Post by: KFhunter on July 19, 2021, 12:27:54 PM
vessel - My current vessels aren't really setup good for this, I've been searching Kayaks but they have very limited range, but they can be launched dang near anywhere.
What about a Zodiac type craft? I have a new 20hp 4-stroke already that should move a smaller Zodiac pretty good.
I seen some pretty cool inflatable zodiacs that might be a heck of a bang for the buck
wetsuit - what brands are good? I see Mako online but there's not much reviews of them and all the online reccomendations never mention them, I think that's due to monitary reasons rather than actual quality...who uses Mako and are they as good as Cressi or Riffe?
Also, if the wetsuit says 6' - 6'4" 180-220 lbs would a 240 guy fit in it? Is open cell worth the goo you have to use to slide in it?
Gun - Is a roller gun worth the hassle for fish up to lingcod size in shallower waters? Is an 80cm gun big enough? What about a 80cm roller vs 100cm non-roller?
Post by: 3boys on July 19, 2021, 12:46:39 PM
Post by: Rob on July 19, 2021, 01:48:04 PM
My goto gun was a 48 in AB Biller. three bands. I upgraded to the 5/8 diameter bands and would typically put on one 20 inch, and two 22 inchers.
For the PS I would load 1-2 bands unless I was going after a big ling. That 20 incher was definitely a challenge to pull back!
I hate the pneumatic guns. Some folks love them but I found them problematic and underpowered.
Did a couple trips to the Florida Middlegrounds a few years back. Also did a lot of ling hunting in the Sound as well as out at Neah Bay.
Post by: Rob on July 19, 2021, 01:48:26 PM
Post by: Rob on July 19, 2021, 01:55:30 PM
Inflatables are outstanding! We spent time out at Tatoosh in a 12 foot inflatable and never once felt at risk. They are stable as all get out and carry amazing weight for their size.
I was anchored off the Neah Jetty once and a sneaker wave came in. It was at least 10 feet tall - we guess 12. We were loaded heavy (but not over weight): 14 foot inflatable with a 50 horse motor and fuel, 2 guys, 4 tanks plus gear.
We took it broadside and it was cresting. It was like the Hawaii pipeline! We went up one side and I swear I was looking to my right directly into the water below us. We topped out and went down the other side without issue. How it did not flip us I will never know. But my point is - those things take a beating. Just don't pop them with sharp spears. We put hose protectors over points when traveling (even in AL or Fiberglass boats).
Post by: Rob on July 19, 2021, 02:08:28 PM
This was my largest fish. Can't recall the weight. I shot it at around 130 feet. Looked like I stoned it, but when I grabbed it up next to the spear, it went ballistic. That fish spun me around in a circle like I was on a merry go round so fast that the water pressure nearly ripped off my mask! Then it changed tactics and moved form a horizontal merry-go-round to a vertical one. I reached for my blade and tried to unzip it, and was only able to stab it over and over and over again until it stopped moving. By the time that fish and I were done with each other I had gear scattered all over the ocean floor! The problem with 100 foot visibility is that you end up with quite an audience when something like that happens!
Good times.
Post by: KFhunter on July 19, 2021, 02:12:52 PM
Post by: Rob on July 19, 2021, 02:42:05 PM
https://www.amazon.com/Helldivers-Rodeo-Scuba-Diving-Adventure-Oil-Platforms/dp/0871319365
A truly entertaining read! Personally I avoided diving in football helmets and 70's disco clothes... But they make a good case for it!
Post by: Rob on July 19, 2021, 02:43:29 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 19, 2021, 04:32:56 PM
I have a decent amount of snorkeling experience and shot a lot of fish with Hawaiian slings but never owned a speargun.
Post by: KFhunter on July 19, 2021, 04:35:59 PM
Post by: Rob on July 19, 2021, 07:25:59 PM
That said, nothing to stop you from grabbing fins and a mask, donning a wet suit and a weight belt and jumping in wifh a gun! A towable float is good too. You dont want to haul a stringer of fish up and down with you so tying off is good.
Dont even worry about sharks in the PS. Perhaps a bit more worrisome at neah but low low risk.
I have done a lot of shark dives in the PS. We chummed in 6 gills at night. I have some great videos of me feeding them by hand, petting them, etc. You need to be super aware while chumming but any bite by a 6 gill would be an accident and totally self induced by chumming! The only sharks you will see free diving would be little harmless dogfish. They have teeth like sand paper. And chances if seeing one of those is also slim to none while free diving.
We encountered many open water pelagic sharks on the middlegrounds in FL. Silkies, grays, and even an 11 foot bull shark! Those dudes are no-nonsense, dont screw around with them sharks (while spearfishing anyway). They regularly attempt to steal stringers. Many times we had them trying to do an end run around us to get behind us and steal fish (they really want to ambush from behind). Kind spooky qhen you are doing open water deco 100 miles from land with a bunch of dead bleeding fish around you!
Anyway. I love sharks. Got to do a cage dive with great whites. That was a bucket list item!
If you want to know more about 6 gills, there was a PBS special on TV a while back that was really well done. I got to be a part of it and the footage from our crazy chumming night dives is in it.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=mystery+sharks+of+seattle&view=detail&mid=74FDD4CA6C396A9C8F4A74FDD4CA6C396A9C8F4A&FORM=VIRE
It’s about an hour long, but my parts are in these time slots:
18:26 – 20:55
And
46:18 – 49:03
Post by: Rob on July 19, 2021, 07:34:28 PM
But honestly every pelagic that stalked us turned tail when we made eye contact. They are ambush predators and turn when the element surprise is gone. Now a big bull or tiger probably does not care! In that case you probably have time to pop a bang stick on and brace for impact-assuming you see them! But being in cold water really limits our shark encounters up here.
Post by: Rob on July 19, 2021, 07:42:08 PM
Post by: jackelope on July 19, 2021, 08:05:00 PM
Post by: h20hunter on July 19, 2021, 08:52:38 PM
I used a pneumatic cressi sub with a rock tip. When us8ng3a wetsuit i liked scubapro and soon had a custom dui drysuit. Never got as hardcore as Rob but have a few dives under my belt for sure.
Post by: KFhunter on July 19, 2021, 09:38:48 PM
Post by: Stein on July 19, 2021, 09:48:09 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 19, 2021, 10:04:04 PM
I don't see anyone using a drysuit to freedive :dunno:
and they're very expensive
Post by: h20hunter on July 19, 2021, 10:15:41 PM
Post by: h20hunter on July 19, 2021, 10:16:28 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 09:36:55 AM
Post by: h20hunter on July 20, 2021, 09:45:40 AM
Is there a good dive shop around there?
[/quote
I would go see Harry Truit at Lighthouse Diving. Known him for 20 plus years.
Post by: Rob on July 20, 2021, 11:42:22 AM
One more. This was mid October. Pretty.......dang......cold.
Direct route to brain freeze!
I dive the PS without gloves, but that is taking it to a new level!
Post by: Rob on July 20, 2021, 11:43:07 AM
Is there a good dive shop around there?
[/quote
I would go see Harry Truit at Lighthouse Diving. Known him for 20 plus years.
He certified me in 1983...
Post by: h20hunter on July 20, 2021, 11:44:02 AM
Post by: Rob on July 20, 2021, 11:49:15 AM
Post by: h20hunter on July 20, 2021, 11:55:27 AM
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 11:59:10 AM
Post by: h20hunter on July 20, 2021, 12:01:29 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 12:04:10 PM
They must run like 2 sizes small lol
Post by: Rob on July 20, 2021, 12:06:43 PM
Very cool. I believe most freedive suits have a pad in the chest to help brace banded guns for loading.
I think you are correct! Forgot about that
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 12:08:57 PM
"Ok, neutrally buoyant at 33 feet, with a cautious approach to ideal weight"
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 12:14:01 PM
Post by: Rob on July 20, 2021, 12:19:52 PM
Ok, whats the best way to wear 35 lbs of weight to sink this 7mm suit and apparently fatboy...
"Ok, neutrally buoyant at 33 feet, with a cautious approach to ideal weight"
I cannot imagine you need 35 lbs of lead. With a dry suit I use to carry 25.
If you want to start with 35, I would put a 10 lb weight on each hip, and three 5's along your back.
If you need lead weights are are near Monroe, let me know.
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 12:58:02 PM
I'm expecting up to 35 lbs, hoping for less, so don't want to be caught needing 35 but can really only carry 20 if you get my concern
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 01:06:19 PM
Then I'll add quick weights for salt.
Maybe 10# weights (x3) then tune with quick weights
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 01:07:34 PM
Says 29 lbs in fresh with 7mm suit, gloves, boots and hood
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 01:11:29 PM
Guess I should click proficient since I dive quite a bit bare skin
Post by: Angry Perch on July 20, 2021, 01:56:19 PM
holy crap 7mm wetsuits use a lot of weight
After my certification dive at Alki, I realized my mask had fallen off my head when I was getting out. I'd already taken my weight belt off, and waded back out an saw the mask in about 6-8 feet of water. I couldn't get down to them to save my life. Bobbing like a cork! :chuckle:
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 02:02:19 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 02:03:06 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 03:06:39 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 03:08:18 PM
After this gonna get scuba lessons
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 04:23:48 PM
Post by: trophyhunt on July 20, 2021, 04:28:10 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 04:33:49 PM
I speared in Hawaii and really got hooked
Post by: Rob on July 20, 2021, 05:54:21 PM
Trying to find best way to get weights to me, expensive
Like I said, if you come by the greater Monroe area let me know and I will set you up. After finding several weight belts over the years I am dive weight rich.
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 06:06:33 PM
I'm way across the state though, gonna pratice on carp when all my crap arrives then I'd like to come over.
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2021, 06:07:34 PM
Post by: Alchase on July 20, 2021, 07:19:12 PM
Mostly by snorkel. Occasionally with a 10 foot length of garden hose with one end tied to an oar lock, so one of us could stay submerged cover more ground.
We did great on decent sized lings and flounder/Sole.
Years later I learned we were probably shooting the female lings off their nests. We did not know that at the time.
They were in decent numbers through out that whole area.
We never used a wet suit unless the red jellies were out is force.
Post by: Rob on July 20, 2021, 07:31:47 PM
Great offer!
I'm way across the state though, gonna pratice on carp when all my crap arrives then I'd like to come over.
Just let me know!
Post by: KFhunter on July 22, 2021, 06:00:26 PM
Post by: h20hunter on July 22, 2021, 06:05:02 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 22, 2021, 06:56:42 PM
Post by: Rob on July 22, 2021, 08:43:40 PM
I moved to free shafting and those skinny shafts with non detachable floppers fly 4x as far and penetrate manytimes better too. I had to makesure i had backstops behind most fish as the shafts would fully pass thru the fish.
I had a specialized way of restringing that took 1/4 the time. I will see if i can find pictures.
Post by: Rob on July 22, 2021, 08:47:09 PM
Post by: h20hunter on July 22, 2021, 09:33:01 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 23, 2021, 08:25:45 AM
Get. A. GO. PRO.
Seriously though, I have no clue how to make videos.
Nor have I ever had the bandwidth to try before, uploading a pic (let alone video) to anything was always a chore so I never developed that picture or video taking second nature.
So now it just never dawns on me to take a oic unless I see other people pulling out their phones "oh ya, I gotta get one too" then it feels ackward, like I'm infringing on their moment
Post by: KFhunter on July 23, 2021, 09:43:28 AM
Seems like a good piece of kit if vis is total crap on top but good 20 feet down, and your dive buddy can't see you under that layer on top.
Post by: Wunderlich33 on July 23, 2021, 11:19:18 AM
I live just outside of Monroe towards Flowing Lake and come through town daily. I'm heading to Colville the last weekend in August for my late Aunts memorial service that my uncle is hosting at his property. I'd be more than willing to pick the lead from Rob and and deliver them to KFHunter on 8/27 or 8/28.
Let me know,
-Jeff
Post by: KFhunter on July 23, 2021, 12:22:30 PM
5's and 2's and two 10's I thought would get me close.
I *think* I should be good
Post by: Rob on July 23, 2021, 01:13:47 PM
Rob/KFHunter wanted to offer my help.
I live just outside of Monroe towards Flowing Lake and come through town daily. I'm heading to Colville the last weekend in August for my late Aunts memorial service that my uncle is hosting at his property. I'd be more than willing to pick the lead from Rob and and deliver them to KFHunter on 8/27 or 8/28.
Let me know,
-Jeff
Great offer!
Hope the services go well
Post by: Rob on July 23, 2021, 01:51:00 PM
The problem statement is, restringing a speargun after a shot is long, can result in knots, and prolonged time unstrung results in tangles around reefs, other divers, boats, eagles, aircraft and honestly anything else within a 20 mile radius (real problem – ask any spearfisher how they feel about loose line in the water!)
The traditional process is:
1. Load the spear in gun
2. Grasp the line at the shaft connection point and wind it back and forth between the trigger side line release/retainer and the muzzle end line retainer. (# of “back and forth wraps will vary depending on gun length and desired string length, but for this example let’s say 4 cycles))
3. at the end of the 4th cycle, the line should “almost” reach the hook on the muzzle end of the gun. Using the stretch in the shock bungee, pull the line over the muzzle hook.
The Technique I use:
Setup is the same as a traditional line setup, except I add quick load bungee to the line (attach it using a loop to loop connection so it will slide along the line if needed.
Parts are labeled in the first photo.
1. load the spear in the gun
2. Grasp both ends of the line at the same time (the end on tied to the gun, and the end on the shaft). And pull both ends of the line at the same time towards the trigger side line release/retainer. (second photo)
Post by: Rob on July 23, 2021, 01:51:38 PM
4. When you reach the muzzle end of the gun, the quick load bungee should be close to the muzzle end line retainer. Hook the loop over the end retainer and you are done. A simple down, back and hook. ((second photo below)
Post by: Rob on July 23, 2021, 01:52:12 PM
And pardon the Collie hair in the photos! They are blowing their coats right now and it is impossible to keep up.
Post by: Rob on July 23, 2021, 01:55:35 PM
Man.....this thread is killing me. Got a Specialized road bike and am doing more tri training......now i guess i need some fredive fins and a gun snd I'm good to go. I really dod enjoy dropping down a line or just open water....the void where you see nothing, day or night, then you see the possesion ferry and your world becomes big white plumose anemone, your breathing, check your guages....look for that ling, not to big, not to small....
I am dying! love that feeling of dropping down through 100 feet of dark murk to the bottom below... miss it.
Post by: Rob on July 23, 2021, 01:58:40 PM
I had not tested it at the time but I have now. Worked well!
Post by: SeaRun1 on July 25, 2021, 02:21:22 PM
I have been freediving for about eight or nine years now. It is a great hobby but one you should be very aware of. I am pretty set up for spear fishing and freediving in the northwest. If you want to talk about specifics and the things I have learned along the way I can help.
I would begin by recommending a freediving class. You will learn so much about the safety aspect of freediving as well as to help get your breath holds longer and longer.
Also freediving is always done in pairs as you never know when you will have a SWB. No warning sometimes.
I am commercial fishing up in Alaska right now but should be home by the 10th. Let me know.
SR1
Post by: h20hunter on July 25, 2021, 02:32:43 PM
Post by: Rob on July 25, 2021, 06:18:45 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 25, 2021, 07:13:21 PM
My freediving is totally different in rivers I'm used too, kick hard and let the current take you along the bottom, then rise and kick hard back up river to your start. No rest in the current until you swim to shore. Rarely hit 40 feet although some pools get that.
Heart pounding the whole time.
Yours is slow heart, minimal movement stuff, its going to be a learning curve. I was going to book some classes, but truth be known I'm not in peak physical shape. I had to buy the fatboy suit
Post by: overthefalls on July 26, 2021, 10:31:34 AM
1. Take a freediving certification. There is an excellent one offered by a local instructor that takes place at Lake Crescent. Pretty much everyone I've spoken to can hit 80 feet at the end of the weekend. More importantly you learn critical safety tips and how to listen to your body and understand what it happening physiologically during a dive. A freediving cert is gold when vetting diving partners. Also diving Lake Crescent is amazing, regularly 100 + ft. visibility.
2. Inflatable are great for diving out of. Just be careful with spear points and fishing hooks.
3. The Mako suits are great, however the 7mm are too warm for the summer up here until they get compressed... in which case they are then too cold for the winter. One option for summer diving is to buy a 3.5 mm top to wear with the 7mm bottoms.
If you are packing 20 + pounds of weight, I recommend looking at ankle/ necks weights in addition to just the waist. It will balance you out better to distribute the weight.
4. I see alot of people recommending AB Biller gun and to each their own.. but I would never use an AB Biller unless I absolutely cannot afford anything else. I have seen AB Billers accidentally discharge multiple times and I have also seen the muzzle snap in half while loading one. I would go with Riffe or JBL if you want a wood gun. Otherwise there are several pipe guns that are great deals and work very well.
90 cm is what I use, but is probably too much for hole hunting lings. I think 70 cm is pretty ideal, roller guns with allow you to pack a little extra punch at that length. Worth it if you can afford it. It is also worth it to learn to tie your own bands. Then you can experiment with different combos and save a lot of money in the process.
5. I would recommend a float line for diving up here. You have to work a little harder in current, but it allow you to mark spots and dive back down to them with the limited visibility.
My number one recommendation is find diving partners that you can trust, develop a safety system and stick to it. There is no margin for error with freediving. If something goes wrong it's all on your partner to know where you are and act decisively.
Freediving in the northwest is beautiful and rewarding, if you're ever up Skagit/ Whatcom area, give me a holler and we can hit the islands.
Post by: KFhunter on July 26, 2021, 12:12:44 PM
I'll call the lodge and search the web.
Post by: KFhunter on July 26, 2021, 12:15:40 PM
Post by: overthefalls on July 26, 2021, 01:22:07 PM
I believe this is the one.
Post by: KFhunter on July 26, 2021, 01:48:24 PM
http://www.1breath.co/
I believe this is the one.
Thanks, I'll look en up
Post by: KFhunter on February 20, 2022, 03:04:33 PM
Padi 3 freedive ain't no joke!
Gear wise I could use a new low volume mask and long fins, and spare parts and shafts, maybe spare gun too
Post by: Platensek-po on February 20, 2022, 03:44:25 PM
I've signed up for PADI Freedive 1, got off to a slow COVID start for classes but gonna hit it this summer. I got a lot of PT to do before I could pull off padi 2 or 3 :o.
Padi 3 freedive ain't no joke!
Gear wise I could use a new low volume mask and long fins, and spare parts and shafts, maybe spare gun too
Too bad you’re so far away. I’ve got a couple spear guns laying around that I would love to sell.