Greg, myself, Phin, McMarine headed way south to scout a few loran conversions that Phin had. We got so far south, we even ran into Edisto Fisher and his crew out there. Overall, fishing was pretty slow for us. We managed several black bass on rod and reel, nothing too exciting. Greg and I hopped in the water for a couple of dives and visibility was pretty poor. The thermocline took my breath away for a second when we hit it at 45 feet. We got to the bottom and landed on top of 4 lobsters having a business meeting. We grabbed a couple and had to let a couple go. We found a few more later on the dive. I lost a spear on a 18+ fish. Greg and I also saw the future state record trigger fish. He was a beast, but we let him live for the hook and liners. Then we did another dive. The viz was slightly better, but we had much less fish on it. I saw the biggest angel fish that I had ever seen. It was probably 10 lbs. We tracked a few grouper and then it happened. The biggest stingray that I had even seen flew in. He was probably 8 feet across his wingspan which provided nice shade for the 8 or so cobia swimming underneath him. I waved “hello” at the cobias since I had already lost one shaft that day, but greg decided he wanted a piece of one. He shot and planted a solid spear in him. The cobia went berserk and layed upside down on the sand for a second playing dead. Greg went for some “insurance” and reloaded and put spear #2 in him. This fish was going no where with a cross stitch of spears in him. That’s what we thought just before the fish came back to life, righted himself and swam away with $60 worth of new jewelry.
Shooting was just not a skill that I had yesterday. I even let a couple of nice gags go because my gun was tangled up in my BC and couldn’t get it out fast enough. Also, I ran across a nice “doormat” flounder. I was going to poke him and when I turned my gun upside down, my spare shaft fell out and poked him first and he darted away. I already had some Zatarain’s plans for him
It’s nice to know that you pro divers have problems with gear, too… I spent most of my time down just trying to get the hang of where everything was and keeping my gun from floating away.
We saw a huge ray too, but he was just lying on the bottom waiting for the next Steve Irwin to swim over him; no cobia anywhere.
It’s nice to know that you pro divers have problems with gear, too… I spent most of my time down just trying to get the hang of where everything was and keeping my gun from floating away.
We saw a huge ray too, but he was just lying on the bottom waiting for the next Steve Irwin to swim over him; no cobia anywhere.
It was a lot of fun, that’s for sure.
Ryan
Worldcat 266SF “Little Miracle”
Garden City Beach
Congrats on your first trip as well. Knowing where everything is as far as your inflator hose and console will come to you, but I still can't unzip the pockets on my BC without a good fight! I'm suprised those guys let you take a gun down on your first time, but it sounds like you did well with it.
Isn’t there a line attached to the spear? I know virtually nothing about spearing fish - but have always seen the guns have line attached to the spear when I have seen videos of spearos with quarry.
Either way, good report. I’d love to get into diving/spearing, but those pesky sharks…
What kind of boat do you run?
Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling?
It is very common to use lines on shafts, but we do not use them on ours. It’s a tradeoff. We are going to lose shafts (and fish) sometimes with the gain of faster reloads (no line to deal with), being able to shoot multiple fish quicker, no line to get tangled, being able to pull the spear through when taking it out of a fish(versus backing the tip out because the line is attached). Also, on TV you have probably seen breath hold divers that use a line attached to a float system. Part of that is because they can’t be attached to the gun as they need to get to the surface for more air as they try to subdue the fish. SCUBA line shaft divers usually have the spear tethered to the gun itself, but if you shoot a big one, hang on!!!
Yes, most of what I’ve seen is footage of breath hold divers shooting fish. Sure does seem like it would be easier not having to fool around with those lines, though.
Nice ride, I’m seriously looking at a 18’ cat for my next ride…
Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling?
I couldn’t get skinnee into the North Hole Triangle yesterday, but he did get far enough south to be alright in my book…
SkinneeJ and Greg1 blew bubbles and produced when the Avets couldn’t. I only had one hard bite but the hook wasn’t in his mouth. Only a couple porgies and big BSB caught rod and reel.
There is even confirmation that Edistofisher is a reel person and actually does fish 25 miles offshore. He broke double top secret VHF channel ** in a manner that only a seasoned radio communicator could have perfected after years of practice. He even got his buddies aboard the Mongolian Warrior (ctnr ship) to blow at him.
Skinnee, I am not all beat up from riding in the 2-3’ chop.
And it was fun trip. I still say it was a good day after a late start and easter egg hunting for something on old numbers!
Thanks again
So,I guess it is OK to wound gags and cobia and let them get away to die,but it is not OK to pull a sail out for a pic?I don’t think I would have posted the part about the wounded fish on a hook&line website.Haven’t you guys learned ANYTHING from Slayride and Robio?
How about using the aforementioned shaft lines?That seems like a good conservation measure.I would think a 60# cobia could be quite sporting and provide some excellent video footage using said lines.
How about using the aforementioned shaft lines?That seems like a good conservation measure.I would think a 60# cobia could be quite sporting and provide some excellent video footage using said lines.
“Give war a chance!”
Have you been paying attention!! We only conserve billfish and peanut dolphin around here! All else is worthless by catch and must die anyway possible.
“Don’t worry, I have a plan!..
Great a plan, Custer had a plan.”
All Rise - 31 Contender Fish Around with a pair of 250 Yamahas
You’ve got to “sleep” better knowing these guys that actually"care for the offshore community" are out there patrolling our ocean floors .Also posting this on the internet for the world to see.
How about using the aforementioned shaft lines?That seems like a good conservation measure.I would think a 60# cobia could be quite sporting and provide some excellent video footage using said lines.
“Give war a chance!”
what will often happen with a lineshaft is you holding onto the line and the fish going crazy will rip the shaft out thru its flesh and the fish will swim off to have its belly eaten out by the nearest triggerfish. No lines on the shaft mean you can put another shaft in, reload and shoot the same fish again. These are usually the biggest fish being shot and the only thing to attach the spear to is yourself. Free divers can have the spear attached to a float, and the fish swims around pulling the float as it “expires” enough for you to swim up to it and “dispatch” it. I doubt the land to shot ratio is better just because of having a line on the spear. It just works better if the fish are on top and it can swim away from you. If you’re on the bottom, having a line going everywhere between you and a fish going crazy = the line getting tangled in all your gear and who knows what else…
sounds like Ocean Hunters make it look easy. safety first when in 60’ of murky h20. I’m guessing a 60# cobia could have you lassoed in mere second. still like the thought of hand picking my dinner. guess you have to aim for the head and hope for the best.
what will often happen with a lineshaft is you holding onto the line and the fish going crazy will rip the shaft out thru its flesh and the fish will swim off to have its belly eaten out by the nearest triggerfish. No lines on the shaft mean you can put another shaft in, reload and shoot the same fish again. These are usually the biggest fish being shot and the only thing to attach the spear to is yourself. Free divers can have the spear attached to a float, and the fish swims around pulling the float as it “expires” enough for you to swim up to it and “dispatch” it. I doubt the land to shot ratio is better just because of having a line on the spear. It just works better if the fish are on top and it can swim away from you. If you’re on the bottom, having a line going everywhere between you and a fish going crazy = the line getting tangled in all your gear and who knows what else…
Hit the nail on the head... That's right, fish will still pull of the line just as easy.
You’ve got to “sleep” better knowing these guys that actually"care for the offshore community" are out there patrolling our ocean floors .Also posting this on the internet for the world to see.
What a piece of work:sunglasses:
It's really hard to argue with guys like splitdecision and S4G who have it all figured out!!! I wish I was as smart as those guys.
You guys go break some release laws. Until then, Greg and I will just fish legally.
The freeshaft spearfishing is meant for people who are very accurate and pick their shots wisely. I would say 60% of fish i shoot are stone cold dead from a shot to the brain. 20% are not dead but pinned in a way they cant swim. The rest hole up in the ledge and we pull them out. We never leave a wounded fish even on deep technical dives and will mark the spot to go down again after a surface interval and exhaust every effort to find it.
As in any type hunting sport like Deer hunting, duck hunting, dove, turkey, etc a poor place shot can result in lost game. The hunter owes it to the game he hunts to practice and be sure of his shot for a quick clean kill and make every effort possible for recovery.
Rob H
Charleston diving http://www.charlestondiving.com (Fish not Biting? Try a fast presentation of spring steel)</font id=“green”>
No lines on the shaft mean you can put another shaft in, reload and shoot the same fish again. These are usually the biggest fish being shot and the only thing to attach the spear to is yourself. Free divers can have the spear attached to a float, and the fish swims around pulling the float as it “expires” enough for you to swim up to it and “dispatch” it. I doubt the land to shot ratio is better just because of having a line on the spear. It just works better if the fish are on top and it can swim away from you. If you’re on the bottom, having a line going everywhere between you and a fish going crazy = the line getting tangled in all your gear and who knows what else…