Fling Charters

Trip Report for the May 5 & 6 Sport Trip Wow. We struck out from the dock for last weekend’s trip at the usual time (8:30pm). Motoring out in a following sea I was expecting it to pick up all night to the forecast 4’ seas. Granted that is not much for seas as the gulf goes, but for this trip we were all pleasantly surprised that it stayed flat darn near the whole weekend. It was just fantastic for the divers who came from all around including Baton Rouge, Houston, Austin, and East Texas. Mild weather and calm seas? “Wow” I said because sometimes, you might know, when the banks are calm, there is a ripping current. Not so this weekend. If you did not go, I’m afraid you missed some excellent diving. Water temps were climbing into the mid 70’s. We arrived at the east banks right on time after some masterful overnight navigation to tie up at buoy #2 for 2 dives. I believe it was here that divers saw at least one Manta Ray and several sharks. It was not clear to me from descriptions what species they were, but all of you who were there feel free to chime in with commentary. Also post pictures in the comments if you like. During lunch time, we set out to see if we could find a good platform, and decided on HI-376-B, which had good conditions and most importantly, no work boats. Some sharks were spotted here along with a turtle. We moved on to buoy #4 on the east banks for the last dive of the day and the night dive. A large turtle made repeated visits to the boat on the surface, and divers enjoyed great conditions for a low stress night dive. Later in the evening there were dolphins hunting the lights around the boat, and by 2am when I threw the lines the sea was literally teaming with flying fish in the spot light. There were great clouds of them obscuring the water in the light, but I’m afraid I was the lone witness to this. So off we went for a dead calm ride back to Stetson bank where we tied up to buoy #2. After 2 good dives, we untied for the trip back to Freeport with a rice and beans celebration lunch by Daniella. Also, the deserts left over from various meals were devoured by divers trying to look as if they were not getting away with egregious dietary indiscretions. We arrived back at the dock between 5:30 and 6pm. Overall it was a greatly successful, fun trip. As a side note, we offered the option of a different schedule to include the newly reefed Kraken in addition to a variation of the Stetson dives. There was no interest in changing the trip this time. I think there is still space on next week’s trip, and so far, the weather looks favorable for good conditions then as well. Maybe not flat, but good. Check it out here to see who has the boat: http://www.flingcharters.com/calendar.asp If you want to dive the Kraken, check out the trips in June. Look at the previous trip report for a photo. Thanks to everyone who came out this past weekend, and a special thanks to the nice folks, you know who you are, who kept me company in the wheelhouse during the transits. Captain John M/V Fling

The weather forecast is looking good for this weekend trip, May 6-7, and we are going diving tonight. We will start boarding at 7:30PM tonight but please be at the dock no later 8PM. There are still a few spots available for anyone who would like to join us. Just call the office - 979-233-4445. See everyone tonight at the dock. Sharon

After checking the weather forecast this morning the weekend trip, May 6-7 is still looking good. It might be a little bumpy going out Friday night depending on how fast the winds die down from the front that came thru last night. If you don't have any plans yet for the weekend come join us for some great diving. Just call one of the dive shops on the schedule, your dive shop or call the office 979-233-4445 to book this trip. Hope to see ya'll at the dock on Friday. Sharon

It was a good call canceling last weekend trip. I was checking the tab buoys on Saturday and Saturday afternoon it was over 13ft. Now the good news - the weather forecast for weekend trip - May 6-7, is looking very good. We still have spots available on this trip for anyone who would like to join us. Just call one of the dive shops listed on the schedule or call the office 979-233-4445 to book it. Hope to see ya'll at the dock on Friday night. Sharo

We are making a very early weather call for this weekend trip, April 29-30, and canceling due to the high seas forecast. Every time I look at the forecast it gets worst. The weather is going to settle down soon - so check out the schedule and book your trip. See you at the dock. Sharon

Oh my gosh – can you believe summer is right around the corner and what a great time to go diving. We have had a very rough spring season with the weather this year getting divers out to dive but this is Texas weather. The crew is gear up and ready to go. We did get one trip out to the new wreck – The Kraken – and all the feed back so far has been good. We will be diving the Kraken on all the three day trips and the Stetson Bank/Kraken only trips. As of right now we have not been able to work it in on the two day trips without losing a dive at the Rig, West Bank, East Bank or Stetson. We will get working on this. If you have not book your trip yet to come join us for some great diving, company and food now is the time to do so. We still have spots available on the upcoming trips: Saturday/Sunday – May 6-7; Saturday/Sunday – May 13-14; Saturday/Sunday – May 20-21; Saturday/Sunday – June 3-4; Monday/Wednesday – June 5-7; Thursday/Friday – June 8-9 – StetsonBank/Kraken Trip Only; Saturday/Sunday – June 10-11; Thursday/Friday – June 15-16; Saturday/Sunday – June 17-18; Monday/Wednesday – June 19-21; Thursday/Friday – June 22-23 – StetsonBank/Kreaken Trip Only; Saturday/Sunday – June 24-25; Monday/Wednesday – June 26-28 – Thursday/Friday – 29-30-Saturday/Sunday – July 1-2. There are also spots available for trips in July and August. Don’t get left out and book your trip book. See you at the dock!! Sharon

Sorry guys, but we are making an early weather call for this weekend trip, April 22-23, and cancelling due to the high seas forecast. Saturday was looking a little bumpy but with the cold front coming in during Saturday evening the seas were going to get rough. The latest forecast was calling for 5-8 with a few 9-10 coming home on Sunday. The ride back in would have not been much fun. If anyone would like to roll to another weekend just let you dive shop know. Hope to see everyone at the dock next weekend. Sharon

Photos from Fling Charters's post

Trip Report for April 15/15 Sport Trip to Stetson Bank & The Kraken Reef This past weekend the Fling was host to a near full load of divers on the first sport diving trip to investigate the recently reefed Kraken. Since the site is so near Stetson Bank, combining the two destinations was a good fit for a weekend excursion. We cast off the dock a bit later than usual for a shorter than usual trip out to start diving at the wreck site. Seas on the way out were between four and six feet, and it was a beautiful moonlit night. Many passengers waking from the forward berthing area Saturday stopped in the wheelhouse to say what a smooth ride it was, and although I offered no arguments, I was remembering having been earlier ejected from the captain’s chair around 3am by a big one. It was also around this time I realized I was not wearing my usual assortment of hoodies, and so it was that the main air conditioning unit had disgorged its coolant through an inconvenient hole now located on the exterior unit. Unfortunately, try as we did this was not a repairable issue while off shore. We were all thankful for the mild April temperatures, opened the exterior hatches, and kept right on undeterred. Thanks to everyone for being understanding of an unforeseen situation. Saturday morning, we moored up to the Kraken (with permission from the State of Texas), and commenced diving operations. Divers did three dives in mild currents with widely varied visibility from a reported 10 to 40 feet in various locations. I talked to many who all confirmed that while there were no remarkable permanent residents, there were huge schools of large Red Snapper as well as some Mangrove Snappers. Water temps were in the low 70’s. After dive three we bid farewell to the wreck, and motored about an hour over to Stetson to tie up on buoy #2. This was the site for the last daylight dive as well as the night dive. Everyone, myself included, likes night dives at Stetson. Many divers were first time visitors to Stetson which was reportedly well liked although cooler with one report of a bottom temp at 69. There was one sighting of a Hammerhead Shark as well as a large turtle which could be seen above and below the surface. Sunday morning, we moved the boat over to buoy #3 for the first dive of the day, and later circumstances caused cancellation of dive two. We returned safely to the dock with all our divers earlier than usual. Thanks to all for being good sports about the a/c, and thanks for diving with the Fling. Featured u/w photos by Richard Thomas. Capt John M/V Fling

The Stetson Bank/Kraken trip this weekend, April 15-16, is a go. We will start boarding at 7:30PM but please be at the dock no later than 8PM. We will be leaving the dock a little later then normal on this trip. We still have a few spots available for anyone who would like to join, See everyone at the dock tonight.

Photos from Fling Charters's post

April 8-9 Sport Diving Trip Report The spring weather cycle finally broke again just in time for our most recent dive excursion. We took an intrepid gang of divers on a sharky adventure to the Texas Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. We had all divers aboard at the usual time on Friday evening, and cast off about 8:30pm to motor the 100 plus miles out to the banks in uncommonly good sea conditions. The outside air temperature was in the 70’s, and it was calm enough I was able to walk the bow during the transit, a rarity. This was a welcomed contrast to outbound weather two weeks ago when there were waves splashing off the windshield. I think everyone slept well on the way out this time. Saturday morning about 7am we tied up to Buoy #2 on the West Bank for the first two dives of the day. Along with the usual reef inhabitants, our divers reported multiple turtle sightings as well as a Manta Ray. We were not so pleasantly surprised by the current and wind which were opposed to each other causing the boat to lay in the trough all day and most of the night. For the third dive, we tied up to a platform, High Island 376-A. Since this platform is still active it is popular with sharks, and no one was disappointed with multiple sightings of Silky Sharks by the divers. Luckily, for this dive adjacent to the East Bank the conditions cooperated with just enough wind to keep the boat off the platform and we had just a slight current to make the dive a good one. We then moved the Fling over to the East Bank, Buoy #1 for the last two dives of the day which included the night dive. Everyone I talked to who participated saw several sharks and some saw a large grouper. Many saw a Tiger Shark on the fourth dive, and there were also reports of a Sandbar Shark. All the divers on the night dive reported seeing a Tiger Shark almost immediately on descending. It’s very cool to see a tiger on a night dive, and some from this trip called it “exciting”. How big of a shark it was depends on who I was listening to at the time. Everyone was getting a bit chilled by this point, and so most retired early to their bunks for the evening after mandatory ice cream. As usual we threw the lines around 2am Sunday for the transit to Stetson Bank. I started the process a little early since we were rolling in the trough constantly, and it was starting to wear on the tolerance of a few folks. The crew does not like rolling around either, but I hope everyone slept a little better after we started cruising. By 7am Sunday divers found themselves tied up on Stetson Bank. Of course, I mean the boat was moored at Stetson, at Buoy #3 to be precise. I had previously talked up Stetson during dinner Saturday because it is a personal favorite site for me. The location is still in the same sanctuary, but has a totally different, other world feel. Reports from the dive were that it was darker and colder as is the norm with Stetson. Unfortunately, the resident sharks elected not to show up at the time of our visit, but there were plenty of lobsters, eels, and impressive geology. Diving operations were concluded before noon, and we motored back to Freeport arriving dockside around 5:30pm. All the divers came home safe and tired, and I hope this trip report finds everyone back home considering their individual experience and an intention to visit us again on the M/V Fling. Folks came to ride the boat from as far as Pensacola and Dallas/Fort Worth. We tank you for your business. None of the attached photos are stock. All were made on the weekend of this trip, and unlike on the last trip, no drones were harmed during photography. I did post a couple of them earlier Friday. General Condition Summary: The water temperature was reported to me as high as 75F on the west bank and as low as 71F on the east. It was, as always, cooler at Stetson. Visibilities were good, always reported at least 60 to 80 feet horizontally. The weather was sunny and mild albeit windy, and we had some moderate current at times. Seas were approximately 4 feet or less for diving, and only started to build after we were headed home. Captain John M/V Fling

Timeline Photos

The weather is looking good for diving as we get ready to shove off tonight for the Flower Gardens. There is still room on next week's Stetson/Kraken trip. Why not sign up?

We are going diving tonight. The weekend trip April 8-9 is a go! We will board at 7:30PM but please be at the dock no later than 8PM. There are still a few spots available for anyone who would like to join us. Let's go diving!!! Sharon