How to judge fish size under water

[Nautical Dreamer]

What do you vetern speros use to judge the size of fish underwater? Do you reley only on experiance, or do you us a gageing tool such as tick marks on a pole spear or gun shaft?

I know everything looks larger underwater but I still find it difficult to acuratly judge the size of fish. I have been diving in water with 5-15 visibility day/night time.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

All I can say is that it takes calibration. TRY to shoot fish that you are reasonably sure are legal and then measure them. Hopefully you will kill few undersized (illegal) fish. Fish look bigger in bad vis and smaller in good vis. It just takes experience.

I would much rather let a few fish live that are just over legal, than to mistakenly shoot a few fish that are too small.

 

[Chad Carney]

Many new spearfishers find that it helps to have the common fish limits marked on their gun stock. Some stickers are made with them already marked, and can be removed later.

Measuring a speared fish in the water at least lets you know not to boat it if it's short. Some shots do not kill a fish and they have a better chance if let loose right away, while still at depth if on scuba.

You will have a better idea of the proper size to target after every experience.

Ditto about passing up marginal fish.

Shoot a fish only if you can be proud of it.

Chad

 

[Johnoly]

I use an aluminum ruler that I marked off and glued to the bottom of my Rhino gun. It gives me a good, quick look, reference. The ruler is available at any hardware store and after you mark it, but before glueing it, spray it with some clear coat sealer and it will last a long time!

 

[DiveGal01]

I have a stick-on measuring guide that I put right on my gun. (got it at Wal-Mart) It has fish identification and legal sizes on it. It's easy to eye-ball the fish against the measuring tape.

 

[wkyongae@aol.com]

Here in the Puget Sound flounder do not have a size limit (yet). So this is a good fish to shoot to judge size with and they are good eating. Besides, they don't take much skill to shoot.

 

[MasterGoa]

I use an aluminum ruler that I marked off and glued to the bottom of my Rhino gun. It gives me a good, quick look, reference. The ruler is available at any hardware store and after you mark it, but before glueing it, spray it with some clear coat sealer and it will last a long time!

This is a clean setup!