So I've been watching a lot of spearfishing videos the last couple weeks and may times I notice the people using all the bands of their gun, and many other times they use only one band of their gun.
How do you decide how many bands you use?
Also, sometimes the spears go all the way through a fish, and sometimes they just get stuck in the fish. Which is better and why?
Thanks.
What Waterboy said. I freeshaft greater than 90% of the time. So, it's usually it's one band.
To answer your other question, it's best if the spear goes into the fish far enough to engage the flopper(s), but not so far that it goes all the way through the fish. Though, you can get away with going all the way through if you are lineshafting. If freeshafting, unless you stone the fish, there is a very good chance of losing the fish if it goes all the way through.
Also, there is an optimal angle. You don't want to hit the fish broadside, but instead want to get it when it's quartering away from you. This has a better chance of immobilizing the fish. If bottom fishing, you'll also want to shoot from above a bit.
If you can find a copy of the Barebones of Spearfishing, pick it up. That will explain it better than I can.
Seeing dumpster's video reminded me of a better way to explain this. Video from a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, there are a few shots that aren't optimal, but the shot by my buddy on the grouper at around the 8 minute mark is just about perfect. Notice how the fish just twitches, but doesn't really swim anywhere? That's what you want. Lights out.
His hand positioning on the gun is not right. I noticed during the editting and told him about it.
[video=youtube;3C7mJhfv4VE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C7mJhfv4VE[/video]