Corpusfishing.com

[tall_tom2006]

i was thinkin bout taking up spear fishing and was wondering if any of yall had any ideas, tips, or anything of the sort. I dont really know what i would be getting myself into.

thanks
tom

[putawaywet]

Fun!
It's fairly cheap and easy to get started.
I dive but you can snorkle jetties and rigs.
Look up JBL spearguns and check out the Mini carbine.
I use mine in Lake Travis and various rivers around the area for perch and drum. It's a limited use gun though for smaller species. You'll need a larger gun for more distance and larger fish.
You can't shoot gamefish in Texas. Although I think sheepshead are legal(better check on that).
All my river fishing done with snorkle gear but I like to use dive gear for lake and rig.
Get some nice drum in about 30' to 40' of water during late summer in Lake Travis.
Most dive shops carry guns and spare parts but they can be pricey.
You also may want to check out a Hawian sling. Takes alot of practice but it's fun.

Enjoy!
_________________
"If you love something let it go. If it comes back to you gaff it and throw it on ice."

"God loves a workin' man.
Don't trust Whitey.
See a doctor and get rid of it."
N.J.

[Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm]

1) become an excellent open water diver. get used to rig structures and current. get used to fire coral on your bare skin. get to the point where it feels good. you will need this trait later. tell yourself pain feels good.

2) go to Copelands and buy a BFG. get ready to pop a vessel in your head trying to stretch the bands and load the dang thing. I would suggest practice loading it blindfolded wearing a halloween costume hanging up-side-down in your garage to simulate actual underwater conditions. make sure the garage door is closed, you don't want the neighbors to know you're in training to spearfish. that and the site of you up there hanging from the rafters might scare the kids.

3) find a dive buddy with a couple screws loose. it would help if they had a boat too. go out to a rig and do a practice dive or two. as mentioned in number one have your new wacko dive buddy use the boat and keel-haul you a couple times across the rig to "toughen up" and get ready for the fight. that way you don't drop your BFG the first open wound/slice you get and realize that your blood actually looks green underwater.

4) read the regs, I'm thinking about the only things you can spear now are snapper and AJ. the latter being your main target of course. shooting snapper is for wussies who are afraid to bleed.

5) when you finally go, alert the feds, Ted Koppel and your mother. make a last will out. take several first aid kits, extra bandages, triage kits, debriding equipment and sutures. lots of rubbing alcohol. scissors to cut your wetsuit off, and hardcore tweezers to pull the firecoral out of your arms and legs. some mild anesthetics. I suggest dark rum, as it can be used both as an anesthetic and wound irrigating fluid.

6) get in the water, have your wacko dive buddy film you, and shoot the biggest AJ you see. HOLD ON! the rig can be your worst enemy, or your very best friend. attempt to pull back on the bucking bronco, I mean AJ, and as he tears you through the rig at a high rate of speed (remember your keel-hauling practice! it can save you!) and try to wrap that cable from your BFG around a rig leg or cross member. get the fish in a full nelson and begin ripping the gills out with your bare hand because you forgot your gloves in the boat. allow the adrenalin to kick in, its your only friend at this stage. try to remember to breathe. and try to remember you signed up for this and its fun despite all the green blood in the water from you and the fish.

7) after the fish is subdued, untangle your now broken $400 BFG and fish from the rig and ascend, and despite hyperventilating, make sure and do your safety stop, keeping a wary eye for the men in grey suits, they like blood and fish too. struggle to get the fish over the gunnel and pop another vessel in the process. haul yourself in the boat.

8.) disconnect the fish with the last bit of your strength. realize that you might be a little seasick and fatigued from the struggle. re-hydrate (with either saline from the medical kit or water. ready for that second tank yet?

just kidding tom. hang out at copelands and you'll run into someone. or wait till summer, find us a boat, and I'll go with you. but just to film.
_________________

[topdog15]

That's classic
_________________
"Ya'll must eat a lot of fish"

[Bigun23]

Damn Aaorn you beat me to it!!!

Thanks porkfetus.......I needed that!!! That is a damn good description.....you forgot to add while ascending from 200 feet with this horse you just shot be sure to look at your pressure gauge and have a major heartattack when it says you have 200psi left to go another 150 feet and do your safety stop for 15 minutes!!
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[Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm]

[Bigun23]

It was still funny.....i see follow you. I just had to add that little bit on.....with all the stories ive heard of AJ's and spearguns.
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[REEL BEAST]

Just jump in and do it. We started three years ago at Packery snorkeling with 38" guns. We now do open water dives, deep dives on air, and have a whole assortment of guns. It is a major blast to do. Get a mask a snorkel and a small gun, go to Packery on a good day and try it, then call me when you want to go offshore.
_________________
Capt. Ross L. McElwee
R&R Coastal Adventures, Inc.

www.REELBEAST.com

[Bigun23]

[tall_tom2006]

thanks guys and as far as porkfetus's explanation it'll take some serious balls and some good friends.

i think im gonna give the jetty and small gun approach a go first.

[tall_tom2006]

just to get my feet wet what would yall recommend a hawaiian sling or one of those small jbl carbines.

definately gonna get some practice in for a while before i go bluewater or rig divin'

[REEL BEAST]

We started with the 38 special JBL, and still use them. I would not go with the sling as you will not normally use it offshore, if you continue to grow into spearfishing.
_________________
Capt. Ross L. McElwee
R&R Coastal Adventures, Inc.

www.REELBEAST.com

[B-1 83]

There are no fish to spear at Packery. There are only angry fishermen that get more chapped when you snorkel by them and say "We don't scare the fish!"

[tall_tom2006]

right i figured that, ive been in the angry fisherman boat a few times myself.

thanks again for all the help.

[tall_tom2006]

there is some jettys and structure around the A&M campus and the base where i was thinkin bout swimmin round, many a days it looks pretty cloudy but ive seen a few where it cleared up a bit.