Posts by Don Paul

  • Off hand position

    Can you so a image of the gun ? Is it a commercially made one ?


    I have taught non speros to start with one band and a 10 ' target the move to two and so on
    until the shooters arm, face and hand come to know the dance.


    A lot of builders talk about about mass and muzzel flip and recoil, but I believe a guy like Brock Lesnar
    could control even a poorly ballasted and over powered speargun with his death grip and physical hand/arm
    mass. I use to have a 460 Wetherby that shot like a car accident unless I really muscled it tight.


    Cheers, Don

  • Off hand position

    Quote from Xp100

    I am not familiar with the acronym DTY. Could you clarify?



    It was one of my many typos... DIY.. Do it yourself.^^


    A low mass mid handle a can have a stance like a drunken sailor if the but end is not fully supported
    as the barrel uses your grip hand as a fulcrum. The gun sea sawing and allowing the tip to describe an ark or circle as one acquires the target.


    I only ever shoot 3 guns in my hunts so my brain only has 3 mental profiles to review before the soft squeeze of my trigger. I only aim with my guns on pool tests and just point and shoot looking down the side of my gun at the target fish. Some guys shoot off the tip of the shaft but I do not even though I break the spines on 80 % of my fish. I feel the center of mass along the lateral line offers me a longer and more stable target. If one looks at a swimming game fish from above you will see the head and tail sweep in and out of a straight line. The horizontal line at the center of mass provides a much larger kill zone on a fast moving pelagic fish. Reef fish like grouper and Pargo I shoot as close to the eye or just above the gill plate as possible. More later...


    Cheers, Don

  • Off hand position

    Take a look at Don Paul's photo, his off hand is more than likely cupping the gun butt and levering it much like a rudder. When the handle hand raises the gun, the butt hand is in position to provide the fine aiming and the handle arm is locked.


    On the other hand, a snap shot you're just going to have to be sure to have gun lined up on the target and not just sighting over the tip while the gun butt is still coming up, and I know all about this one. :rolleyes:[/QUOTE] XP;100


    The image in my avatar is just a picture for a magazine as I cruise the kelp line. I will post a shoot with me lining up on a shot later to night after work.


    Your spot on about the ''rudder'' action, I shoot a heavy mass gun and only have to keep it off my face
    when I'm pushing a 6' 3/8 shaft with 500 lb's of hot rubber. With the 9/32 a little girl could shoot it.


    Cheers, Don

  • another new member

    Quote from bajabound

    Thanks all.
    I think we met a while back out at Farnsworth, Don. A while back as in the early 80's. I was a Neptune with Bill Graham.
    And I've seen you Rich at the FreeDive shop meets. Thats a nice first WSB. I'm going to put up a post for you over in that vac bagging your gun stocks.


    Wow Bill Graham. !... haven't heard that name in awhile. Do you remember Jack Brown ? he was building the the heavy timber mid handles @ the Navy yard shop I believe. I was just in contact with my old dive partner Mark Lamont from Scuba Pro he's been Mexico for over 15 years and doing well.


    Cheers, Don

  • Off hand position

    Quote from Jareyberrysplash

    I like to use my left hand to cup the but of my gun so that it doesn't smack me in the face


    That is the standard, but some heavy mass barrels shooting a 9/32 or 5/16 can be shot my a little kid
    with very little felt recoil.


    others are so long in the back and light that if you hold the butt your hand will smack you in the teeth.


    They all shoot different.


    Cheers, Don

  • Off hand position

    Quote from Xp100

    Anyone out there able to provide advice on where/how they position their off hand while shooting a mid-handled 60" gun?


    It would help if you mention which mid handle, the power bands and shaft or the wt of the barrel in it is a DIY.


    Cheers, Don

  • I shot some fish

    Quote from coreyf

    I was a little concerned about the spectra and a larger pelagic. My ideal setup is a 5/16" shaft rigged with cable and a larger tri-cut cable rigged tip. I had this shaft on board, but shot the spectra solely. I told myself I'd pull trigger if I saw a billfish ..... but I didnt. Perhaps next year? I'm thinking about planning a longer stay next time, of course. I want a bigger gun too.


    That Dorado was caught hook and line. I jumped in to see if there were any followers. My girlfriend reeled it in while i snapped shots of it ripping her arm off.


    The hoo over 50# around the La Paz region will come in within 10' if I keep the gun tucked back.
    If they are pissy, I do a deeper dive and try to come up under them, some times it feels like the big ones can be touched with the tip before they turn on the after-burner. Then they boggie like a top fuel car.


    Cheers, Don


    P.S. La Paz region = 100 miles north and south.;)

  • I shot some fish

    Quote from coreyf

    Don,


    I'm shooting a 63" mori gun with a standard 5/16"x65" shaft. I shot the spectra tip with no problems. I have more confidence on those long shots with the spectra vs cable. I also found the short neptonics bungee section + floatline to be sufficient. I didn't want to haul my bluewater bungee down for 1 day of diving.


    What's your take on shooting the spectra in bluewater? I understand Joe acevedo has a story regarding spectra and tunas. I figured for medium game stuff I was ok.


    Was 90% sure that you were shooting Mori's fine craftsmanship, a Great guy and gun.


    I really like the Spectra for local fish ( excluding WSB) and more so if I'm using my 9/32 shafts with sliptips.


    If they is any chance that a nice tuna or monster Black or Blue marlin might visit I always shoot 3/32 wire rope on my gear (with the only exception being Cortez Bank and Tanner) from sliptip to bungie cord/float.
    I used spectra on a well made and polished sliptip years ago and landed many fine fish, always inspecting it and changing it out on a regular basis or when fussy. All was well until I met the WSB of a life time I had seen and dreamed about after our first meeting at SCI the month before. As the water became all most too dark to hunt she passed off my right as I lay on the bottom croaking. The tip hit the huge fish just above the spine under the dorsal and toggled on the other side. She bolted hard down a rock ledge shouldering the shaft and adapter into the rock. One loud clank...snap she was free . Me and my friend searched the water until dark and finally had her swim past wearing a 9/32 sliptip and 18'''s of spectra. I felt very bad to think I tore off a big white on my gear failure. My best friend never let me live it down and I hope she is still swimming out there.
    Most strong line will land any fish until you meet the one of your dreams. Wire rope has never failed me
    on the tip or the shaft but it can kill you in a heartbeat if you hitch a ankle or a hand as can 400# mono with out a razor sharp knife.


    In Baha I use a 3/8 shaft 80% of the time the 5/16's I have taken there get used for Do Do and beach fish.


    Cheers, Don

  • another new member


    Welcome mate, Please put you monster dog snapper,YFT and WSB in our fish record so we can enjoy the images when you have time. The guys here are more like brothers with a love of the sea. You will fit in great I love your avatar.
    Dan in his wisdom has a special place for the kids to play, no daycare needed here on my Cali watch.
    All the best, Don Paul

  • Hi spearo community

    Welcome watermen, I have very much respect for stick boat guys harvesting the big swords. We have a good bunch of guys here and we have a lot of fun.


    Cheers, Don Paul

  • Freaking beautiful state you guys have....

    I have never been in the ocean up there .... but the mom of my child did lots of ab rock picking at Fort Brag. Her best was a 8.25 after I met her.^^ <img src= " class="smiley" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x" height="23" width="23" loading="eager" data-tooltip="biggrin" aria-label="biggrin">


    Cheers, Don

  • Vote no on Prop 21- it taxes you and gives $25 million to the MLPA!!!

    Quote from spearstuff

    Might want to check that typo again Don. It should add up to 100%


    But on a side note I'm stoked prop 21 failed :thumbup: Feels like Christmas came early and I got just what I wanted <img src= " height="23" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x">


    Thanks.... That's what I get for using my kids PS3 for a lap top before coffee after 3 hr sleep.^^
    When I saw that cute furry fox in the Pro prop 21 ad I thought we were dead in the water.


    Speaking of water, lets get in a shore dive next week if the timing is right PM me. I should have my fart gun blowing bubbles by than.


    Cheers, Don

  • Metric drill bits

    They will put a part in you hand in record speed if needed as well. I keep a copy of the Yellow Book
    in the drawer of my bed stand.^^ Scares away the ''how will I do that ?:@'' demons ^^.


    Cheers, Don