Is spearfishing allowed with scuba equipment - ?

[garett]

As I know is not, it’s illegal and it’s classified as poaching.
But just recently I found these pictures on the net:

- http://www.mobilescuba.com/images/e-Steve4gagshoriz.jpg

- http://www.mobilescuba.com/images/e-Elbow%2083.5%20Black%20UW%20CC%202.jpg

Maybe it’s different in different regions?

Can anyone clarify this?

[miles]

Hiya

Scuba spearing is allowed in some countries. Each country has their own laws pertaining to HOW you are allowed to spear. Some states/regiosn/provinces with-in the SAME country even have different rules. Like in Australia, in some parts scuba diving is not allowed whilst in other parts it is.

Hope that helps!!

Regards
miles

[rslomkow]

In the USA most everplace that allows spearfishing allows it with SCUBA.

California is funny in that spearfishing with SCUBA is allowed, but not abalone hunting! (not that you would spear an abalone anyway)

I do believe that the requirement to only be allowed to take abalone with breath-hold diving greatly decreases the number of people that will do it. I always found in popular places like Van Damn State Park, as soon as you dropped below -8m (26feet) the population of legal sized abalone skyrocketed. Implying to me that lots of people never go that deep.

With that said most of the serious speros I met were apnea divers. One exception being halibut. That seemed to be mostly taken by SCUBA guys.

[garett]

I just watched spearfishing videos and I didn't like scuba spearfishing - it looks more like simple killing, not like a real hunting - http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?_a...&vback=Results

I personally respect this kind of spearfishing only -
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?_a...&vback=Results

[Shadowkiller]

Popcorn - check.
CocaCola - check.
Comfy seat - check.

*sits back to wait for scuba spearos to defend their sport for the hundreth time on this forum*

[Mr. X]

I'm not a scuba diver but I think Old Man Dave explained it very well recently(Dorset 2006 thread?). Long story short, it has its own unique difficulties (as he described it). Most folk rush to judgement with little or no knowledge of what is involved. I changed my opinion as a result of his post.

I wouldn't like to see it become popular or abused but, as described by OMD, it has its place.

[Was the camera man using a telephoto lens? That speargun appeared to be pointed directly at the camera.]

[miles]

Hiya

As Shadow said, this has been done to death already, not only on this forum, but on almost all the spearfishing forums on the net!! Here's a couple of threads that'll keep you busy for a while:
http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthr...ht=scuba+spear
http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthr...ht=scuba+spear
http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthr...ht=scuba+spear
http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthr...ht=scuba+spear
http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthr...ht=scuba+spear
http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthr...ht=scuba+spear

Bottom line is that we have to RESPECT our fellow spearo's REGARDLESS of HOW they hunt. If its legal, i don't see any problems with it.

Have fun reading!!

Regards
miles

[reel fishaholic]

I sometimes freedive for smaller fish, scuba more for larger fish. To each his own. Where I live, the fish that I am going after are deeper for the better part of the diving season and to be honest, I can hold my breath to 130'.