Can anyone recommend a spear gun for a beginner / intermediate diver? Dive mostly around 20-30 ft, but will be taking a class down in Fl in early August, and want to dive locally here and spear in Charleston…See several brands out there, and comments, or reviews would be helpful. Suggestions? Thanks…
Depends…Are you Scuba or Freediver? Assuming by the word diving that you are SCUBA; the next question is what are your intentions and targets? Do you intend on diving offshore for larger species, ie., grouper, pompano, cobia…or do you intend on sticking around inshore for flounder, sheephead, spadefish? Or maybe some combination of both?
Let me start by saying this: I would never buy anything less than 48" diving off of South Carolina. Answer the above and then we can revisit your original question.
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
For a beginner get a 6 ft long pole spear. Theyre inexpensive and its alot of fun. If you really enjoy it then move up to a gun. I have used a pole spear at the charleston sixty, nearshore reef and in 100 ft of water on a live bottom for grouper numerous times. A gun is much easier on the skittish grouper but a pole spear will work. Ive killed plenty. If youre after sheepshead or spadefish theyre a walk in the park.
Sure, let me clarify. I am an advanced SCUBA diver, and new to freediving. But basically I want a speargun, for targeting grouper, cobia, etc. I want something to use for freediving, but also for SCUBA. With that being said, any recommendations? Have a pole spear, and hawaiian sling already, so looking at spearguns.
“If you can’t stand behind our soldiers, then try standing in front of them”
AB Biller at least 48" for the money u will not go wrong, this is my $0.02
Big Dummy
I agree with car washer. Also wood not aluminum. The wood guns float just incase it becomes detached and are very quiet.
Joey
OK. So Scuba. The answer then is not as simple as one gun. I’ll give you the complete answer and then you can expand upon it how you wish. The best gun for all around diving is not one, but two guns. You need a gun for pelagics and a gun for bottom dwellers. Some experienced shooters use a 52" Ocean Rhino as a freeshaft gun, but with a quick detachable line shaft in one of the spare shaft holders. This gives you the abililty to switch back and forth as you’re making decents/ascents and encounter pelagics. When you hit the bottom, you can then switch back to “old faithful” freeshaft and go to town. I’m not the biggest fan of this idea because I think it takes too long to switch the gun back and forth. I prefer to take two guns down on a dive that is likely to have pelagics and bottom dwellers. If I don’t shoot a pelagic on the way down the line gun goes to the top on a lift bag with the first bottom fish shot. The bottom gun/freeshaft gun then starts working on bottom fish. This, in my opinion is the quickest and most efficient method of hunting.
Now, brands. I have many, but prefer a 54" biller with 2 spare shaft holders, in Paduk, with a slip tip for my pelagic line gun. We really have very little use for reel guns/euro guns here. I do have a 110 Omer that I like, but it has very little use other than in the blue. The biller can be converted to a freeshaft gun if my Rhino fails on the bottom…which leads me to the bottom gun. A 52" ocean Rhino with 2 spare shaft holders and shafts. The only problem I’ve ever found with the Rhinos is that the action tends to wear out after the first 1000 shots or so. Billers tend to have an action that lasts and lasts. Rhino’s tend to be more accurate and have a little more range when powered with a single 3/4 inch band. Use cable wishbones instead of wire.
Hope this helps. PM or email for more info.
And come shoot the tournament this year. Would love to have you.
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”