Rigging a 140 euro for bluewater hunting

[chrismar]

I'm heading off to the Pacific Islands (Samoa or Tonga) in the near future and I've been thinking a bit about how to rig my gun for the trip. For clear water and biggish fish, what are people's thoughts?

Spear options, all with a selection of lengths:
6.5mm - flopper or slip-tip
7mm - flopper or slip-tip
8mm - slip-tip only


Band Options:
1x18
1x20
2x16
2x18

The gun itself has a 2mm wall Carbon barrel and almost no flex. My first thoughts were along the lines of 7mm, 180cm spear with slip-tip and either a single 20 or double 16s. I'm sure there're a few guys here with some experience with long euros in the islands, so I'd like to hear opinions

[settingsteel]

Originally Posted by chrismar

I'm heading off to the Pacific Islands (Samoa or Tonga) in the near future and I've been thinking a bit about how to rig my gun for the trip. For clear water and biggish fish, what are people's thoughts?

Spear options, all with a selection of lengths:
6.5mm - flopper or slip-tip
7mm - flopper or slip-tip
8mm - slip-tip only


Band Options:
1x18
1x20
2x16
2x18

The gun itself has a 2mm wall Carbon barrel and almost no flex. My first thoughts were along the lines of 7mm, 180cm spear with slip-tip and either a single 20 or double 16s. I'm sure there're a few guys here with some experience with long euros in the islands, so I'd like to hear opinions

your thoughts seem just fine, I would opt for the 2 bands rather than 1, I am assuming your not after 300# tuna...aside from the gun a good float (s) is essential

[chrismar]

Floats will probably be an 11L foam-filled with a 35L inflatable. PVC floatline with dyneema core and a short bungie. And no, I'm thinking yellowfin, doggies, wahoo, etc. I don't think I'll be bringing up monsters from the deep

[Mullins]

7.5mm shaft, 2x16mm rubbers, flopper would be the most tried and true.

I have found that 2x16s shoots high, at least for RA guns, unless you have at least 40cm overhang...

[miles]

Hiya

For RA's, i echo Mullin's sentiments. 7.5mm spear with 2x16's

For Rabitech's, 8mm spear with 2x16mm's

Don't know what gun you have, so opt for 2x16mm's and a 7.5-8mm spear with a normal fixed barb. Slip-tips on a euro gun is simply not worth it. They're heavy, causing your gun to be in-accurate, are a pain to remove from fish, are EXPENSIVE, need loads of power to penetrate a fish, need proper shot placement or else they won't deploy. Rather stick to the plain fixed barb, much less hassles and they work very well!!

Regards
miles

[chrismar]

Cheers Dave & Miles.

One gun is a Rabi Apex 140, the other a bit of a mongrel. Basically an Orca with a carbon barrel and a RA open muzzle. Quite similar to what I've been using in 110 length for my day to day gun. I've got plenty of 9/32 17-4PH stainless spears lying around, so I'll probably use those as they're cheap and plentiful, unless you think the extra .35mm will make a big difference?

[smee]

Hi there, definately go with 2 x 16 bands. It gives you the option of loading up for longer open shots or unloading a band if shooting next to the reef so you don't have to worry about damaging/wedging your spear on a coral head.
Let me know if you make it to samoa, got a good spot for doggies right near town.
Cheers
Sean