Couple things here to mention! Highlights of this trip will be posted as shorts. Also about the goliath grouper... The presumed reason for their massive decline in the Louisiana/Texas area is due to being overharvested. The fish were caught and speared much more rapidly than they could regenerate. In 1990, the goliaths became protected. However, even since then there still hasn't really been a comeback compared to what numbers used to be. For better or worse who knows.. the goliaths seem to have become overpopulated in Florida and actually problematic. Many opinions suggest the lower numbers are better for the fish populations and fishing. Anyways.. I have heard some other divers seeing a couple goliaths down here in recent years, so I know of several for sure still lurking. I'm sure there are some giants hanging out deep though as well, but just definitely not as common as they used to be. All the rigs and nearshore spots I've read and heard about them being shot at I haven't seen any... Similarly this is the case with the warsaw grouper that used to be commonly caught/speared in our waters.
That was the time I hear. A man by the name of Stanley Cates wrote a book about his adventures spearing for them that is worth checking out if you're interested. Awesome read and glimpse into his first hand experience chasing them here in our waters in the 70s.. amzn.to/3FxDAAB.
“You get one shot, your lucky if you get more than one shot”. Amigo, your sounding like the Freedivin Spearfishin Eminem. “You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo” You know me - LOVE your videos B!
The normal variation on the spear shaft is up or down, that in mind, often, when shooting a slender fish turn your gun, so the up or down variation is with the length of the fish, and get more hits. That's a Ben Hakkert Special.
Right on about turning the gun. I've noticed significantly better shots with an angled shooting hand. Just in the moment sometimes I don't aim that way lol. On top of what you're saying, I've also noticed angling the hand/gun results in better recoil absorption. My shots don't get deflected left as easy as if my shooting hand is straight up and down.
@@BradenSherron Agree. Ben Hakkert is a big time blue water guy and saw him do it in a couple of his videos. So I asked him if it was on purpose and he said it was. I missed wahoo and big kings plenty, just like what you did. Haven’t missed since I started his way. I still aim up and down like normal, but turn sideways gangsta style right before I pull the trigger. Lol
Great video as always Braden ! do you ever dive off Galveston Tx, or just mainly south padre? Im trying to start heading out if you can give me some advice
Never launched from up there. The biggest advice I can give is to be very mindful of weather forecasts and safety. Check radar and wind forecasts religiously. Time wind is supposed to pick up etc... Take epirb, and I would recommend a garmin inreach.
Is that the Port A Jetty? I’ve never been in the water that far out on that jetty. Tons of life! Labor Day weekend I took a mask just past 3rd cut on a kayak but I didn’t see anything like that.
