Posts by Nickmal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzSFjy3SnfU

I just recently returned from 8 weeks of continuous daily spearfishing on the reef in front of my Home in Northern Luzon. This will be a report on three variable upgrades that dramatically improved my success on the reef.

Background: I have been spearfishing on the reef in front of my house for the past 10 years. I live in a rural part of the Philippines and when I go into town the only foreigners I see are two Jehovah’s witnesses.

I have a house on the China Sea and several of my brothers-in-law are fisherman. I began ten years ago by buy purchasing a pole spear on line just before I left for my annual trip as a lark. My initial success was less than stellar but a lot of fun even though my execution was submerged in ignorance and flawed methods. I did manage to catch some extremely small fish that even a home aquarium owner might reject for display. Still the primal satisfaction of hunting and seeing my catch consumed by my relatives cemented the spearfishing DNA deep within my simplistic psyche.

The reef in front of my home had been dynamited over the years and few fish populated the area. So my daily routine would be to rise at 7:00 am and fish until 11:30 am. I would then take a nap and go again from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. that’s right I would log on average 6 to 8 hours a day leisurely fishing every day the China Sea would permit and sustain my ability to hunt. I spend about ½ the year there and the other half in Wisconsin.

The year following my pole spear purchase I bought a Riffe #S1 Competitor Series 39” gun that extended my range to about four to 8 feet. I am completely self-taught. Which accounted for my slow progress but did not diminish my enjoyment or love of the sport. This upgrade allowed me to tag bigger fish and increased the number of fish I caught weekly.

Still the lack of fish on my reef and their skittish nature required a greater range if I were to have a chance at catching the few fish that were worthy of a dinner plate. While my relatives consumed everything I ever caught before the sun could cycle, I still wanted to bring home the bigger and more challenging fish that made fun of me from a distance.

Soon I was a research junkie reading lurking every forum and digesting the vast wastelands of spearfishing posts littered with self acknowledged experts that handed down equipment recommendations and advise like tables carved in stone down from the mount. The more I read the more I realized how little I knew.

My next upgrade came in the form of purchasing a GR hybrid 55” Wong Gun. Daryl Wong and spear guns were sononamas icons that were primal ingredients spearfishing dreams incubated in. I called Daryl and he is first and foremost one of the great ambassador’s of the sport who ‘s customer service, expertise and quality gun building remain undisputed in the industry. His advise and friendship over the years contributed in my expontial growth as a spero and enhanced my love and passion for the sport even more.

The magnitude of success thanks to him was four fold. I was now catching fish that my brother-in-laws were loath to make fun of and in fact began to respect me as a true superior when it came to tracking and bring home quality fish. They mostly use nets but do have home made spear guns also.

Last year I experienced some technical issues with my spear gun and realized how vulnerable I was since I had no real backup gun should my primary gun fail. Since I am in the Philippines it behooved me to purchase a backup gun or I would go into withdrawal and OD without being able to fish.

So I began to research, explore, and divine what kind of additional gun I should purchase to insure uninterrupted fishing should some unforeseen circumstance necessitate the need for one. Naturally as one matures their own style nurtured by experience, trial, and error they begin to develop a specific belief system as to the perfect set up for their individual fishing circumstances.

I looked extensively at the various custom builders’ products, followed detailed gun building posts, and talked with several acknowledged experts in the field. I reached a point where I developed a prototype drawing of what I believed was a combination of the best elements incorporated in to a concept that would be custom designed for my style and location. I wanted to build my own gun. However the only thing I lacked to complete such a projects were ability, skill, equipment, talent, experience, and knowledge.

The forums were quite useful because as I sifted through the mounds of opinion and drama consist threads of rational theory and sane facts did in fact emerge.

I stumbled onto a gun design and a UTUBE video made by Ihab of Nile Divers. He was developing and continually revising the 115 Lazer-Tec spear gun. It has a graceful organic looking muzzle that has risers crafted into it that raise the bands to the level of the track right at the muzzle giving a full parallel pull throughout for the entire length of the barrel. It also has a full length enclose track that minimizes shaft whip coupled with a precisely tuned balance that stabilizes muzzle flip for a smooth consistent accurate shot.

In the video he put several shot threw the same hole in a target 4 meters away. I figured he got Steven Spielberg and a CGI team to help doctor that little short into what appeared to be an impressive fantasy film clip. Still it was captivating and I searched for practical reviews by spero’s who actually owned the gun and could give a meaningful review of its performance. The Internet was mute on the subject. I could unearth posts that danced around the edges of his work and contributions he had made in discussions with other builders but no real reviews. There was the usual drama and banter that accompanies any collections of posts. I refer to one specifically critiszing his pool testing. Citing that it was meaningless because it wasn’t real world conditions and that target shooting accuracy didn’t take into account current and moving prey.

How many times have you seen the overused phrase it’s the Indian not the bow. Well Folks common sense expressly implies that if a gun is accurate it will remain so in a typhoon or a bathtub. The Indian analogy is a true axiom but since I am the only Indian I have when I go hunting I want a bow that consistently shoots straight under any conditions. I want the luxury of knowing that when I miss it’s because I suck and not because the bow isn’t always accurate.

He makes triggers and has a website presence but I could not find any real substance as the quality of his work or it’s performance capabilities. Still his design appeared to be exactly the gun I would build myself if I could. So I emailed him and asked him where can I find data on how great his guns are? He made no pretense as to being a guru on gun building nor of having flooded the market with guns that could be commented on. While he didn’t claim to make the best I could see that he clearly wanted to make nothing less than the best.

Gun making is a side business for him and he just loves the sport and is trying to develop the best gun he can conceive. He is a perfectionist. I am not sure he will ever actually finish his continual quest to perfect the gun because he is always seeking way to improve the current version. It like an artist who can never finish a painting because it still needs one more finishing touch.

Several exchanges of emails later I asked him to make me a gun. He told me he has had a lot of interest in the gun and that there were dealers who had been waiting quite some time to get their hands on one to evaluate. I cared little for their lack of ownership and more for my own selfish desire to acquire one.

He finally consented to make me a gun in return for some meaningful critical feedback. He made it quite clear he was not interested in any sudo fawning praise but meaningful feedback on how it truly performed.

I assured him I was his guy and to that end I spent the last two months averaging over 6 hours a day spearfishing on the reef in front of my house with a Lazer-Tec 115 in hand. I logged over 137 documented hours in the China Sea using Ihab’s gun on my reef. So I feel qualified to make some clinically unbiased observations as to its fitness and performance for spearfishing on my reef.

Since I hold no world records and am not sponsored by any spearfishing enterprise my assessment will not carry the weight of some of the more prestigious spero’s who grace the forums. Still I am comfortable that my assessment and observations will provide valid insight about his product and I am by no means a novice.

I will qualify my remarks by stating that I do not have any vested interest in promoting his gun beyond that of any member of the spearfishing community seeking to share their experiences and expand the knowledge base so that all can become better informed. I will warn him and you now that regardless of his lack of interest in praise it will rain upon him before this report is done.

Author’s Note
I took A free diving course in Cebu while in the Philippines this year and improved my bottom time and hunting ability 10 fold. My static pool time was 5 minutes and 2 second on third try the first day of the course. I am 64 years old and can now comfortably dive to 15 meters and stay down for approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds, I also upgraded to a pair of Spear Master fiberglass blades from my plastic which added to my success ratio. Yes I know this is another topic already beaten to death and carbon fiber is the only way to go if you got the dough.

First the gun is shaped for the most part by a CNC machine accounting for it consistent form and profile. I had him do a graphite finish because it looked so cool and promised to provide additional durability.

A. The gun is balanced so that it slowly descends parallel to the bottom with the shaft loaded. It floats lightly to the surface once discharged.
B. The trigger pull is the smoothest I have used and requires less pressure to engage with no noticeable hitch.
C. Muzzle flip is almost completely neutralized and it fires one handed with minor recoil allowing for accurate shots every time
D. The gun tracks extremely well due to the buoyancy and balance incorporated into its design.
E. The band alignment due to the muzzle design achieves the maximum parallel pull for the length of the barrel at the level of the shaft.
F. Loading a full-length track takes slightly longer than a semi-enclosed or open track gun. (The trade off for accuracy out weighs that con)
G. The shaft when inserted engages with a crisp click. The gun also has a safety. I find a safety only good as a frustrating block when fishing for lack of turning it off. When I got my Wong gun I asked Daryl where’s the safety (My Riffe gun had one also) He replied, “Don’t pull the trigger”.
H. The big butt at the end of the gun has drawn some negative comments. I dive in tropical waters only (No loading pad). I use a plastic plate with a mouse pad duck taped to it to disperse the load on my chest while loading. I do not know how some of you load the guns with the little 2x2” plastic tabs on the end. I am 6’5”, weigh 235, and Ouch. So I like the loading rubber on the end of the big butt.
I. I used 200 pound mono line and a 60” Inch Hawaiian flopper US mech shaft. (Chronicles of Riddick “You Keep what you kill”) Whatever I aimed at I killed.
J. The gun is extremely accurate at 4 to 5 meters. Ihab said if I could find a more accurate gun he would give me one free. (No free gun for me)
K. The sideline release arm sticks out a little too far and is pointed. Potentially dangerous could cause a puncture wound. I would recommend shorting it and rounding it off more. It also misaligns occasionally with the trigger mech entry slot and has to be manipulated into place.
L. I really like the pull of the trigger mech and the smooth release. Time will tell how durable it is and if it can stand the constant use I subject it too.
M. One concern I have is the wear on the inside of the enclosed track. Some of the graphite is wearing away and the wood underneath is being exposed. I want to take steps to seal it properly to insure years of service. I do wash the gun thoroughly in fresh water after every use and store it in a cool shaded place.
N. I used the Prime line 5/8in - 1/32nd ID hole Latex bands. They are expensive but I felt I got a powerful smooth launch that was very satisfying. Did it contribute to the excellent accuracy I enjoyed? Can’t say but the meter says you get an extra 2 pounds of pull out of it and the tiny ID hole means less water to log inside the tube. I will continue to use it but it may be just psychological.
O. The handle grip is comfortable and can support the balanced gun one handed underwater for hours without undo fatigue.
P. The gun is a rear handle gun and it appears to me that the trigger mech could be set back closer to the butt of the gun using a push rod to get another 6 inches of track to launch the spear. However I stipulate that with all the experimenting that IHAB has done he may have achieved the perfect combination of length and balance that makes it so accurate and such an adjustment maybe counter productive. (Feedback is what I promised)

Summary
From the very first time I entered the water including but not limited to my first shot and last I hit dead center in real ocean conditions just about everything I pointed the gun at. When I missed I knew it was this Indian that failed and not the bow.

If my house caught on fire and assuming my wife and children were at the movies and I could run in and save only one Item, it would be my 115 Lazer-Tec spear gun. Do as you will with my report. Get one don’t get one. I however will use mine until there are no fish left in the sea. If you can find a better gun buy it!

PS This is not a who’s gun is better report. I am just telling you about my experience and opinion. The gun is amazing!

Wow what a great video. Nice shooting.

Quote from Dan

It's a beautiful gun, enjoy. What model and length is it?

Here are the Specs and some misc Info Plus a for fun link to a video I made.

Laser Tec 115 - YouTube

Model: 75 (115 Laser-Tec)
Manufactured by: Nile-Tec

Track Length/Band Stretch: 115 cm (45.30”)

Stock Length: 140 cm

Overall Length with Spear: 172 cm
Spear: 150 cm, 7 mm, (US notch), 2 high profile Shark Fin tabs

Bands: ( I made following formula prescribed )
Band #1 Rubber length 26.4 wishbone length 5”
Band #2 Rubber length 26.5 wishbone length 5”
Trigger Mechanism: Nile-Tec Side Release
Handle: Stainless Steel covered with African Teak wood plates with option of internal adjustable ballasting weights, Coated with black colored extra grip enhancer.
Effective Range: 5 meters (16.5 feet)

Ihab was very prescriptive in his specificationas as to how to rig the gun. I respected his instructions given his endless hours in the pool testing, balancing, and fine tuning the combination of variables (Gun, Shaft, & Bands) to achieve the maxium accuracy.

He Said ”First is to select the right shaft, I don’t know what shaft overhang preference you have; personally I like between 14”-16” overhang....otherwise I start shooting too high if less than this.....14” being my ideal overhang.
Put into consideration that the track length is 115 cm (45.8”)...so you need a shaft between 59.80”-61.80” long (2 high profile sharkfins) 7 mm thickness.

Band Size & Length:

Band# 1:
Measure the distance between the center of the muzzle hole closest to the muzzle end (the muzzle hole that is higher) and the first sharkfin that is behind it (the sharkfin nearest to the muzzle)
Divide this distance by 3.2 (Then multiply by 2) this will give you the total length of Band# 1

Band# 2:
Measure from the center of the lower muzzle hole to the sharkfin furthest from the muzzle. The wishbone length must not exceed 5.6” that is the distance between the tips/end of the band.

Loading the bands:
Ihab wrote “The correct sequence is to load Band# 1 then Band# 2
For this, Band# 1 has to pass underneath Band# 2 and stretch it to the first shark fin (the shark fin closest to the muzzle)...then load Band# 2”
(see illustration below of band alignment top and side view)

Sorry tow more...

I have been lurking about numerous forums the past few month looking for ideas and developing my own preferences as to what kind of gun I would build would that I had the talent and expertise to do so. The gun building threads were powerful incentives to quest on towards the perfect gun. The privilege of watching master craftsmen reveal image by image various stages of development as they made the guns in their head come to life was awe inspiring.

Many guns were artistic displays of wood working mastery and ingenious design. Other guns were simplistic functional designs executed with deadly precision. It soon became apparent the equipment, experience, and skill required to make such guns was beyond my ability to execute the ideas I embraced as exemplary in making a gun.

During the course of my journey though the gun building threads I noticed Ihab’s posts scattered here and there. I stumbled on the test video of one of his prototypes where he put three spears out of four through the same hole on target at four meters. I wondered if George Lucas using CGI had helped in the production. However as I followed his tracks across several forums I was continually impressed with the designs of the muzzle of his guns as he advanced through the development cycle improving on each previous build. He seemed like a man obsessed in pursuit of the perfect instrument. He soaked up all the available information and then synthases it into sleek functional design that embraced the relevant wisdom scattered across our community.

He makes triggers and various other artifacts that appear to be cutting edge technology. Did he invent the concepts he embraces and refines on his gun? No he does not lay claim to be the originator of any such ideas that have been developed over the years by numerous speros gone before. What I noticed is that his careful blending of the enclosed track, the muzzle with integrated risers bringing the bands to quick alignment with the shaft, and the complementary trigger mechanism combine to make a beautifully balanced instrument that just happen to kill fish.

I began to think if I did build a gun I could only hope to broach his design. So as my interest peaked I sought out a review’s from people who had purchased one of his guns. Alas the results were limited to his video target proto-type and spearq8. So I wrote Ihab and proclaimed my interest along with my concern about little if any testimony to rely on. Ihab was humble and said that he made no claims that his guns were the best of super special but he did assert all the development and testing he had done during it’s development resulted in the accuracy demonstrated in the video.

I have only one gun and decided I needed a back up gun so I wrote him and asked him to build me one. He agreed and I also requested he cover it with the graphite fiber coating he had talked about having perfected in some threads. He consented even though it takes some 7-12 coatings and is a pain to do. He says sometimes he just can’t resist and boom the black widow was born.

So as much as I hate posters who rush to the board and say “I just got my new fins but haven’t got a chance to test them yet” I think to myself so great you are excited but have nothing meaningful to report.

Well here I am I just got my gun from Ihab. He built in in a little over a month and delivered it to my door in Wisconsin. He then called me and walked me through the assembly. I think the hardware was shipped separately because it goes threw customs with a lower profile unassembled.

I promise a full review after I get it wet. I am waiting on some fins because I have yet to find pockets that fit. That is a whole other thread.

I used some of Dan's small ID bands to rig it. I will give a report on them as well.

Here are some quick pictures of the gun and the muzzle.

Quote from Don Paul

Nickmal, nice write up, some good info for the most part. There is more to this story, unfortunately I have written it on paper note books over thirty years and I am a hard facts/data kind of guy. I will add to this discussion based on empirical knowledge when I can. There were guys that weren't content with off the shelf products going back the 60's, I have many samples well persevered.

Cheers, Don

Don

Wow I sure would like to get a peek at that accumulated info. I was just sharing information I discovered while trying to choose a specific rubber for myself. You are way ahead of me sir.

I did purchase some of the 1/16” ID rubber from Dan after my extensive search. He is one of the few if not the only dealer I know of who offers it. I like the idea of the slightly smaller ID for the extra rubber and the benefit of less space to get waterlogged.

No one begrudges the Retailer for making a profit. I support his continued success and ability to remain viable so he can remain in a position to provide the valuable assistance and advise he gives so freely.

Don I know some of you have learned and forgotten more about spearfishing that I will ever comprehend. However none of you love it more than I.

I did some extensive calling and research and here is what I conclude. I preface my following remarkes with the fact that I am not a scientist or engineer. Just an old retired guy who loves to spearfish. So this information is only my rational analysis of the information I gathered. Your opinions will vary.

My conclusions are based on my research, conversations with Primeline Industries, knowledgeable authorities, and my own humble ignorant opinion.

1. Basic Premise: Primeline makes the best and most consistent rubber tubing worldwide and is generally acknowledged as the leader in producing the best spear gun rubber available.

Some of my finding is kind of sac religious and contrary to the accepted company line of our own community members and dealers. Resellers hawk differences to differentiate their product as unique and superior. In other word s there is a lot of sales hype going on in my opinion. It’s a business no harm in that.

Myths and facts

Establishment axiom #1
Dealers tout the fact that they have fresh rubber as a selling point since they assert that it degenerates quickly.

Primeline Industries Says “Rubber stored correctly out of sunlight with no exposure to ozone at a temp between 50 and 80 degrees has a shelf life of say 30 years. In fact according to the experts it become stronger over the course of a year as it continues to cure. At which point it is at its strongest. It then remains stable for decades if stored properly at a fairly constant strength.

It is arguable that once a band is tied that pressure is stressing the band at the point of the ties. If that were the point when the degeneration clock starts ticking then bulk rubber untied would still be viable for years.

Establishment axiom #2
Dealers tout the fact that their rubber that has a thin black outer walls covering and an amber core as the best of both world because it prevents UV break down and still uses the unadulterated amber inside for purer rubber. Since amber has no dye the resin does not dilute it.

Resin is added to the rubber compound to produce the color. Rubber made without any resin is somewhat amber. Since amber is translucent they can make adjustments during production to produce a slightly better and more consistent rubber tube. If it has resin mixed in it’s a one shot deal and no adjustments are made.

According to Primeline Industries so little resin is added even in solid black tubing that the difference between it and pure amber is very marginal if in fact detectable. The force calculator doesn’t register a significance difference between color and non-colored latex tubing.

I believe it could still be argued that amber was purer and therefore however slightly superior. As for the break down of the rubber by UV rays it happens slowly and there is no data to show a black outer wall or pure black latex tube is a deterrent in the speed of deterioration of rubber tubing. I understand this is a commonly held belief I am just saying there is no data to support. It.

I understand that some divers advocate for storing their rubber bands in the freezer to prolong its life. Primeline experts suggest that actually storing it in the freezer could allow ice crystals to form inside it and actually do some possible harm. Better of in the refidigator if you subscribe to that belief system.

Establishment axiom #3
The most common ID in rubber latex tubes used in spear guns in the 1/8”. The ID is the inside diameter of the rubber tubing. (The little hole in the middle). In a typical 5/8” band the outside diameter would be 5/8” then the inside wall on the right side would be ¼”, the hole 1/8”, and the left side wall would be ¼” for a total of 5/8”. Some European are going to a 1/16” ID this makes the outer wall slightly thicker. The benefit suggested is two fold more rubber and a smaller inner hold to retain water. I plotted it out on the Primeline force calculator and it registers a 3% increase in power. About two pounds additional pull.

This 1/16 ID is not widely available in the USA but is becoming more of a standard in Europe. It is more costly and requires a special run from Primeline with larger minimum quantity order then the standard regular 5/8” x 1/8” ID rubber.

Is it worth it? Well I ordered some and have enough to make a set for my Wong 55” GR gun but no opinion since it untested. Still it is fun to experiment. However costly.

What about Rob Allen bands, or the Blue colored ones from Mako? Or the red ones from hammerhead. Well I called Mako they said there is no in performance difference between its Primeline black tubing (Currently 5/8” x 1/8” $2.70 a foot) and its Primeline Blue colored latex bands. (Currently 5/8” x 1/8” $4.38 a foot) That is a difference of $1.68 a foot. Do you think a fish cares what color band you shot him with? (They were out of Black and offered to see me the blue for the same price)

All bands made by Primeline use the exact same compound. It doesn’t matter what color resin they use. They may have different specs such as the thickness variance of the outer blue wall vs. the amber core wall size and the currently emerging ID 1/16 hole but in the end it is all the same materials just arranged in varying configurations and colors.

The placebo effect is exploited because we believe if it costs a lot more it has to be superior and functionally much better. The resin added is almost negligibly and as a result technically the cheapest Primeline rubber you can find no matter how it is packaged will be the best you can get. A rose by any other name is still a rose.

Many of you will be certain and just plain know for a fact that the rubber latex you are using is the best and better certainly the pure black. You experience and gut will just know it is. I ask that you step back and reflect no matter how successful you are with your current setup that maybe just maybe you are that good and could kill fish with a tire inner tube.

Some companies buy in such large quantities they get a seriously low price on the rubber (5000 ft. at a time). and can sell it to you almost or ever cheaper than if you purchased directly from Primline. Primeline will sell directly to you but you need a minimum order of 100 feet and the price at that level of bulk order would be $2.54 cents a foot for 5/8” x 1/8” ID (Amber, Black/Amber, and pure black) same price. If you wanted to try the new 1/16” ID hole that is 5/8” x 1/16 you would need to order a minimum of 100 feet at a cost of 2.97 per foot.

Well there you have what I discovered and love it or hate it I just sayin.

Man,

I picture the Robot in "Lost in Space" yelling "WARNING...WARNING ... DANGER WILL ROBONSIN"

You have posted some strange looking fishing in this thread. My first reaction would be is it stalking me. Next Thought would be if I don't know what it is or if I can't eat it then Swim on Baby Lemon.

62

In 2009 I had two stents put in my heart and suffer from the condition called heart failure. Who the hell names these things. I picture a bunch of Doctors sitting arround a table and one saying "I know let call it heart failure" My reaction is if I were a coolant pump in a nuclear reactor plant and we had pump failure that would be bad! Why couldn't they call it Heart underachiever or Heart Handicapped.

I told the Doctor if I can't go spearfishing any more after the operation just kill me now. He had no sense of humor of that I know of and he didn't kill me. Neither has spearfishing. Some of my meds inhibit my ability to hold my breath as long as I used to but it's the Indian Right!

Actually I feel best when I am in the water. I fish from 7:00 Am to 11:30AM every day and then again from 3:00pm to Sunset. We live right on the China Sea in the Philippines. I have sleep apnea and suffer from cronic sleepness. Sex and Fishing is all I have left. I will give up sex if I have too choose. But I use a big stick for both.

Hey Mabuhay,
Welcome to the group. I too am in the Philippines. Yesterday I shot two Malaga with one shot. A rare occurance as there are not so many fish on our reef here in Norther Luzon, Ilocos Sur.

This morning at exactly 3:17 AM I awakened from a fitful vivid dream. I was stalking a Spanish mackerel and it suddenly turned on me and said fish it now and they will come. I got up out of bed and walked into the living room and then out the front door. The moon was full and I could see clearly the vast expanse of the China Sea stretched out before me.
The words echoed in my mind “FISH IT NOW AND THEY WILL COME”. The sea was relatively calm but lit up like a basketball court by the bright light of the moon. I returned to my room and tried to go back to sleep. My mind would have none of it and soon I knew what I must do. I got up and put on my gear. I had purchased a Magic Shine MJ-850 1200 lumens dive light last year but only got to use it twice when the charger puffed smoke and shined no more. Made in China seemed solid but I digress,

I am not a psychic not do I believe in sprits or water sprites but I some how knew that if I got out my old Princeton Tec Shock Wave II dive light (400 lumens) it would attract a Spanish Mackerel in the moon light as sure a I would get wet. The Shock Wave II has a plastic switch to regulate between the two intensities. That Switch breaks easily and mine had so I had to switch it on before I entered the water. I digress.
I swam out about 1/3 of a mile off shore and began to shine the light in the moon lit water in a rotating fashion like a lighthouse. I descended about 10 meters and repeated this until I discovered that Spanish Mackerels don’t give a fig for fools up in the middle of the night with a flashlight.

Hank my name is Henry too. I am near Vigan northern Luzon

While
you were sleeping I caught this milk fish just out in the blue off the reef in front of my house. I ocassionally venture out to see some if some fool has ventured to close to shore. However when I do I have my Wong GR 55" rigged with two bands and if I am lucky enought to come across some prey they seem to stay just out of range. Well yesterday I decided to put on a third band to reach a little further. Daryl doen't recommend 3 bands on that model but I was tired of being just short of success. So I made a 28" band out of 9/16s Rubber to go with my 2 5/8s bands. I also adjusted the length of the Dyneema Corded line so the bands would line up as close together as possible for maxium rubber to stretch but yet not interfer with each other. I pull the furtherest band away down threw the other two and placed it closest fin towards the end of the gun. I use a thick Dyneema and I have to place the other two on the back fin because due to slight flex the second fin is slightly recessed in the enclosed portion of the track and if I attempt to put a second band on the that fin it pops off.. So two bands on the last fin didn't effect this shot and the extra band gave me the much needed distance to hit the target. It was probably and 18 foot shot.

Appropriate conditions for fishing are garnered by a multistep process here in my location in the Philippines. Vague as per policy of the forum I will identify my spot as the China Sea. First I look out the window to see if the local fishermen are on their bamboo rafts. If they are not I check the wind, look for white caps, and wave height. I can assess the clarity of the water from my vantage point by looking down from the dune we reside upon to see if the reef is visible and the color of the water. Then I ignore all those indicators because I want to go anyway. Finally I ask my mother-in-law and wife if I can go.

I use the Atomic SubFrame mask. It fits my face doesn't leak or fog up. My nose is a little big and most masks hit the bridge of it. Would like to try other masks but have limited acess to try them on. I will say the Atomic SubFrame works fine for me currently great seal. I had a problem with one I bought two years ago called the company direct they replaced the mask and installed my perscription lens in the new mask no charge. So far so good said the man as he fell from the ten story building.

I see an entirely different message here that you guys do. What I see are horrid fish eating monsters attacking poor helpless swimming creatures dispatched by hero speros who will not stand idly by without coming to the aid of the weak and oppressed. Granted there is some collateral damage but you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet.

I watch Whale Wars to laugh as the arrogant self-rigorous captain tries to get media attention and bow like he backed into a spear. Naturally Save the Whales but it is not a license to be a pirate, board ships, throw stink bombs, and foul props. How would we feel if they super glued our fins together to prevent us from fishing?

Several years ago when I started my self-directed journey into spearfishing I noticed that most of you guys wore funny long fins without straps on the back of them. I thought to myself mayhap there is a reason for such folly. So without the guidance of sane or rational thought I threw a dart and got pair of green bladed Picasso beginner fins. The Black team fins had world record but you had to be in iron man tri-athlete to use them so that left me the green ones. I use them up until this year.

I was online ordering some equipment for use in the Philippines and causally mentioned I wanted to eventually upgrade to a better fin he quickly told me of a once in a life time opportunity to buy a pair of fiberglass blades that were dropping as a line.

Well who could resist such a recommendation, as we aren’t going to carry them any more because they suck and we will dump this pair on you for next to nothing. I agreed to buy them figuring they were cheap and I could see how much better the would be over the plastic boards I began with. He also sent foot pockets with the deal and they had a pair of Vortex blades in then so he threw. Them in.

Ok when I arrived here in the Philippines I had the Fiberglass blades in the foot pockets that came with the Vortex blades. The very first day we arrived the China Sea was badly misbehaving. Still I rushed in where angels feared to tread. I instantly lost one of the fins in the surf and never got to test them. However I installed the Vortex blades in the Picasso foot pockets and they were stiffer I guess and proved to be a definite improvement over my old Picasso Green ones. I was able to push myself around better. Ankles got tired the first few times I used them but soon adjusted NP and they were superior to the old beaten green blades I had for all those years. Side note they can take a beating.

Well I still want to upgrade to a better pair. Carbon, Fiberglass, or Magic Plastic that was the question. Every manufacturer writes great marketing blurbs so how could you go wrong with any of them? Well several ways of course but the real struggle came down to is carbon to delicate much less expensive. Remember I do not go so low for so long as to justify 2 less kicks per 30 cycles and $450 dollars and risk breaking them on the reef, which keeps bumping into me.

I finally decided to get a pair of Cessi Modular with the specially developed new plastic-tec polymer more reactive than carbon. (Ya Ya save it). They too touted the balance of foot pocket and blade importance for efficient transfer of power. Plus I could upgrade them to carbon if they were comfortable because we all knw the will come out with a carbon blade (You think! What are the Chances?) Once again I rushed into the sea after waiting 8 weeks for the freighter to deliver them. They did in fact offer superior performance and the blades were way more reactive that the Vortex or the Picasso green blades had been. I truly noticed a better stroke and smoother propulsion. I was excited because it was a definite step up until 4 hours later my left foot’s outer edge along the bone and tendon began to cry. I tried them again the next day but they are too narrow and I can’t wear them without pain. Interesting side note I wear size 12 to 13 and these were way to big lengthwise. (Go Figure)

So remembering I am in the Philippines and time and tide wait for no man. I took the blades and went to the hardware store purchased some bull dog glue and glued the Cessi modular fin blades into my Picasso Foot Pockets. I am currently using them to this day maybe as you read this lengthy post (Sorry about that). They are a defiant improvement over my previous setup. However I suspect there may be better-configured fins and footpad combinations out there. So What would you suggest for a big guy 280+ pounds in the wet over 5 hours a day not going down over 15 meter, entering from the shore, and bouncing off the reef occasionally that would up his game intake.

I don’t have access to multiple foot pockets to try on not blades to test. I live in .Wisconsin When I am home and the Philippines when I am spearfishing. I will post my measurement tomorrow Dan:thumbsup2:

I read about the pathos foot pockets and they were on my short list but I still am at a loss as to what kind of blades to marry them to given my personal dive environment and physical size. I do have a Wong spear gun and I did ask Daryl what he would recommend. He hasn’t gotten back to me yet but I bet it will be the Patho’s and Moana which I see Dan has some reservations about. I respect your observations what would you suggest?

I would crank lose the dollars if I was reasonably certain carbon could withstand mild abuse and the return in performance was upgrade sufficiently over my remarkable current configuration ifyou thought they would fit me comfortably. (Yes the measurement point taken) I humbly await your guidance and opinions.

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.

Greeting from the Philippines
I am a retired school district Administrator who is married to a lovely Filipino and resides 6 months out of the year in our home in northern Luzon right on the China Sea. I live in Wisconsin State side and come here for the winters with my wife and two children

The first thing I do every morning is go to the front glass sliding doors of our home over looking the China Sea and see if the ocean is calling me. I go fishing almost every day I begin at about 6:45 AM and return just before noon. I go on days. The local fishermen take a pass. I enter the sea via the shore right dead in front of our home. The reef here has been fished out over the years and dynamite has taken its toll also. Still there is a fish sanctuary that is being respected now and things are on the mend. So hope is alive and well.

I have been a scuba diver for over twenty years but there is no where to fill tank within a four hours drive so I began to just snorkel and enjoy the reef. My brother-in-laws fish to feed their families. I began by following them out for fun. The next year I bought a pole spear and learned on my own how to catch small fish. Every thing I catch is consumed within 24 hours by relatives.

The following year I purchased a Riffe Competitor 39” inch gun (100 cm) and moved up the food chain. Still due to the scarcity of fish and the skittish nature of those that still inhabited the reef I needed to reach out further to catch the few decent size fish available. So I had Daryl Wong make me a 55” GR hybrid and developed my skill and technique to the point that the locals had to admit I was a fisherman.

I am completely self taught and learned by doing. The biggest fish I caught here so far was in front of my house out about a 100 yards past the edge of the reef. A Spanish Mackerel about a meter long and over 8 kilos. Mostly I catch smaller tropical fish under 5 kilos. I did catch a milk fish recently over 30 inches long and have begun to venture out into the blue a little more often.

I fish in the morning and then again in the afternoon 3:00 PM till the sunsets. I love the peace and tranquility while hunting in the water. You have time to reflect, get great exercise, and possibly feed people. When I come out of the ocean my sister-in-laws come to greet me holding a plate to put my catch on. If I don’t get anything I am afraid to come home.

Generally we have the beach front to ourselves. few swimmers or visitor frequent the beach. I was surprised to see how many of my relatives don’t know how to swim.

The hunting is a challenge. I can fish for 4 hours and if I see three good fish worth taking a shot out that is a good day. I am not always in a position to get a good shot however. I am 6’ 5” tall and weight over 280 pounds so needless to say I don’t go down 40 meter and stay 2+ minutes. Most of my diving is in less than 10 meters and I can only stay down about a minute +. However it works and I am living the dream. I make my own bands and repair equipment creatively because materials have to be imported and that takes time. I used lead washers strung together in a mesh net like fashion to put in my seasoft backpack.

I use tricycles for transportation and just got internet access this past year at my house. USB for portable☺ I shall end by saying I follow this forum and others and can’t say enough about what a great source of information and help it has been. I look forward to contributing in what ever limited capacity I am capable of doing and hope to have a great association with this group.