Posts by Slingador

Don, if you had to do it over, would you try for a brain shot? Im a big fan of lateral line placement, had very very good results, mid body.
Recent experiences similar to yours, with easy shots on big fish, where i actually celebrated the capture in my mind before seeing it all somehow unravel, has me reconcidering my default target zone on closer shots on once in a lifetime fish.? Thanks for all your input. I value it!

For further or fleating shots, it does make more sense to target the spine, btwn the anal and dorsal fin, I feel its the most stationary part of fish, but when it all lines up, and you have the fish youve dreamt about 8ft from gun tip, Im giving serious thought to trying to get the brain through the collar bone, does that make sense? Or would you stick with the instinct that works of zeroing in on that part know are familiar with conecting with? I like to preprogram my mind so to speak, so the fish doesnt sense you deciding how you want him in your freezer and bolt.

Thanks.
Carry on

I have used vynil rain gutters in the past, lighter than pvc and better than cardboard, the corrugated rectangular shape is nice. Long blades are also tough. I also refer to contents as fishing equipment. Good luck be shure to report back!

Bump for more discussion.
Any one else builg these big game boards? Ideas on packing them for air travel?

any leads on a source for the floating bulletproof bungie?
Whats the ideal amount of bouyancy?
Don if you had it to do over, how would you rig your floats?
Thanks!

Thanks Don! So the consensus is: one big ass float? Im trying to think I would pack that monster for travel.
Smaller hard floats and multiple blow up dolls would make it easier to tote around.
Its scary to see the infatables shrink as they get dragged down.
Whats this bulletproff bungee you speak of?

The 100ft bungess are great and all but cost is a serious factor for me any rec are greatly apreciated.

Taking all that into account how would you rig for that marlin today if you could do it over? As that is my nightmare scenario. Thanks!

Great thread! Tons of useful info! A bit of backround before my question.

I got complacent thinking I could stop anything in my locals waters, with my current setup, so off I went.
3 banded 55 inch wood gun, 5/16 tahitian point, 70 ft float line with 10 feet of bungie on either side and a 35l inflatable rob allen bouy. Rigged non breakaway

Landed many big fish with that set up and never felt even slightly underpower in S fl.
Fast forward. Finally get a call to hunt hoos semi locally. My ego got best of me and I figured, if i could hit it it would be in the bag, not, lost the fish of a lifetime, and not by spooking it, or missing it.
Had a 70+ lbs wahoo within 10 ft of the end of my gun, and nailed it perfectly! I was at about 50ft in bluewater when I hit it.
I paused amd surfaced. As I headed for air, to my horror, i saw the float, at 40ft racing down toward the bottom compressing down as it went, Out of panic, and inexperience, I grabbed it, thinking Id clip my belt reel to the back of it, rather than possibly losing my gun In that instant, the flopper broke off the shaft and my prize was gone. The first wahoo I see underwater ever!
murphy got the best of me! In retrespect.
My float was full but not totally packed, I should have had a slip tip, The fish was certainly close enough for trying a killshot instead of a window pane center mass.

I have a few questions, what is the effect of depth on the spearfishing dedicated inflatable floats? , I had never had anything pull one down like that, its unerving to see the, crush as they go down, but they are very easy to transport. Seeing it crush made me panic!

I have a dream of hunting marlin some day, I dread seeing a 3 float setup racing past me to depth, Has anyone, done a last ditch float, like don describes, with line inside?
My idea is to have a float that will be the last in the string, perhaps smaller, riged to breakaway, it would have a reel recesed into the bottom loaded with say 300ft of 500lbs spectra, that way if the first 3 floats get dragged down, then last ditch float would deploy, stay on the surface longer and give a chance for another reel or float to be attached to rig. Having it breakaway would mean line would be stowed 99% of the time. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

In local waters where hunting with one bouy, a small, last ditch float, on the back of a single main float could someday be the diffrence in landing a one in a lifetime fish or not! Streamlined is key.

What mix of floats would you recomend for hunting serious tuna, taking into account, having to travel on a plane to get there? What order would you rigg them up in?

I was thinking: gun, 20ft bungee, 50ft, ski rope, 20ft bungee, 1 hard 11 L, 5ft bungee, 1 more 11L hard float, 6ft bungee, inflatable 35L and a last ditch float (as described) on the back. Most conections via cats paw, to cut down on extra hardware.

Seems like overkill but this is a trophy once in a lifetime fish set up.

Any input greatly welcome

I will try and get a crude prototype and pick for more clear illustration of what i have in mind

Have you heard of the issues mentioned In this thread?
Best flight controller for multirotors - Page 3 - RC Groups

Seems pretty silly on gopros part
The issue seems to be :
"GoPro decided that they wanted their new lens to be in focus between ~5 inches ... 4feet, unlike previous GoPros that were in focus from 6feet ... infinity. This cannot be corrected in software as the lens is the culprit here, not the software."

I was pretty excited for a the new hero 3+ I like selfies and all <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">but want the camera that isn't designed just for that.
Appreciate yalls input

In an true emergency, I see myself activating the Epirb first, but then going to VHF options to get more info out to responders. The lifeline fills the niche of a piece of kit the diver can have on him at all times, to call his own boat or others when in trouble while actually in the water.
Thanks for the review

Nice review! Not a bad thing to have while diving in a panga on a trip. God forbid engine dies while you in the water and boat cant make it to you.

I have a 406 epirb, and a pair of handheld vhf with dsc as backups on my boat, but this looks slick and like a good solution, to have attached to the float. Perhaps it would nest inside another pelican style case for some added impact resistance for the added rigors of getting knocked around

Wouldnt be a bad thing for all divers to have one.

If the need ever arises it will become priceless in a hurry.

I have wrestled with this for a LONG time as it always seems the next big Grab of the resource is looming and we are mere flies on the Lions ass as far as they are concerned.
The so called process and Science are a sham at best and likely much worse than that.
I figure the only thing that will ever have an impact is the general economy at Large realizing the benefits both financial and societal of a healthy RECREATIONAL sector and prioritizing it ABOVE commercial operation. The reality is, I and every other fisherman I Know spend real dollar in the local economy to reach the fish im after. Gas stations, hardware Stores, dive shops, grocery stores, tools etc, and none of it guarantees a catch.

I have come to believe the only hope we have is, demand growing so large and fish so scarce that eventually the only option will be to farm, at least for "red lobter" " long john silvers" and the like. Then maybe there will be a rest from the "ton takers".
Can you believe the Gulf Council went on a free cruise sponsored by Darden food(red lobster/olive garden) kinda hard to compete with that.

For a long time, I believed the Grogan was part of the evil plot to hamstring the Recreational spearfishermen organizing in a cohisive fashion. Who knows it may be so.

True advances in Aquacultere, public awareness and good ole fashion Grass roots, How to achive that, I have no idea.

I have my suspicions that most of what is being sold as grouper is probably something else, like Nile Perch.

It really pisses me off, that during the grouper closure, commercial fisherman can still harvest them without trip limits and the sell them back to us.

Every time, I see grouper at the local grocery store and am not allowed to go out and harvest the same fish in a more selective and less destructive manner really makes my blood boil. So nonsensical and corrupt it bogles the mind. Brings this video to mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9evQ3_vVq8

I think its bad ass. Mountains are there for climbing, she followed her Dream and will surely be an inspiration to many.

Being the first and only person to have done it, at her age and with all the set backs and obstacles, makes her a personal hero! All unsavory history aside.

Truly epic.

I cant imagine walking for 60 hours much less swimming in the open ocean For that long. At night.

Epic!

This particular twin was tweaked with a long overhang 7 mm shafts, sharpened before each outing, rail upgrades and super tight bands, think they were 20 mm Just on the verge of overpowering both of the shafts.

I had utter faith in that gun, and stoned most of the fish I shot with it. Upto 30 lbs gags and 50lbs ajs. Would love to still have it. Deadly accurate with both shafts. But it had its clear limitations

24 grams doesn't sound like a lot but it carries momentum.

I like the idea of a chart with weights for different length and diameter shafts.

Can really help getting a clear picture of the ballistics.

I have hit a World Record Cero Mackrel (20 lbs or so) from about 15 feet away, with a single banded 120 and light sharp shaft.
Placement and speed where a bit to good and cracked his spine mid body.

Was grinning ear to ear, was mid water in about 80 but at end of long dive.

Shaft went in to the flopper.

As soon as I surfaced and tugged gently shaft slipped out.

Even with half his body paralyzed, he easily escaped into deepwater.

Have also had it happen with a nice yellow jack. Back when I used to use the twin gun (1m with beast bands) and had it happen on 2 consecutive shots into same fish. Both where perfectly placed into spine from less than 8f away at diffrent angles mid body. First one stopped him cold. Long enough to shoot it a second time as it sank for good measure as i suspected poor penetration,
both hit spine squarely slipped out.

In the pic look like the shots were high. But they transected spine because of the downward angle.

Difference was, it went head first into reef and we were able to recover it.

After that I give momentum more of a consideration.

Point being accuracy and speed are only part of the equation on once in a lifetime fish. Punching power can make a difference but everything is a compromise. Im a fan of the 5/16s and the 7mm myself. But am pondering a 7.5 for any trips overseas just in case

Rip. always a shame to hear tragic mews

Any and all pertinent new info on the Freedivers Recovery Vest is much appreciated! Thinking hard about getting one. Not sure if any members have anything new to share. Expected delivery dates, etc.
I feel I'm long over due for something like this. With the new baby, everything takes on a new perspective

With the new price, although a huge chunk of change still, cant think of a reason to not have and use one.

Is it difficult to fly with the required co2 tanks?

Thanks in advance!

Interesting. Sometimes while in europe the omer products compete price wise.
The med is FISHED out saw some great bottom though

Ceviche is by far the dish, I get the most good feed back on;).

My all time favorite fish for this, is Grey trigger.

The tanginess of the vinegar really ties together the veg, the sweetness of the soda mellows it abit and makes the citrus nice and deep so that everything is submerged. The sesame oil and a bit of good olive oil, adds a subtle layer of flavor, a fresh jalapeño seeded and finely chopped is also a great addition

Hope it helps

. Give it a try and let me know

My 2c. All of above are great recipes, in addition to the usual I always add a couple cap of white vinegar, a splash of a lemon soda like sprite and some TOASTED sesame oil.