Finally the water is starting to warm up (to me at least) and the winds are calming down in the morning making for great swimming weather. So this morning, 6 am, I throw on the Speedo and skin top, grab my long fins/mask/snorkel and head for my favorite little rock just off the beach in about 15’ of water. Sun has not yet peaked over the horizon but the sky is already turning pink/orange and there are virtually no clouds. Water is glassy calm and clear. As I swim out to the “rock” I notice more bait fish are showing up than in previous days. When I get to the rock I am greeted by the usual small fish, juvenile angels, a small spotted moray and a squirrel fish or two. I do a few drops and as I am just about to pull off the bottom, out of the corner of my eye I see a silver flash. I turn and am greeted by a 5’ long tarpon followed by a second 4 footer. They stay with me to the surface and after taking a breath I follow them. I almost seems that they are letting me stay with them. I drop down just below the surface and swim with the 2 tarpon and they lead me into a school of at least 15 tarpon! At least 3 are 5’ or larger and the rest are 3 to 4 footers, totally amazing. At this point the school is swimming circles around me, small groups break off and then rejoin the main group. I just keep breathing up and dropping into the group and doing circles with them. This lasts for just about 5 min. when the group decides to say good bye, and poof, they’re gone!
I hit the surface, the sun is now just above the horizon, a giant orange ball, I look to the north and see the tarpon rolling on the surface about 30 yards away. I do a quick drop down to let a sport fishing boat speed over top of me and I take that as a signal to call it a morning and head in. I love the ocean!
John
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May 23rd, 2006
