How to get the biguns, scuba or free dive?

[Craig Thailand]

I have been talking with a few people concerning catching big fish. One says S.C.U.B.A and the other says FREEDIVE. I know think it really depends on what part of the world you are in and more importently what part of the water your in, right?
From my experiance, not much, I see bigger fish when i am skin diving but in less numbers, i remember back home in the U.K the opposite was true. What do you guys think, scuba or free??

[Bill McIntyre]

As you said, it depends.

For instance, last year a guy in Florida shot a 400+ pound warsaw grouper at a depth of over 300 feet (if my memory serves me). Obviously, you can't do that freediving.

But where I live in Southern California, the most desirable species, white sea bass, is very sensitive to bubbles and other noises such as clearing of ears and fins touching each other, so its pretty rare that one is taken by a scuba diver.

[Amphibious]

I'll be watching this one closely. a reminder to play nice is warrented I think.

[Bill McIntyre]

Did I saw something wrong?

[Amphibious]

nope, not directed at anyone in particular, these threads just have a habit of getting out of control.

[Griff]

i think that if you were targeting the big big boys its got to be freediving because of the multiple float setup that one would need. imagine a 200 pound tuna on a reel gun!

[Bill McIntyre]

Originally Posted by Griff

i think that if you were targeting the big big boys its got to be freediving because of the multiple float setup that one would need. imagine a 200 pound tuna on a reel gun!

I haven't tried it, but I don't see why a scuba diver couldn't use the same float set up that a freediver uses.

[Griff]

Bill,
having to tow a buoy around while DMing I agree that a float can be done. I based my statement on this great forum discussion we had a few years ago with a scuba spearo called Iyadiver. Iya went to great lenghts to develop or use a self inflating float which could be deployed underwater using a CO2 cartridge. He was targeting dogtooth tuna. I cant remember why he didnt want to use a surface float, but there was a good enough reason to warrent all the extra expense and effort required of the underwater deployer. If I recall he even lost a MT3 because of reel failure or something. maybe a scuba spearo could provide better insight onto why floats are a problem.

[miles]

Hiya

Dog Tooth tuna is a completely different beast!! The problem with them, is actually simple, they fight DIRTY!! First reef, and bye-bye spear and shooting line. So, you main objective is to try and stop that tuna from reaching the reef. Thats why IYA was playing with inflating drogue type rigs, so that IMMEDIATE pressure could be put on the fish.

Regards
miles

[Craig Thailand]

Hi guys,
I am back from my first Spearfishing trip in years! I did 3 SCUBA dives and skin diving in between to help de-gas I got a fat parrot fish, about 10 pounds, at 32m on a wreck dive! It was soooo good to get wet again
I live three hours drive from the beach but i will be going back this coming weekend none the less. I was thinking about what i asked in this thread when i was out in the blue and i noticed that the fish were so aware of our presence when doing air assisted spearfishing. When i do skin diving i can hear the scuba divers a mile off, just imagine what the fish can hear huh? Those big fish are big for a reason, cause there cuatious, right?
I would like to ask instead then, what are your personal favourite styles of hunting, Skin or SCUBA, and why?
Craig

[JPPLAY]

I enjoy skin as you are forced to get your diving skills sharp along with your hunting skills. You must have solid skills to go deep and find the bigger fish if they are there. You only have a short time on the bottom. You can dive all day without having to de-gas (unless you are diving very deep). It a good progression of learning. You have to work hard for all your fish.
On a side note if you are diving deep to 32 meters on your scuba dives I would not freedive in between as you are risking DCS.

[Craig Thailand]

Yeah, me too, i love fee diving too. It feels more like a match between man and beast. I'm not being dramatic but the feeling amazing to be down there in that environment with only a gun and a knife. SCUBA is great too, but just being able to sit there, clumsy as it may be, seems unfair for the fish.

[Griff]

if i could choose, and i cant cause scuba spearfishing isnt legal here, i'd still freedive because i think its more effective than scuba, especially when targeting gamefish. reef fish are probably different story, but we dont really target reefies here. but spearfishing isnt just about putting meat on the table, and i enjoy the challenge of breathhold, like when hunting shy fish where you have to do aspetto at depth. its also more time in the water, less gear and less admin

[Jobogogin]

I'm no pro, but it seems that a lot of people I talk to who have been spearfishing for some time think that spearfishing on SCUBA is rather un-sportsman like. I don't know what your guys opinions are on that, but I figured I would at least mention it.

I certainly prefer freediving because its more of a feat than on SCUBA. I guess it requires more skill.

[Fondueset]

jobogogin - it's always good to check the date on a thread before you chime in - this ones over a year old since the last post.