For those of you that don't know, I get right into spearing alot - more so than fishing at the moment. I take it pretty seriously and I'm into free dive training in the dive pool as well. I spearfish the outside of the south wall as well as free dive (not spearing) on the inside both along the wall, along the two pipes and anywhere else in there that looks interesting. I have never speared on the inside of the seaway, and only free dive in there for practice and to enjoy the array of life it has to offer. Personally I support the ban of spearing in there because without it, the abundance of life that is there would cease to exist in a very short period of time.Originally Posted by iank
As for people swimming and kids etc, spearing is only possible on the outside of the walls in the best conditions the weather has to offer. 10-15 kts even makes it too rough as the waves break in a diagonal direction (NW) against the wall, creating tough currents and reducing visibility substantially. When the weather is kind enough to allow spearing on the outside of the walls (5-10kts), visibility there is quite good. I speared the outside of the south wall last week and had a good 10-12m visibility (at least). Given that the range on most guns is less than 5m, owing to both the power of the weapon and restriction of the shooting line that connects the spear to the weapon, the chances of someone being shot are comparable to a big fat zero. Furthermore, people simple do not swim around the wall - they swim in the first 20m of the shoreline which is inaccessible to spearing due to foam and wash reducing visibility. Be assured, you have no chance of being accidentally speared.
Incorrect. The Fisheries Regulation 1995 stipulates precise boundaries where spear fishing is and is not permitted. To clarify, the rules for the Seaway are that spear fishing is permitted outside an imaginary line drawn from the outermost tip of the south wall, to the outermost tip of the north wall. Inside this line is prohibited. As for other locations, unless the area is listed in the Fisheries Regulation 1995 or an associated amendment notice (or is listed as a protected environmental zone), spear fishing is permitted regardless of signs that local citizens or local council take upon themselves to erect.
Question. You want to fish from the wall. Spear fishermen want to spear along the wall. Where is there an order that makes you a higher priority? Unless the spear fisherman is spearing illegally (e.g. in a prohibited zone), he has equal rights to utilise the environment as you do. Spear fishing as a sport has enough collective ignorance from antagonist groups to contend with without having to deal with the likes of ill-informed individual fishermen as well. On numerous occasions I've swum down and un-snagged peoples' lines when I have realised that they're snagged. Although, I do choose to ignore the plight of some individuals fishing through illegal means (those who know the types that frequent the Seaway know who I'm talking about) and happily collect their gear when they bust off.
Many a time myself and good spear fishing mates of mine have had to deal with personal insults and abuse in public (usually at the Seaway) from people who seem to have a personal vendetta against spear fishermen. People seem to have the ideology (plucked from the bandwagon as it rolled through their town) that spear fishing decimates environments and spear fishermen are of the rape and pillage mentality. Incorrect. Underwater, we see and choose what we take. There is no risk of shooting, killing, injuring or damaging undersize or protected species - and on that note, I’ve never shot an undersized or protected fish in my life. Can that be said about line fishing?
Benno
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