Spearfishing with scuba

[vshearer]

I Spearfishing is the most selective form of hunting there is, eliminate the commercial fishing that has been indescriminately raping our seas for centuries and watch the seas flourish, even with those evil spearfisherman on SCUBA.

This is what kills me with the little Nemo huggers. They don't get it. Never seen a "factory ship". Never seen islands in the Bahama's where Japanese fishermen have set up camp. The total disconnect between what commercial fishing does and spear fishing does (like maybe 0.001%) is unreal. Another example, in Jamaica the locals had decimated the reefs of small fish, using hand lines of all things, but only a few miles offshore were some of the richest fishing grounds around, until the Japanese got there. (This was in the mid 80's and I imagine it is true today)

 

[vshearer]

And another thing. In the Bahama's it is illegal to pole-spear on scuba....and no spearguns period. But it is a poorly thought out regulation. I think I understand it's logic. To level the playing field as most locals have no means to obtain gear or get fills, and more importantly to protect lobster. 'Cause it is OK there to pole spear lobster. You don't break this rule, or you lose your boat.

On the banks, in 20' of gin clear water who wants to use scuba? Much better to free dive and pole spear for dinner. But this eliminates some fine diving off the banks and in the Tongue.

It is also illegal for anyone other than a local to sell lobster. But just as white men don't jump, black dudes don't dive, at least not really deep, well except for "Lord Josh". Anyhow, they knew where to go, and took us white boys to the spots and were more than happy to trade lobster for massive quantities of rum.

This was in my younger days.

 

[TwoBitTxn]

http://www.helldivers.org/hdrpromo-3.wmv

Yes, this is really difficult! Check out this video link and you'll see what I'm talking about. Diver really has to "chase" them to get a shot.

Thanks for the replies.

So, using similar logic, I should be able to walk onto a baseball diamond and hit a Roger Clemens fastball because they make it look easy. Or kick a 40yd FG because it looks easy on TV. You pick a Helldivers video hunting Louisiana oil rigs to make your point?

Learn something about what you are talking about.

TwoBit

 

[Vicksburg Diver]

First off, I have used scuba to spearfish so I DO KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. Second, the point I was trying to make with the video is that with fish not seeing you as a threat, combined with scuba, seems a little "unfair". About like shooting game on a baited field. I have given up spearfishing with scuba and simply wondered what some other people thought. Oh, I am also not "Nemo Hugger" either.

 

[Wayward Son]

Some of us think we'll hunt how we want to & not worry about whether anyone else gives their stamp of approval on it or not.

 

[drbill]

Most of the really good spearos I know (including a few of my occasional buddies) generally spearfish while freediving only. Not only do they prefer the challenge, but they know that the fish they seek (such as white sea bass and yellowtail) are much easier to approach that way. Although I also know a few excellent spearos who fish on SCUBA, many of the others who do so are new to the sport having just purchased their first spear or gun and "want to kill something today." Yes, I've actually heard that cry... not once, but several times. They give the good spearos a bad name.

I heartily agree that anyone who gets their fish wrapped in saran from the grocery store generally have no clue as to the ecological devastation caused to obtain those fish... it is too "abstract" from their daily lives, just as nature is largely "abstract" to a city dweller... unless they actively get out to camp, hunt, etc.

Personally, I think everyone should have to hunt and kill their own food at least once in their lives. Back in the early 70's we had our students fish and hunt for food. If they were vegetarians, we had them strangle corn and beans and eat it... er, I mean grow their own in our organic garden. Although there are good ecological reasons for vegetarianism, I've never understood why some don't see the linkage between eating seeds and abortion.


I should add that although I used to spearfish in the 60's and 70's, I stopped doing so in 1975. In fact I stopped all hunting and fishing then. I used to hunt quite a bit for food and ecological control of non-native feral animals. However, I'll eat what my buddies catch and I might even pick up the gear again myself with the way food prices are rising! I'd just have to figure out how to hold the video camera in one hand, the spear in the other and still be able to control my inflator!

 

[Wayward Son]

that is a problem. seems you really have to choose, gun or camera. both are task loading, it's hard to manage them together. Though I know one guy who goes a fine job of video work while spearing. On, ahem, scuba

 

[-Phoenix-]

I dislike spearfishing. With regular fishing you put them back relatively unharmed. Spearfishing usually does a lot of damage.

If somebody does hunt down and kill a fish, the least you can do is eat it. I've also once seen somebody spear a fish to death and then release it and go spear some more... Dislike that...

 

[bdshort]

I would guess that 99.9% of spearfishermen intend to eat what they kill. They actually have the chance to see what they want before they try to shoot it. That's pretty selective. H&L fishermen may release fish they don't want, but there's no guarantee that those fish are going to survive. I think it's a bit hypocritical to say that spearfishing is bad but not have an issue with H&L fishing.

 

[alcina]

I dislike spearfishing. With regular fishing you put them back relatively unharmed. Spearfishing usually does a lot of damage.

This seems backwards to me. The line fishers I know and see are far less selective, do far more damage to individual fish they have no intention of eating (sometimes because they've done the damage before they know what the fish is and sometimes because they catch something "better" and toss the first one), fish for trophies and leave all their crappy fishing line, sinkers, hooks and assorted gear on the reef or free floating in the ocean.

I have a lovely shot of a turtle that has his flipper wrapped in a fishing line that has also wrapped around his neck...he's far dead - either from strangulation or starvation. Neither a very pretty way to die, I imagine.

In contrast, I don't see spearos leaving anything in their wake...

If somebody does hunt down and kill a fish, the least you can do is eat it. I've also once seen somebody spear a fish to death and then release it and go spear some more... Dislike that...

Even the idiots I've seen spearing are out ultimately for something to eat.

But there are idiots - and the guy you saw was in line to be their king...and he's exactly the same guy who's dragging a fish up off the bottom at a gazillion miles an hour then gaffing it badly so it's mortally wounded...he's the guy who kicks his dog, tortures cats and waits until the checkout chick at the grocery store has rung everything up and THEN starts looking for his check book.

Basically, don't presume that he is representative of the spearing population at large .