check this out!!!! monster fish shot at 425'

[DBS]

[ame=http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=18867]http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=18867[/ame]


these guys are insane... and bada$$

check it out. the story of the fish is on page 9 or 10 I think.

 

[biggsy]

For those you that do not want to go over to spearboard to read some of the stories from this trip, here are some pics of the grouper that was shot.

 

[island_sands]

For those you that do not want to go over to spearboard to read some of the stories from this trip, here are some pics of the grouper that was shot.

how did you get down to 425 ft? i saw you in scuba gear... you went on air?

 

[biggsy]

I did not shoot the fish. A spearo in my club, Dan MacMahon did with support divers in the water in case something went wrong. They went on tri-mix (Helium, Nitrogen and Oxygen) with doubles on their backs and 3 deco bottles in tow. Not only is it a very technical dive, but boating a fish like that is remarkable. They tried the dive last year and got down and there was only 3' of vis. This year they had over 100' of vis.

 

[island_sands]

I did not shoot the fish. A spearo in my club did with support divers in the water in case something went wrong. They went on tri-mix (Helium, Nitrogen and Oxygen) with doubles on their backs and 3 deco bottles in tow. Not only is it a very technical dive, but boating a fish like that is remarkable. They tried the dive last year and got down and there was only 3' of vis. This year they had over 100' of vis.

I know what trimix is. Was just interested to know whether you guys were on mixed gas or not.. that's a hell of a long way down.. any photos of the wreck?

 

[feign]

wow, that is an insane fish

 

[biggsy]

I meant no offense. I don't believe they have any pictures of the wreck. From yet another forum, one of the guys that help them set up the dives is well known wreck explorer. He has dove this wreck one other time and should be going back. He might have pictures, if not he will get some. [ame="http://thedecostop.com/forums/showpost.php?p=188859&postcount=3"]The Deco Stop[/ame]

He has a real informative wreck site he is in the middle of renovating. his name is Mike Barnette.

It's a little deep for my liking

 

[Amphibious]

should have left it alone. that's one helluva breeder.

no highfive from me.

 

[crusty]

Yep have to agree with Amphi.
Why kill it, it must have taken a hell of alot of birthdays to get that big.
Can you eat it ???? (could feed a small town)
Sorry if its that far down and you have to use scuba i cant see the sport in it.

Crusty

 

[Murat]

I am not familiar with those species of groupers but the big ones here are no breeders. They change sexuality after some age/size and biggest around the area become male. And those big ones are also eat the small ones which is not good for population.

I hope they did not waste the fish though. Shooting that fish just only for sport is not fair deal.

 

[SanSan]

Wow what a fish.

I sure would like to se something like this one day. UNDERWATER.

And spearfishing with scuba gear just isnt sportly and should be prohibited :rcard .

Sorry but i think it was a realy bad thing to do.

 

[Erik]

I think it's a stunning achievement that took hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to pull off. The dive alone is tough, logistically and psychologically (how many scuba guys have been to -425'?). Add a speargun and a 400lb fish and we are talking serious task-loading!
I'm a freediver, but I respect the work, effort and fortitude to get this done. I wouldn't do it personally, but each to his own. I can't foresee a freediver replicating this in the next little while, so scuba has to be accepted as part of the mission.
To quote the spearboard guys: 'Holy S##t!
Cheers,
Erik Y.

 

[gonetobaja]

I know the guy who shot that fish. He is not a "I shot it for my ego" guy.


He is one of the best SCUBA spearos in the USA though. He is a professional Spearfisherman and makes his money selling fish. I think its a great thing that some of the more conservative commercial fishermen are taking a new look at how to selective harvest fish from the ocean without nets or longlines. A commercial spearfishermen harms only the selective fish they bring out of the water for sale to resturants, and nothing else. There is no "by catch" created by a such a fisherman. If all commercial fishermen used this guys techniques of risking their life 300feet under the water just to get their fish there would be alot more fish for everyone.

Some may dissagree but I feel that the harvest of one big fish is better than a trawl net that kills 2kilos of fish for every kilo that gets eaten.

That guy is responsible for more fish getting saved from commercial fish hauling than all of us. Besides risking your life to put "Net free" fish in resturants is a rough way to make a living.

GTB

 

[Erik]

This fish was near the end of its life, stopped breeding years ago, and it probably killed more fish than 100 divers will in their whole lifetime. He had a good life, and his day was up.
Never seen The Lion King...circle of life, etc?
And also what GTB (Dale) said!
Cheers,
Erik Y.

 

[Murat]

I know the guy who shot that fish. He is not a "I shot it for my ego" guy.


He is one of the best SCUBA spearos in the USA though. He is a professional Spearfisherman and makes his money selling fish. I think its a great thing that some of the more conservative commercial fishermen are taking a new look at how to selective harvest fish from the ocean without nets or longlines. A commercial spearfishermen harms only the selective fish they bring out of the water for sale to resturants, and nothing else. There is no "by catch" created by a such a fisherman. If all commercial fishermen used this guys techniques of risking their life 300feet under the water just to get their fish there would be alot more fish for everyone.

Some may dissagree but I feel that the harvest of one big fish is better than a trawl net that kills 2kilos of fish for every kilo that gets eaten.

That guy is responsible for more fish getting saved from commercial fish hauling than all of us. Besides risking your life to put "Net free" fish in resturants is a rough way to make a living.

GTB

Couldn't agree much. As long as its not throw to bin its ok to me. Sell it or eat it. Scuba or freedive, as long as you are conservative doesn't really matter.

 

[rigdvr]

to really piss some of you off...it was sold. Dan is a commercial diver. To those of you with a problem with this, I feel sorry for you. The fish was at the end of its lifespan, the dive was a once in a lifetime deal. I dont see any of you busting miles chops for killing breeder stock yellowfin tuna left and right(hell, he caught 20 in his last report) or when those Spainiards killed that bluefin that was definately a breeder stock in its prime(not to mention the several the killed and lost prior to that.)
I hate to say it, but I think this will end my stay on DB. I might check in from time to time but not regularly. The site is dead and honestly second teir in the spearfishing community to several others now. What a shame.

 

[Amphibious]

I know the guy who shot that fish. He is not a "I shot it for my ego" guy.


He is one of the best SCUBA spearos in the USA though. He is a professional Spearfisherman and makes his money selling fish. I think its a great thing that some of the more conservative commercial fishermen are taking a new look at how to selective harvest fish from the ocean without nets or longlines. A commercial spearfishermen harms only the selective fish they bring out of the water for sale to resturants, and nothing else. There is no "by catch" created by a such a fisherman. If all commercial fishermen used this guys techniques of risking their life 300feet under the water just to get their fish there would be alot more fish for everyone.

Some may dissagree but I feel that the harvest of one big fish is better than a trawl net that kills 2kilos of fish for every kilo that gets eaten.

That guy is responsible for more fish getting saved from commercial fish hauling than all of us. Besides risking your life to put "Net free" fish in resturants is a rough way to make a living.

GTB

well, while I don't agree with scuba spearing this does change how I look at this kill. if he's a commercial spearo it's different. the fish will get used. unfortunetly this isn't always so.

 

[Chad Carney]

well, while I don't agree with scuba spearing this does change how I look at this kill. if he's a commercial spearo it's different. the fish will get used. unfortunetly this isn't always so.

Your insinuation that scuba spearfishermen alone are inherently wasteful is a cheap slap in the face.

Anyone that doesn't see the sport in this fish hunt simply has their eyes and mind closed.

Chad

Free & scuba hunter

 

[Amphibious]

I said nothing of the wastefullness of scuba spearfishing. The wastefullness I see is from the rig fisherman around here (Saudi Arabia) that shoot these monster groupers and only after come to the realization that they have no use for that much meat. happens all the time all over the world. has nothing to do with scuba.

I have strong reservations about scuba spearfishing. for many reasons. wastefullness is not one of them.

oh, and Welcome to DB.

 

[Chad Carney]

I said nothing of the wastefullness of scuba spearfishing. has nothing to do with scuba.
I have strong reservations about scuba spearfishing. for many reasons. wastefullness is not one of them.

Glad you clarified your statement.
Your 1.5 line paragraph reads differently, IMO.

Thanks for the welcome, but I may follow Mike, and leave before I get started.

BTW, Headhunter is also a good freedive shooter.

Chad