what spear gun to buy? Marc Valintin?

[Zak OHara]

amphibious,

I am sorry to hear that every few months you have a problem w/ a pneumatic gun. I hope it is not Mares product. I will be conservative in saying I am responsibile for distributing several hundred pneumatic guns of all sizes into the area of Monterey CA - Alaska. To date I have not heard of one complaint about Mares guns due to cold water, depth, breaking, or unsatisfied w/ our product. I hope you are not the first? In fact I've had people seek out the Mares brand of pnumo guns specifically because their old one was so good, and they want new or are buying for a family member. Of course all of our guns come with mnfct warranty.

I agree w/ you band guns can be repaired in the field. This is one drawback to a pnumo gun. As with all things there are pros and cons, and they I'm sure will continue to debated until the end of time. Otherwise I think the Mares guns are sound, solid, and clearly well liked in the PNW.

Respectfully

 

[Amphibious]

have owned quite a few Mares Pnumos, never had one break, just didn;t like it as much as my banded guns, and the loss of power at depth (I hunt to 3atm in some spots). they are a high quality peice of kit.

I know many people that love pnumos, they just don't "do it" for me.

 

[Alaska_diver]

you can usually find a JBL NW Special for $150-$200. I owned one fo these for 10yrs and it put more fish on the table then all my other guns combined, in 4 countries. great gun for the newbie. it's cheap, clunky, loud, slow, and ugly. but it has tons of power and you can't kill it.

I say "amen" to that. I have used my JBL for 15 years on cabezon, rock cod and ling cod. You only need 4 to 6 feet of range when hunting these bottom dwellers anyway.
Just replace the bands when they start to crack. Happy hunting.

 

[jumbo]

Amphibious- Can I go with! Ive dreamed of spearfishing in Bc for years but I havent found supports for yanks with guns up north, weird.

But I agree with the banded crowd, I sprung for a Riffe gun handmade out of teak just for taking down huge ling, cost a load though.

In reality I use a pole spear nearly all the time now, keeps it kinda sporty and you can take just as much and I know guys who have taken 40 pound lings before with a pole spear

good luck

JUMBO

Here is a pic of my trophy

 

[MidAtlantic]

I have used the Marc Valintin gun and found it to a good accurate gun. However If I where shopping a Euro. type gun I would buy an Omer as they seem to be better made and just as accurate. Given the Visability you should not get more then a 90cm gun and a 75 may even be better.

 

[Amphibious]

Amphibious- Can I go with! Ive dreamed of spearfishing in Bc for years but I havent found supports for yanks with guns up north, weird.

But I agree with the banded crowd, I sprung for a Riffe gun handmade out of teak just for taking down huge ling, cost a load though.

In reality I use a pole spear nearly all the time now, keeps it kinda sporty and you can take just as much and I know guys who have taken 40 pound lings before with a pole spear

good luck

JUMBO

Here is a pic of my trophy

Jimbo, there is a Freedive Spearfishing trip to Vancouver Island (north end) in June. It's being put together by folks (me includ.) from www.deeperblue.net. check it out of you like, the thread is in the Spearo Network Section. I am networking with a liveaboard out of Kitamat/Prince Rupert (Alaskan Border) for some spearing trip. first "recon" trip is next weekend, if it goes well I'll post a report. Catch limits up here are far better and less restrictive then the US west coast it seems......

Spearguns are fine in canada, no paperwork needed. Longarms are a joy or redtape ( I work as a hunting guide from time to time, I know all about it).

oh yeah, and that's one helluva ling! nice fish

 

[ZAquaman]

You don't need a speargun for hunting in the Northwest. A pole spear is by far your best choice. Ling cod are not difficult to hunt, nor are the rock fish. I typically swim right up to them and placed my spear tip inches from their head. Keep it simple, save your money get a pole spear. I wouldn't say that hunting ling cod is sporting, it's more like "harvest"...

Do you need the power of a pneumatic or band gun for hunting in the San Juans and Puget Sound? Seems rediculous to me. But guns are cool, I hunt salmon with a Rob Allen gun up here in Alaska.

 

[Amphibious]

I wouldn't say that hunting ling cod is sporting, it's more like "harvest"...

loose the tanks it becomes quite the challenge

 

[ZAquaman]

I'm a freediver... the only challenge is finding them in my opinion.

 

[Amphibious]

I'm a freediver... the only challenge is finding them in my opinion.

exactly! deep, dark and cold, at least around here..... great fun.