GoodToGo

I saw the Big One on Sun, Jul 1. If you have been out lately you know the water is really nice now, very clear down to the thermocline at 40-50' and then still pretty good to the bottom. On my way down the line I noticed a small school of cudas on the surface over the bridge. The jacks had already circled me and were the typical, just under size, so I decided to take one of the cudas for the table. I eased up under the group and selected a medium size one. It was an easy shot, I elected to shoot through the gill plates to get a ride down to the span instead of my normal shot for the spine, just over the pectoral fin. Sometimes things don't work out just right. My shot went in a little aft of where I intended, I must have hit the noggin bone. I heard the crunch, the mouth popped open, the cuda shook its head and my shaft fell out. It wasn't stoned but was slowly swimming down with blood trailing. I tried to follow while reloading but wasn't able to catch up. I thought I might find it on the bottom later in the dive. I went back to the surface group and shot another. I hit a little low for my spine shot but the tip was through and I got my ride down to the bridge where I pulled it in and strung it up. On reload one of my bands popped. Not a big problem, I usually do better with 2 because I don't take any marginal shots. I headed up-current off the span looking for a school of snapper. They weren't too far out so I went to the bottom to do my snapper dance. The school gathered around me, most all too small but there were a couple that would make the team. One of them offered the shot so I took him and put it on the stringer. After reload I headed back to the bridge when at the shadow range of my vision I saw what I thought was the large grey form of a curious shark coming to investigate my snapper activity. My thought process wasn't focused on getting ready to take a shot. As we closed on each other I nearly swallowed my regulator at what I saw. It was by far the biggest Barracuda I have ever seen. We were on reciprocal headings and it passed maybe 10' to my right only a couple of feet off the bottom. When it got abeam me it made one pulse and rocketed off into the haze. It was easily 14" thick and better than 5' long, really heavy bodied. I have taken a couple over 40#'s and this one dwarfed those. I hope to go back soon and have another look.

When resetting the anchor off the bridge and ino the sand I found my 1st cuda. It was shining belly up on the bottom. I went down to retrieve it but I was a little too late, a shark had taken the aft section already so I left it for his dessert.

If I have an update on the big one I will re-post, hopefully with picutres! bbb