoot. If you're used to a bottom mount, than I'd stay the course. The same with top mounts. Best, Dan
Paul, lol, I def was! Last dive of a multi day trip, pushing a 7mm suit, 12 pounds of lead into full moon current all trip. Man, I was toast! Enjoyed every minute of it though! Best, Dan
Thanks SD, yes, permitted commercial spearfishing boat. This is my 22 year doing it for a living. Getting close to the end but man what a ride it's been! Thanks for your comments and question. Best, Dan
Hey Mark, it was 67F which is pretty warm for that area, this time of year. Pretty big difference from last trip when it was in the high 50's. Much more enjoyable! Best, Dan
Hey PD, we use a 7.62/54R cartridge. Russian round that is a rimmed cartridge, like a revolver bullet. Roughly equivalent in power to an American 30:06. When diving in deeper water, pistol bullets won't cut it, not enough powder and thus not enough gas expansion. For example at just 33FSW you only get 50% of the gas expansion that you'd get at the surface, at 99FSW, you only get 25%, etc....the deeper you go, the less "bang" you get. Best, Dan
Hey William, PH's are legal for food fish in Federal waters (over 9nm offshore) in the GOM. There are a few areas called stressed zones where you have to be past either 60'or 120' to legally use them. Same rules apply to either Recreational or Commercial fishers. Best, Dan
Hey Ross, AJ's are one of the few fish that have a trip poundage limit. Others are managed by an IFQ system or by a "head count" quantity limit. I always try and stay well under the limit, don't need any LE problems! Weighing larger fish like AJ's on a rocking boat is problematic at best, always a good idea to stay well under the TAC. Best, Dan
The covering of the tip is called a Powerhead , and it puts out a powerful burst of energy that helps kill a bigger fish faster . They also help for defense if a shark comes by .
Brady, I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, we call a shot that instantly kills a fish, a "stone" shot which we try to do with almost every shot. Are you referring to killing the fish with a knife or spike before placing onto the stringer? Best, Dan
@@danmacmahon3973 With a knife, but after it's on the stringer. That's what I do. It minimizes quite a bit of suffering (which, in my book, is the moral basis for existence) and doesn't add more than 8 seconds per fish to my dive. I know time is a lot more precious down deep where you are, so I understand why you don't though. Just a thought for folks in the comments, mainly. Cheers, thanks for the vid sir.
Hey Scott, so true about the Bulls! I'm sure they've already started North though. They should start showing up in numbers mid April in these parts! Almost time to head West! Best, Dan
Mannnnnnn I like seeing you shoot those hogfish! Makes my mouth water. We went out last Friday and shot some nice ones....and some of the biggest mangrove snapper I've ever seen.
JP, lol, now I'm Hungry! I agree 100%, hard to beat fresh Hog Fish! We've been seeing some really big Mangroves as well, looks like it's going to be a great year for them! Best, Dan
