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Topics - Zpearo

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Kayak Diving and Spearfishing / Looking for a dive buddy in San Diego between Sept 14-22

« on: August 27, 2021, 09:53:44 AM »

I'll be in San Diego in a few weeks, Sept 16-20 and want to do some diving while I'm there, targeting pelagics. I'm thinking of adding a couple extra days specifically to dive before or after those dates, so roughly Sept 14-22 is the window. Happy to go out shore diving, buy gas and chip in as deckhand if you have a boat, or go out on a charter trip.

For reference, I've done a freediving class, and in NorCal I typically hunt down to 60 feet with 1:00-1:30 bottom times in a 7mm wetsuit. In warmer waters in a 3mm suit I've done 100+ feet and 2:00 dives. I've shot a fair number of yellowtail, got my first wahoo a couple years ago, and have seen some WSB but never had a good shot opportunity.

If you're interested in linking up for some dives on those dates in San Diego, send me a message here or text/call me at (618)534-3080 and we'll make a plan.

-Luke

Kayak Diving and Spearfishing / Looking for a dive buddy Thursday 4/1, sonoma coast

« on: March 26, 2021, 10:23:29 PM »

I'll be driving up north on Thursday and would like to schedule in a dive that morning if I can find a buddy. Conditions look like they should be decent too.

If you're free on Thursday morning and want to hop in the water with me in Sonoma County, get in touch! Write back here or call/text me at 618.534.3080.

Kayak Diving and Spearfishing / North coast dive buddy - Wednesday 3/17

« on: March 16, 2021, 07:40:50 PM »

Looks like there's a dive window tomorrow. Anyone interested in going out? I'm thinking somewhere between timber cove and point arena, depending on how conditions look when I get to the coast.

Kayak Diving and Spearfishing / Looking for a buddy to dive Big Sur Tues/Weds - 5/7 or 5/8

« on: May 06, 2019, 02:00:51 PM »

Just finished a few weeks of working like crazy and plan to take the next two days to dive. Anyone want to hit Big Sur? Call/text me at 618.534.3080

Wanted To Buy / Wanted: single Mares Razor fin/footpocket (size 41-42/7-8)

« on: January 21, 2019, 01:37:55 PM »

When I started diving a few years ago, I got tossed on a beach and lost one of my Mares Razor fins. I bought a replacement set after, but now I've got three fins and would like to match up that loner.

If something similar happened to you and you have just a single Mares Razor fin (or even just the footpocket, without a blade) in size 41-42, 7-8 then I want it. Send me a message!

For Sale / For sale: masks, lights, float, floatline, reel, & more

« on: June 08, 2018, 05:08:30 PM »

I have a bunch of assorted gear that I want to get rid of. Here's a photo of the collection:

Located in Palo Alto, travel around the bay (and Big Sur to Sonoma/Mendo coast) often, and can ship.
Prices and contact info at: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/spo/d/scuba-freediving-spearfishing/6611945055.html

Gearing Up and Rigging Up / Kayak repair (installing new 6" center hatch on Scupper Pro)

« on: January 03, 2018, 04:44:40 PM »

I have a Scupper Pro that the center screw hatch didn't work on, so I've removed it to install a new hatch. Problem is, the holes for installing the new hatch don't align with the holes from the old hatch. So I'm wondering what the best way to fill/repair the old holes is before drilling the holes for the new hatch.

The best two options seem to be:
1. Buy some HDPE plastic rods and use a heat gun or soldering iron to plastic weld and fill the holes.
2. Buy some poly epoxy (like https://www.tapplastics.com/product/repair_products/plastic_adhesives/tap_poly_weld_adhesive/435) and use this to fill the holes

I have a feeling that #1 is the correct option, but wanted some more experienced opinions on what's the best way to do this.

Wanted To Buy / WTB Scupper Pro

« on: March 27, 2017, 04:37:25 PM »

I'm looking for a kayak and would love to find a Scupper Pro (with tankwell, not double hatch if possible). If anyone sees one for sale, let me know. I'm in the Bay Area, willing to travel.

Wanted To Buy / Looking to buy Thule roof rack

« on: August 24, 2016, 04:43:54 PM »

Looking to get a used Thule roof rack. Either a set of 480 Traverse mounts (with 50" square bars if possible) or a set of 480r Rapid Traverse mounts (with 47" aeroblade bars if possible).

I want to start kayak diving (not sure if I can buy because of storage problems, but will borrow/rent sometimes if I can't just buy one) and need a way to get it around. I already have the Thule fit kit for my car and am just looking for cheaper options than buying the rest of the rack new.

Recipes / Best way to pound abalone?

« on: August 24, 2016, 04:04:08 PM »

Hey all, I only started ab diving last year but my dive buddies and their families have been ab diving for a long time. Last year we cleaned and pounded abs a couple of ways:

trim all black off, slice ab into disks (about 3/16" thick), pound each disk with a tenderizer
leave black stuff on, do same process as above... didn't notice any bad flavor so we started leaving the black skirts on
pound abalone whole with hammer, baseball bat, etc and then cut into disks (again, about 3/16" thick)

These methods were based on family traditions from my dive buddies or recommendations from friends of friends. Cutting the abalone and then pounding each slice is a ton of work and we hated it. We also had some problems cooking the abalone and keeping it tender. When cooking the thin disks, the disk starts to curl up, cooks unevenly, and some parts become overcooked and rubbery.

This year, we ran across a video of what has become our new preferred technique. The tenderizing process is a lot easier, and we no longer have problems with the abalone cooking unevenly and getting rubbery. I'm not sure if the reason the abalone cooks better is because we now slice along the foot along the length (front to back, rather than bottom to top) or if it is because the slices are thicker at about 3/8".

Anyway, the process is that you clean the stomach/guts from the abalone, stick it in a plastic bag, and stick that bag halfway down a leg cut off from a pair of jeans. You fold the pant leg over so the abalone is pushed into that fold, and you pound the whole ab on a concrete/wood surface to tenderize. Flip and turn the ab a couple times to pound evenly, and after about 20 hits per side, it is fully tenderized. Then you cut the thick slabs across the length of the foot, not disks from the top of the foot to the bottom as many people do. This method has worked great for us and I wanted to share it since I did a search and didn't find the videos posted on this site.

Part 1 of the video (pounding):
Part 2 of the video (cutting & cooking):

Fishing Pics / Photos for fishing regs phone app

« on: February 12, 2016, 11:39:42 AM »

Hey all,

There is a phone app (currently only available on the east coast) that lists all the current fishing regulations for each species along with pictures of that species. I think this is a great idea to help new people getting into the sport, so I've been working to convince the app creators to speed up their expansion to California. They said that the best thing I can do to speed the development is to gather pictures of local species. I'm going to start taking some good pictures of my kills now (I'm a spearfisherman) and try to get some good underwater photos too if possible. If any of you have good identifying photos that you'd like to contribute, that would be great too. Photos from anglers of fish without holes in the side would probably be preferred to speared fish. The examples I got from the app creators are:

"Ideally, we want photos that show the full body of the fish like this:

If there are particular markings that help identify the species, a zoomed in pic is helpful:

Underwater shots are nice, too.
Basically, we'll take whatever pics you can get. But, busy backgrounds and weird angles are not that helpful.
Also, add the photographer's name and the species name to the picture file name, so we know what species it is and who gets credit for the pic."

I'm going to start gathering these photos up and get them sent over so hopefully we'll have a fully functional CA species and regulations app by the end of 2016.

-Luke

Update: The app is called FishRules (http://www.fishrulesapp.com)
For pictures, send them to photos@fishrulesapp.com with the subject line "CA fish pic." You probably also want to include your info in the subject/body if you'd like photo credit.

Introductions / Lurking until I get my kayak

« on: November 23, 2015, 09:51:10 AM »

Hi all,

I'm a relatively new spearo (been diving and spearing for just over a year now) but am pretty crazy about it. I'm realizing I really need to get a kayak to hit some new spots and be able to dive with new people. I'm trying to figure out where I could store one since I live in grad student housing on the Stanford campus... thinking of rigging something to hang it above my bed. Until then I'll be lurking around here

Best,
Luke