Kill Time

[Jager_SA]

I understand that many spearo's find it highly important to dispatch of their catch quickly and humanely. I also understand that they happen to be a little more clued up, on this crucial stage of hunting, than me.

We use a very simple system of spear, rope, bouy. No reels. So basically we hold onto our bouys like hell and try to wrestle our fish in with the rope - yes I know. Primitive- but hey it fits the student budget and it works! Makes for a laugh sometimes too.

On dispatching one our catches, we usually remove the gills from under the gillplate. I was hoping to find out any other techniques as this is not only difficult, but also exceptionally messy and often attracts the attention of the odd Raggie ( Bull shark ).

Thank you!

[deep thinker]

Take your knife and stick it into the skull, between and a little above the eyes, in a back and forward motion. When the fish starts to get muscle spasms youve successfully destroyed its brain and then its all over.

[Jager_SA]

Thanks alot, I've been struggling with the positioning- been trying to hit the brain from the broad side of the fish.

Cheers

[deep thinker]

Yea, its easier from the top plus when you do it from the broad side, you stand the chance of being in the odd unfortunate posision of killing your hand as well as the fish

[Jager_SA]

haha yeah ofcourse... Some guys still use body stringers up in KZN. Wats yr vedict deepthinker? We hook our catches on our bouys but I dont really know when to call it quits and leave, before a raggie comes in. Theyre getting increasingly curious around Westbrook and I'm getting worried aobut the potential for a bite- although they are predominantly interested in my bouy- I want to defend my catch of course!

[deep thinker]

Body stringers in SA water is looking for trouble. On the shark issue, its something you learn to judge for yourself, if you swim toward them and they start showing interest in you its probably best to get out of there, but most of the time a raggy can be deterred by a jab from your spear. Personally I dont mess with em and check if my shark sheild is on, on a regular basis. You mite also want to read through the where do you draw the line with sharks thread.

[Jager_SA]

I've also noticed that some of the smaller ones, in this I mean under a metre or so, are not a problem. But whenever they get to about the same size or bigger than me, they become increasingly interested and tend to hang around on the edge of viz and pop in to have a look and I really start freaking out. The shark shield you are talking about, is it a personal version of the shark pod (electrical field device) used by surfers? Do you find it effective and where can one get such a thing? Oh and the inevitable student question, how much of my soul must i sell to get it?

[Jager_SA]

I have also heard a lot of talk about shark body language but I find it difficult to remain calm and to view their bahviour. Apparently, a crooked body shape indicated aggression where as cool fly by's are simply size ups. However, Im sure you can agree I am not comfortable when they pop up behind me and decide to come and have a closer look. Do you have any suggestions on dealing with sharks? I've just read that post you suggested, very informative thank you!

[deep thinker]

Most spearfishing shops sell them, its basically the same as the one used by surfers, the one strapped to your ankle with a coil in the water behind you. Go look at the rabiteck.com site or freedivers site theyre listed on both. I bought mine for R3500 a year back. Good luck

[tbgsub]

In my parts... (saipan, CNMI), the Haoulies call Raggies (bull sharks) the tax man, and when they call on your catch, well....the Tax men get theirs paid in full, because if there is a debt, you can bet they'll be hangin around for their dues, and that could mean your residual Assets!. (Capiche?)
I have yet to deal with any Tigersharks, but the same rule applies, dont get hostile in their house, and hopefully they wont give you reason to leave it pronto.

I have noticed once with a 4ft white tip shark, when at the surface, I inadvertently arched my back to get a better look at the shark beneath me, and watched as he bolted faster than a rocket. All I remember is seeing his muscels flex into a blur and he was GONE! I am glad he didnt feel like I was the smaller of the two, I couldnt possibly swim that fast to get away.

[josedesucre]

One of the safest things you can do is to try keep your dead fish out of the water. If you dont have a boat or a kayak, I suggest you use an inner tube with a piece of mesh tied in the middle, over the hole, like a small hammock. You kill your fish, put them inside a strong dark canvas bag, and put the bag over the mesh in the center of the tube. Of course, tie the mouth of the bag and tie the bag to the tube, in case a wave overturns it. For the bag use a heavy canvas, to prevent that a lobster or the dorsal spines of a fish puncture the tube. The inner tube is heavier to tow than a regular buoy, but is a lot safer since you can even climb on top of it in an emergency, and because of its size it is also much more visible for boaters. You can easily attach a diving flag pole on one side, using strips of rubber cutted from another old inner tube. I made one for myself, and insted of the "hammock" in the middle I found the wheel of a small bicycle, that fitted tight in the center of the tube. I removed the spokes and inserted nylon cord thru the holes (where the spokes go). The result was something like a round tennis racket, which I tied to the tube with rubber strips. The extra flotation of the inner tube also allows you to carry other things on it, like a spare shaft, a second speargun or polespear, a bottle of water, a plastic bag with some food, another bag with a whistle and a little mirror, etc. With all those modifications that tube becomes your own unsinkable boat or kayak. Good luck.