Best Dive Knife

[Mikel_24]

Was your Spyderco folder -- the one you used to clean fish -- the Catcherman?? Or just an Endura or something?

God, I'd hate to have to clean an Endura -- especially a pinned model -- after cleaning a fish with it.

Come to think of it, was/is the Catcherman made with screw-together construction?

I used to have a Tekna Boot Knife in stainless steel, and it was a stout, sturdy knife. Didn't take a real sharp edge (it was VERY thick) but still was a good knife to have strapped on in the surf. Unfortunately, the surf is what caused me to lose it. I probably will never get a replacement for it.

I just use what I happen to have in my car at the time. It could be an Endura, Delica or even a Centofante III. The last one has pinned construction so it is more difficult to clean after using it. The Endura makes short job of even the biggest fish (keep in mind we don't do blue water hunting here... so what I call BIG is probably not that big for you).

The main problem with diving knives while spear fishing is that you need a stout tool that lets you finish off fish even puncturing their skull but at the same time you need razor sharp edges so you can free yourself from fishing net, line, ropes or whatever if you get trapped. When you go scuba diving you don't really have a tremendous urge to free yourself, there is no worry, you won't die if it takes a minute or so to cut everything. When you rely on your lungs you can't take second chances. You either cut it in a split second... or you will never cut it.

Just a few pictures.

I was 15 at the time... ¡and it was February!

Hope you like them.
Mikel

Mikel

 

[bobby.t]

Any Busse.

 

[yoda4561]

Any Busse.

I'll have to disagree with you there, as much as I like them, and even though they'd hold up fair even in saltwater, they're certainly not "the best" for diving. Mostly due to their weight and lack of serrations. The expense should you manage to drop it while not near the bottom is a bit more than I'd want to bite. From looking at spyderco's new caspians I think they might come pretty close to ideal, not a big fan of those hooked line cutters but I guess all dive knives have them these days.

 

[zenheretic]

I'll have to disagree with you there, as much as I like them, and even though they'd hold up fair even in saltwater, they're certainly not "the best" for diving. Mostly due to their weight and lack of serrations. The expense should you manage to drop it while not near the bottom is a bit more than I'd want to bite. From looking at spyderco's new caspians I think they might come pretty close to ideal, not a big fan of those hooked line cutters but I guess all dive knives have them these days.

Well Sal is a diver, so I'm sure he had some idea of what would make a useful tool.

 

[smoekdsalmon]

Mikel 24,

Totally +1 on a sharp knife when breath-hold diving...

A few years ago a kid in my hometown of Key West drowned when he speared a big fish and then got fouled-up in his own shot line. His buddy couldn't get to him in time.

Sad but true.

P.S.
...Nice haul! What kind of fish is the big one in photo 3?

 

[Bookworm]

I'll have to disagree with you there, as much as I like them, and even though they'd hold up fair even in saltwater, they're certainly not "the best" for diving. Mostly due to their weight and lack of serrations. The expense should you manage to drop it while not near the bottom is a bit more than I'd want to bite.

weight is an issue, after nearly losing a friend's antique diving knife, I now tie a piece of super bright green floating cord of some sort to the knife, so if it falls I can A- find it, and B- not have to swim as far down.

I only snorkel (not certified) and since wetsuits do a great job of keeping you on the surface, it was a fun crawl down to 40ish feet to grab that knife. I say "crawl" because the buoyancy of the suit was so great I got to the floor by "climbing" a canyon wall with my hands, since swimming down was damn near impossible.

even though virtually all diving knives will sink, I recommend getting one with at the very least a bright handle, so it's easier to find should it escape.

 

[Mikel_24]

Mikel 24,

Totally +1 on a sharp knife when breath-hold diving...

A few years ago a kid in my hometown of Key West drowned when he speared a big fish and then got fouled-up in his own shot line. His buddy couldn't get to him in time.

Sad but true.

P.S.
...Nice haul! What kind of fish is the big one in photo 3?

So far I never got tangled on my own line but I had to cut a few times some old fishing lines... ¡with huge hooks! A friend of mine got tangled on a net and there was three of us there so we freed himself quickly. No harm done, to my buddy I mean... the net was thrashed! I don't feel any shame for the owner because it was illegaly placed too close to the shore... any swimmer might have got caught in there, it was like 100m from the beach (it was winter but it is illegal anyway). And as far as I know... I don't see many swimmers carrying a knife!

About that big fish... mmm here we call it CONGRIO (Conger Conger). It is like a bad ass eel... I hope you get the picture! This one is not that big, it was like 8kg. The biggest one I caught was like 18kg... thick as my leg. I guess I got lucky because I almost finished it off with the first shot. They are pure muscle... and usually bend and twist the spears so badly that unless you have an spare... your fishing day is done.

I will try to find a picture at home this afternoon of that big one.HERE you have a few more pictures from some LAROMPIENTE forumites.

Mikel

 

[jaislandboy]

cool photos Mikel_24 .....i've never fished underwater (only rod and reel) but those catches look impressive....hey, what are the fish species in your first two photos posted
btw: them eel-fish things look pretty spooky.....you're crazy if you're swimming in water w/them things

 

[Mikel_24]

cool photos Mikel_24 .....i've never fished underwater (only rod and reel) but those catches look impressive....hey, what are the fish species in your first two photos posted
btw: them eel-fish things look pretty spooky.....you're crazy if you're swimming in water w/them things

Hi jaislandboy!
The two fish in the first picture are called DENTONES (Dentex Dentex). This fish is a real killer and is an active hunter. The problem is that they are mostly active during sunrise and sunset... which means that many times we end up in the water when it is still very dark... just waiting for the first lights to start fishing them. They are very difficult to fish but we got lucky. The small one was like 2kg and the other one 4kg. You have some more pictures of this fish HERE.

The only fish in the second picture is a LUBINA (Dicentrarchus labrax). This also a hunter but it is less difficult to catch than the dentones. This was by far my stupidiest shot... I took a dive at 10-12m (I guess that is like 30-36feet, right?) and I saw a shadow moving slowly six feet below me. At first I didn't know what it was... so I let myself sink quietly three more fit and shot it in the head. It started trembling and when it got sideways it was like: Holly cow! I grabbed its mouth and finished it off some more with my knife. It was 6kg. More pictures of lubinas HERE.

HINT: Any time you have to keep a fish steady to finish it off or whatever you can pinch its lower lip between your index + middle finger and the rest of your hand (unless that fish has big teeth). In case you fear the teeth can cut your gloves, just hold it from the eyecups pinching it between your index finger and thumb. Pressure in the eyes kind of freezes them right on the spot.

Mikel

 

[jaislandboy]

Hi jaislandboy!
The two fish in the first picture are called DENTONES (Dentex Dentex). This fish is a real killer and is an active hunter. The problem is that they are mostly active during sunrise and sunset... which means that many times we end up in the water when it is still very dark... just waiting for the first lights to start fishing them. They are very difficult to fish but we got lucky. The small one was like 2kg and the other one 4kg. You have some more pictures of this fish HERE.

The only fish in the second picture is a LUBINA (Dicentrarchus labrax). This also a hunter but it is less difficult to catch than the dentones. This was by far my stupidiest shot... I took a dive at 10-12m (I guess that is like 30-36feet, right?) and I saw a shadow moving slowly six feet below me. At first I didn't know what it was... so I let myself sink quietly three more fit and shot it in the head. It started trembling and when it got sideways it was like: Holly cow! I grabbed its mouth and finished it off some more with my knife. It was 6kg. More pictures of lubinas HERE.

HINT: Any time you have to keep a fish steady to finish it off or whatever you can pinch its lower lip between your index + middle finger and the rest of your hand (unless that fish has big teeth). In case you fear the teeth can cut your gloves, just hold it from the eyecups pinching it between your index finger and thumb. Pressure in the eyes kind of freezes them right on the spot.

Mikel

Hey Mikel,
thanks for the background info and sharing those photos.... its great seeing fish w/people in pix
I don't think I'll be trying the spearfisherman's Vulcan Eye Gouge move on any fish underwater anytime soon LOL ......Mi amigo you have grandes cohones :yawn:
thanx for sharing your fishhunting trips :thumbup: