Posts by hau

  • Changes to Elliot key / Biscayne National Park Rules/Regs.

    "Spearfishing and recreational fishing NEEDS the NRA"
    This has been one of my mantras for years and years. NRA is not perfect, but it has PROVEN to SUCCESSFULLY fight off those who would stop us from spearing and fishing. Many spearos and fishermen also are also gun hunters. Only makes sense that the NRA ALSO support those of us that hunt in the water.

  • ear problems

    Ear and sinus issues can be stopping illnesses for spearing. Do not hesitate to use antibiotics when/if necessary. LOTS of spearos suffer ear and sinus issues. IF you are a smoker these issues will be more frequent
    hope this helps

  • Shark concern

    redrider----so there you have it. You asked for our opinions and as you can see from the posts here, many spearos have different opinions/options on how best to handle the shark situation. There are many choices thrown out there by many experienced spearos for you to choose from. You can take your chances of getting your hand bit off petting a shark away OR blowing your hand off with a PH. <img src= " height="23" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x">
    hope this helps


    PS---"Quick Clot is your friend". http://www.z-medica.com/health…uikClot-Combat-Gauze.aspx

  • Shark concern

    Quote from redrider

    I wanted to pose a question and im sure that I will get some jabs from those out there that were born knowing everything about being a spero but im going to ask anyways.
    I fully understand that when one goes hunting you have to expect to have visits or encounters with large toothy predators. I can see how if you are on air you can tuck under a ledge and wait it out or take somewhat of a defensive stance. But not being on air leaves you on limited time. So what is your advise for the beginner on dealing with visits from the stars of shark week?
    I'm not scared or overly concerned. I just want to be prepared


    1. "PH is your friend". -----I never leave the yak without it. That said, please to realize that I have been shooting guns for 55yrs. Before it became illegal, many a GG got a new .357 3rd eye. :) If YOU are NOT familiar with shooting guns SAFELY and IF you do not have a good spearing background I would CAUTION you on buying and using power heads.
    2.Also suggest that you get all speared fish out of the water ASAP and into something that does not leak blood into the water.
    3. Never hunt sharky water alone.
    4. Practice spearin so that as many of your shots are stone shots as possible.
    5. Get a shark spike on your muzzle, as having a spike will do several things for you.
    a. You can use it to poke an aggressive shark or eel
    b. Having a muzzle spike will teach you REAL quick to respect the muzzle of your gun so that if/when you do
    get a PH you do not accidently blow you head or hand off.
    c. Many times I have used my spike to stab a hog or lionfish.
    6. My OPINION is to give up my speared fish to a shark ONLY if it is a next to last option. Last option== to poke im in the eye with my .357 and RELOAD ASAP.
    7. I personally am NOT in the camp to spear an aggressive shark. Last thing we as spearos need is for some PETA shark lover seeing a picture of a shark with a spear in it. WE have ENOUGH bad press as it is already. ALSO, spearin a large shark could cost you your spear (lost or bent bad), gun/reel/float line/float. .357 just make a hole. This is just my personal opinion.
    hope this helps

  • Glad to be here

    Quote from redrider

    Thanks! Springs as in natural freshwater springs\caves in florida. Thanks for the info. Should fins come before dive computer?


    1. Fins first. Hook up with this store. They have everything you will need, very knowledgable and personal service. Spearfishing gear, freediving fins, wetsuit, speargun, polespear, mask. Fort Lauderdale shop serving Miami, West Palm Beach.
    2. Welcome to THE BEST freedive spearfishing forum ever. Many great spearos here with lots of experience that like to help. Also please to use the search button upper right corner.


    3. PS---be VERY careful freediving those springs. There have been many DEADLY reasons that some of those springs are named Hospital Hole, Devils Eye, Devil's Den, Vortex, etc.
    hope this helps

  • Shallow water hunting techniques

    Others here before me have given GREAT advice. So I'll add my 2cents.
    I'll try to help with some shallow water answers, as I'm too old and crippled to dive deep now.
    1. Be QUIET in the water, meaning don't beat the surface water with your fins, don't bump your gun and gear on the boat or bottom, do your duck dive quietly and weigh yourself correctly so that you can drift down the last 25% or so to the bottom without finning.
    2. Begin your hunt UP-CURRENT. That way you can drift or at least swim easier through your hunting zone.
    3. Look way ahead of you, so that you can spot fish before they know you are there.
    4. Try NOT to approach a fish when the fish is broadside to you. Remember that many fish "HEAR" with their lateral line on their body.
    5. Aim your gun at your target as soon as possible. That way the only part of the gun the fish sees is the end of the muzzle. I have a "hog fin" on most of my reef gun spears so that when I UNLOAD my second band to shoot a hog on the rocks or at close range, the unloaded band is not waving around loose on the muzzle end of my reef gun. The "hog fin" is just far enough back from the muzzle end of the spear so that the UNLOADED band will stay hooked onto the spear.
    6. K, enough. Any more intel and I would have to charge ya a beer or 2 <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">
    hope this helps

  • Memorial for nate

    Quote from japsw

    I have several mid to large center console we can use, There is a place down the street from me that makes plaques as well. I would think the best way would be to have a bronze plaque made and embed it in concrete.


    This ^^^ is THE best IMO.
    We used to dive on cave memorials and carry scrubby pads and SS wire brushes to clean the bronze memorial "stones" in the underwater caves in central Florida. It was always a sobering moment when you swam upon a site where another person has died in the water. There are still some of these memorials in the Keys.
    Please be careful "setting" this memorial. Unless you are familiar with working with heavy weight like this in /around the water, it can be VERY dangerous. Last thing we need is another death setting a memorial stone for Nate.
    1. Nates memorial needs to weigh enough that a couple of casual bubble blowers cannot lift it to the surface and steal it.
    2. Bronze plate imbedded in 200lbs of concrete.
    3. Put the stone in a net to pick it up / move it from build site to truck / onto and off boat into water. Once on the bottom just cut net as close as possible to bottom of stone. IF you imbed lift hooks in the stone, the stone will be way easier to steal.
    4. We used to use 40-60f shrimp trawlers with their net booms to lower the "stone" to the bottom.
    All this is just my opinion
    Wish I was there to help.

  • What´s the difference?

    Quote from hau

    K
    What is the best way to determine who loves you the most, your wife or your dog?


    THE best way to determine who loves you the most, is to LOCK your wife and your dog up in the garage overnight. When you open the door in the morning see which one is happiest to see you <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">

  • Memorial for nate

    Quote from LunkerBuster

    I would like to commission or make a memorial for nate that we can place on the reef somewhere near where he did most of his diving.
    I would like to get people's input, and contributions if we go the commissioned route. Does anyone have any experience with underwater memorials? Material? How to fasten it to the reef? Any thoughts are appreciated. Thank you


    LunkerBuster--- good idea and I am all for it. Just remember that this idea will get WAY complicated if you notify ANY authorities and request their approval beforehand.
    hope this helps


    Dude george---Nate has no DEPENDENTS, but he has a very tight knit, loving and caring family in Louisiana. Nates funeral was there on Sunday, fathers day :(

  • If your dive buddy doesn't surface

    Quote from Reefchief

    I think scuba equipment is a very good tool to have on the boat. Not just for emergency rescue situations but also for situations that are risky rescue situations waiting to happen (getting a fish out of a deep hole, unsticking an anchor or shaft at a depth at the limit of your capabilities) I have no misgivings about the lack of purity or sport in situations like that.


    But understanding of scuba physiology and safety as well as experience with equipment is very important to using it correctly. I would be extremely worried that a freediver in an emergency situation without scuba knowledge and practice could make a deadly mistake quite easily. Pulmonary Barotrauma caused by lung overexpansion is extremely easy to cause. All it takes is a deep breath at depth and holding it as you surface and your lungs literally explode.


    This ^^^ is VERY good information, especially here on "SPEARDIVER, The Freedive Spearfishing Forum"


    Hank--nice boat and nice haul sir. Congrats

  • If your dive buddy doesn't surface

    Quote from Dan

    I want to start a discussion to establish a protocol for the divers on the surface, to give the blackout victim the best possible chance of survival. I don't want this to be a discussion of "safe diving practices" that should've been followed by the victim, just the scenario where one or two divers are on the surface, with and without a boat, and one diver that fails to surface.


    I must make one exception to state that in this situation the victim wearing a Freedivers Recovery Vest would be a huge factor in increasing his chances for survival. If the victim is not wearing an FRV and one of the divers on the surface is, could also be a big determining factor. Raising an unconscious body from depth is no easy task, but simply reaching the victim and grabbing hold, then inflating your own FRV will raise both divers effortlessly to the surface.


    First I salute Dan for:
    1. Starting this very important thread, specific to help spearos formulate a protocol or PLAN of ACTION "to give the blackout victim the best possible chance of survival."
    2. Supporting the use of the FRV as a life saving tool for those of us at risk of swb on EVERY freedive.


    Second:
    Background to my plan---Since Oct. 2008, (my SWB) I ALWAYS wear a manual inflatable PFD on EVERY spearfishing freedive, so MY PLAN goes like this.
    I watch my buddy until he surfaces and tells me he is good. If my buddy "fails to surface", I IMMEDIATELY breath up and drop on him. I plan on swimming down as fast as possible, grabbing my buddy, stripping off his weight belt, pulling the co2 inflate cord on my vest and hanging onto my buddy. As we shoot for the surface I plan to drop my own weight belt. Once on the surface my plan to keep my buddies face above the water until he is safe.
    This is MY PLAN only. It may not be the right PLAN for you or your conditions/situations.

  • Why do freediving watches not vibrate?

    Quote from Linghunt


    It actually doesn't look that spendy. I bet the market for them is higher than one would think.


    IF the GPS features work underwater, that is impressive. If it works at 100 foot depth , then I will have to buy one.


    1. True, anyone who is anyone in triathlon uses a 910, that is tens of thousands of 910s in use overs years and years it has been in production.
    2. 910 GPS will NOT work underwater. BUT it will track and download MAP your locations while you are on the surface, (where us freedivers spend most of our time).
    hope this helps

  • Why do freediving watches not vibrate?

    Quote from grossetti

    Yes, I had understood, IF you go out spearing can you test an alarm (e.g. timer) going off with vabration and a wetsuit just to test out how it feels?


    This ^^^ I have already done sir.:)
    In the winter time in Miami we would do our triathlon 2mi swims with the Garmin 910 AND 2/3/5mm tri wetsuits. If you held the 910 under the water too long it would vibrate and alarm "lost satellite". I could easily feel the 910 vibrate even while doing a 60 stroke/min freestyle rate.
    If you go to this site, you can see DC Rainmakers full review of the Garmin 910/310 AND the GPS tracking of his swims. AND tons of other information can be downloaded from the 910 to your Mac or PC.


    The New Garmin Forerunner 310XT Openwater Swim Mode


    Forgot to mention: For the retail cost of only $400-$499. you get THE TOP of the pile GPS triathlon training watch, BUT remember, it WILL NOT tell you what time it is. :@ <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">

  • Why do freediving watches not vibrate?

    I am NOT advocating anyone buying a 910 for spearin. I just wanted to post that some of the desired spearin watch programs (vibrate, rechargable, waterproof) were already available.
    "we have the technology" <img src= " height="23" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x">
    The 910 will track your GPS while swimming on the surface.
    hope this helps