Spearfishing Thailand/Vietnam

[Rob Blok]

Originally Posted by nchabanier

HI Andy, I am also spearfishing in Thailand and many times around pattaya but not taht much. I am living in CHina but go to Thailand everymonth. Do you have GT aroung Pattaya? So far there I ve seen "only red snapper, queen fish, barracuda, trevally (below 8 Kg), cobia and sharks. Pls let me know, I ll be in Thailand mid of June.
Thks
Nicolas

I am interested about where you have seen sharks, I love to see them in the wild so far i have only seen them in the Phi Phi area (Andaman sea) Not around pattaya.

[andy thailand]

Hi Nicolas,
The GT are mostly found in Same san the big ones in deep water and they are shy. The big ones up to 15-20 kg but they are rare.
As for sharks small sand sharks can be found off all the small far Islands like koh rin. Tiger sharks are to be found next to bamboo Island, put some blood in the water and they will come around.. And if you want to see some bull sharks and trust me you dont then there is a small group that live in same san hole. This goes down to 70 m and they are seen when we go tech diving there. The big one is about 4 m long and leaves a nasty stain in students wet suits. I hope this is of some help to you Nicolas as for cobia we got 4 on rod and line last time out on a three day fishing trip i will post some pics on the web site as soon as i have some free time. Also this week I was out spearfishing with an old army buddy, who is here on his once a year trip and he shot the daddy of parot fish, I think it must have been at least 12 kg

[thaidiver]

I had someone from this board (I won't mention any names) tell me that all of Phuket is national parks, which isn't true. This is from the Phuket Gazette... If anyone is around Phuket and wants to go, let me know.

http://www.phuketgazette.com/issuesa...ils.asp?id=527

Is spear-fishing legal?Is spear-fishing legal in Phuket and surrounding areas? If so, is it legal to bring spear-fishing equipment through the airports? Is it the same everywhere else in Thailand?
Monday, June 2, 2003Mike Kim, Phuket.“You can spear-fish anywhere as long as the area is not a marine life preservation area such as Cape Panwa, or at the two ends of Patong Bay. ”
Monday, June 2, 2003 Sinthi Daengsakul, Chief, Phuket Provincial Fishery Office.
“Bringing spear-fishing equipment into the country is not illegal. There shouldn’t be any problem bringing it in through the airport if you have it wrapped properly or in a container. ”
Monday, June 2, 2003 Pol Lt Col Chartchai Nicrodhanon, Deputy Superintendent (Suppression), Phuket Town Station

[tamoshee]

I have speared in Thailand, off Koh Samui and off Krabi. I took local fishing boats from both Samui and Krabi to out-lying islands to spear. The viz was terrible around Samui. Around Krabi was good. When Departing Samui by air, for Krabi, the check-in desk suggested I carry my speargun bag onto the plane as hand luggage... it contained 2 pneumatics and a band gun. I declined without explantion and checked the bag into the hold. This was june 2005!
So much for airline security! David

[Craig Thailand]

Hi Andy,
Hows it going in Pattaya, i will be popping down to the shop this saturday so book me in for a couple of dives mate, call me to confirm if neds be. I would like the pics from last weekend too if you can send them via email that would be great. I am also ready for Indo for blue water hunting so have you confirmed a price and date??
I am planning to do the srinakarin Dam in Kantchanaburi next weekend if you guys want to join me and Met that would be cool.
Thaidiver if you are around central Thailand give me a call and we can do some spearing 05-222-8986
I will do the same when i go down south.
Craig

[thaidiver]

Absolutely! By central Thailand, do you mean Bangkok-Pattaya, or Chumphon? Also, do you happen to know of the nearest OMER dealer? I emailed them, but they won't respond...

[Craig Thailand]

There is no Omer dealer in Thailand, in fact there is one store in Bangkok that sells guns and gear it is called The Old Siam it's at china town. The sell mostly Cressi and a couple of Bauchet guns too. There is a shop in Pattaya owned by Andy (on this thread) and he has a good selection of gear, shafts, tips, line and custom carbon rail guns too. I order most of my gear through the net, if these two guys don't have it. I am due a shipment of 20mm bulk rubber if you want a few some let me know pronto and i can sort you out.
Are there any good spearo shops where you are? Do you get to do any blue water hunting?? I am prepared to fly down there if you know some good spots/trips for blue water.
By the way i mean BKK - Pattaya for central thailand, Kananaburi is good for fresh water aswell.
The old Siam # 07-021-9924 speaks English
Seaduction # 03-871-0029 is English

[Dimitry]

Hi, all!
I am from Russia, therefore I am sorry for my English in advance.
Last year I had some spearfishing in Samui, it wasn't much fun due to shallow waters and bad visibilty (it is short season when you can catch clear water in November and early winter as locals told me). Also I went to Koh Tao, that place was incredible, but I did not use spear as it was national park and too many divers were around.
This winter I will go to Thailand again, and this time I plan to stay in Krabi province. Could you advise, if there are good places for spearfishing nearby. What part of province (mainland, not islands) would you recommend to have some fun off the shore or around with local boatmen (fishermen, but not commercial taxi boats).
By myslef I am good swimmer, working depth 8-16 m, hunt for reef fish (snappers, croakers) and not huge pellagics.
Thank you in advance!

[Farang Shao Ley]

Hi,

The best places seem to be marine-parks over there:
All the coast from krabi-town to the west and further up to laem-teng (beautiful !!), and also the poda-island are protected!!
Also the hole area around Phi Phi Island is a marine park.
(even if there are many game-fishing boats seen all the time at Hin klang)
http://www.clickthai.de/cgi-bin/MapIndex.pl?0020984
(green lines)
but I am pretty sure, still many locals still spearfishing there ,

it's Thailand
cheers

[Dimitry]

Nice, thank you!

I hope to be legal, that’s why I am not aimed to Koh Lipe or Phi Phi area or at least to be quiet in the area where I not annoy divers and they don’t annoy me.
As far as I understand spearfishing is officially prohibited in the whole coastal area of Western Krabi but is not really prosecuted? Hope there are no herds of tourists and divers, most of them go to the islands.
Still, I hope to find local by long tail boat to travel to quiet places nearby.

What about southern part of province and Koh Lunta, which are not marked by green lines? Is there any fun or plain bottom?

[Craig Thailand]

I Can't Take It Any More, Who Wants To Go To Koh Talu For A Session Asap. I Got Some Nice Grouper There Last Week 7kg And Some Travaly. Anyone Thats Interested Can Call Me Up And I Will Travel Down, Anyone Needing A Lift From Huahin To Koh Talu Is Welcome To Join Me, I Have A Local Guy That Takes Me Out For A Full Day For 1500thb. Split That Between A Few Of Us And It Is Plenty Cheap.
085-222-8986

[spearslinger22]

I'll be in Thailand in November, also Laos...just to through another wrench in the gears, does anyone know about spearing in Laos? Freedive spearing, of course.

[settingsteel]

Ahhhh Thailand, sweeet memories!

[Dimitry]

Spearslinger22. Kidding? There is no marine coast in Laos.

[spearslinger22]

No, not kidding, some places have amazing freshwater diving too...