stupid question

[jackinthefox]

hi all i am new to the forum and to spearfishing. i have a question i cant seem to find an answer to. i am wondering exactly how to handle the caught fish in south florida warm waters without a boat. I figure i would string them to my flag buoy. but do i bleed them or clean them or just string them> and then how long do i have in those warm waters before i need to get them on ice? thanks for your help
ken

[beamjoel]

jack,

Yeah stringing to your flag float is the way to go, especially if your in "sharky" waters. I personally hip string my fish if targeting smaller species. I am in southern california so I am not sure of the warmer water issue but I would think that bleeding and gutting your catch might draw unwanted attention from the tax collectors!!

good luck,

Joel

[Pastor]

You could use an innertube or similar with a sealed and flooded plastic bag type thing in the centre to dump your fish in and keep the blood out of the water as much as possible.

[jackinthefox]

thanks for the responses. i like the inner tube idea. maybe ill try something along those lines cause these are sharky waters.

[Marwan]

jack, you could also consider a kayak...some of them have hatches where you can store fish...you also have the added safety of the kayak as a dry place out of the water and a way of getting home, could be worth a shot....i know some of the hatches could be big enough to fit oe of those cooler bags packed ith ice, so you could store the fish in ice out of the water without the kayak smelling of dead fish all the time....check ocean kayaks....prowler trident 15 model

[kjflyfish]

A kayak is the best way to go. You can attach a dive flag much easier and it's a better way to store your fish. Sharks will inevitably show up in S. Florida and take your catch. An inner tube would be total crap to have to haul around and would put too much resistance on the floatline as you decend.

[blaiz]

If you do choose to string your fish to your float be sure to atleast "brain" your fish. This is a method we use in hawaii to keep from attracting the "tax collectors." Its very easy to do (with most species) and has minimal amounts of blood... if done right.

Insert your dive knife into the back of the head just above the eyes (usually along a 45 degree angle from the eye to the tail) Give your knife a quick turn and twist and you should feel the fish give a last "shudder." This is the part of spearing I hate but it is crucial. If you want to avoid the untimely visit from the tax collector kill your fish imediately. The vibrations given off by a dying fish are a dinner bell for hungry sharks, even more so than a little blood in the water.

Another easy way to brain a fish is to insert the knife into the gills and push it into the head towards the eyes.

These are good methods but like I said it works with "most" species of fish. You will find that sometimes, with certain fish, it seems impossible to kill them. It will take a little experience to get it right. The ideal way would be a kayak, or an innertube, but the downfall to these is that you may venture far away from your kayak, and with an innertube they are a bitch to tow around.

Good luck!