Free Diving Spear Fishing

[skygear]

New hobby for me I'l be doing a lot more of this season is Free Diving (No SCUBA) and Spear Fishing.

Anyone else into these sports/ hunting method?

As I acquire more gear or if there are any recommendations on current gear in use by other members chime in please.

I have been looking at another WetSuit. I have always used ONeil but the new O.ME.R suits look interesting. There spear guns too, or a MAKO, not sure on which one yet.

theres a new Mask Cam I think I would look into.

I need new fins and a weight belt too.

My gloves are OK but why not improve on current gear.

Dive watches? I got a Suunto but looking at others,.

[tuer502gt]

You don't need a dive watch if you aren't doing SCUBA or using a rebreather.

With just a snorkel you seriously don't.

Look in to a float line, a stringer, a float and a dive flag.

[skygear]

I'm basically Free Diving and staying under for awhile. I wanna keep track of my time under. Laying motionless at the bottom for 1-2 mins, depth, etc.

[dysik]

Casio G-shock. cheaper, more functional, and more durable than any other dive watches. also a decent fashion statement.

i don't have a spear gun but i am thinking of buying one. i live pretty close to the coast so i can go "gidgeeing" (or spear fishing) most days when the weather is good. i gotta say that i get amazing improvements using a camo wetsuit compared to a normal black one. i bought a cheap one on sale from a diving academy which is partially blue/green so i can sit and look for fish in weedy areas, the fish will come right up to you as you stay still almost as though they cant see you. i didnt think it would make much difference but it really does!

[skygear]

I was looking at one of the hooded camo long sleeve long legged suits. My 3 ONiels are solid black

[1983]

Look into a "haywain sling" if you want something you can make yourself on the cheap.
As for free diving and spear fishing I do it from time to time, here and there.

I got a cresi sub mask and fins and I forget what make my dive knife is. Other than that I've got my home made spear and that's all the gear I find I need.

Al

[SHARP]

Originally Posted by skygear

Anyone else into these sports/ hunting method?

Yup, but I'm off to work in a sec, I'll be back later...

[skygear]

Originally Posted by SHARP

Yup, but I'm off to work in a sec, I'll be back later...

Nice! Well, I'll list my current gear then.

SporaSub One SpearGun Banded
SporaSub Camo Sea Green
SporaSub Mystic Mask
SporaSub Breeze Snorkel
C4 Falcon VGR 40 Carbon Fiber Fins
SporaSub Blue Water Float
SporaSub Dyneema Gloves
SporaSub Neoprene Socks
OMER Big Game Float Line w/Tuna Cord Inside & Tuna Clips
Full-size Black KA-BAR, Serrated Edge
The North Face Base Camp Duffel XL

I want to get these too.
SporaSub Quick Release Weight Vest Camu
Light & Motion Sola Dive 1200
Riffe Armored Spectra Float Line


Interested in these, But I need to see them in person first.
OMER Zero Cubed Mask
OMER Slalom Snorkel

Only thing I really need now is to settle on the brand of Dive weights. I picked up a mold to make my own and made the proper amount for my body weight. I just think these are uncomfortable and don't have the finish of some of the nicer brands out there.
Oh yeah, an actual Dive Knife too. I'm using my Ka-Bar for killz and the salt is taking its toll on her.

[tuer502gt]

I had this awesome snorkel, cost me like $110, and it got broken when I moved places.

I was so pissed. It had like a valve thingo so water didn't get in it when you went under.

[skygear]

I tried all sorts of different Gimic Snorkels... All of them were garbage. Its simple, if a straw gets too complicated, somethings wrong. If it can fail, it will. Why risk your life over a valve when a good breath is all thats needed.

Big breath in, hard force air out to clear your snorkel of water and excess co2. No need to mess with any additional things or wonder if it wlil fail on you while under.

[tuer502gt]

But it was a Riffe.

[dysik]

i dont use a snorkel , i just breath through my mouth when i surface ahah its been way too cold lately to do much fishing i hate winter!

[skygear]

I use a snorkel so I can scout the area before I submerge. There have been many times where not using a snorkel would have been disastrous. Encounters with a bullshark, hammerhead, even a manatee. I've even had some cudas take swipes at my fish on my stringer/. If I wasn't able to identify what was coming at me, I might have over or under reacted.

As for the Riffe snorkel, theres a product for everyone. Companys know this too. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF IT WORKS FOR YOU, DONT LET ANYONE TELL YOU DIFFERENT. Me, I do what makes sense, not whats convenient.

[SHARP]

Originally Posted by skygear

Nice! Well, I'll list my current gear then.

SporaSub One SpearGun Banded
SporaSub Camo Sea Green
SporaSub Mystic Mask
SporaSub Breeze Snorkel
C4 Falcon VGR 40 Carbon Fiber Fins
SporaSub Blue Water Float
SporaSub Dyneema Gloves
SporaSub Neoprene Socks
OMER Big Game Float Line w/Tuna Cord Inside & Tuna Clips
Full-size Black KA-BAR, Serrated Edge
The North Face Base Camp Duffel XL

Guess I better list my gear then, sorry I don't have the time to find links, I'm building a skull crusher for an NVM.

Gun - Seatec TRB 77S
Suit - Cressi Tecnica (camo'ed, 7mm, longjohns)
Mask - Sporasub Mystic (same as you, mine is green)
Snorkel - Omer Zoom Mimetic (brown)
Fins - IST Propower High Thrust (heel strap)
Float - Omer Torpedo
Gloves - Mares Camo 30 (3mm)
Boots - IST Proline Titanium (5mm, remember my fins are with straps, socks wouldn't work)
Floatline - homemade
Knife - Akona Talon (stainless)
Brainer - UC Stingray I Salvimar ST
Weights - belt and vest homemade, and equipped with a quick release buckle so I can drop everything by clicking my belt buckle, think I have a pic somewhere, hold on...

...

...

There we go, front and back:



I'll spray paint the whole thing one of these days...

Each strap on the vest can be individually separated from, or connected to, the center buckle which helps a great deal when putting it on.
The vest and center buckle is connected to the belt, which means that if I need to dump as much weight as possible, and I need to do it fast, all I have to do is open my belt buckle, and as the belt drops away the weight pulls out a "pin" in the center buckle, releasing all four straps on the vest, thus dumping the vest in the process.
The center buckle will stay attached to the belt.
My float line is connected to the gun through the vest.

Originally Posted by skygear

I want to get these too.
SporaSub Quick Release Weight Vest Camu
Light & Motion Sola Dive 1200
Riffe Armored Spectra Float Line

Link to the vest directs to neoprene socks, but being the unbelievable lucky Googler I am, I found the vest you mention.
Personally I think I'd prefer lead shot instead of solid weights as they used in the link I found, but I don't see why you couldn't use shot.

Originally Posted by skygear

Interested in these, But I need to see them in person first.
OMER Zero Cubed Mask
OMER Slalom Snorkel

Hmm, interesting mask, it kinda looks like the bastard child of a storm trooper's helmet, and a WWII fighter pilot's goggles.
On the other hand, the Mystic we use doesn't exactly look like your old school traditional mask either, in any case I think I'd try it on before buying, I might see if I can find one if I lose my Mystic.

Originally Posted by skygear

Only thing I really need now is to settle on the brand of Dive weights. I picked up a mold to make my own and made the proper amount for my body weight. I just think these are uncomfortable and don't have the finish of some of the nicer brands out there.

Skygear... Man... Screw those traditional weights, they bring nothing but pain and suffering... Making your own is easy, I made mine in a mold I had originally built to make weights for my line launcher, but it turned out it could make diving weights as well...
Well, when I string a bunch of them together, that is, but the upside is that they're totally flexible, and if you can be arsed to make your own weight vest/belt system, you get to decide where exactly they should be placed.
Fuck paying an arm and a leg for lead in lumps that just won't sit right!

Originally Posted by skygear

Oh yeah, an actual Dive Knife too. I'm using my Ka-Bar for killz and the salt is taking its toll on her.

Chek out the Akona Talon, but be aware that the buckles are shit (both mine broke, had to repair 'em), it does however have a very secure lock so I reckon it's close to impossible to drop it accidentally, but it's still easy to draw in a split second.

[skygear]

The weights your using look like Cast net weights. But there again, I never pay retail for anything. I know I'm going to run across a deal and seeing I need around 20lbs / 9kilo's of lead. It can get up there in price.

I will shoot a message to a few manufacturers and use my social engineering skills to get a deal.

Your vest is innovative/ but scares me on the placement. I use my chest pad for loading my monster. having the release there would get in the way.

Sorry for the link, happens sometimes.

your wetsuit is an open cell right? What do you wear underneath it? Do you put it on dry?

[SHARP]

Originally Posted by skygear

The weights your using look like Cast net weights. But there again, I never pay retail for anything. I know I'm going to run across a deal and seeing I need around 20lbs / 9kilo's of lead. It can get up there in price.

The outside weights are cast net weights, the rest of the belt is made with regular sink line doubled over and over inside two layers of nylon strap, the layer closest to me is rubber coated to prevent the belt from shifting, the outside weights I just added because I ran out of room inside the belt, and because they were free, relatively hydrodynamic in shape and easy to add.
EDIT: The weights on the vest are the ones I made myself, combined they weigh 5.65 kg, the belt is 4 kg, and I just made a couple of 0.8 kg ankle weights.

BTW, I think I've got around 10.5 kgs o' lead as it is right now, and it works fine, but I think about throwing another kg or thereabouts on considering I've got double layer neoprene on the torso, in a 7mm suit I need something to get my lower legs a little lower, and overall it wouldn't hurt.
I usually do shallow water hunting around piers and don't need 100% neutral buoyancy, but it'd be nice to have that little extra range.

Originally Posted by skygear

I will shoot a message to a few manufacturers and use my social engineering skills to get a deal.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Originally Posted by skygear

Your vest is innovative/ but scares me on the placement. I use my chest pad for loading my monster. having the release there would get in the way.

From a fellow-spearo-perspective I can understand your concern, but during practical use I haven't had any problems while reloading, the center buckle won't release without direct downward pull, pressing the butt of a gun against the strap (and pad on the suit) doesn't seem to have any effect at all, but once again, I understand where you're coming from.

Originally Posted by skygear

Sorry for the link, happens sometimes.

No need to apologize, you had a lot o' links to deal with, and shit happens.

Originally Posted by skygear

your wetsuit is an open cell right? What do you wear underneath it? Do you put it on dry?

Yeah, it's an open cell on the inside, but nylon on the outside, it's not a "true" free-diver smooth skin suit.
I prefer to wear nothing under the suit as whatever clothing it could have been, would eventually bunch up and annoy me (I once came up after 2.5 hours in the soup, with mostly dry boxers but an annoying itch).
My standard operating procedure when putting on the suit, is to sink the long johns and slosh the water around inside till I'm sure everything is wet, stick my feet in the water to wash off anything that might stick, and then just slide in.
For the top it's more or less the same, slosh water around till everything's wet on the inside, dump the water on myrself and repeat the "sliding-in-part"...
Some people use a concoction of water and baby lotion, and apparently it should work like a charm, but in much the same way I don't piss in my suit, I don't pour stuff into my suit that shouldn't be there... Like laundry detergent, axle grease, and anal lube...
Water does the trick just fine, but I'll admit you gotta be fast - otherwise an open cell surface is a bitch to get on, but once it's on, it's on like a second layer of skin, if you haven't tried it already, you should.

[skygear]

I use the same basic method you are. Most of the spearfishing/ free diving wets are the same config and is the appropriate tool for the trade. I'm very harry in my lower body and if i'm not wet, OH MAMMA DOES IT HURT! Feels like someone put duct tape on my hair and is pulling slowly. Not pleasant.

I found wearing an Orca Bottom http://www.orca.com/ works so I don't get a arrested when swapping out into Board shorts. But On a normal day I do prefer Bare skin against the suit.

The chafing can be a pain to deal with. When I just wear board shorts, my private gets rubbed raw to the point of bleeding on occasion. Its only happened a couple times, but its always form the same thing. Waves crashing into me, or a lot of 'kicking' while diving.

I read about people leaving their masks in a bucket of water/ baby shampoo too. I haven't found the need for it yet but assume it helps with the longevity of the silicone.

[1983]

Thought I'd post this here for the people that aren't 100% on free diving / fishing.

Underwater Hunter Goes Deep Sea Fishing Without Air! - YouTube

Underwater Hunter Goes Deep Sea Fishing Without Air! - YouTube
Video: click to display

Feel free to pop a million boners about it.

Al

[popo!]

Originally Posted by 1983

Thought I'd post this here for the people that aren't 100% on free diving / fishing.

Underwater Hunter Goes Deep Sea Fishing Without Air! - YouTube

Feel free to pop a million boners about it.

Al

lol yes of course random British narrator, because some aboriginal can hold his breath for a minute, it's not far fetched for us to have lived as marine mammals.

Wish I never started smoking tobacco, I used to be able to hold my breath much longer...

[popo!]

If i encountered a Bull Shark I'd be very intimidated. Very very aggressive sharks, basically the Down syndrome shark, wayyyy too much adrenaline and testosterone.

[skygear]

LOL. Dealing with other predators is similar to dealing with Dogs and Wolfs, etc. Show no fear, don't let your heart race and remember everything will be ok. Your the Alpha Here! You have a brain and a weapon. If it gets too harry for you, get in the boat, or loose your fish.

I was reading about people in the cali area. Apparently they are more concerned with the seals/ sea lions. One guy has a scar on his ankle from being bit by one on separate occasions. They use there mouths to be inquisitive underwater.

I have had a barracuda and a few grouper charge me. They all ended up with a spear through their skulls and a knife through the heart & brain. I fight for my catch.

[skygear]

Theres also "Shark therapy sessions" for people so they can get familiar with there behaviors.

[tuer502gt]

Originally Posted by popo!

lol yes of course random British narrator, because some aboriginal can hold his breath for a minute, it's not far fetched for us to have lived as marine mammals.

Wish I never started smoking tobacco, I used to be able to hold my breath much longer...

Quit smoking and start running, and it comes back.

I quit running and started cycling cause I was worried about my cartilage.

[popo!]

You yell barracuda, everybody goes "huh what?", you yell shark, and we've got a panic on our hands on the fourth of July.

Guess all my fears spawn from jaws being one of my all time favorite films, having seen at before the age of 5 and by now over 30 times. Most of my fears come from not being able to see the bottom. I am an east coaster, most vacationing was done in NC or NJ, and the water is dark and murky, with visibility near the bottom only. If i could be in clear blue waters as transparent as glass, I would feel more at home. But in the water we rely on our eyes, the sharks have other methods.

[popo!]

Originally Posted by tuer502gt

Quit smoking and start running, and it comes back.

I quit running and started cycling cause I was worried about my cartilage.

I quit cycling cause I started smokin'.

[dysik]

WOW! nice, you guys put a lot of thought into your gear! hahah i dont have any money to spend on this particular hobby so i have to keep it pretty basic..

I am fairly new to the sport, i dont use any dive weights though i could use my dads scuba weights i guess, what is the advantage of weights without using a scuba setup? is it just to make it easier to go down? doesnt that just make it harder to surface? haha noob question..

like i said i managed to pick up a winter dive suit in blue and green camo 5mm which seems to work pretty well if i can find some weed/reef to hide in but gets a little hot in the summer. i just use a spear similar to these : http://i00.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/464/9...emp13_1653.jpg

and it gets me some good results on fish under 10kg, usually the fish are stunned or dead/dying if they manage to come off. and i can quite easily catch and kill them with a knife or another jab with the spear. i usually try to only hit once with the spear as it can break the rib bones etc and make filletting annoying and you may find bones in your food later. i have some thing guage wire i created a little snare with so i can hook onto the fish's tail to surface again but i only really need it if im going far offshore

are you guys going for coastal or pelagic fish? post some pics of your catch!

[skygear]

I might be diving in NJ, OC, or OBX this weekend. I need to get plans ironed out, travel arrangements and all.

Under water, as a kid, these are what got my heart racing.

Bermuda Glow Worms - YouTube

Bermuda Glow Worms - YouTube
Video: click to display

I miss that sound, atmosphere, and lifestyle.

[dysik]

also, bull sharks LOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

watch out for the great whites

and tigers

[skygear]

I personally go after whatever is legal and available to take. WHen I'm down on the bottom I do choose what catch is coming home with me though.

There are some great forums dedicated to spearfishing but the most important thing is the BREATHING> I have a thread in the Book Nook looking for a couple books to read and practice my breathing techniques.

You know the longest breath held by a human sits at 20min 10sec? Yeah, the human body is capable of that....

As far as the gear goes. Its really about your actions around the fish more than the camo. Like a dog or you and I, fish sense the tension. Its important to relax and focus. Forget about getting the fish, don't get ancy. You will get one just be patient.

The pole spear is what I grew up using. I liked to use a slip tip or a flopper but the 3 prong shockers are great. I use one of those for lion fish

[skygear]

Heres some of the different tips.The flopper is the most common.

[tuer502gt]

Break away heads are nice. Apparently they're really good but I've never used one. I'll take a photo of what I use in a sec.

[tuer502gt]

Obviously the barb thingos sit flat against the shaft when firing and only pop out when resistance is applied, eg, fish fighting against the line attached to the spear.

[dysik]

nice! i might look into buying a speargun but too expensive for me atm. how do the floppers go on larger fish say 5kg tuna as they are quite fat, do the flopper tips still tend to hold a fish if they dont fully penetrate through? or is that not really an issue? atm im using a 5 prong tip but it seems to have the same depth of penetration no matter how hard i hit them i think its because of the geometry of the prongs spreading the tips as it goes through the fish.

[skygear]

your right, Its the geometry of the head. ANd the power of your power band. With the slip tip, its commonly referred to as a tuna head. Going to the flopper, hawaiian style (single long flopper), you will easily penetrate the fish.

You can also get a BNIB speargun for $100-200. I've seen some used high end guns going for less than $100.

You could always make your own, theres blanks all over the spear boards or ge the wood and go at it yourself.

This sport is only as dangerous and expensive as you let it get.

[tuer502gt]

I use a pneumatic.

[skygear]

I'm waiting til they finally release the SporaSub One Air to get into an pneumatic. I saw a nice one going for $50 and all it needed were some new O rings.

[tuer502gt]

I know a guy with a 20 year old pneumatic and it works great and has never been serviced.

I got a Cressi Sub Star and it's amazing. You can't overcharge it because it has a blow off valve thing. You can't see it, but if you charge it too much air starts coming out with a little oil mixed.

Which means you can pump it way over recommended and still be safe it won't explode on you.

And after firing it out of the water, it would be lethal at at least 15m in a fleshy target.

So be really careful with them. They're not like band guns that fire wonky out of the water, they go straight.

[DiStOrTiOn]

fuck the ocean

[SHARP]

Originally Posted by dysik

WOW! nice, you guys put a lot of thought into your gear!

Well, the way I see it, is that "if it's worth doing, it's worth doing well"...
Then again, that's how I see just about anything...

Originally Posted by dysik

hahah i dont have any money to spend on this particular hobby so i have to keep it pretty basic..

Considering your financial situation most likely won't stay as it is forever, I might as well advise you to get some quality gear when you find the money to spend on this hobby; way too many people (I was one of them) get a cheap suit and other gear, and end up buying a suit and mask that actually fits but isn't nearly as cheap. Besides an economical danger, you run the risk of thinking "this sucks crusty old mens scabby asses!", due to inferior gear when in fact it's an awesome hobby.

Originally Posted by dysik

I am fairly new to the sport, i dont use any dive weights though i could use my dads scuba weights i guess, what is the advantage of weights without using a scuba setup? is it just to make it easier to go down? doesnt that just make it harder to surface? haha noob question..

I wouldn't say weights make it easier to go down, in my case it's an absolute necessity... Think about it, when you're wearing a wet suit with a crapload of positive buoyancy you'll have to work harder to dive, when you're wearing a 7mm suit with a long john lower half and beaver tail on the upper, you end up with a whopping 14mm covering you from your dick to your shoulders, plus the 7mm on the head and limbs. Unless you're cast in solid concrete, you won't be going anywhere but up.
Come to think of it, I could probably survive for several days in water so cold it'd kill most people in a matter of hours, if I was wearing my suit...
I'd probably die from dehydration...

Originally Posted by dysik

are you guys going for coastal or pelagic fish? post some pics of your catch!

Coastal here, but haven't shot anything worth photographing yet, I got into the sport a few years ago but haven't had nearly as much time in the water as I'd like.
Around my neck of the woods, we get various flatfish, sea trout, cod and its relatives, mullet, herring, mackerel, garfish, and occasionally salmon.
Most of the fish mentioned are pelagic, but come close to the coast regularly; cod during the night to forage on crabs, sea trout at night to hunt for sand lance, and after a storm when the bottom has been ripped up, to hunt for rag- and sand worms or shrimps, garfish comes in close during mating season, and so on.

[skygear]

LOL_ I forgot all about answering the WEIGHTS question...

Yes Weights are about the neutral buoyancy. You use different amount of weights to achieve neutral buoyancy for different depths. I'm neutral around 25'