Posts by Dan

I'd like to see a pic of the line release pin

I'm glad to see you didn't anchor the bands in the wings. What's the purpose of the funky shape of the band slot?

But come to think of it maybe a longer loop would've solved the problem. I can't believe I didn't think of it. I'll give it a try on my next mono change and post back. Thanks Don.

Good tip but might not work so well on an enclosed track gun. I just recently had to deal with this issue.

Quote from Dan≈

I like to load both bands on one tab. I also like it when there's only one tab and then I can load by touch almost without looking. I made this shaft out of a two tabbed euro shaft by cutting off the back including the second tab and shaping a square notch. Obviously the shooting line would connect to the one tab which already had a hole for it. I found that because the shooting line loop and crimp were squeezed down right under the loaded bands, on firing the bands would push the crimp into the track and the crimp would damage the top part of the track gouging out wood and creating splinters. Rather than buy another shaft I opted for adding a dog house, I've used this system before and it works fine. All I had to do was bend some SS wire and drill two holes through the shaft. Then have each point on the bottom of the shaft welded at the metal fabrication shop. The welding on the trigger and the doghouse cost me $20 and took 10 minutes for the welder to do.

OK I give up

The thread goes in the Diving & Spearfishing Gear as none of the more specific categories apply.

What are you guys talking about

Moved the thread to general discussion.

I didn't see moray eels in the regulations so I believe you can spear them. If you're really hungry go for it but I found them difficult to clean, that skin is very slippery to pull off, and lots and lots of small rib bones throughout the whole length. A couple of moray eels were among the first fish I ever shot, it wasn't in the US, and it was a big deal at the time. Spearfishing was so new and exciting then.. I felt like the ocean was my playground.

By the same token you'd now need a shorter shaft no? But, you're right, I need a 65" shaft to have 13" of overhang.

I'm not sure about the moray deal, I'm going to look it up.

Maybe I'll buy your 130 shaft. How long is it?

Welcome to the forum Mark.

If you're referring to when he got hurt in the chest, it's already been posted here with Pantoja's permission, check the safety section.

LB, there was no follow up. I believe Austins replaced the mech for him after it fired off on its own again, this time in the water.

Maybe it would help you'd put a price.

These are the posts.

Quote from Dan

La Santa Fe 09/01/07 Pantoja spears himself

After changing the oil on his boat engine today he took the boat out for a quick test run with his brother and of course while out there did some fishing. He got a hog so the gun was fired once and then loaded in the water. The gun was only purchased 3 weeks ago BTW. For a reason unknown to me (I forgot to ask) he got on the boat with the gun loaded, I've never seen him do this before, if I did I would have said something. The gun has 2 standard length 5/8 bands and a single flopper 57" 9/32 shaft. Pantoja sat on the rear gunwale and proceeded to unload the gun.

He put the butt on his hip, grabbed the first band to unload it and the gun fired. As we all know due to the length of the C3X the point of the spear is much further than the head of the person loading therefore it's impossible to shoot oneself in the head. Quite different than a pneumatic speargun where if one does not pay attention the point can end up exactly under the jaw as it's reaching loaded position.

The spear hit the end of the mono and ricochet point first to his head. The spear entered at the hairline, was deflected by the cranium, exited under the eye brow passing over the eye and entered again above the cheek (I don't remember if it was the left or the right eye). In the shock of the moment Pantoja didn't know what happened but he said that when he opened his eye he could see the shaft directly in front of it. His brother ran over and grabbed the shaft so the weight of it would not tear the skin. Upon inspection the flopper did not completely pass under the skin and Pantoja decided to pull the spear out on the spot.

There was a lot of bleeding and I think he used a rag to put pressure on the wound while his brother drove the boat home. When I spoke to him he was just getting underway to the hospital.

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Quote from Pantoja

I just got out of the hospital , I don't know how many stiches I got but I think they were like 10 or so. The upper wound 7 , 2 on the upper lid and one on the lower. God , I'm ugly and swolen. I never got this beat up even in a fight.... well yeah once but no stiches.
It was stupid of me to bring the gun on the boat loaded, Even though I still don't get how it went off.
Idon't know how many times I was told in the hospital how lucky I was , but that is questionable, it depends how you look at it.
I didn't have a camara , shame A pic of me with the shaft stuck there would have been a hit. Anyways The surgeon who treated me took some pics , I'll try to get some after tuesday. He even put a couple wooden sticks in to show the tunel from the forehead to the eye. I apreciate the concern of all of you guys , it makes my day a lot better.

Quote from Dan

It's been 11 days now since the accident and I saw Pantoja today. The wounds are healing very well. The two bottom puncture wounds are not even visible. The top one which was the largest still has stitches but looks to be healing well too. Lets hope it doesn't leave Pantoja too marked up, he needs all the help he can get <img src= " height="23" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x">

One thing that caught my eye as I was handling the culprit speargun, taking the trigger mech out of the gun to send to Riffe, was the condition of the spear. I must say that Pantoja has a flair for the dramatic as he did not bother to clean it since the accident, it's either that or some kind of Cuban juju..

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9 hours! :@ I wish I could see those dogs.

We're lucky to have a real chef (black1) to contribute to the cooking section

That happened before this forum so it was never posted here.

I emailed the officials at that site, here's our exchange starting from the bottom.

From: B [mailto:bmr@tciway.tc]
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 10:31 AM
To: seahunterusa@rogers.com
Subject: spearfishing in TCI..

Keep in mind these regulations as published were last updated in 1998. At present, they are interpreted thusly: Commercial fishermen only are allowed to carry slings (only slings) for personal protection. (Most commercial fishermen here are conch and lobster divers, and they are harassed by sharks and barracudas occasionally.)

If your thinking of trying to get a commercial fishing license though, be advised that they are strictly limited to Belongers (Natives!) only. An ex-patriot cannot acquire a commercial license.

This office has a nice collection of spearguns of all types and slings that have been confiscated from tourists, yachties and natives. The fines are pretty high, too, including monetary, jail time and confiscation of vehicles and boats.

Sorry!

Bmr/nec


from: seahunterusa [mailto:seahunterusa@rogers.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 9:07 AM
To: 'B'
Subject: RE: spearfishing in TCI...

Thanks for the reply. Could you clarify one more thing please; I was reading your regulations, am I interpreting correctly that with a commercial fishing license it is allowed to use a sling?

Thanks,
Dan



More.



From: B [mailto:bmr@tciway.tc]
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 8:55 AM
To: seahunterusa@rogers.com
Subject: spearfishing in TCI...

Dan, spearfishing in any form is not legal in the Turks & Caicos Islands. No spearguns, slings, grains or pole spears are allowed. Sorry!

Bmr/ nec

Here ya go..

Got it, thanks guys.