Help a Nube Out

Got the pole spear design down pretty well......I think......Now I just need time on the water which I hope to start with tomorrow.

I am COMPLETELY oblivious when it comes to spearguns however...and I am on a budget so some advise from the pros/regulars would be greatly appreciated.  I am mostly Sonoma and Mendocino coast with rare trips to Humboldt and will only be spearing when water clarity is pretty good and the fish are shallow.  Looking for blacks and blues mostly in open water..........Rocks can be rough on tips and I am not educated enough yet to make judgment calls on cabs or lings to my satisfaction.  Not interested in secret spots...........I have my own.........More interested in basic mechanics, tips, techniques...........One on one lessons........You share your skills I share mine......

Used vs. New Spearguns
Make your own..........Got any Designs you want to share?

 

Hey dude, welcome to the board. i have been diving the sonoma coast for about 8yrs and would be glad to help you any way i can. i always use a rock tip and a 2 band jbl gun. i like the band guns because i believe they are less prone to breaking down and are easy to repair. buy the rocktip that rotates. i buy all my gear at the bamboo reef in ronhert park. the owner tom is very well schooled and easy to deal with. when spearing from my yak, i bring a game bag with 30ft of yellow poly rope on it. i fill the game bag with fish and ab guts then put a good size rock in it. i use this as my anchor/bait/reference line. i try to shoot them in the head but that doesnt always pan out. IMO,the hardest part of spearfishing is getting a live fish from my spear to the stringer. use a game-clip and run it through both eyes as there is strong bone around the eye sockets and they wont break-off. be super careful not to get splined. the splines on the blues and blacks tend to stand up stiff and get you. the splines on the lings and cabs can still get you but tend to laydown more. my buddy got splined one day and the whole way home he was begging me to cut his hand off. i almost did it just to shut him up. feel free to call me at 478-5436

Just a tip.................MOST rockfish poisons are heat sensitive......A call to the poison control center will comfirm........Soak the hand in the hottest water you can stand and it will greatly reduce symptoms.......I used to have a saltwater tank with lionfish and this tip saved me a lot of pain.

My Game bag is a mesh laundry bag with flotation and an anchor rope....I plan on keeping my bag a fair distance away from me just in case....Ripping he gills on a rockfish puts them down pretty fast and I wear gloves so getting poked by spines or cut ripped by gillplates is not such an issue.

I am home all day working on/cleaning gear and home so I can go out tomorrow without GUILT!

707-794-8528