A grand prehistoric coral reef ecosystem situated 100 miles off Florida’s west coast is a first-choice recreation spot for divers and sport fishermen alike, including former U.S. Marine James Michaelin, 35, who spends leisure time underwater spearfishing for monster-sized hogfish. A dive earlier last fall did not disappoint.
That thriving habitat off the Gulf coast—known as the Florida Middle Grounds—was where Michaelin on Sept. 29 was diving with companions Captain Fred Grunden, Dave Butts, and Will McCraney in the hopes of bagging trophy-sized hogfish—but by day’s end, unbeknownst to him at the time, he'd broken a state record, while leaving crewmembers speechless.
