Need advice on scuba spearfishing.

[Shadow Diver101]

Hi all I'm 15 and need some advice on scuba spearfishing. I'm buying a pneumatic gun mainly because we won't go deeper than 33 feet so the gun won't loose to much pressure. I would like to know information on where to shoot the fish, what are good beginner fish to shoot that aren't to skidish. Also tell me a good way to aim and hide myself. I read in previous posts that you can get a fish to come to you so please elaborate on that subject.

[GaraTreter]

spearfishing with scuba gear? how lame is that!?

[fcallagy]

Hi Shadow,
Spearing with scuba is kinda frowned upon and illegal in lots of places in Europe as it makes it too easy in some cases. I,m not really a spearo anyway so it makes little odds to me. Waiting for the fish to come to you is usually done while freediving as they get curious about you and come in to investigate. If your on scuba the bubbles usually scare away any of the worthwhile edible fish that you may want. This is as far as i see it in my end of the world but I know in the states spearing on scuba is a lot more common.
Why not give the freediving way a try out to see if it succeeds? You dive down (doesn't have to be deep) and wait to see if they come in to you. As a safety note always give yourself plenty of scope to come back up again and never dive alone. There is a whole story on how to rig your gun with floats or reels etc but its not within my knowledge so try searching the hunting section.

[Marwan]

well not to get into to the whole free versus scuba argument (which has prven to be endless in the past )..and although i fish on freediving but dont look down on scoobies in any way...shadow i know lots of people fish on scuba in your part of the world and that its ok to do so and not frowned upon.. deeperblue is an international forum and respects diversity...so in terms of questions you ask..
1 - for a speargun, why not go for a band gun..pneumatics dont loose their pressure that easily by the way and there is always the mamba system..which is basically a dry barrel so doent loose energy even at 100 feet..see what other guys who scuba spearfish in your area are using for guns...chances are thats the way to go...
2 - you didnt say what is your experience level in scuba..i recommend that you get very comfortable in the water and with diving before you take up spearing, you have to juggle several things as you do it, monitor your air, time..deal with a stringer..i say get compfortable with your equipment first and then start thinking about spearing..
3 - When you do start spearing...progress slowly, dont go for big fish immediately as they can be a lot to handle..i suggest you take the time to observe/understand the behaviour of the fish in your area, even without a gun and then start going for them...
have fun and post pics of your catches...

[Marwan]

you could also check the spearo network section of the forums..there is a subforum for florida, lots of cool guys there im sure they could provide more relevant tips...
cheers,,

[Shadow Diver101]

I'm an advanced open water diver and I am fairly experienced. I'm not planning to go past 33 feet because I want to do no decompression dives. I also want to start freediving but my parents think its to dangerous and I do not believe that I am fit enough to freedive at this point.

[Marwan]

cool, the rest applies, i was basically trying to make the point of safety first...and find local knwledge.. did you check the florida spearo network subforums? contact tone (deeperblue name: settingsteel) he is the regional advisor on DB for Florida, awesome guy and experienced spearo...good luck

[foxfish]

Originally Posted by Marwan

on freediving but dont look down on scoobies in any way..

It that because you free dive so deep you are below them

[foxfish]

O sorry Shadow Diver101 - Welcome to db!

[azapa]

shadow, do it freediving, at the depths you mention it is quite safe and easy, and very rewarding if you learn correctly.

In fact, you have AMAZING luck because two of the worlds better freediving schools are on your doorstep: DiveFIT and performance freediving (PFI) look them up, they have regular courses there that will open your eyes and body to freedving in the best way you can imagine. The courses are not too expensive either.

good luck

[Shadow Diver101]

Ty for the comments. Also at the moment I am looking at a Mares Cyrano 850 speargun...are they hard to load??? (I can't pull back 9/16 bands very far)

[Marwan]

pulling bands is technique more then strngth...and out of the water its much harder not to mention VERY UNSAFE!..the 9/16 are quite easy in the water..
the cyrano is one of the best pneumatics out there, but ask around what others spearos are buying before you commit...

[azapa]

good question Shadow. All guns as 2x harder to load out of the water, as my buddy marwan noticed. its more Knak. Just like starting a chainsaw, a sharp quick effort rather than a long one.....

[Shadow Diver101]

I do know that the guns are easier to load under water and I did try that in my pool and I couldn't manage to pull back the bands. Is a pneumatic gun easier to load?

[Erik]

Originally Posted by GaraTreter

spearfishing with scuba gear? how lame is that!?

Don't start with that attitude here. This is not the place. Go argue elsewhere if you like fighting- this is a friendly forum if you haven't noticed.


Welcome Shadowdiver. Good advice already given so far... if you're convinced about using SCUBA then make sure you follow all the safety protocols that go with that sport, then also the safety protocols around carrying a speargun.

We need to know where you're hunting to give advice about what fish to shoot etc. If you mean where ON the fish to shoot, generally it's in the middle of the fish right behind the gillplate if possible. Make sure you have good shots so that you're not wounding fish that get off the spear because of bad aim etc. It'll happen a bit, but your aim and knowledge of the way fish move will improve quickly.

As for 'hiding', well you are blowing bubbles and making a racket, so you won't be hiding at all. There are fish that are stupid enough to hang around with all that noise or even be attracted to it, so you should still be getting fish. There are lots of SCUBA spearos that are honourable and ethical.

I'm a freediver so of course I'd promote the amazing feeling it is to stalk fish that are skittish, to learn their ways underwater, and still get myself some dinner! One of the advantages of freediving that the anti-scuba guys forget is that we are silent, so consider that to.