how big can u go

[kirk7932]

Hello

Im new to spearfishing and will be hunting with scuba. I wanted to know how big of a fish can you manage with a reel. I will go on my first hunt this spring and am trying to figure out if I need a reel on my gun or use a float.

Thanks Kirk

[Panthalassia]

Hey Kirk,

Welcome to spearfishing. Not sure how big a fish you can land with a reel. I think that will depend on the setup (i.e. line strength, reel construction, etc.). My personal opinion if you're new to the sport is to use a float and float line, or attach your reeled gun to a float line. Many reeled guns have been lost by inexperienced people ultimately letting go of the gun when the fish takes off. Also can be hard to deal with the thin reel line as a novice since you have all these other things going on...especially if your scuba diving at the same time. My suggestion while starting off would be a one or two wrap line with a short shock absorber/bungee going from your shaft to your gun. Then a clip on the gun handle attaching to a float line. You can put a short length of monofilament between your gun handle and float line, so the floatline doesn't give away your position to fish (though if you're scuba I presume the bubbles will do that anyway).

My $0.02. Hope this helps.

Alex

One more thing I forgot to mention. You can also purchase (or make) breakaway lines. These allow you to attach your shaft line directly to your floatline. When you shoot, the shaft line/float line separates completely from your gun, so you can surface with your gun in hand and let the fish take off with the float. Some people prefer this to letting the fish "run off" with the gun, and if hunting near rocks/reef, the gun doesn't get as beat up.

Alex

[kirk7932]

Alex

Thanks for your input. I agree the breakaway line is the way to go.

I also have rethought using scuba while spearfishing. After speaking with Ted over at spearotiki Im trying to build up my breath hold time . Im almost 50yrs old and like to take things easy lol but i see that scuba and spearfishing is not the way to go. So I will give it a shot. although you may see me down under with a spare air strapped to my leg just for emergency situations lol

Kirk

[Panthalassia]

I completely understand what you mean about taking it easy. As sexy as deep freediving is (I presume something to do with machismo), there is no reason to push it as a beginner. But freediving offers a much more engaging, peaceful view of the UW world, and allows you to get closer and more intimate with your prey. Also evens out the odds a little...

Obviously if you do take a spare air with you while freediving and decide/need to use it, keep in mind of the different physics (Boyle's law, Dalton's law, Charle's law etc.) involved with scuba. I guess it's not a bad backup for freediving but I would personally rather shed the weight and just make sure I freedive within my physiologic limits. Either way, once you get comfortable freediving (by comfortable I don't mean going to 100ft) you'll notice a more intimate connection with the sea and the creatures. You end up being more in tune with your surroundings, instead of fiddling with hoses and buoyancy etc. Also much quieter and more peaceful.

That said, don't misunderstand, I enjoy a good scuba dive too. Enjoy yourself Kirk and good luck with your new endeavor.

Alex

[Marwan]

not sure about scuba diving with a float, i can think of some conditions where that wont be practical, such as around reefs and wrecks.. your float line could get entangled at a shallow depth while youre deeper, that sort of thing can ruin a dive for you...i recommend a reel and if youre scared/concerned from its size, dont shoot it

[carlo8989]

so if i use a reel then i dont need a flot but i do need a float cause of boats lol and if i get a reel then can i have a float attached 2 it ? and last question if i do and i cant get the fish out of hole then can i just let go of gun with float soz bout the questions urs carlo8989

[Mr. X]

There is a third option. No reel, attach speargun to your float-line and the float-line to your float. Then, if you let go of the speargun, it remains attached to your float(s).


Break-away sounds like a better bet for really big fish though & around shark.


I thought the idea of reels was primarily to allow a breath-hold spearo to reach the surface before dealing with the fish.

[carlo8989]

but if using a reel can you still atach the gun to your float ?

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by carlo8989

but if using a reel can you still atach the gun to your float ?

You can do whatever you want. Usually one or the other though. If your gun is attached to your float line, what purpose does the reel have? There is much to be said for simplicity. Tangles could be a real problem.

[Pastor]

For me the fewer lines in the water at one time the better. Floatlines and reels are a no in my limited sphere of knowledge. I think very big fish can be landed with reels with some careful thought into how the fish is played, not that I have any experience of course. Bill Mac was telling me earlier in the year about how he uses the reel to send a WSB into the kelp for cover but eventually to get tangled up. Then he dives down the reel line to find the fish and dispatch it. Then cleverly he uses a CO2 dive float to provide buoyancy to help cut it out and lift it. Pretty slick stuff!

[Spaniard]

If you want to use a reel and a float then the gun needs to be attached to float but that will add more line hence more tangling problems to the equation; most 'breakaway' gear is spear to float. What sort of hunting have you got in mind?

[carlo8989]

Originally Posted by Spaniard

If you want to use a reel and a float then the gun needs to be attached to float but that will add more line hence more tangling problems to the equation; most 'breakaway' gear is spear to float. What sort of hunting have you got in mind?

reef hunting 10m-25m lol sounds deep but it isnt lol i orded the OMER SPEARGUN T 20 CARBON MED MIMETIC lol and bought reel but i was thinking if i attached a float to then it would make it better just incase i had to let go of gun for somereason or if boats come then atleast i have float lol im a bit new with reels lol thanks for replys

[fishyak]

go with the float line because your a diver and you need the float anyway.

[carlo8989]

Originally Posted by fishyak

go with the float line because your a diver and you need the float anyway.

ok thanks man but i will also use the reel and experiment whats better etc and ye proberly in end ill use float line lol thanks for replys

[riffehunter717]

with scuba you should be able to hang on to the gun with neither reel or floatline, i dive scuba in North Carolina and should cobia up to 50lbs and lots of pompanoo;but with the pompanoo you better hang on tite