More adventures from the Florida Sea Base liveaboard dive boat, the Schooner Conch Pearl.
Jared is cutting a piece of chicken for baiting his hook.
This is about the typical size we catch. I believe this is a pinfish in his hand.
The yellow bucket is what we hold the fish in until time to rig the sharkline. It hangs over the side so the fish get enough water circulation for oxygen to keep them alive.
Fletcher is about to be seated, the more comfortable way to fish.
Killian seems to be enjoying the fishing!
The guys are using hand lines with small hooks and weights to get the baitfish.
The sky was beautiful every night.
We baitfish before sunset, then rig a shark line after dark.
Baitfishing is always popular.
Jack is not so interested in baitfishing tonight.
Jared is baitfishing.
And more cards.
These guys (like all scouts) love to play card games.
Dane works on the scrambled eggs and sausages at the stove. He’s a bit tall for the job, though.
Yes, these guys can do dishes. They don’t like it, but they can do it!
Preparing the dock lines.
When I see everyone in this position from the pilot house, I know dolphins are with us! Even the dog likes to look (and bark over the side).
We did get to see a dolphin on the bow. I didn’t get a photo, but everyone ran to the bow!
Always gearing.
More gearing.
Getting into the bcd is not always easy on a rocking boat. That’s why another person always handles the tank for the diver, who is seated and has fins donned. It makes for balance troubles, so the tank handler helps the diver stay seated until time to depoly!
Gearing up.
Jack makes a McGriddle out of his pancakes and eggs!
Mr Smiles!
But with this visibility, to the naked eye the jellies are highly visible. Here, there is almost a solid curtain of jellies at about 10-15ft. Enough to make my heart race at the sight when I jumped in–because you could not see them from the surface!
Look close, the jellies are so transparent to the camera that it confuses the auto focus.
It is difficult to capture in a picture the vast quantites of these jellies. If you look close, you’ll see vague round shapes in the background.
They appear to have reached their maximum numbers this week. The guys were smart to bring along their winter undergarments as impromptu dive skins.
Here is a closeup of the moon jellyfish, which has plagued us for three weeks now.
Close up of said sting.
Dane shows us his guns! Hahaha! Actually, it’s his jellyfish sting on his bicep!
More lobster close ups.
This warpaint seemed like a good idea, until I realized it was getting all over everything. Lines, bcds, me…….Ugh! It is difficult to have contamination control with boys, always. Doesn’t matter the group.
Gameface.
Lobster class 101.
More warpaint preparations for the upcoming battle with the lobsters!
Thinking of dinner and smiling!
This bug is hers!
Megan vanquishes her nemesis!
Megan has devised an ingenious hood for protection against the jellyish. She’s still taken quite a few hits to the face trying to help the guys not get stung while trying to get up the ladder!
I forgot to buy chocolate chips, but I did have some M&M’s aboard to sweeten the experience!
Pancakes are on the menu the first morning at the dock.
More close up of the flesh pressing out of the shell. I suppose it could be this lobster was preparing to molt…..Just not sure about that.
Hamming it up.
More chaos…
Making sure the gloat photos are good!
More gloating!
Everyone gathers for a victory photo!
But this was enjoyed by all!
Truly, chaos…..
It’s chaos on the dock as we clean and prepare the lobsters for our dinner. Stormy weather has plagued us all week because of Hurricane Irene.
Chris getting clarification.
It’s a lot of work.
Cleaning and splitting the tails.
David hams it up1
Megan and Colton work on pulling the digestive vein out of the tail. Funnily enough, if you stick the lobsters broken off antennae through it’s tail, the vein comes right out.
These bugs look like they just molted, and the shell hasn’t caught.
You literally pull and twist the tail from the head. This one look like it was about ready to drop roe.
Everyone helped.
Here is Jon helping to tail the lobsters.
More fishing action.
Fish were skunking us this week, so when something was on the line, everyone wanted in on the action!
Lobstering again! One day we went in the water three times to go lobstering. We didn’t catch all that many, but the guys LOVED the thrill of the chase.
The dad’s always get the job of carrying the dive flag and the bag of bugs.
David returns from lobstering.
Beside the boat on the tag line, waiting for a turn on the ladder.
Jon is ready for the action!
Lobstering, here we come!
Getting ready to go lobstering.
Sunset in the anchorage off Fleming Key.
See, he’s not upset about it at all.
Here is an out of focus shot of Chris’ jellyfish sting. Not to worry Chris, chicks dig scars!
Colton has a little issue with a nose bleed from forcing an equalization. It hasn’t been a continuous problem for him.
David shows us his warpaint for catching lobsters!
