Beginner Spear Fishing in Malta

[Feersum]

Hi all,
Although I live in the UK I am a frequent visitor to Malta. Whenever I'm there I do a lot of snorkeling. I'm now looking to get in to spearfishing and was wondering what the best advice for getting started would be.
I am considering a Rob Allen Aluminum 110 spear-gun (my price limit is £200), is this the best option? I'll only be hunting around the coastal waters of Malta. Is it ok to buy in the UK and take out on the plane with me (hold luggage obviously)?

Cheers in advance for any advice

 

[Gab]

Check out the regulations first, you need a license to own a speargun in malta and from what I read it is not so simple to get one.

 

[Feersum]

My wife is half Maltese and still has a lot of family over there who say that they can sort the license out. I just need to sort the gear.

 

[Gab]

OK, nice. Wouldn't the prices be better there? Ask one of her relatives to have a look for the speargun you want and compare the prices.

To reply to your question, I fly with my gear in checked luggage all the time. In some places, even if in transit, this is not allowed and will land you in a small room with lots of questions so always read the regs. and plan around.

 

[Feersum]

I'm not sure how the prices compare over there, that's why I could do with an idea of what size and type to go for. After that I can get someone to check prices for me.

 

[Gab]

Ok, if you are going to hunt around coastal waters I would go for 75 to 90. I would not go any longer persinally for this. Are you a beginner? I thing you are so 75 is a good size, it allows you to do everything you need and is still very maneuverable. I have both a 75 and a 90 for this type of hunting. I am speaking of euro lengths, not sure how rob allan is measured.

 

[Feersum]

Cheers for the advice. Any recommendations on make or model to look out for (According to their web site, Rob Allen doesn't have a distributor in Malta, so I don't think that they're an option if I by over there)?

 

[Gab]

I have a beuchat and a cressi both are good. Mares also has some good guns. Other brands are omer, sporadub, seac sub. These are the brands you are likely to find there.

 

[Gab]

I took a friend out spearfishing this year for thebl first time and he used several of my guns, he said a 75cm ia the one he would get, if that helps.

 

[Mr. X]

I have a beuchat and a cressi both are good. Mares also has some good guns. Other brands are omer, sporadub, seac sub. These are the brands you are likely to find there.

I like my Omer spearguns (esp. the 75) - better suited to my needs (in UK) than my old RA90, which I found rather heavy & cumbersome. If you are planning to go after tuna or other very large fishes, then RA is the way to go. For regular fishing in the Mediterranean, one of the companies near to it might offer the most suitable products.

Apparently Malta has bass (Dr. Mike Ladle caught one there) perhaps not common though (the locals had not seen one before!). I expect they have grey mullet - seem to be everywhere, inc. Israel/Med..

Length of speargun is largely dictated by the clarity/visibility in the water. I gather the water around Malta is pretty clear. Something in the range 70cm-110cm would be in the ballpark. You should able to get something suitable & good for under £100. Something really good for more than that.

 

[lawstraljan16]

Licenses are no longer required in Malta. They've gotten rid of them early this year with in all honesty I disapprove of.

I wouldnt go for a 110cm gun as a starter. If you like I can hook you up with a great gun at a great price directly in Malta.

Just email me if interested, I most likely wont see your reply here on this forum Lawstraljan16@live.com

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