Newbie

Hi guys – I’ve been kayak fishing for a few years and I’d like to get into spearfishing too.  Do you guys recommend taking some classes or practice on my own and then maybe join some of you in a hookup?
There are some classes coming up with Dan Silveira but they are not cheap.

As for gear, I gathered I need a 5 or 7mm wetsuit, booties, gloves, etc.  Do you recommend any local shops around San Francisco?  Some people recommend the mako predator pro railgun and its price looks good, is it a good option?  Should I get the single or twin band?  What type of muzzle and shaft?  I’m 5’7’’ and 150lbs.

Thanks in advance for your help.  Can’t wait to get started.

Welcome JT! If you been takin for a while I'm assuming you already know the basic. I'm new to Mahal fishing myself and still learning as I go. I did take a class a while back at mbk but Dan from headwater will be doing a class this saturday at Doran don't know what time but I'm sure someone will chime in. As for spearfishing can'wt help you there bit thereis a twon of crazy. And friendly guys that wwill be happy to give you pointers and show you a thong or two.

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A thing or two lol )
Sorry about that stupid swipe apps
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Do you guys recommend taking some classes or practice on my own and then maybe join some of you in a hookup?

It wouldn't hurt, but is not necessary. I've never taken a class. If I were you, I'd get your gear squared away and then hook up with someone from the board. Start slow with the basics, becoming comfortable in the water and hunting game in the shallows. Then later when your skills improve a bit and you decide you want to go further with diving, take a class.

As for gear, I gathered I need a 5 or 7mm wetsuit, booties, gloves, etc.  Do you recommend any local shops around San Francisco?  Some people recommend the mako predator pro railgun and its price looks good, is it a good option?  Should I get the single or twin band?  What type of muzzle and shaft?  I’m 5’7’’ and 150lbs.

Most of the shops in the Bay Area cater to SCUBA, and not freediving. Some carry freediving gear (I think Anderson's Dive shop in Pacifica, Wallin's has fins) but it's usually restricted to a single brand and type of gear (i.e. only fins).

Neptonics Systems in Santa Cruz has more freediving stuff than most of the other dive shops, as well as spearfishing/gun building odds and ends, but overall it's doesn't have a lot of variety of gear for someone getting into the sport. It's a very cool store, though.

Your best bet for getting outfitted with everything you need to start spearfishing/ab diving is the Freedive Shop in Sacramento. They cater to freedivers and have a variety of gear. If you go in, they'll give you the run down on what you'll need.
http://freediveshop.com/

You'll want a 7mm freedive suit (5mm will suffice if you're tough, but you'll be able to dive longer and warmer in a 7), 3mm gloves, and 3 to 5mm dive socks. You'll also need a mid to low volume mask (SCUBA mask is fine), a rubber weight belt/weights, and freedive fins. For the fins, don't get them too skiff as it's not needed for relatively shallow diving. Also, make sure the foot pockets fit comfortably with your socks. If you go to the Freedive Shop, they should be able to help fit you and answer any questions.

For your spear, I would actually recommended starting with a polespear rather than a gun. It's what I did. You won't be quite as successful at first, but you'll set a good foundation and hone your stalking and breath holding skills and be that much better when you do use a gun. A 6 foot, aluminum or fiberglass polespear with a single flopper or 5-prong tip is a good place to start. A 3 prong paralyzer is ok, but make sure it has barbs, and don't be shooting fish deep back in holes with it. Polespears are also a lot less expensive than guns, thus more appealing to beginners.

If you do decide to go for a gun, I'd recommend the Rob Allen Tuna 70 cm with twin 16mm bands, open-muzzle, and a single (hawaiian) flopper (available at the Freedive Shop). It's a great gun-- accurate, durable, relatively inexpensive, and comfortable to shoot.

The Mako is an another inexpensive option. If you go with the Mako, get a 70cm with two bands (loading one band will have power and not damage the shaft, and you'll have another band incase one breaks), an open-muzzle (always for norcal), and a shark-finned shaft (stronger).

Hope to see you out in the water soon!

Hi JT,
Use the search function, you will all kinds of useful info.
7mm suit is the popular choice, you may get away with a 5 mil but I'm sure there will be times you wish you had a 7.
As far as guns go, some prefer pneumatics (55 -70cm) but the overwhelming majority would agree a 75cm euro gun is the way to go.
You may choose to start with a polespear but eventually you will end up with a gun....and before you know it you will have more than one... you can never have enough guns... ask fuzz ?
I will be in Marin over the weekend, I have a suit that may fit you 100 bucks if it fits you, 200 if it does not . Heck, I may even have a gun or a polespear I could part with, if you're interested. Let me know.
 

As for spearfishing can'wt help you there bit thereis a twon of crazy. And friendly guys that wwill be happy to give you pointers and show you a thong or two.

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I hate that auto correct feature! But dam it, this is the funniest typo ever! 

Ricks always got great advice, notice he didnt mention anything about thongs!

Lmao

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Kinda reminds me of that country song! Tha tha tha tha Thongs!

Thanks for all the great info guys! I'll see you in the water soon!

Damdan - I may already have a wetsuit but I'll let you know if it doesn't work out.

Welcome aboard JT.  hope to see you on or under water soon.

JT,
Also being new to the free dive thing,
Maybe we should get together on the coast thing.
I primise I WON'T show you a thong or two

See Ya Soon,
Eric / Yakhopper

sunday is looking really good, good enough to leave the thong at home.
might try to sneak out...

Sunday: Variable winds 5 kt or less. Sunny. Mixed swell...WNW 4 ft and N 1 ft. Wind waves around 1 ft

Damdan - I may already have a wetsuit but I'll let you know if it doesn't work out.

Unless the one you have lined up is an open cell freedive suit (like the one damdan posted).....his is a better deal.