Posts by gschuitt

I have been scuba diving up here for 15 years and have shot lings and halibut with my 42" Biller. I just got back into free diving spear fishing and acquired a 130 Riffe Euro in Hawaii. I shot my first Mahi Mahi last summer offshore Kona. I shot it less than 2 minutes into the free dive and now I am hooked again. I grew up in Southern California and spear fished and caught abalone, lobster, clams and mussels on a regular basis.

I will begin hunting for halibut in May when the large females come shallow to lay there eggs. I will likely let the large fish go in May because we understand that the any halibut over 100 lbs is a female.

Paul

Thank you for the insights into getting my weight right. I will submerge the suite and see how it works after that. I like the idea of moving the weight to a chest harness although I want to be able to dump the weight if I get into trouble.

Time to shovel snow!!!

Paul

Hi Anders, thank you for the info. I am 5'11 and 225 lbs and the 38 lbs seems like allot. I tried to get under with 32 lbs and was unable stay down. I wonder if my new 7mm suite will be less buoyant over time?

The halibut video was very cool and I am going after the same this spring. I just ordered a herring gill net so I can catch a 100 lbs of bait. I will go out and set up bait stations and come back to dive them during low tide. In addition, Ling Cod season open in July and I will cast herring out near the the cliffs and try to get the giant lings to come up shallow for the bait.

Stay in touch, Paul

Oh Ya, great video!!!

I agree and I am very focused on getting the weight right. I like the idea of neutral at 30'. We do catch large halibut in the shallow water in the spring, the females lay there eggs in the shallow gravel. What I understand is that most halibut over 100 lbs are female. On a good year we will let the bigger fish go.

I am ordering my herring gill net tomorrow so I can catch a 100 lbs of herring to use for chum and bait. I plan to set out several bait stations and go in to hunt them at low tide.

Paul

Hi Anders, good to see a fellow cold water diver hunting with a spear. I need to do some more testing on buoyancy this spring. With 39 lbs I am slightly negative at the surface. When I decend I go down fast so I am working my way up to diving deeper than 30 to 40' at this point. My plan this season is to try to bring big fish into the shallows with a bait station and chum.

Cheers, Paul

Hey Don, the Mahi was a beautiful fish. He flashed blue and green and purple even while on the boat.

Later, Paul

Quote from Don Paul

What magnificent Mahi :thumbsup2: did he give you a good light show before the shot?

Cheers, Don

Alaska spear fishing rules only require a diver to be completly submerged when firing a spear gun. You can not us a bang stick for any reason, I had given thought to using my 44 mag bang stick to finish off a giant halibut. The large halibut are giant flat bottom dwellers that are solid muscle. They are very tough and vigerous so landing a large one with a spear shot is going to be fun.

Regards, Paul

Quote from Rolo

Very cool thread. Please keep us posted on how it goes and certainly once you spear any fish over there. I would love to dive in Alaska someday. What are the spearfishing regulations like over there? Do they allow you to spear salmon? Cod?

It is against man law to leave Alaska in the summer. In this case I was blessed with a grat vacation and spear fishing trip. I will take vacation to Kona every year in late June to catch the peak spear fishing time of year. The good news is spear fishing peaks in October in Mexico so I can catch a second hunting trip.
Ling cod open in Alaska in July and we catch some great lings. A couple of years ago I was tending on deck when my friend got his ass kicked by a ling, it took his Russian pnumatic spear gun into a cave and the fight was on. His buddy could see a knife rising up out of the cloude of dirt and then Tad surfaced with his arg up through the gills and a spear bent 90 deg hanging out of it's head. He was bleeding from teh mouth, nose and ear when I drug him on to the deck of the landing craft.

More to come, Paul

Quote from sdeisen

that's a mighty bull, Hawaii is an amazing place I don't think next time I will be able to leave.

Hello from Alaska,
AlaskaSeaHunter here from Anchorage Alaska. I just returned from my first blue water hunting trip in Kona Hawaii. We arrived in Kona on July 6th and after a bit of research into where and how to go blue water spear fishing I purchased a new Riffe 130 cm Euro from Danny and Rob at Blue Water Hunter. Danny set up the Riffe Euro with a Hawaiian spear while Rob agreed to take me out for my long awaited adventure. I am an avid hunter, diver and fisherman in Alaska and spear fished in California and Mexico as a teenager. Scuba diving Alaska is challenging although rewarding in some ways. Alaska is the last frontier and spearfishing for halibut, ling cod and rock fish is very exciting.
We began our trip at 7:30 AM at the Honokohau Harbor, we loaded up the gear, lunch and set off to the VV Buoy. Capt. Deron's did a great job with the safety briefing and once on the buoy he was very attentive to the divers. The weather was clear, hot and sunny and winds less than 10 kts. Seas were less than 3 feet, the current at the buoy was manageable and the boat ride was a pleasure.
As we approached the VV Buoy we were blessed with calm seas, no boats and three fat Mahi Mahi swimming near the surface. I quietly entered the water and loaded up the 130 Euro. The Mahi Mahi were curious and Rob coached me on how to keep from spooking them as they approached. Within 5 minutes three large fish approached within range and I made a clean shot on the lead fish. The shaft hit low and in the center of the fish. The Bull took off straight for the buoy and I let the line and float go free. This fish was running hard and dove as it wrapped the float line around the buoy chain. This fish was powerful and made it clear that he was not giving up without a fight. I approached and was pleased to see the fish unwrap the float line from the buoy chain. He submerged the float down to approximately 20 feet as we watched waiting for him to give up. I took a light grip on the line and let the bull swim. He finally allowed me to make a tail grab and get my hand into his gills.
I am now suffering from Sepearo A.D.D. and am seeking professional help to keep me from getting fired from work or divorced. My plan is to utilize some of the Hawaiian Spear fishing techniques in Alaska. I am looking for a new 7mm semi dry wet suite and can’t wait to get into the cold water to test my new skills on salmon, halibut, ling cod (Alaska Crocodile), rock fish and giant octopus.
I will be back to Kona as soon as possible!!!
Regards, G. Paul Schuitt, Anchorage Alaska.

Great story and nice fish!!! I caught a 36 lb Mahi Mahi in Kona a few weeks ago.

Paul

Quote from rich vandusen

Been looking forward to this trip since we were down to San Diego back in March.

Disclaimer: Due to the bloody nature of the actual events that took place on this day my report has been modified, and some names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Target Species: If it swims and it tastes good, it dies.

Guns and bands? Check
S.S. cable shooting line and slip-tip? Check
Floatline and bungee? Check
Extra tools and rigging supply? Check
Passports and Mexican Fishing License? Check
Lotsa' ice for dead fish? Check
Beer, and even more ice? Check

Rolled out of Folsom at 6:30 p.m. Friday night, met up with Phil Herranen in Santa Cruz at 10 p.m. Trading off time at the wheel, we drove straight through to Mission Bay, arriving at 5:30 Saturday morning. After each of us catching about an hour sleep in the last 24 on the drive down, we met up with Mark Lehner at the ramp, loaded up Joe Acevedo's boat, and mashed for a couple hours Southwest of San Diego (into Mexican waters) to a “secret” high spot in the Pacific Ocean. Wind and swell were up just a bit so it was a bumpy ride, but the stoke ran thick on the boat that morning.

We hit our spot at about 9:30 and suited up. Phil jumped in first and reported a good 50-60 feet of viz. We dove several spots for hours on end without seeing much of anything except some 10lb. hog Calicos and some nice Sheephead. Frikken’ huge! Unwilling to pull the trigger on "taco meat" for fear something bigger would swim by just as I'm reloading my gun, I never took a shot. On that location, Phil shot and landed a really nice, rather large fish, but I’ll save that report for him to post (if he wants to bother with typing it up, but most of you already know what it was ;))

At that point, only having 1 hour of sleep in the past 36 hours and diving for the last 6 hours straight, after hoisting Phil’s fish into the boat I was ready to call it a day. I started peeling off my wetsuit when Joe said “So Rich, what size yellow do you want to take home? 20? 30 pound?” I said “Shit Joe, I’m too tired to dive any more. I’m ready for a beer.” He wouldn’t take “no” for an answer and said he had one more spot to hit. We motored over to another location and dropped the anchor. The wind and swell had picked up, and it was rough!!! Everyone (except Phil, for good reason) suited up and hopped in.

Phil tied of the tag end of his 100’ floatline to the boat cleat with his tuna float on the trailing end to give us a place to rest and drag ourselves back up to the boat for another drop. After making 4 or 5 drops to 30’, drifting back 150’ behind the boat, and swimming like hell to get back to the floatline my ass was kicked. I pulled myself all the way up to the back of the boat and said “Dude, I’m done!!”

Phil encouraged me with “Don’t quit. Just drop down to 20 feet or so, head on a swivel and then look around. They’ll come in.”

I breathed up, spit my snorkel, and made one more drop, clearing my ears as I descended. A quick check of my watch told me I was hanging at 35 feet. With lots of small bait fish all around, I scanned left, then right. Out of nowhere a wall of fish appeared about 15 feet from the tip of my already extended gun. I’m guessing there must have been 60-80 of them and estimated their size at 10lb. each. Yellowtail!!! Everything from that point moved in slow motion like a scene from the Matrix. I singled out the first unfortunate soul at the head of the pack. Leading him by about a foot and tracking him as he moved past me, I squeezed the trigger. The school exploded in every direction, and for a split second I was certain I’d whiffed the shot. Then, a solid pull, and my break-away popped out of the gun as my floatline ripped from under my armpit.

I kicked to the surface and I was amazed at how hard this fish was fighting. My head broke the surface and I screamed “FISH ON!!!” with the last remaining bit of air in my lungs. Phil jumped up from his seat shouting “No way!!” as I started pulling myself to the boat with the fish yo-yoing on my bungee 70’ below. Every time I pulled in floatline, this fish pulled back harder. My first white seabass went 45lb. and was no where near the fight this fish put up!

“You gotta’ get that fish up NOW, or those sea lions are going to take it!!” Phil shouted.

As I got the fish closer to me I could see the slip-tip cable tearing a nice gash in the belly and I was afraid I was going to loose it if I horsed it too much.

“It’s a bad shot. It’s gonna’ tear off.” I yelled.
“You’re fine, just get that fish to the surface!!” he shouted back.

Phil coached me from the boat with a few more words of encouragement as I got my hands inside the gills and started ripping. Holy shit, I thought. This thing was way bigger than I first estimated. Fish under control, I pulled myself the rest of the way back to the boat. I handed up my gun, then my fish, shaft still hanging from it’s gut. “Wow,” he commented “this is a nice Yellow!” and then immediately bled and gutted for me as I climbed back into the boat.

After admiring my kill cleanly stashed on ice, and rejuvenated with a rush of adrenaline, I promptly loaded my shaft and shooting line and jumped back in the water. I made 4 or 5 more drops back down to where I’d seen the school of Yellows before the “high” wore off, but saw nothing more.

“F*ck it, I got my fish!” I thought as I climbed back in the boat, exhausted.

On the way back into Mission Bay, Mark noticed another boat nearby and that the driver was wearing a Pistoleros t-shirt. Then we noticed Matt and Josh in the boat with Michael Dong and they were all just getting in from they day out in the kelp (see Josh’s report for more info). Two more Nor Cal guys down South for a good time!!

We spent Saturday night and dove Sunday with Guy Skinner, another member of the Pistoleros Club. He's also the owner of a small company that makes spearguns and spearfishing gear that some of you may have heard of. JBL International Before we jumped in the water on Sunday, Guy took us down to the factory and gave Phil and I the grand tour of the facility. The machine shop and assembly area was absolutely amazing, and Phil is currently working with Guy on some new designs, so keep your eyes peeled for those in the near future. We dove the kelp with Guy on Sunday afternoon for a few hours, but no one worth shooting was home. Afterward, he fixed us up a nice dinner of shark and white seabass tacos, and after a few beers to wash it down it was time to hit the road back home.

My first Yellowtail ended up going 20# bled and gutted, and I couldn’t have done it with out the help of my good buddy Phil, and the awesome trip Joe planned and executed for us Nor Cal boys to come down South for the weekend. Viva Los Pistoleros!!!

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Hey Don, I noticed your from Newport. I was born and raised there. I graduated from Newport Harbor High in 78.

The Kawasaki Ultra is a 1600 cc, 160 hp crusier. It has 55 gallons storage in the bow and I added the aft plate. The aft plat will hold 6, 6 gallon cans, a 70 qt cooler and a rifle/spear gun or two. I put some extra flotation between the plate and hull, I used two of those closed cell foam tubluar kid floaters for the pool.

I am not comfortable diving directly off th emachine in deep water, I feel like it would be too easy to roll over or get in trouble messing around with the 39 lb weight belt or spear gun. I go near shore and get set up standing in shallow water before moving off to deeper water. Alaska has some extreme drop offs, some go from 0 to 500 feet in just a few hundred feet.

I loop the weight belt over the rear grab handle although I am not sure what will happen if I roll over in teh waves and have a new ballast to deal with, I guess I will be dumping the weight belt if it happens.

Quote from Don Paul

What a bitchin ski, looks like at least a 10k ride.

Cheers, Don

Quote from LunkerBuster

Welcome aboard. You are a serious badass to dive in that. And with they huge fish you have up there.

The ski is amazingly equipped. Can you please show us a few more pick of the rig?

Looking forward to more of your reports

Hi Don, the pic is from 3 days ago. Yes, bears do visit and you have to stay watchful to make sure one does not swim out to the jetski or worse the diver. It is very unlikely although the first time you say it will never happen is the time you will find your self face to face with a swimming bear.

Regards, Paul

Quote from Don Paul

Awesome having a guy out there doing it so this warm water pussie can be a part of the adventure. Are there bears that would might come in the river to check out you and your ski? What year is it?
That place looks amazing.

Cheers, Don

Hello from Seward Alaska. I spent the morning hunting in Thumb Cove in Resurrection Bay in South Central Alaska. Thumb Cove is known for giant halibut coming in shallow to feed on salmon entering the river. We left the cabin at 0600 and rode the Kawasaki Ultra Jet Skis accross the Bay. We arrived just as the sun came up over the mountains and set up the gear in the shallow water near the river mouth.

I brought my new Riffe 130 Euro and my 42" Biller. I was testing my new Cressi 7mm wet suite and it worked great. I barely got wet. The water temperature was 43 deg f and the vis was about 10 to 15'. I spent a couple of hours searching the sand bars and weed beds for a Butt and was not blessed with a shot on this fine day. The good news is I tested the updated gear and worked out the weight bugs. I am in shock that I need 39 lbs of weight to get negitive? I don't use that much with my DUI dry suite. I hope to pick up my boat this week and get back out on the big water for some ling cod.

Regards, Alaska Sea Hunter

Good job on the Butt, we in Kona spear fishing and I caught a nice 40 lb Mahi Mahi out at the Buoys. Bluewater Hunter did a great job if guiding us and keeping the sharks off our fish.

Hello from Alaska, I am headed to Kona Hawaii next week to do some blue water spear fishing. Anyone done that before. I am an experienced diver although I have not free diveed in the blue water.
I have a 42" ABB and a 12" Mares pnumatic. I am looking at the camo wet suites and wonder if it is reallyt necessary. How about the free dive fins, can I use my very large scuba fins?

Any suggestions, Paul