Sad. Very sad

    Last Saturday was a very sad day (spearing related) for me. I had the chance to take a 60+Lb snapper and it took off the shaft from his head. The flopper did not pass al the way though and after a short fight, I lost it. If just I had a partner close to double the shot, You would see the pictures in the marina.


    I have it on tape but will put the video as "private" because don't want everybody telling things at me. I'm already sad enough for this. Is the second trophy cubera I loose in less than a year. :(


    Some screen captures:

    If you had a wooden gun that can take a heavier shaft, it wouldn't have happened. ;)


    I lost huge fish but usually to sharks.

    Edited once, last by greekdiver: shaft ().

    Should have used a slip tip. :laughing:


    Just kidding Marco. I know how you feel. I lost a couple grouper on my last trip out. I don't post about those though because of the anti spearfishing crowd that checks these forums.

    Quote from greekdiver

    If you had a wooden gun that can take a heavier, it wouldn't have happened. ;)

    I assume you meant a heavier shaft, true. But one has to decide the name of the game for themselves, be light and get closer to fish, or feel a little more encumbered and snipe. Of course if you're regularly going after big fish then it's a duty/responsibility to use a gun that will maximize your chances of landing it.


    Marco, I feel your pain. Do you think that snapper may live and stick around that FAD?

    Lo siento mucho amigo, de verdad, espero la tercera sea la vencida:).


    Aún así esos fotogramas se ven FABULOSOS.



    Buen azul.

    Sadot Hernàndez.

    I know how that feels, Marco. I've lost a couple of grouper and a big snapper myself because of belly shots :(.
    I hope that fish lives and continues to frequent that structure. In fact, such a big specimen must be quite resilient. So I believe there's a high chance it's healing and hunting some fish right now!

    Hi Harry! Nice to see you around. :)


    I do have a wooden gun with a heavier shaft. But I rarely use it. And if I take it out, won't be with murky water like it was.


    I think that with these fish that have such a hard skull, a body shot is a best choice, but when you have the possibility to stone it with a head shot, your instinct aims there. ...


    After that episode, I sharpened the tip until it cut and shortened the bands a couple inches. Obviously the flopper didn't pass through.


    My friend thinks he is not going to die. I think it will. It was coming up after a short fight (as most cuberas) and took off when it was just 30 feet below me. If you see the shot placement, it was in the middle of his head. Just a matter of millimeters to touch the brain.


    I'm sad. :(

    Marco Melis

    A bad day fishing is ALWAYS better than a good day at work.


    The shot was perfect. The shaft is simply not heavy enough to pass through a big fish. Now, add the sharpness of tip, and the flopper that is not recessed plays a huge factor. The part of the flopper that sticks out has to push through bones on head shots. So you either have to have a heavier shaft or a recessed flopper. Both is great to have :D


    I don't think the fish will die.


    My wooden gun would have passed that fish without question but it carries a heavier shaft and fires shaft at higher velocity. Railguns have their limitations because of the mass they have. They can't fire a heavy shaft. It's all fine and dandy until you need the power like on a Cuberas head.

    I have to disagree with you regarding the recessed flopper. I've lost many fish with them because it is almost impossible to fine tune them to stay open and they are not as robust as South African floppers/pins. Additionally, a recessed shaft has a weak point there.


    Anyway, Thanks for your comments, we could drink 12 beers each arguing about this...


    I should wait one more second and get close to the fish (and I could!). That's it. :(


    Well, here's the video. Public and comments disabled as pre THE BOSS instructions :rolleyes1::


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeQ5ooVvfdc

    Marco Melis

    A bad day fishing is ALWAYS better than a good day at work.

    Honestly it happens...


    Could you have gotten closer? Maybe but thats a split second decision and it doesn't make sense to second guess it after.


    Could the shaft have been sharper? Maybe but even the sharpest shafts will have trouble with the skull of big cubera.


    Although it sucks to loose a fish like that if we landed everything we shot at or saw it wouldn't be nearly as fun of a sport and we wouldn't continue to push ourselves to be better. I love those FAD's I wish we could set up something like that here.


    I hope the fish lives. If not it becomes part of the food chain.

    Could have gotten closer, or could have waited that extra second or two to try and get closer only to have the cubera make that "cubera WHUP" sound as he bolts....and you're left thinking, "MAN, I should have shot sooner....". :laughing:

    Quote from Dan

    The shot is at 0:45.


    Looks like you could've gotten even closer.


    What diameter was the shaft? Was it bent?


    Shaft is a 7 mm x 140 SA mini-sharkfins, straight. It was sharp, but not deadly sharp. Now it cuts your finger if you touch it.


    Normally, all my gear is top notch and well taken care. If I shoot in structure, I sharpen my shaft that same day. I change the mono at the first sight of wear and cut the bands shorter when I see they're cracking at the whishbones knots.


    I could have gotten a little closer, but if you pay attention at the video, there is a noise just before the shot. It was my weight belt that scratched the rope of the FAD and I was afraid that the fish would "explode" any time. So I aimed to the center of its head and shot.


    My dive computer showed 28.5 meters. That's nearly 94 feet. The fish spooled the reel 165 ft before I surfaced. I had to pull it up the last 10 feet. After a short while it was coming up, but I wanted to double it. Those monster fish tend to take a second air when you're about to get them. No one showed up and I decided to do it by myself. It was only about 30-40 feet away.


    I'm still sad. :(

    Marco Melis

    A bad day fishing is ALWAYS better than a good day at work.

    Quote from hank

    Could have gotten closer, or could have waited that extra second or two to try and get closer only to have the cubera make that "cubera WHUP" sound as he bolts....and you're left thinking, "MAN, I should have shot sooner....". :laughing:


    You wrote it while I was writing the same thing. EXACTLY. ;)

    Marco Melis

    A bad day fishing is ALWAYS better than a good day at work.

    Marco I looked and that was the perfect stalk, I was in the moment watching your video and actually mentally pulled the trigger exactly when you did bro, one second later would have been the moment to late. Your instincts were spot on, next time shoot a softer spot bro and take the brutal fight [emoji6]

    A bad day at sea is better than a good day in the boatyard
    George Steele

    Marco,


    I feel your pain. I have lost 2 cobia this year, one to a gut shot and a long battle that ended with me losing him an arms length away.


    The second;
    I shot a large cobia from under a manta ray. It swam in front of the ray and the ray took off at warp speed with the shooting line (and cobia) wrapped around its "horn". Spooled the reel on my 86cm Omer MB 30 in seconds, and broke the line and reel support after pulling me through the water for 30 yards or so.


    Sometimes crap happens


    KC

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