Spearfishing

[Bushmaster]

Got myself a speargun this morning, thought I would have a go.

It is only a short gun, but the string that came with it is so ridiculously short so the fish have to be almost touching distance. Went for a snorkel and shot at two fishes. I think I startled one of them and the other one was oblivious.


Anybody got any spearfishing tips?

[suthol]

Use a prong type head and only shoot what is legal and only you want to eat, also get the kill out of the water as quickly as reasonably possible otherwise you could find some much larger fish taking an interest.

I wear a body surfing wet suit and light weight belt to get neutral buoyancy.

If you smoke, give it up so you can hold your breath for longer.

[condor]

You want a fork like prong instead of a spear ( you can get away with being less accurate)...and from the sounds of it, it isn't that powerful....so perhaps octopus is all you're likely to catch
Have you thought of extending the string?

[Bushmaster]

It only has one rubber thingy so not the most powerful thing in the world, but any fish in range would probably get the point. I have extended the string by replacing it with about ten feet of braided fishing line.

[condor]

You should be able to unscrew your 'rubber spear' ...like that's going to do anything
and screw in a proper 'steel type' prong. Think something that looks similar to Satan's fork...that's what you need.

[Bushmaster]

condor said:

You should be able to unscrew your 'rubber spear' ...like that's going to do anything
and screw in a proper 'steel type' prong. Think something that looks similar to Satan's fork...that's what you need.

The rubber thing is the band that powers it, not the pointy bit! We are talking a dangerous weapon here, not a kid's toy! The point is bloody sharp, with a 'no return' flap.

[condor]

I used to fish with one when on hols in Greece - forget the spear, it's no good - you need a fork type prong...if you're even going to get a hope of killing something...otherwise you shoot it in the shallows and it just finds the seabed
Unless you're bought a really cheap one, you should be able to unscrew the spear head to replace it with aforementioned fork head.

[condor]

Bushmaster said:

condor said:

You should be able to unscrew your 'rubber spear' ...like that's going to do anything
and screw in a proper 'steel type' prong. Think something that looks similar to Satan's fork...that's what you need.

The rubber thing is the band that powers it, not the pointy bit! We are talking a dangerous weapon here, not a kid's toy! The point is bloody sharp, with a 'no return' flap.

Yes I do know that the rubber band with a metal V locks onto the gun and is used to catapault the spear to its intended victim - was just you hadn't described it as such. You did make it sound like a 'rubber spear'.

[Jasandjules]

Bushmaster said:

Anybody got any spearfishing tips?

Don't do it?

The stress caused to the fish brings the sharks......

[dickymint]

Use a rubber "plumbers blunger" instead of the spear head. That way you can clobber the ones you want to eat and discard the reat without hurting them.

[grumpy]

I have some fish in a barrel and was wondering if I should use a "side by side" or an "over and under" shotgun to shoot at them?

[Bushmaster]

grumpy said:

I have some fish in a barrel and was wondering if I should use a "side by side" or an "over and under" shotgun to shoot at them?

Don't you know keeping fish in a barrel is cruel?

[Bushmaster]

I have belatedly realised the major drawback of spearfishing...you are IN THE WATER with the fish you have just upset!

[Cara Van Man]

Bushmaster said:

Anybody got any spearfishing tips?

Yes.

Wear steel toecap boots.