Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: throwingsticks on May 22, 2018, 09:22:00 PM

Title: Spearfishing
Post by: throwingsticks on May 22, 2018, 09:22:00 PM: Hi All, I might head out on my 14 aluminum this weekend to free dive spearfish lingcod out of Fairhaven. If you are an experienced free diver and want to join let me know. I prefer to dive with folks that can handle themselves. Let me know if you are interested and we can chat.
thanks
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: heronblu on May 22, 2018, 09:26:29 PM: I'd be down to join you. Pm me and we can chat more.
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: Mfowl on May 22, 2018, 10:13:06 PM: @AlwineArcher... :peep:
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: SeaRun1 on May 22, 2018, 10:40:18 PM: Pm sent
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: Switchback on May 23, 2018, 11:05:21 AM: I gave my spearing gear away when I moved out here last summer. Just out of curiosity – how deep do you typically dive? I'm used to freshwater, and never had a need to go much below 30'. There some lings and cabezon shallow like that? Been thinking about picking up some new gear and giving it a shot. But if I gotta go down 100' then I'd rather just jig for em.
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: Stein on May 23, 2018, 04:03:12 PM: Quote from: Switchback on May 23, 2018, 11:05:21 AM
I gave my spearing gear away when I moved out here last summer. Just out of curiosity – how deep do you typically dive? I'm used to freshwater, and never had a need to go much below 30'. There some lings and cabezon shallow like that? Been thinking about picking up some new gear and giving it a shot. But if I gotta go down 100' then I'd rather just jig for em.

I know there are plenty of lings in that range just north of the Edmonds ferry. ;D

Only advice I have is to hold on when you stick them, I wasn't ready for the explosion the first time I speared a fish.
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: Okanagan on May 23, 2018, 04:39:25 PM: Re how deep one must dive to get ling cod, etc.: When I started diving seriously for fish, lobster etc. in the late 60's, an old diver told me that a man could get anything in the ocean in 30 feet of water if he goes to the right place at the right time. :) No doubt he exaggerated but I've speared halibut in 6 feet of water, a ling as shallow as 10 and a lot of rock fish in less than 30'. (Must admit that I've shot a lot more halibut at 25-40')

Never dived the area mentioned but it sounds good. Go for it!

Will add: underwater terrain and habitat is a more critical factor than depth for most coastal kind of fish.
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: h20hunter on May 23, 2018, 06:35:34 PM: I've seen and petted 50 pounders at Edmonds dive park. Ive speared ling and cabs in 15 feet of water in and around kelp beds. For freediving I would get a person on the surface in a canoe or small portable boat to be my tender. I would dive and work the edge and pockets of kelp beds. Sling, banded, or pneumatic gun on hand you should be good. Rockfish should be a gimmie. Watch your currents, have a knife readily available and above all don't be stupid, be safe.
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: Switchback on May 24, 2018, 09:22:08 AM: Thanks for the advice! Maybe next year I'll look into getting some gear and going out again.
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: Alchase on May 24, 2018, 05:25:01 PM: In my youth we use to load up on lings perch and sole in 30 ft or less in Hood Canal.
Years later the research showed all those lings we wear killing, were females on their nests.
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: throwingsticks on May 24, 2018, 09:03:01 PM: Quote from: Switchback on May 23, 2018, 11:05:21 AM
I gave my spearing gear away when I moved out here last summer. Just out of curiosity – how deep do you typically dive? I'm used to freshwater, and never had a need to go much below 30'. There some lings and cabezon shallow like that? Been thinking about picking up some new gear and giving it a shot. But if I gotta go down 100' then I'd rather just jig for em.
In Neah Bay I can limit on black rock fish and lings in before lunch and never diver deeper than 30ft.. For black rock fish you can blast them all day in 10ft of water.
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 24, 2018, 09:32:36 PM: Please post some pics, never be something i will do but love seeing pics!
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: h20hunter on May 24, 2018, 09:45:09 PM: :yeah:

Miss my diving days.
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: throwingsticks on May 24, 2018, 10:16:48 PM: OK here are a few
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: throwingsticks on May 24, 2018, 10:24:56 PM: well I got more but they are not posting so...
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: KFhunter on May 24, 2018, 10:33:28 PM: I'm heading to Hawaii at some point in the future, I want to get in some spear fishing, what gun you all reccomend?

I've got all the cressi snorkel gear, decent but not pro level by any means.
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 24, 2018, 10:43:27 PM: That's awesome!!! The pics are probably to big most the time we have to resize them in like paint down to like 50-60% and then they post fine.
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: throwingsticks on May 25, 2018, 09:42:04 AM: third party hosting seems to work

(https://preview.ibb.co/fBRpVo/sunrise.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hj1Oqo)
(https://preview.ibb.co/jdDEwT/ling.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d6RpVo)
(https://preview.ibb.co/eKygbT/table.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mW4bAo)
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: h20hunter on May 25, 2018, 09:42:53 AM: Nice job!
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: throwingsticks on May 25, 2018, 09:50:55 AM: Quote from: KFhunter on May 24, 2018, 10:33:28 PM
I'm heading to Hawaii at some point in the future, I want to get in some spear fishing, what gun you all reccomend?

I've got all the cressi snorkel gear, decent but not pro level by any means.
I use a hand made custom wood gun, but to start I would recommend a good pole spear or short euro gun (ie cressi, rob Allen etc.). Spearing in HI is tough... those fish are use to being chased and very skittish.
here is picture of my gun

(https://preview.ibb.co/n4EOO8/gun_and_ling.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cQXA38)
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: Viking360 on May 25, 2018, 10:01:49 AM: Nice, I went yesterday in the sound but scuba, couldn't see more than about 4 feet, terrible visibility.
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: KFhunter on May 25, 2018, 04:28:37 PM: Quote from: throwingsticks on May 25, 2018, 09:50:55 AM
Quote from: KFhunter on May 24, 2018, 10:33:28 PM
I'm heading to Hawaii at some point in the future, I want to get in some spear fishing, what gun you all reccomend?

I've got all the cressi snorkel gear, decent but not pro level by any means.
I use a hand made custom wood gun, but to start I would recommend a good pole spear or short euro gun (ie cressi, rob Allen etc.). Spearing in HI is tough... those fish are use to being chased and very skittish.
here is picture of my gun

(https://preview.ibb.co/n4EOO8/gun_and_ling.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cQXA38)

I got 3 pole spears at home but they're a bit long for an airplane and packing around, I'll check out the euro guns or maybe 2 or 3 piece pole spears. I've speared Hawaii before, but it's been a long time, back then I was good at it and out did most of the locals having done so much fresh water river spearing (and being in much better shape :chuckle: )
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 25, 2018, 05:14:16 PM: That's awesome :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Spearfishing
Post by: austinwilcox on May 25, 2021, 01:45:36 PM: You still dive in the area? I am an Experienced spearo that would be interested in getting out. Live in Bham.