Octopus

[Ana]

Are there many ways to get them?

I only know 2 techniques and one of them is out of the question. Biting the animal between the eyes is just not going to happen.
The second technique is effective. The idea is to grab the head and pull the mantle over it self.

Just as any hunting technique this one requires continous practice to get efficient. Since the cleaning and cooking of octo is more than just throw the animal on the grill we only take one every 3 or 4 months. At that rate, each time feels close to the first time.

I'm hoping to find a way that minimizes the time with all the tentacles wrapped around the wrist/arm. Even with long sleeves, each sucker on each tentacle has the potential to leave little round bruises.

So how do you people out there get your octopi?

 

[Ana]

At the fish market. Sure they're tasty, but they're so cool in the wild. Why not just enjoy the little critters? You know, they're thought to be about as smart as dogs...

Am I reading this correctly? ...it is ok to let the "fish market" people get them, but somehow me, as an individual, get a lecture about their IQ.

 

[Ana]

Sorry, Ana, I don't know anything about catching octos.

Thanks, I've been searching around without much success so far. I figure this is a good place to ask since there are readers from all over the world.

 

[Wayward Son]

You could take something with you for them to wrap around. If you spear, put it on the barrel of the gun. but use an unloaded gun so they can't pull the trigger.

If you don't, make something. maybe a length of PVC, say 24 inches or so, 2 or 2.5 inch diameter. Grab the tako & put it on the pipe mouth 1st so it'll grab it. That'll keep the beak away from you.

 

[Ana]

You could take something with you for them to wrap around. If you spear, put it on the barrel of the gun. but use an unloaded gun so they can't pull the trigger.

If you don't, make something. maybe a length of PVC, say 24 inches or so, 2 or 2.5 inch diameter. Grab the tako & put it on the pipe mouth 1st so it'll grab it. That'll keep the beak away from you.

Well, this may be extremelly difficult to acomplish, but it inspires a thought for armor.

You can't exactly put a live octo anywhere. So far the procedure has been:
-Manage to get his head out on the open long enough to grab the hole head,
-Fumble a little,
-grab the head/body,
-Fumble more
-Wrestle 8 tentacles,
-Fumble some more,
-Grab the edge of the mantle and flip it over
-Put him in a bag.

Grabbing him by the head (actually body) there is no much risk of beak contact, but it is the wrestling with the tentancles that can be intense.
Your ideas about a PVC pipe makes me think on a thin flexible plastic as armor, I actually have some that I use as armor against the lawn mower/edger on small diameter trees, that may be adaptable as arm/wrist pretector.

 

[Wayward Son]

I've seen videos of people using their spear guns to do this. grab the head & put the barrel up to the tako, he grabs it. then they bite it & kill it. these are free divers in HI.

I see mine down around 70 FSW on scuba, not so sure biting them is what I want to do down there, LOL.

I've seen slates curved to fit on your arm. Possibly you could use one of those?

 

[Wayward Son]

some videos:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TGIDa0J4Zn4&mode=related&search=

http://youtube.com/watch?v=d4G_cFFyQ7w

 

[Ana]

some videos:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TGIDa0J4Zn4&mode=related&search=

http://youtube.com/watch?v=d4G_cFFyQ7w

Great videos, many thanks for the links. I'm so used to just google things, I forget about youtube.

Next octo should be a lot easier.

 

[Wayward Son]

Are you taking them on scuba for free diving? Let me know what you work out. I see them but so far have not taken any.

 

[Ana]

Are you taking them on scuba for free diving? Let me know what you work out. I see them but so far have not taken any.

On scuba, my backyard is Panama City Beach and like you mentioned above I also see them in 70 feet or below.