Spearfishing on air - what's your opinion.
Submitted by duges66 on Mon, 2013-06-10 09:26
TGMitchell posted asking for a dive partner http://fishwrecked.com/forum/looking-dive-partner. In the post he mentions he's keen to do some spearfishing. His thread was hijacked by those that don't agree with spearing on air & those that don't agree with those that don't agree with spearfishing on air. So this thread is for you all to tell us your opinions on this subject and let TGMitchell get on with looking for a dive partner.
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sammy85
Posts: 831
Date Joined: 31/08/10
I have no problems with
I have no problems with either way your spearing fish with or with out air still the same outcome.
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Paully
Posts: 3246
Date Joined: 15/08/09
agreed
^
- should really be a short discussion.
outdoinit
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Date Joined: 05/10/12
+1
Same Same
I've spent half my life fishing.. The other half I have wasted..
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
skill
more skill without air obviously, but each to their own. In the grander scheme of things it really doesnt matter
Chris fish
Posts: 847
Date Joined: 23/02/11
Can't see how it matters,
Can't see how it matters, without air is more skill I suppose but air is an easy and selective way of getting a feed. No bycatch from a sensible and good spearo and only fish to be eaten are killed.
always looking for a new challenge!!
sea-kem
Posts: 15018
Date Joined: 30/11/09
I wouldn't say skill, I
I wouldn't say skill, I reckon it's fitness (holding your breath, getting a good lung full). Someone with a tank on could be just as good a shot as someone without. I did a lot when younger with no tank and a lot with tank when I got older (and fatter lol) and both ways are very fullfilling.
Love the West!
Daniel Y
Posts: 423
Date Joined: 30/09/05
Have to disagree.
Have to disagree. Spearfishing (like nearly all sports) is a combination of skill & fitness. There are many other elements to deep freediving apart from just fitness.
sea-kem
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Date Joined: 30/11/09
I'm just talking from
I'm just talking from experience. I was a pretty good shot with and without the tank. And I did a lot lot of diving in my younger years all up the coast, mainly Leeman.
Love the West!
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
agree
there are lots of things that go into achieving a deep free dive besides skill and fitness for example knowing what depth you are going to and maybe you might need another 500grams of weight to get there and will you make it back with that extra 500gms and not just hyper oxygenating your self to achieve that extra 5 meters and how to avoid shallow water dive black out my deepest free dive was 37m I doubt I could do it now I was only 30 at the time but I used to dive with a kiwi guy that was getting 45 m plus with a bottom time of well over 3 minutes on one breath , the funny thing about that kiwi bloke was he was older than me and he was the size of a jockey ,smoked and loved a beer but when he was in the water he was like a seal
Norty
Posts: 80
Date Joined: 13/12/12
tools
If i was fit enough to climb back on the boat with a tank,
I'd probably consider it ( if it wan't for the scary sharks)
I look at it this way.. with tank - without tank
with burley - without burley
with boat to get out to ffb - without boat..
a tank is just another tool used to help get some fish
same could also be said about gps's and fish finders..
but hey.. it's just my opinion
Paul
duges66
Posts: 140
Date Joined: 07/03/12
A well put opinion I reckon.
A well put opinion I reckon.
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D_d_001
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Is it illegal in the East ?
Is it illegal in the East ?
kmo
Posts: 127
Date Joined: 17/01/12
Yep
Sure is. Illegal to even take crays on air in NSW.
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
Yes but after talking to a
Yes but after talking to a few eastern staters they have different reef structures there. Eg flat granites and dont normally chase crays on the deeper limestone sort of reef i dive here. Not saying its easier, just different !
dodgy
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But legal to shoot them. Go
But legal to shoot them. Go figure.
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Vinesh87
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haha really ? I didnt know
haha really ? I didnt know that. I thought it was by hand only ?
till
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In QLD you can shoot them,
In QLD you can shoot them, not sure about the other states. Mind you they did have to make it easy for the QLDers ...
sea-kem
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Ha ha classic. They're dirty
Ha ha classic. They're dirty at the moment after the mighty Blues win.
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Vinesh87
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lets not go there...haha
lets not go there...haha
Rob H
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theyve got crays in NSW?
theyve got crays in NSW?
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Paul H
Posts: 2104
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My thoughts are it doesn't
My thoughts are it doesn't matter and each to their own. I'm pretty sure spear fishing would be more sustainable (that is less taken) than by other forms of rec fishing. Obviously some types of endangered fish should be protected from both spear or line fishing.
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Berin
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For sure
I have never met poddyfish but could you imagine what he would get on scuba ??
I honestly thought you meant "on air" as in on TV, typically I had no idea that there was anyone opposed to shooting fish on scuba.
No, I have no problem with it as long as catch limits are respected.
Yes, I would be an avid viewer if anyone would make a good dive show.
Mark Fogerty
Posts: 13
Date Joined: 10/06/13
Spear Fishing on air
Spearfishing with one breath hold is the purest form of sustainable fishing. Sure its hard work but it is extreamly rewarding stalking a fish and bringing it back for the table.
Scuba is banned in some states due to the high kill rate and the systematic cleaning out of close reefs and shore lines. It is like shooting animals in a paddock it's not real sport!
Real Hunter and proud of it!
Mark
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petermac
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agree
totally agree with you I wont say more or I will get my head bitten of by some one who doesn't agree
dd83wa
Posts: 169
Date Joined: 01/10/08
Each to their own, I dont
Each to their own, I dont agree with it, but not all fish would be easier to shoot, some would be more difficult. Dhu etc would be easier of course, though you would not get within 10m of smarter species, especially those on the east coast, Large eye sea bream, big green jobfish, big jacks, spangos etc.
I don't think SCUBA spearos are doing any more harm on the west coast then other stakeholders, so what's the problem.
Brucesta
Posts: 1721
Date Joined: 29/05/09
it's as bad as each other,
it's as bad as each other, it's not fishing anyway...
you select what you want to shoot, you take the shot and hit it and either kill it or take it out with a knife so what is the difference if you are on the gas or free diving? it doesn't worry me the slightest and well if old mate wants a trout and a bluebone for dinner, he gets it without the bycatch, baratrauma etc etc of us rec fishers. I'm sure all good spero's move spots very frequently and never hammer one spot as theya re so free to move around and find the fish. No problems here how you do it as long as the bag limits are kept and not exceeded.
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Daniel Y
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are you saying spearfishing
are you saying spearfishing is bad or good? i'm confused.
Brucesta
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Date Joined: 29/05/09
i think it's fine if the
i think it's fine if the spearo's are doing the right thing and moving around thier spots and not leaving a reef dead of all the good fish, tank or breath hold, no different for me. I'm not getting into the whole sport thing, if you want a feed you'll get it, if you want a challenge you'll find it, no different to fishing with a rod and reel, you'll make it as hard or as easy as you want it to be.
Las Vegas - Rolling the dice and trying your luck. 1M+ Barra summer target. 100kg Black Marlin winter target
outdoinit
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+1
Wise words and fully agree..
I've spent half my life fishing.. The other half I have wasted..
Vinesh87
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I don't spearfish (Yet) And i
I don't spearfish (Yet) And i cant freedive very well anymore due to equalizing.
Sure its harder to get down and stay down and find the fish without air but wouldnt the bubbles scare some fish away ? Just a thought.
dumper
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Date Joined: 03/04/08
How are you managing to
How are you managing to equalise on tanks? Just curious
Vinesh87
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I can just go down slow and
I can just go down slow and come back slower and let my ears equalize.
It is getting a lot better now but. I hopefully will get into freediving soon.
daze out
Posts: 75
Date Joined: 07/09/11
pretty sure they do
I dive quite frequently up north, and in my experience air bubbles do keep the fish away, the fish are there but they don't come anywhere near shooting distance.
I purely free dive now and the fish are definately less aware that you are there.
I agree with Bruesta, generally up here, most spearfishers don't take bag limits, there is really no need, and if you have a freezer full of fillets then there is no excuse to get back out there :-)
in saying that there is always some di*kheads that give us a bad name, whether on line or straight hook.
crano
Posts: 708
Date Joined: 04/11/09
Good move duges66 starting
Good move duges66 starting this new thread
I felt sorry for the bloke just chasing a dive partner and then gets a flogging for spearing on air
tot
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from the very first response
poor form
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duges66
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Cheers crano
Exactly what I thought.
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Travisd
Posts: 315
Date Joined: 07/05/11
Bag limits
It's not for me but if you added up all the fish shot on scuba it wouldn't be a fraction that is shot on breathe hold.. Or caught recreationally on line... Compared to what is taken COMMERCIALLY How many air spearo's bag out?? Doubt many- scuba divers don't get long on the bottom either so you could argue the whole argument is backwards
Baron Sportsman
Just the depth that Varies
Daniel Y
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Date Joined: 30/09/05
Spearing on rebreathers, now
Spearing on rebreathers, now that would be the ultimate disadvantage for the fish ;)
scotto
Posts: 2470
Date Joined: 21/04/08
Not illegal - no problem
And for the record, it shouldn't be illegal, especially not in wa. Either way (freedive or scuba), you still got to work hard for each and every fish.
It shouldn't matter how your fish is caught, as long as bag limits are adhered to.
I also strongly disagree with not being able to shoot cod and wrasse in the ningaloo marine park, whilst line fisherman are allowed to take them.
sea-kem
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Would love to know the
Would love to know the reasoning behind it Scotto.
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till
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There are some, ahem,
There are some, ahem, ``legacy issues'' in the restrictions that RFW is working on ;)
sea-kem
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Sounds promising.
Sounds promising.
Love the West!
till
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RFW did recently get all
RFW did recently get all divers the right to dive for crays at the abrolhos. Small bug to be fixed on the seasons though yet pending.
tiimmbo
Posts: 695
Date Joined: 16/08/09
I take my gun with me
I take my gun with me sometimes when chasing crays just in case something decent swims by and will continue to do so. Will try shoot something wednesday when I go out.
Habanero
Posts: 225
Date Joined: 19/06/12
Not an issue
As Turboz said the amount of "catch share" that is taken on air is miniscule in the whole recreational catch percentage , Have done it myself in the past , but only freedive these days . Coastal Water Dive in Bunbury used to run a comp where Freedivers , Scuba and Hooka's divers used to compete , from Memory I can not recall Hooka or Scuba ever placing in the Top three . If it is not Illegal not a problem to me.
petermac
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Date Joined: 03/03/10
duges66
good idea starting this thread these are the types of subject's we should debate among ourselves and not let blokes who have never line fished, scuba dived or free dived make decisions that affect us it is interesting to see the comments on eastern states compared to Western Australian regulations it is strange , I was in nsw recently and went crabbing with my brother they have a regulation that you cant use a two ring drop net like we use over here the only net you can use is a tangle net go figger that one out. I wont say what I think about spearing on air as I think most followers of this site already know what it is (one of my best mates spears on hooka and we have this argument at every bbq after a few drinks and start on the port)
Notorious
Posts: 914
Date Joined: 23/02/12
As long as the spearing is
As long as the spearing is done sustainably and within fisheries guidlines then I have no issue with it, however, I wouldnt do it myself.
I dont buy the sporting argument. How is it 'sporting' sitting in the comfort of a boat, in 30+ metres of water, dangling a baited hook down below for that big Dhu?
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Rob H
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Im happy to use air. Our bag
Im happy to use air. Our bag limits are stringent enough as it is outside the metro area.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
jdavies_99
Posts: 114
Date Joined: 24/07/11
;)
I grew up on the barrier reef where it was illegal to spearfish on scuba. It forced us to learn the techniques and skill of freediving and I can honestly say I appreciate it that much more now.
I understand some people prefer it on scuba and whilst it is legal to do so then so be it, but personally I am a breathold guy. I think it takes more skill.
Also who can be bothered sorting out all the scuba gear. I have my own dive gear, I even have my own compressor but frankly the effort required to clean the gear, carry the tanks and store all the stuff on the boat when I can simply throw on a wettie and go if freediving. Nothing shits me more then when you invite someone on the boat for a fishing trip and they rock up with 2 tanks, a bohemoth dive bag and then take up the whole boat getting ready.
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Shannon85
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I spear on breath hold and on
I spear on breath hold and on air, and both have pro's and cons. I generally take a small gun down past 20 with me on air when chasing crays, but would only breathold on anything 15 or less. It is not illegal, there is no by-catch, and there is no excess taken, so what is the issue? Bubbles do scare the fish, you are more restricted as to where you can go with air eg crevices and caves, and you have the same amount of restricted movement. Spearing on air allows you maybe half an hour or so, and need for a long rest in between, breath hold can go on all day if you are keen enough. Both very different, and good/bad in their own right.
scotto
Posts: 2470
Date Joined: 21/04/08
Here's another point,
I can legally only scuba dive to 18m, but can freedive a fair bit more than that.
Im goin to be finding more/bigger fish in deeper water whilst freediving, but yet it's frowned upon that I do it in shallower water on scuba.
Daniel Y
Posts: 423
Date Joined: 30/09/05
As far as i'm aware, it's
As far as i'm aware, it's not 'illegal' to dive below 18m on standard OW, it's just not recomended since you havent been properly trained.
Rob H
Posts: 5806
Date Joined: 18/01/12
if anyones against spearing
if anyones against spearing on air (as opposed to just choosing to do it) then maybe they should be riding a bicycle to the ramp and rowing out to their spots as well rather than being selectively against the use of technology :-)
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
sea-kem
Posts: 15018
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Lol yeah Rob. A bit like the
Lol yeah Rob. A bit like the greenies who campaign against technology and progress but all have computers,phones and cars etc etc to get there word out.
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jdavies_99
Posts: 114
Date Joined: 24/07/11
Technology
I cant speak for everyone but for me freediving is certainly not about restricting technology but rather by enhancing the skill required to get down there and get your fish.
Some of the top gear and synthetics us freedivers use is probably more technologically advanced than the scuba gear.
I like to hold the view that half the challenge is getting to the depths and having the skill to stalk a fish on limited time.
Each to their own though.
My main gripe against someone spearing on air on my boat is the amount of gear and space needed for divers. Nothing worse then a boat with crap everywhere.
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Rob H
Posts: 5806
Date Joined: 18/01/12
nothing wrong with your
nothing wrong with your comment JD-it was directed at people who tell everyone else how they should do it.
A bit like Lance Armstrong calling everyone who uses a car a loser or telling a 70year old he shouldn't use a pot hauler "cos the crays wont taste as good"!
All a bit tongue in cheek...
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
my main grip
I have been in onslow on a dive trip (free diving) and the blokes in the accommodation next to us in the van park were too but they were on air had there own compressor to re fill there tanks as well we ran in to them at black ledge which is only a 10 meter dive at the most and they were on air in 8m and shooting heaps of silly old coral trout and they basically cleaned the reef out then moved on to bowers ledge and yes it did end up in a punch up when my mate buzz beat one of them at darts at the beadon creek pub and told them what we thought of them
Rob H
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Date Joined: 18/01/12
they sound like really bad
they sound like really bad people, you did the right thing...
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
kmo
Posts: 127
Date Joined: 17/01/12
That's more about attitude
That's more about attitude than equipment though. I'm sure in 8m a freediver or even a lino could just as easily clean out a reef of trout. Would just take a bit longer.
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
agree but not
but not if you stay within the limits the days of taking your tucker box freezer to Onslow and filling it up with fillets are long gone plus there is a very over keen fishery's officer there now that cant tell the difference between a potato cod and estuary cod
meglodon
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who won the punch up
who won the punch up
petermac
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Date Joined: 03/03/10
we did
and my more crazy mate let down their boat trailer tyres