Cuba spearfishing

    Back from Cuba last week. ( Archipiélagio De Los Canarreos )...
    Pretty cold water under the thermocline.
    Great feeling wit ha RA 130 Zulu speargun.
    Unfortunaley a lot of "pez leon" in the reef and watever the depth.:(

    Quote from Undersea

    In the 7 pic i gess this place is piedra alta?


    Could be but highly unlikely, there are many similar areas around the north coast. I used to love going to "Piedra alta" what a coool place that is for diving/spearing, hook and lining you name it.

    this pic was taken while i was crossing " el estero de jorobado." or "estero de la cabilla" in the southern coast of the isle of youth , when i am from. we went fishing ans slept there for a couple of days. we caught a whole lot of fish , but we ran out of ice and most went bad, it was a shame. we slept on the sand under the mangrove trees , but i could hardly sleep because of the mosquitoes and "jejenes" we had mosquitoes nets but the bugs were so small that they went through it. no repellent at all. and the other thing i remember was that the hermit crabs and land crabs would spend the whole freaking night crawling around and climbing on the mosquitoes net. i was 9 or 10 back then.

    I just came back from a 3 week trip in Cuba (spearfishing/freediving/visiting friends). While far from a pro, all the experience I had came from hunting down the southern coast over there. I have a Goddaughter (my friend's daughter) and I often go over there to check on her and visit my friend (I'm Canadian so there is no problem). I first went there when I was 11, and fell in love with the whole diving scene. Everyday for the almost 1 month the humanitarian mission (canadian-cuban friendship organization) lasted when I first went, I was in the water with my friend who is about my dad's age.


    Him being a lifeguard, and having vast knowledge in freediving in the area, it always felt ok to go (he had my mom's approval and trust), despite my young age. Every now and then I would visit him and we would go spearfishing in the morning and eat the fish we caught at lunch or during the evening.


    I like how in the first posts of this thread where Cuba was described as a place with a lot of freedom when it comes to spearfishing. I never got a license, use a 2L plastic bottle as my float, and never went with any gear whatsoever. I learned to spearfish with a "criollo" pneumatic gun, and all the fish we catch are consumed.


    Going there is for me a way to help someone I care about, but helps me realize how lucky I am to be able to live in a comfortable life, to practice such a sport.It has helped me be more humble about things and to appreciate what I have.


    As a student I'm definitely not rich at the moment, but I always try to bring a little something to my friend and GD. This year was the first time I had enough money to afford a whole set of equipment, including a brand new cyrano 850 from Mares. Those of you who have been to Cuba know that Cubans love their pneumatics, specially considering the bands are almost impossible to get there.


    Also, not specie is really off-limit; lionsfish are a delicacy now that it is known they can be consumed. Of course there is always the danger of getting stung, specially with no equipment other than a pair of scissors.


    I'll try to find some photos.

    Edited once, last by imfrenchie: correction ().

    Thanks Dan. Firstly - the original painting of the Shark Attack is in the Smithsonian in Washignton D.C. Have viewed it numerous times. Secondly, I have spered a few large Tarpon in Pananama for the locals - they are extremely boney with so many fine bones tht trying to eat s a loss of energy from removing bones versus getting meat in your mouth. I do know the locals in Panama ate them - but I do not know how.


    Latly, without getting into politics - I used to fly a lot to south America out of MIA when I lived in South Florida as an aviation safety inspector for the FAA and crossed over Cuba many many times while in the cockpit jump set. The southern coast of Cuba alwAys looked so inviting with crystal blue water - and no boats in sight. God it must be full of fish that hadn't seen a diver in years and years if ever.


    I have Always wanted to go both diving and underwater photography in the waters of south Cuba - just imagine still virgin. Thanks for the photos Dan - reminds me of Panama and I ddn't take photos either. Difference s, yes I know, I can return easily and you can't can not. Hopefully things will change eventually.


    Good thread thanks.


    Oh, not confirmed by me, but I have heard that ray wing cut into circular plugs has been sold and tastes like scallops. Just relaying not MY experience.


    My apologies - started on first page thinking this was a new thread - blame it on dinner and dinner wine. 2008 and still going - great but my pistis irrelevant. Desculpeme

    Edited once, last by Oscar: Dah now I see ().

    God I so want to go one day with 4 of every thing and leave it it all with a spero clan.
    Thanks for the great story and pictures:toast::toast:.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Quote from Don Paul

    God I so want to go one day with 4 of every thing and leave it it all with a spero clan.
    Thanks for the great story and pictures:toast::toast:.


    Cheers, Don


    I could be talked into a trip like that. Take lots of gear, fins, masks, snorkels, a few spearguns, add some soccer balls and stuff for the young girls and go freedive for a few days and come home empty handed but feeling great! :thumbsup2:


    PS: my Spanish will help too.

    Quote

    Tarpon is beaten until the flesh turns to mush, then a hole is cut in the skin and the meat is pushed out.


    yes! and the meat mixed with fresh tomatos is cooked "al horno"...
    not the best fish recipe...
    all the inshore place accessible to cuban spearos get complely cleaned to improve the daily ration
    best hunting by using a boat... a great deal there!
    "it's not allowed"...
    "it's impossible"...
    "fatal"

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