home made kelp float

went to sportmart and found some nice crab bouys which are dense foam with plastic overcoat. i machined some delrin caps for both ends. the dacron line runs through the whole float, pulled tight and knotted and caps are marine epoxied in place. the taper of these is pretty good for a crab pot float and i'll try running it through the kelp when we get some substantial kelp around. they had some of these floats with foam only and i got the ones with the coating on them since it seemed better for durability and sliding. The floats were 6.50 each i think. they measure about 6" W x 12" L.

Looks nice.  I used crab pot floats for a while.  The taper helps but they still get hung up.  I just use a longer float line than I think I need now (100 ft) and no float on the end.  It wasn't the taper that was the problem.  It is any edge tends to grab kelp and as short a line as possible from the bouy to the floatline is also less likely to tangle.
Dave

Looks nice.  I used crab pot floats for a while.  The taper helps but they still get hung up.  I just use a longer float line than I think I need now (100 ft) and no float on the end.  It wasn't the taper that was the problem.  It is any edge tends to grab kelp and as short a line as possible from the bouy to the floatline is also less likely to tangle.
Dave

Thanks for the info Dave. I think the long float line idea is the best. I'll probably use these guys for the crab traps as they were meant or for dragging around in kelp free areas: )

john

I used to use a crab buoy also. Too much float but it was cool to take a break byjust hanging on and letting it float you.  I have switched to a 3" diameter pier bobber, the ones the pier fishermen use.  It works great on the 50' floatline.   

streamline it a bit kinda like the kelpcarrot sold by netonics (Josh)
http://www.neptonicsystems.com/kelpcarrot.htm

Hi Guys,
 Being kinda new to spearfishing I am just wondering what you use this for? I am just getting into this sports since I have been ab diving for a long time and looking for some new. Thanks Jim

Hi Guys,
 Being kinda new to spearfishing I am just wondering what you use this for? I am just getting into this sports since I have been ab diving for a long time and looking for some new. Thanks Jim

i use a small float like this to mark where my gun is and my floatline is. i would not use this size to fight a bigger fish. Kind of like a marker so people in boats and your buddies can see whereabouts you are diving.

this small float can probably work ok for lings and halibut as well. i used to shoot the fish and let go and watch my gun and float like fly away from me as i kicked back up to breathe and would just swim to my float and descend to locate the fish. sometimes i went with no float as well with a high vis float line.

for larger fish i would go the route of a long floatline (100 ft) and a larger float for more flotation. with larger fish you can have a separate clip on the back of the larger float and as you pull the fish up from below you can use the clip to clip off your float line and work the fish little by little.

a lot of time in carmel or monterey i go without a float and just use a orange line. its easy and weaves in and out of the kelp with no issues. i think its always better and safer to have a marker though. i just get lazy sometimes.

Kelp carrot.  That is sweet.  Thanks Dan.  I haven't seen that one before.  Looks like it should pull through easily.
Dave

The other benefit of the carrot - Josh worked with Peace & Horizon charters to ensure that it'd be accepted as a float substitute.  Haven't been on a charter for a couple years, but remember the most annoying thing was having to drag a full-sized float around(boat requirement) while trying to WSB hunt.   

For WSB or diving up here, I generally use either a reel or plain floatline w/ no floats.