Spear fishing

[Fisherman02]

hey guys
thinking about getting into spear fishing what are everyones thoughts on it? i know a couple of guys who do it and reckon its good fun and is different from fishing in that your are down in the fishes domain hunting them
cheers jack

[mackmauler]

Your hunting them ??? not from what ive heard ;)

[krazyfisher]

HAVE YOU NOT SEEN A SHARK YET! :o
the idea of having a dieing bleeding fish tied to me in the water with sharks? mmmmmm do for me ::)

[mackmauler]

Obviously the small 3meter one ::) that ate a wahoo nearly as big as Jack last sunday within spitting distance wasn't anything to be concerned about ;)

[Dominator]

I don't know how you will go spear fishing in the Brissie River Jack. ;D ;D ;D

Cheers,

Dominator.

[Breamreeper]

Spearfishing on bombies etc is very exciting. Just make sure you have the gear and don't tie bleeding fish to yourself. There are many obsticles underwater but well worth it. It is another world underwater and the fishing is as exciting as on top.

[neptune]

I am an avid spearfisherman and I reckon it's great to be in the water, and I think it gives you more of an insight into fish behavior which you can put into your line fishing. But if you think it is easy to just don a mask, snorkel, fins and gun and shoot some quality fish, think again. It is a high activity sport and not for the unfit , especially if you want to reap some reward in the way of a fish or two, but once your hooked to the peace and tranquility, you won't look back.

[bugman]

Jack,

I've done a bit in my time. I'll back Neptune in that it's definitely a sport for the fit people. I'm starting to lag in my old age. Not many places you can spear fish from the shore in SEQLD (legally anyway) You really need a boat to take you to the places you want.

My best catches have come from the Swains reef off Gladstone but I have hit the odd fish around here. Got a Jack not long ago but pulled the line before I could bag him. Morwong are the easiest and slowest to move.

Neptune - what's your bottom time like and have you ever done any of the rock groynes off Fraser.

Bugman

[Fisherman02]

thanks guys
yeh only coz my mate over at straddie reckon si should give it a try, so will have a go, dont think much of the prices though of a spear gun! :o
cheers jack

[TonyM]

I used to spearfish a lot around Newcastle about 10-15 years ago - A lot of fun and a lot of great fish :-)

I've dragged out the old Speargun and cleaned it up. (Had to buy a new wetsuit as the old one seems to have shrunk quite a bit) ;D

I'm going to be trying around Gatakers Bay (Hervey Bay) this coming winter when the water clears up a bit more. From what I've heard they do allright there for Cod, Trout etc so is certainly worth a bash!

Bugman, do you have any more info re the Groynes off Fraser? I'd love to hear more about that! I'll also be having a look around round island as I've certainly caught some respectable fish there from the boat.

[MadGaffer]

Hey,
As a die hard fan of the rod and reel my next true love would have to be spearfishing. Im from Newcastle and regulary fish and dive around here.
Not taking anything away from the boys that say you need to be fit, you do to a point but you never know what kind of fish in what kind of water you may encounter.
My biggest Jewy on line is 18kgs and on the steel shaft its 22.5kgs I got the big fella in 8 feet of water 30 metres from the southern end of Nobbies beach. Many times ive been in my boat spearing and got nothing out on the reefs only to come in and dive in realitively shallow water (say 25 feet) and nail some nice Drummer and the occasional Jew and even some nice Kingies up to 9 kg, thus being my biggest with the gun.
I know the prices of some of the spearguns are a little daunting up to $1500 these days.I got a complete setup, Mask fins wettie guns and rig cord and a float for about $400, I know its still a little expensive but There really is no feeling like stalking a good fish, antisapate(cant spell) its course thru the water and stoning it with a good spine shot.
Sometimes, yes sometimes it beats the rod and reel, not a lot but sometimes.

MadGaffer :)

[Fisherman02]

yeh im having a look at some of the hand spears around and they dont look to bad
cheers jack

[bugman]

Jack,

I hope your mate knows that there's no spear fishing allowed at the boat ramp at Amity Point. It's where the most fish school but it's not allowed there.

Tony, I haven't done Fraser before either - but that's all about to change in May. Heard the crays are really good. bit worried about the toothy critters but - I guess we'll find out.

Bugman

[Fisherman02]

thanks brett
dont know where we r going but if he says we r going to the boat ramp i'll be sure to tell him its illegal
cheers jack

[CHRIS_aka_GWH]

jack,

dune rocks - the rocky outcrop between deadmans beach (inviting name eh) & frenchmans beach is a good place to spear if the surf isn't thumping in. It has a protected cove if you are beginning but more exposed deeper water spots for the experienced.

It is the closest point of straddie to the offshore formation known as The Group & the variety of species that pass thru at this time of year is immense. Apart from the usual suspects, I've speared yellowtail king, AJ's, speckled hind, squire, jobfish & red bass (yep red bass just the one & I've got a photo for the non-believers).

Some advice - always go with a mate & know where he is in the water.
Use the current to your advantage - swim with it not against it.
NEVER MAKE YOURSELF NEGATIVELY BOUYANT WITH A WEIGHT BELT. Carry a sharp stiff bladed knife that can cut fishing line & have it within easy reach.
Never panic & conserve your energy.
Have fun enjoy the scenery - spearing a fish is a bonus.

chris

[Fisherman02]

thanks chris
yeh have been snorkelling and the scenery below waterline is fantastic can't wait!
cheers jack

[Dominator]

Have any of you Spear Fisho's come into contact with Big Sharks? or any Sharks for that matter.

Cheers,

Dominator.

[jaybee]

Shark bait if u ask me, but then jack doesnt have too much meat on his bones eh LOL.
cheers http://www.ausfish.com.au/chat/images/smilies/cwm35.gif

[Jack_Lives_Here]

Couple of guys a saw come into Spinnaker sound ramp on Saturday arvo had some nice parrot and a small cobia. They'd been out around hutchies.

The dive instructor that qualified me was a spear fisherman also. He was knocked unconscious by a hammerhead that was after the fish on his belt. The witnesses on the boat said it thumped him about 1m out of the water. He has no recollection of it - just woke up back on the boat. http://www.ausfish.com.au/chat/images/smilies/cwm4.gif http://www.ausfish.com.au/chat/images/smilies/cwm4.gif http://www.ausfish.com.au/chat/images/smilies/cwm4.gif

[MadGaffer]

Howdy all,
Sharks are in the water when your swimming there in the water when your washing your hands over the side of the boat, well sharks are always there.
Ive been semi seriously diving for 5 years and in that time have only twice have had to use my boom boom stick, as I like to call it.
Ive seen 3 metre Bronzies 3-4 metre Hammers and a friggen HUGE 4 metre white, the only time I shat myself out of the water.
If you take a calm approach and just keep a eye on the buggers and NEVER pull fish to you when there is a bitey in the area. And always use a rig cord atleast 30 foot long either tied to a weight belt or rigged to your gun, theres no real probs with them.


MadGaffer

[michael_mad_fisho]

gday guys
here r some thoughts on spearfishing from breamaster.com
http://www.breammaster.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=569.

michael

[mackmauler]

Michael, good site, the spear one anyway ;) a few old women hang out there hey ;D

[michael_mad_fisho]

gday
yeah u could say that, i personally think that spearfishing can be quite challenging when spearfishing for reefies. but that there veiw on spearfishing and they dont seem to like it very much.
michael

[scottyb]

I THINK SPEARFISHING IS GREAT. AS YOU HAVE TO CATCH THEM BEFORE THEY CATCH YOU. I WAS SPEARFISHING OF HELLS GATES AT NOOSA ONE DAY AND CAME ACROSS A DEAD 6FT GREY NURSE AND NEARLY CRAPPED MESELF EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DEAD. AMART HAS SPEARGUNS CHEAP EVERY NOW AND THEN. GET YOUR SELF A PNEUMATIC GUN. THEY REALLY GO OFF WELL.
SCOTTYB http://www.ausfish.com.au/chat/images/smilies/cwm4.gif