Anyone spearfish?

Not sure if you count walking out in the river when Carp are spawning and standing and waiting for one to come by? I do that sometimes. The spears I make myself, just sharpen the tips of sticks and make a couple of barbs on the stick. Usually get a couple each time I go. Take them home and my dad smokes them. They aren't that bad if you are used to them. Others think they are awful, but..
 
Man, I gotta dig some pics up. I can't find squat (I never took many pics and they were rarely digital). I certainly do miss those days though.

View from the beach at the Hawai'i Marine Corps Base in Kaneohe Bay, spent a lot of camping and diving there, it's a great spot:

MCBHCamp0715-1705012.jpg


Some of my best memories with my buds were when we were spearfishing:

smiling2.jpg


I'll try and check later to see if I have any actual pics of some of our hauls. Jake you should totally jump in, spearfishing's a great way to enjoy the ocean (as long as you respect the life therein too).
 
rksoon said:
You didn't use fins or a weight belt, safetyman?
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Yeah I didn't mention it but I did use fins and weights. Didn't have much money back then so I bought US Diver fins from Walmart. They did alright until they softened up. They were really flimsy from the beginning so I suggest that if it's going to become a hobby J Williams get some good fins to begin with.
 
I've been spearfishing since I was a kid. My late father was really talented at it. I have several spearguns and pole spears. My favorite speargun was made by Steve at www.poseidonsub.com. It's his Voodoo Stick model (I know---sounds corny but it's a handcrafted work of art).

For a beginner, I'd start with a pole spear (aka sling spear) then work up to an inexpensive speargun of moderate size (maybe 100-120 cm with one large or two thinner power bands). If you like the sport, there are quite a few good custom guns discussed on the various spearfishing websites.

One technique is to use cover, whether rock formations, kelp or whatever, to facilitate a stealthy approach on a promising looking spot. If you see something good to eat when you emerge from the cover, get off your shot as quickly as you can aim because fish won't hang around once they spot you.

Another technique is to bait or chum an area by breaking up some urchins/shellfish then coming back a few minutes later to see what is feeding there. Again, concealing your approach is very helpful.

DancesWithKnives
 
Yep I spearfish, still do (now 42) and started when I was about 7 years old in Fiji (when I lived there) and as often as possible. Freediving to 60 feet to boot.

j williams ... what can i throw in my 2 cents with?
 
safetyman said:
They were really flimsy from the beginning so I suggest that if it's going to become a hobby J Williams get some good fins to begin with.
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Definitely :thumbup:


dartanyon said:
Yep I spearfish, still do (now 42) and started when I was about 7 years old in Fiji (when I lived there) and as often as possible. Freediving to 60 feet to boot.

j williams ... what can i throw in my 2 cents with?
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Damn, you lived in Fiji, Dartanyon? Looks like you've been diving all your life in some spectacular places :thumbup::D And Jake, feel free to ask me specifics too and I'll try to share what I know based on my experiences.
 
It's worth noting that most freedivers use a much longer fin, often a boot foot design, than scuba divers employ. Many of us have both. However, good fins are expensive so it would be worth some up-front consideration of whether you'll be hunting with scuba or breathhold diving. I like both but my late father thought anyone who used compressed air wasn't a real spearo.

DancesWithKnives
 
I did a bit of spear fishing when I lived in Panama, but I haven't really done anything around Missouri. In terms of gear, the one thing I'd mention that is worth the investment is a dry snorkel. It makes all the difference in the world when a big wave hits ya. That and when you dive you don't have to expel the water before taking a breath.
 
DWK2 said:
I've been spearfishing since I was a kid. My late father was really talented at it. I have several spearguns and pole spears. My favorite speargun was made by Steve at www.poseidonsub.com. It's his Voodoo Stick model (I know---sounds corny but it's a handcrafted work of art).

For a beginner, I'd start with a pole spear (aka sling spear) then work up to an inexpensive speargun of moderate size (maybe 100-120 cm with one large or two thinner power bands). If you like the sport, there are quite a few good custom guns discussed on the various spearfishing websites.

One technique is to use cover, whether rock formations, kelp or whatever, to facilitate a stealthy approach on a promising looking spot. If you see something good to eat when you emerge from the cover, get off your shot as quickly as you can aim because fish won't hang around once they spot you.

Another technique is to bait or chum an area by breaking up some urchins/shellfish then coming back a few minutes later to see what is feeding there. Again, concealing your approach is very helpful.

DancesWithKnives
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Very cool!

I have a question, since we live in the same neck of the woods, I heard it is illegal to bow fish in Cali:mad:, and was wondering if the same goes for spear fishing?

When I heard this (local archery shop) I was mad, cause that was one thing I always wanted to do.
 
I'm liking this thread ... Here in Australia and pretty much anywhere I am aware in the world its illegal to spear anything with SCUBA (self contained underwater breathing apparatus). When SCUBA diving most creatures underwater treat you as part of their environment and are very inquisitive ... coming up to you and even saying hello,, like another world and something I think all of us who are able to experience it, should.
The freediving and spearfishing do overlap. To be a successful spearo you need to be part freediver and even using the longer reef fins. I've got about 10 pairs of fins and they all have their uses ... a lot like shoes are to us on land. Powerful fins for scuba to push bulk around, economical long reef composite fins for maximum propulsion for minimal effort, stubby rubber fins for shallow rocky areas. The list goes on.
As for spearing its like hunting on a different planet. Stealth, trickery, intelligence, endurance and power are all components to bringing home food. Absolutely one of the best food sources I can think of in my environment.
Spearguns, handspears, gaf's and even just a blade can be tools for getting food from the ocean ... even just your hands just like on land.
As for camoflage thats also a big thing spearfishing ... one of my mates I've nicknamed Zigmund the sea monster because of his "wetty" ;)
 
Several states in the US, including Calif., permit spearfishing on SCUBA. I don't think it's a really big advantage because many of the prime prey species here will flee at the sound of a regulator or the sight of the bubbles produced. Many of my diving buddies consider freediving a more effective form of spearfishing, in our waters, than with SCUBA. Several of them don't consider SCUBA an advantage, let alone an unfair one. Of course, this may not be the case in other locations, where fish have become accustomed to recreational "photo only" SCUBA divers. [Note that the situation might also be different in CA with a closed circuit rebreather, but I'm talking about conventional SCUBA.] In any event, spearfishing with full SCUBA gear is pretty cumbersome in my experience and 95+% of my spearfishing has been done by breathhold.

DancesWithKnives
 
What about spear fishing with a barbed pole? Does anyone do that? I dont snorkle, or dive for that matter, but what about fresh water in streams etc???
 
Featherstone 45,

I don't know the answer to your bowfishing question (Calif. law). I've seen it done for Northern Pike in a number of parts of AK when I've been up there salmon/trout/pike fishing.

DancesWithKnives
 
Featherstone 45,

In several states it's a crime to spearfish in that manner. Some states even forbid possession of a spear within a certain distance of a creek. You'd have to check the regulations very carefully and call the Dept. of Fish & Game before considering that.

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK ... thanks for that although I will disagree with scuba not being an unfair advantage with spearfishing. In all the waters I've speared in the regulator doesn't scare anything away ... hey its possible the fish have learned to fear reg noise where spearing with scuba is allowed. Polagics can be brought on with all sorts of lures including metal noises and flashers. Tapping on your spear with a knife has definately produced results in the past. All sorts of fish seem to want to know what is actually prodicing the noise.

Featherstone ... the first fish I ever speared was walking along a lagoon with a spear with a pranger head. The barbed prangers arn't really needed as the multiple prangers splay out as they enter the fish. While living with Aboriginees in our far north, they made fishing spears from the trays out of ovens, binding the lengths of sharpened metal spikes to the end of a long straightened stick. This is the way they did it hundreds of years ago except they used other materials for the pranger heads.
 
rksoon ... yea lived the first 8 years of my life in Fiji. Started snorkling when I was about 4, speared my first fish when I was about 5 years old and learned to use scuba when I was 6 years old. Never stopped ;)
 
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