School me on spearguns

[bdshort]

I scuba dive up in Alaska, and would like to try my hand at spearfishing this year. The other day I was doing a local shore dive, and saw a nice sized ling cod, hiding in the rocks, and I wished I had something to catch it with! I don't really know anything about what I should look for, so any help is appreciated! This would be a pretty casual undertaking, and I don't anticipate hunting anything terribly large... just large cod, no halibut yet!

Brian

 

[Johnoly]

What's the visibility like where you find the fish. Also any currents and how fast. And being in Alaska are you also freediving or just using tanks and how deep.

Being from warm comfy Florida myself, I have a huge amount of respect for any underwater hunter in AK!!

 

[bdshort]

Viz right now is around 40' though I've been diving when it's been near 100'. Summer it's less. I would be hunting on scuba... I think it's too cold and dark to try hunting free, but I'm sure someone will correct me on this!

 

[tom wicker]

What's the visibility like where you find the fish. Also any currents and how fast. And being in Alaska are you also freediving or just using tanks and how deep.

Being from warm comfy Florida myself, I have a huge amount of respect for any underwater hunter in AK!!

Johnoly
A thought just accrued to me and has me wondering on hunting in Alaska. That water would have to be very cold, I just cant help but wonder just what kind of effect it would have on the bands? I’m assuming like most rubber when it is cold the strength it would take to load the bands would be twice as much as it would take us down here.

Would a person then try in compensate with a longer band and give up penetration force? Or would an entirely different gun be used in colder water? I have never hunted in cold water myself an I’m wondering if different equipment is used in these environments ?

Tom

 

[Johnoly]

Viz right now is around 40' though I've been diving when it's been near 100'. Summer it's less. I would be hunting on scuba... I think it's too cold and dark to try hunting free, but I'm sure someone will correct me on this!

With that kind of viz and hunting cod, I'd recommend a 48" to a 52" long gun. Definetely line shafting to start out with. Biller and Spearfishing Specialties are excellent brands and range in price from $180 to $250 depending on type. You can add accessories later like lights, spare shafts, etc, etc.

 

[Johnoly]

Johnoly
Would a person then try in compensate with a longer band and give up penetration force?

I keep my spare bands in the refrig to keep them fresh. I also notice when putting a cold band on my gun that it takes a lot more effort to lock it in. I would agree that a change in band length might be needed if it comes to over powering a trigger assembly and the sear. This might be an interesting question for Chad or Kevin who may have some better detail from the rubber manufactures.

Johnoly

 

[Speargirl]

Try going to www.spearboard.com and scrolling down to your neck of the woods or I should say ice. You will find alot of people who spearfish and what and how they do it there.
Becky

 

[tom wicker]

I keep my spare bands in the refrig to keep them fresh. I also notice when putting a cold band on my gun that it takes a lot more effort to lock it in. I would agree that a change in band length might be needed if it comes to over powering a trigger assembly and the sear. This might be an interesting question for Chad or Kevin who may have some better detail from the rubber manufactures.

Johnoly

Thanks for the help anyways on the subject, I have never given much thought to how the cold water would effect the band pull. Of course I don’t think I’m really in a hurry to try it out in to colder water. Heck this Gulf water gets to cold for my taste in the winter months . I cant imagine diving the cold waters of Alaska Brrrrr. Maybe Chad will come along and see the post soon or I’ll hit Kevin up on it

Tom

 

[bdshort]

Thanks for the replies. What is line shafting? Also, I'll start browsing spearboard as well.

I've been back to the site where I saw the ling, and that thing must be 6' long! Except now I don't really want to spear it, as I kind of enjoy just watching it. There are plenty of other cod there I'd go after, but a Hawaiian Sling would probably work for those.

Brian

 

[OutOFBreath]

Just keep your eyes on that big ling those are some nasty jaws and I dont think a 6' ling will hesitate to try something new.