Technique TELL ME I have fine-tuned my gear and I am content with its performance in my specific fishing conditions within my skill level bandwidth. I don’t hunt much past 40 feet and one minute to a minute thirty is fairly representative of my limitations. I am 64 years old, 6”5” and weight 242. That is the Indian I dive in. Threads that begin on topic with what’s the best equipment usually get derailed by the interjection of the axiom of “It the Indian not the bow. So I acknowledge that their are Indian’s on the forum who could catch fish with a dinner fork and remain down under long enough to clean and eat them. Baseline I dive every day excluding typhoons and hospitalization’s interference. I live directly on the China Sea it is literally 40 meters from my doorstep. The reef in front of my house is overfished and populated by only a few skiddish shy fish that run first and don’t look back. I am f the opinion that the fish of adequate size that are worthy of a shot on my dinner plate are the same ones who have grown to that size by being smart, easy to spook, and defensively evasive all their lives. Dumb fish die young and are too little to eat. ”It is not a sin to want to get a few extra feet out of a gun. Nor is it unfair to point out that physics underwater is matter of choice and consequences. I have learned a great deal from many sincere exchanges on numerous topics but in the end after several years of spearfishing you have to become your own expert. Lord knows there is no shortage of experts on the forums. Even the Supreme Court justices have differing opinions of the application of the law given the same case facts. So who is right…you have to be for yourself. So it is no surprise that drama plays it’s way throughout the treads on the forums for such is human nature. To differ in opinion is the fuel that drives analysis and critical thinking. To make personal defaming remarks defines the trolls from the well-meaning souls Individual preferences and personal philosophies abound of issues ranging from roller guns to super soft hybrid carbon fins. Long in depth discussion get in to the Metaphysics of spearfishing in such detail as to require an engineering degree from MIT. I salute those who can truly follow the meandering logic thread as it makes it way through the post. I personally struggle just to be ignorant and drown in my own personal sea of stupidly once a formula’s get introduced into the argument. Topics like “Which gun can shoot further?” or “Dive depths and bottom times” are subjected ridicule as being just dick measuring contests or worse. “The time has come," the Walrus said, “To talk of many things: Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax—Of cabbages—and kings I am sincerely interested in meaningful specifics. Tips and techniques you use while spearfishing in like conditions like my own, specifically reef fishing Every thread finally gets around to suggesting that you shouldn’t be concerned with equipment just improve your technique. Well I have heard you so lay it on me. Here is what I do now but is pure self-observation, tempered with trial and error. Currently I swim the surface in open water just off the reef head, maybe 25 feet deep tops, for several hours and generally at random I swim down like a falling leaf to the bottom where I lie still and head down close my eyes and remain motionless for say one minute give or take a few seconds. Then ever so slowly I will look around to see if any curious fish have come my way or happened to come by. My belief is that body language, quick movements, or starring at a fish are prime factors in diminishing my chances to get within striking distance. If I see a fish at a distance and try to close in on him 99 out of 100 time the transport to another dimension. Some times I swim down to the bottom and then slowly swim up over the top of the reef. Pausing every few feet peering over the shelf I have reached and wait for an on coming fish to chance by. Once I expose myself the neighborhood clears out. So how do you close in on a fish or get it to come to you? I suppose it depends on the species. Well anyway. Do flashers or rattles work? Well you get the idea. I am looking for constructive input as to how to improve or actually develop a technique. Don’t get me wrong I do successfully catch fish it’s just that sometimes I am at a loss as to how to precede. So share your secrets. Give me insight talk technique to me. I leave you with a challenge share you successful techniques in detail as to how you clean the reef.