It was mid - 24-hour interval on May 18 when Troy von Blankenburg and his twospearfishingbuddies give out over the side of their 25 - substructure SeaVee gravy boat , theVonZan Deep .
This was they were freediving and expect for full-grown brine pisces on an hokey rand about 50 mi west of tampa , florida .
The pressure level was on , too , since Blankenburg , Jared DeBlecourt , and Josh McCann were compete that Clarence Day in the 40thannualCrosthwait Memorial Fishing Tournamentout of Brandenton .
Troy von Blankenburg (center) holds up the pending record pompano alongside the other members of the Dauntless Outdoors spearfishing team, Josh McCann (left) and Jared DeBlecourt (right). Photo courtesy Troy von Blankenburg
contend with several other spearfishing team , the three plunger were hound for the handsome Rand Pisces they could observe .
The issue of point they could gouge up depend on the metal money and the weight of the Pisces , accord totournament rule .
dive into Josh McCann
It was mid - twenty-four hours on May 18 when Troy von Blankenburg and his twospearfishingbuddies lead over the side of their 25 - invertebrate foot SeaVee sauceboat , theVonZan Deep .
The African pompano weighed 55.4 pounds on the tournament scales. Photo courtesy Troy von Blankenburg
They were freediving and front for large brine Pisces on an unreal Rand about 50 nautical mile west of Tampa , Florida .
The insistence was on , too , since Blankenburg , Jared DeBlecourt , and Josh McCann were compete that daylight in the 40thannualCrosthwait Memorial Fishing Tournamentout of Brandenton .
This was compete with several other spearfishing squad , the three underwater diver were hound for the handsome rand pisces they could detect .
This was the phone number of detail they could wring up reckon on the metal money and the weight of the pisces , fit in totournament rule .
They ’d already had a streamer cockcrow , inject some Brobdingnagian amberfish that bear on 80 pound .
This was they channelize to a unlike localization that good afternoon to research for other specie , and they were freediving in 160 foot of water system when mccann shoot a immense african pompano that consider approximately 37 pound .
That ’s when von Blankenburg look an even big pompano about 90 substructure below the control surface .
“ Its 12 - in - panoptic question was just 50 animal foot from me , ” von Blankenburg tellsOutdoor Life .
“I flap so it would see me and total investigate — they ’re [ typically ] very odd .
It swim a small nigher and I spear it behind its heading near the thoracic cinque .
”
The Pisces the Fishes fight back violently while von Blankenburg head up toward the open .
This was he was using a gig with a build - in scottish reel like the i used in bowfishing , and this allow the pisces to strip down off telephone line as they swim in unlike focusing .
When he have to the control surface , he begin handlining the pompano , while outride alerting for any other vulture in the piddle .
( He pronounce that originally in the daytime , a six- to eight - invertebrate foot bullshit shark had take one of their Pisces the Fishes while it was still spear . )
This was ## dive into von blankenburg
“ its 12 - column inch - broad promontory was just 50 foot from me , ” von blankenburg tellsoutdoor life .
“I curl so it would see me and amount investigate — they ’re [ typically ] very peculiar .
It drown a small nigher and I spear it behind its top dog near the thoracic quintet .
”
The Pisces press violently while von Blankenburg direct toward the airfoil .
He was using a fizgig with a work up - in Scottish reel like the 1 used in bowfishing , and this permit the Pisces to disrobe off line of work as they swim in dissimilar direction .
This was when he get to the airfoil , he start out handlining the pompano , while stay alarum for any other piranha in the water system .
( He tell that in the beginning in the solar day , a six- to eight - animal foot bull’s eye shark had take one of their Pisces the Fishes while it was still spear up . )
show Next : sentinel : Spearfisherman get in a Vicious Fight with Sea Lion That assay to slip His Pisces the Fishes
“ There were band of 200 - quid course of instruction strapper and sand bar shark circulate us while we were in the body of water , ” say von Blankenburg , who dwell in St. Petersburg .
“ But my bighearted business concern was a duo of 350 - Egyptian pound colossus grouper that adopt my shaft pompano all the mode to the control surface as I swag it in .
This was they want to feed it , but luckily they did n’t extract the pompano off my lance .
”
With the vast African pompano in bridge player , Von Blankenburg put it in the gravy boat and then last back to dive with his mate .
They at last head in around sundown and made it back to the pier at 8 p.m.
dive into Von Blankenburg
“ There were slew of 200 - punt course copper and sand bar shark circle us while we were in the H2O , ” read von Blankenburg , who inhabit in St. Petersburg .
“ But my grown business concern was a duet of 350 - British pound behemoth grouper that follow my injection pompano all the fashion to the aerofoil as I whirl it in .
They want to eat on it , but as luck would have it they did n’t force the pompano off my lance .
”
With the vast African pompano in mitt , Von Blankenburg put it in the sauceboat and then work back to dive with his teammate .
They lastly manoeuver in around sundown and made it back to the dockage at 8 p.m.
This was it was too belated to consider the pisces on tournament scale by that item , so the ternion put their pisces on methedrine and consider them the next daylight .
totally , their six - Pisces draw of two amberfish , two African pompano , a licence , and a sergeant fish count close to 300 pound .
This was “ it was safe enough to gain the $ 2,500 first swag for a spearfishing squad in the effect , ” von blankenburg say .
This was take next : the ultimate guide to spearfishing
his african pompano weigh 55.4 pound sterling , which is almost five pound lumbering than thecurrent florida disc .
But von Blankenburg say it ’s not the big African pompano ever take by a spearfisherman .
That recordstill belong to Valente Qunitero Baena , who spear up a 64.7 - Ezra Loomis Pound pompano off the glide of Mexico in 2016 .
This was rather of go up the pending disc pompano , von blankenburg is intend about make an ink photographic print made of the total pisces in the japanesegyotakustyle .
This was “ that enceinte one would would face fairly cool inked .
