1st tip - sharks are irrelevant in Perth. There are very few, just don't be stupid if you see one.

2nd tip - there are quite a few northern reserves that prevent spearfishing close to shore, you may have better luck down off Rockingham.

Would not bother with an Undersea, Mako or anything similar. Waste of money and once you'd used a real railgun you'd regret wasting your money. Like trying to shoot a fish with a broom handle.

Spearfishing.com.au has a wealth of knowledge for beginners, just search the forums. Good for gear too.

That way you can learn from others,gain experience,and they will be more than happy to advice you,,try this site WWW.wadivers.com.au ,but no matter be careful and ask for tips.jersey

I agree don’t bother buying crap to start off with. My first gun was a rail gun and I think it cost me $380 but the difference between a rail run and an undersea/Mako is huge (power, accuracy, feel).

All of mozzie beach to like swanny is protected, around Rockingham and pt perron is good for learning to free dive, there a some really nice ledges and drop off's but there aren’t any fish so I think you'd be better going up around trigg and even two rocks or get a boat and go out to some of the islands cause that’s where you might have a chance of getting something a bit more descent.

just PM if you need any more info

Thanks for all the information. It is much appreciated.

What do you recomend as a good/cheap speargun to start off with? Brands, models?

Good + Cheap = Not possible

I am no expert on spearing as I only started last summer, but I looked for a 2nd hand Rob Allen or the like. If you can get to Hookah Dive in Wangara they have the good gear, and you'll get a feel for what is good, and the rest.

I started with a Pelaj railgun, and switched to a Mares Cyrano (airgun). I am now looking at getting another railgun so I have both. One will generally be for Scuba (go on people, say it) and the other to freedive (which I haven't done yet). People will argue back and forth about what is better but just pick some guns up and see how they feel, its probably the best guide.

As for shore dive spots I couldn't help you there.

The phantoms arnt to bad but they can struggle against decent size fish but most of the fish you would encounter around the beach it would handle i used one for a while but just didnt have enough power for me so upgraded to woody comp all around rocko is decent to spear around point peron is probley the best spot to chase anything decent. a gidgee can be just as affective off the beach as a gun because around the shallows there is mostly whiting which can be very difficult to hit with a gun even flathead, flounder etc are alot easier to hit with a gidgee and to be honest what else would you really be targeting off the shore around the metro area

 I hope I am not being annoying.

http://www.spearfishing.com.au/frameset_load.php?http&&&www.spearfishing.com.au/shop_detail.php?product_id=1863&PHPSESSID=7m6f4hoasbdukaqu425sa1ja7dwjgs13

The longer the shaft the more power it has? I was thinking of getting a 120cm. 

Not more power, but a longer travel. 1200mm gun in shallow water would be a handful.

Agreed,

Longer gun just means more range.

The increased range comes from more inertia within the shaft (mass) and a larger distance between the muzzle and bridle slots on the shaft. ie. Rubbers are able to be stretched over a greater distance, theoretically storing more potential energy which can then be transerred into thrust on release of the trigger, over a greater distance than a smaller shaft/barrel combo. Would depend on the diameter of rubber though.

I've seen one gun that uses a clever new design that uses interconnected rubbers, one over the barrel and one under to provide propulsion of the shaft from the moment the trigger mech is released to the point at which the shaft leaves the muzzle. On a standard gun you get bugger all out of your rubbers once the shaft is halfway out of the muzzle.

You can only go so far with a standard gun and small diameter shaft, over-power it and the shaft deflects and 'whips' out of the muzzle; inaccurate.

Larger diameter shaft has the same effect, more inertia. Although they are slower.

Would stear clear of anything with a mako head for reef stuff. (2 floppers).

Torelli's are great, Ocky's Water World in Bunbury is a distributor. Give him a call.

9791 5542

Thanks very much dd83wa

I spoke to some friends and they used to go spearfishing so I will be heading out with them over the next couple of weeks and I hope to post some pictures of my first speared fish.