How far away do you really shoot fish?

In my personal case, most fish I've shot are within 8ft or less. That's my comfort zone.

Normal shots are 2-5', Long 8-15'with a prayer backing them.

I have never needed to take a longer shot then that.

I stalking and learning how to get close is key. . .

I always try to get with in 15 feet before I pull the trigger. I have shot a couple of fish outside of that range but it is a low percentage capture rate. If you shoot inside of the 15 foot circle you will rarely loose fish. Hunting with a short gun, pole spear or Hawiian sling will make you a better hunter. Learn to get close before you pull the trigger and you will become a better hunter.

i think my average shot is bt 5-10 ft...I have taken longer shots, but only on practice shots (like at a small bluerunner who is hauling ass by) or hailmary's for great fish (i shot my PB mack at close to the end of my shooting line which is about 20 ft)

i miracle mack shots

My comfort area is within 9' - 15' feet. I really hate to shoot up close in open areas. I hate the fish getting all the way to the line cause is harder to handle. Unless is a hole or small cave then up and personal is ok. But you guys are right. Getting good at stalking is the key. But if a big fish is in the 15' area i think about it. Because the shot can be to weak to get a hold shot.

Quote from sdeisen

i miracle mack shots

Shooting mack's is what brings a to my face. Even more so when they're swimming away and they think they're going to evade me.. .. HAHA not so fast little fish :grimreeper:is coming for you. .. .

i try to never take shots that i might miss so deff within 10ft of the gun

I think everyone always starts out thinking if only I could get an accurate gun to shoot twenty feet then I'd bring home a bushel and a peck. However you soon learn that anything much over 8 to 10 feet better be very big, slow, and dumb. It takes a shaft about 4/10s of a second to travel say 4 meters underwater and by the time it get there a fish can dodge like an agent in the Matrix. So until a lazer beam that is instant and unlimited in range comes along I will have to continue getting as close as possble. I like 6 to 8 feet tops.

Quote from Nickmal

I think everyone always starts out thinking if only I could get an accurate gun to shoot twenty feet then I'd bring home a bushel and a peck. However you soon learn that anything much over 8 to 10 feet better be very big, slow, and dumb. It takes a shaft about 4/10s of a second to travel say 4 meters underwater and by the time it get there a fish can dodge like an agent in the Matrix. So until a lazer beam that is instant and unlimited in range comes along I will have to continue getting as close as possble. I like 6 to 8 feet tops.

Jahaha agent in the matrix!! So true!!

Quote from Nickmal

I think everyone always starts out thinking if only I could get an accurate gun to shoot twenty feet then I'd bring home a bushel and a peck. However you soon learn that anything much over 8 to 10 feet better be very big, slow, and dumb. It takes a shaft about 4/10s of a second to travel say 4 meters underwater and by the time it get there a fish can dodge like an agent in the Matrix. So until a lazer beam that is instant and unlimited in range comes along I will have to continue getting as close as possble. I like 6 to 8 feet tops.

I agree with all of this. There's a term that bow hunters use called 'jumping the string.' It's when the prey is able to react to the shot before the arrow gets there. It applies to spearfishing as well, of course some species tend to react faster than others. Depending on the species, I try to close the gap.. but the satisfaction following sticking a nice fish at range is hard to top. I'd say on an average day of spearfishing, I'll take shots ranging from 8-15ft.

It hasn't been mentioned yet that the shot you're taking that looks to be 9 feet is really about 12. (everything looks about 25% closer under water).

i have shoot to fish a 7 - 8. meters,but me prefer range is 1-3 meters,sometime i loss big fish for shoot them to long distance. bad error ,this was when i beggin to spearfish ,many ,many errors.Now if i dont not have the fish in my face no shoot them .

I shoot fish so far away with Double Trouble I have to pay long distance charges.;)

Cheers, Don

OK, I don't shoot(most of the time) over twenty feet off the tip at game fish with my top shaft, and 12 feet of the tip with my 1/4'' one band bottom shaft.When I feel sporty I try to get as close as I can and head shoot fish with the little shaft.

With my other guns, I get closer.

Cheers, Don

an old spearo told me once that a spearo is when he can shoot a fish point blank with an underpowered gun. meaning that the skill is not on the gun is in you to get close enough to the fish. a long shot is a desperate shot. that being said i shoot most of the times 2 to 8 ft from the tip of the gun.

nice thread.

I have spent a lifetime in the water and still find it hard to judge the distance, only by knowing the length of my shooting line do I get a idea but thats after I have shot the gun... water clarity, temperature, background(in the blue a bottom fisher would almost get vertigo ) plus many other factors affect your judgement and most of those factors are different every time so I always take with a grain of salt(pun intended) the ranges speros speak of, including my own :laughing:
Truth is I listen to speros talking about aiming down the barrel and blah blah blah, I could not in a million years explain how I aim in water, to many variables... All I can say is I see my prey and I track it by experience, knowing your gun is primary and throw in some knowledge of that species behavior to predict where to aim that they MAY be when the spear arrives and some hail Mary's and maybe you have dinner :)... But I am no legend like many who are here and just a average spero.
Don its my fondest wish to one day see you shooting in the blue in your cali water with double trouble.