Posts by hank

  • A few from Belize

    Tino the killer. He and Doc got into a big school of horse eye jacks in the late afternoon. I looked out in the channel and I saw two silver flashes below them after they each hit one. I went back to the wall and waited to see if any snappers were following with the jacks. No snappers but there were about 4 black grouper. I was laying behind a rock and one came right up to me and just sat there facing me. I waited, hoping for a side shot so I didn't put a shaft all the way down the body (I was using my 63 super magnum that I'd just put he Ulusub handle on) and finally he did turn....just as he bolted and was gone. haha.
    The boys saw another big shark too. We haven't seen many the last year or so but this year we've seen big ones at a couple of our favorite spots.
    We went way out to another reef yesterday also and got into a big school of dog snapper. I got a couple but they were running deep and I had no "one up, one down" type buddy. I can't wait for Jake to get back. But yeah, me and the three sons. What a team. Make that 4 sons when Willy gets a bit older....Another gun?
    Also saw a few nice size king mackerels. Not close enough for a shot but one looked to be 40 lbs or so. Doc said a nice African pompano came right up to him....but his gun wasn't loaded. hah. We saw a lot of fish all in all. Really a fun day.



  • another free dive vs scuba thread

    Not really. But I thought this was funny and worth posting.


    My son is in the Philippines and went scuba diving with my buddy there.


    They were spearing fish at the place where I started spearing back in about 1995.


    Jake called last night and said, "man dad, scuba spearing is HARD. We went out the first day and got into a school of big surgeon fish and there was another school of the blue lined jacks. Boy and I each shot a couple. But the next day, we couldn't get close to them".


    I got a kick out of this because of all the folks that say scuba spearing is like shooting fish in a barrel.
    Jake has really only free dive spearfished so to him it's easier. But he knows how to free dive well. He knows how to act around snappers etc. But Boy, who has never really free dived until he came here last year, thinks free diving is much harder.


    But I've always observed that fish learn what bubbles mean and they stay away. Case in point:
    Last year when Boy was here, we were shooting snappers at one of our favorite spots. We had shot about 10 and Boy decided he wanted to do a scuba "recon" dive. No gun....just look. As soon as he dropped down, the fish disappeared. We had snappers under us all morning until he went down. They came back about fifteen minutes after he got back on the boat and we shot a couple more.
    I think this means that the guys working the resorts out there are scuba spearing when no one is around. The fish just vanished.


    But free diving....as long as you can get to the bottom and hide, it seems they never learn. Their curiosity kills them every time. Snapper, barracuda, hogfish....it's not like bubbles. Weird.


    Anyway, I don't vote either way on which is better, easier, or whatever. I just thought it was funny to hear him say "IT'S HARD" !!! haha.

  • A few from Belize

    A few from yesterday. We hit two cuts. Got a few other smaller snappers and a couple nice yellow jacks....and one hog.
    A big bull shark came right up to me and the boys twice. Mo was crawling up on my back. haha. He's a man today.
    I finally got into one of the schools on the wall. Shot two and missed the third one. That's when the shark showed up. I'd seen one earlier in the shallows too.



  • Another happy Speradiver experience

    The fins suck. I had it wired with my old ones..... tuck my chin in and about 6 kicks to get to 30 feet. Now it only takes 4 and a half and I keep hitting my head on the bottom. Do you sell helmets with those fins? :-))

  • Battery replacement Suunto D4?

    Any recommendations around the Miami area for servicing a D4? Lucky I just got my Aeirs from Dan. :thumbup:


    My D4 died Saturday.


    Better yet, anyone know how to change the battery in the D4? Thanks.

  • A few from Belize


    Yep, it's a very distinct "WHUP" sound as they whip their tails.

  • A few from Belize

    First decent cubera of the year. We hit this spot late afternoon after "cut hopping" north to south. The current was ripping with the outgoing tide all day. Since everyone was hunting and no designated boat driver, we were a bit limited. We did find a few nice fish outside the cuts and to the side where the current was weaker.
    At this last spot there were about 5 of these cuberas hanging out near a big hole where some big fish hide. We've seen monster jewfish in this hole before and maybe there was one in there keeping these guys from entering for shelter for the night..
    I dove down about 6 times hiding behind rocks trying to get close. I almost had a shot on the biggest one but just as I looked at him....."whup" !! all of them bolted to just out of range. But finally this one came in close enough. Also got a nice black. But, the sun was dropping so we had to head home,.....where the tide was so low, it took us 45 minutes to push the boat through the shallow in the canal.


  • Need boat ladder advice

    Quote from Brian

    Mike thanks for the info. Btw the pic you put up does not show.
    WishIhadgills, that looks like something that might work. If thats your boat, how well does it work?


    Here's the pic Mike linked. I need a ladder like this too.


  • Weight ratio vest to belt

    I have to look at my PFI course book again. I remember they gave a ratio for belt to neck weights.
    3:1 rings a bell right now.


    Most of the time I use 6 on my belt and a 3 lb neck weight. (using my pocket calculator I get 2:1)

  • One more in the collection

    Quote from Dan

    Araceli is a nice name. Latinas have the nicest names.


    Hank, I know the perfect wetsuit to go with it <img src= " height="23" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x">


    ]


    Nice !! Can you make a Pursuit like that? :thumbup:

  • One more in the collection

    I have those two big cannons, still dreaming of going for wahoo here, which is getting closer, but my go to gun is definitely the 55 GR. I know there are lots of other great shooting guns out there and one could fill up a couple rooms with them. But I also have another room full of guitars. haha. And a very understanding wife.....

  • One more in the collection

    One more gun. Mo and Tino are getting into this so I had to think about it. Jake, me and Mo will have the same gun. It's nice because shafts, shooting line and bands all are interchangeable. Hat's off to Daryl for another fine piece of work. The only thing better would be to use it the first time with him on his boat.
    I name my guns. My other 55 is "Araceli", my wife's name. This one is "Araceli tambien". Keeps me outa trouble. And lucky.