Fish stringer: bad loss!

[Pastor]

Is there a way to spike the fish onto the float line without the gun ever being detached from the float-line?

Not quite but a break away is the closest thing

 

[Mr. X]

I was just reviewing this thread as I just made a belt stringer, following the design shown on Ulysses's link <-- v. useful link.

For the needle, I used thin metal rod that I had laying around off some broken thing (can't recall what it was from). I used a Hacksaw & a mill b@stard file to create a tri-cut point. I don't think I could have drilled the rod (too hard, too thin) so, like the image on the above link, I tied the cord to the rod. I used a cinch knot, which I tightened and then used the ends to tie a second cinch knot. It looks & feels secure but as a precaution, after final balancing, I superglued the knot to the bar. For the cord, I used some multi-coloured black woven braid from the waist of an old pair of surfer shorts. I've attached the cord to my Marseille belt's pin (per the above link); again, I used the double cinch knot described above.

Early thoughts: I'm not sure how well putting the spike end in the rubber loop of my Marseille belt will work. With fish loaded on, it might not be secure. Also, my pin is quite long (measured to be the same length as my heavy duty RA float stringer's needle), perhaps too long for a waist stringer, I don't want to stab myself in the groin. Also, it will rust but it should do until I can buy a shorter stainless steel stringer pin.

BTW I've also noticed this speed stringing gizmo on the new Rob Allen site:

"Used in conjunction with the Speed Needle, the Speed Stringer traps the fish on a cable leader attached between the Float and Floatline. The cable prevents damage tp the stringer in the event of a shark feeding on strung fish.
Speed Stringer (Code FLSS)"

Also check out the Ghost leader:

"The Ghost leader is fitted between the gun and the floatline. The section of clear monofilament helps when lying in ambush on the bottom.
(Code GHSLDR5)"

Or the Ghost Leader with flasher (a flasher on your float line, nearer the gun than the float?):

'The “no hassle” model that works throughout your dive and also when you rest on the surface.

The flasher is fitted in the middle of a Ghost Leader with floatation to increase its action. A good choice for general diving or in strong currents when you might become separated from the other models.

(code FLSGLS)'

 

[settingsteel]

very cool thx for sharing!

 

[Mr. X]

...should do until I can buy a shorter stainless steel stringer pin.

I noticed that Apnea Online Store had their mono stringer on sale for around £3.50 (cheaper than buying just a single pin from them & the shorter pin will probably tuck in the belt more safely). I've placed a small order for some odds & ends. [Seem to recall somebody selling stringer pins in packs of 4 for around £4 somewhere:hmm]

 

[willloomy]

In Hawaii i have seen some good sized sharks so i keep mine as far away from me as possible. either on my float or tied to my belt but on a string to keep it far away from me. I dont know if there are sharks by you but i hope this helps.

 

[irtrogdor]

If you are in a bind you can just grab a wire coat hanger, unfurl it, then twist a little loop in the middle. attach a line and you have a stringer!

I always have my stringer on my float, but i have been considering rigging up a small one to attach to myself or my gun to get the fish out of the way while I head back to the float.

 

[Sarnian]

I noticed that Apnea Online Store had their mono stringer on sale for around £3.50 (cheaper than buying just a single pin from them & the shorter pin will probably tuck in the belt more safely). I've placed a small order for some odds & ends. [Seem to recall somebody selling stringer pins in packs of 4 for around £4 somewhere:hmm]

I think they're Beuchat or Omer and they're perfectly good.Also I've found it difficult to buy such a small amount of that size mono, unless you need a 100m reel or whatever.

 

[blaiz]

In Hawaii i have seen some good sized sharks so i keep mine as far away from me as possible. either on my float or tied to my belt but on a string to keep it far away from me. I dont know if there are sharks by you but i hope this helps.

Although sharks are a big concern here you still will see alot of top spearos use a belt kui. I used one for a long time. Had many encounters with sharks but only one that scared me enough to stop using the belt kui. It sucks too because when you have those Ukus floating around above your head the others seem to come right in. Easy Pickings!

Im sure its common sense, but anyone planning on using a belt kui (stringer) never use steel cable, always use mono. I have had to cut a few kuis because of them getting stuck in the coral while diving, steel will drown you. If you are using a kui on your float, always use steel cable. Ive lost too many mono kuis to sharks. Atleast with the steel the shark has to work on it to get your fish, gives you some time to get to your float and "shoo" the shark. Though I have had a 9ft great hammerhead bite through 1000# rated steel cable with one pull

Hey Willloomy, where in Hawaii are you? Hawaii divers on this site are few and far between. Its good to hear from one.

 

[settingsteel]

Yep, double yep to the SScable on the belt...I had a pretty fugly encounter http://forums.deeperblue.net/florida-east-coast/76347-my-horror-story-what-s-yours.html and since switched over to mono (actually its bright orange weed whacker nylon) attached to my belt. After the encounter I tried the speed stringer, the stringer on float, etc. butr went back to the str on belt (old habits die hard), I will add in all the time I've been diving I've never had a taxman bring it on...I think the key element is to completely dispatch fish prior to stringing, IOW i dont think its the scent but the death struggle that rings the dinner bell.

The stringer I DIY is easily detached and reattached to a float line, or handed over to capt to empty in cooler, so it is quite versatile.

 

[Mr. X]

Sarian, you are right. The Omer mono string I got from Apnea seems ideal for a belt stringer and reasonably priced to boot. Haven't tried it in the water yet but fits the belt well.

In Hawaii i have seen some good sized sharks so i keep mine as far away from me as possible. either on my float or tied to my belt but on a string to keep it far away from me. I dont know if there are sharks by you but i hope this helps.

I was looking at a New Zealand spearing link at the weekend (forum member Ron's Sea Corner)-- they use big fibre glass boxes called "plats" as floats and to hold their catch. I am surpised they are so popular in NZ yet apparently unknown elsewhere. Some of the designs are quite neat.
e.g Advantage

 

[settingsteel]

looks cool but it must be a B to tow thru the aqua

 

[Marwan]

they have a couple of other nice designs there, i imagine that with a CAT hull it could be easier to tow..like the omer shardana float..

 

[Mr. X]

Yes, some of the designs look more streamline but might not hold as many big fish. I am surprised they don't put some handles on the front & make them more like the big flat floats some of the French spearos use (planche?) - I think they haul their upper bodies on top & fin them around. Something like these but with fish storage space: Dive/spearo marker floats as swimming aids

Or "micro RIBs" like the Omer, Sevylor & the similar USA product (with windscreen & water bottle holders):

Floats & Lines - Pro Dive Hunter Platform
[The Omer one, above, has a window for looking down into the water]

Or this one:

Kit planche Dive Hunter + Grappin + Cordage + Filet et Mousqueton+Capsule étanche+Stylet accroche poisson Divers Accessoires chasse

 

[Marwan]

i have that one in the photo x by sevylor...its nice to carry stuff on and even body board but causes way too much drag in the surf...not fun

 

[bluewaterkiller]

Sarian, you are right. The Omer mono string I got from Apnea seems ideal for a belt stringer and reasonably priced to boot. Haven't tried it in the water yet but fits the belt well.I was looking at a New Zealand spearing link at the weekend (forum member Ron's Sea Corner)-- they use big fibre glass boxes called "plats" as floats and to hold their catch. I am surpised they are so popular in NZ yet apparently unknown elsewhere. Some of the designs are quite neat.
e.g Advantage

hopfully are unknown :as i remembered the NZ team ? or aussies team?coming for a comp in tubuai -(POLYNESIA) few years ago and
testing this stuff that was .....SINKING!! ha !ha!:t

 

[Mr. X]

I guess buoyancy should be a required feature of any float. Yes fibre glass will sink if it fills with water and there is no supplementary buoyancy (thinking back to the canoes of my youth). I would think a couple of large polystyrene blocks would do the trick but would use up some of that fish storage space. Maybe they should look at the SOT kayaks for inspiration, rather than the old glass fibre kayaks?

BTW I wore the simple Omer belt stringer (i.e. not the fancy Marco B. one), from apnea.co.uk, out yesterday. I didn't catch any fish (got a nice lobster in my pot though) so didn't get to fully test it but it stayed in place nicely, didn't get in the way & tuck in very neatlly behind my curved weight. Much better than my home-made one, I will definitely be using it again.

 

[irtrogdor]

Although sharks are a big concern here you still will see alot of top spearos use a belt kui. I used one for a long time. Had many encounters with sharks but only one that scared me enough to stop using the belt kui. It sucks too because when you have those Ukus floating around above your head the others seem to come right in. Easy Pickings!

Im sure its common sense, but anyone planning on using a belt kui (stringer) never use steel cable, always use mono. I have had to cut a few kuis because of them getting stuck in the coral while diving, steel will drown you. If you are using a kui on your float, always use steel cable. Ive lost too many mono kuis to sharks. Atleast with the steel the shark has to work on it to get your fish, gives you some time to get to your float and "shoo" the shark. Though I have had a 9ft great hammerhead bite through 1000# rated steel cable with one pull

Hey Willloomy, where in Hawaii are you? Hawaii divers on this site are few and far between. Its good to hear from one.

+1
I used nylon line for my stringer the first time, and guess what - a stingray took off with my brothers catch. So even if there aren't sharks around (like where i fish) still use the steel cable. Eels, stringray, and probably even some other fish like to eat things sitting around in the open.

 

[bluewaterkiller]

store the fish out from water..!

 

[blaiz]

store the fish out from water..!

I know this would be ideal but where I dive pulling around a large boogieboard is a little too combersome. There is usually a pretty good wind chop and where we enter usually a pretty good sized swell. My buddy used to use a boogieboard but it ended up being too much of a hassle. Anytime the wind chop or swell cought the board the wrong way it would flip. To me its just to much added frustration and less drag. Also I think keeping your fish cool in the water reduces the spoil factor as well. These are just thoughts from my experiences though. I do like your float set up you posted "bluewaterkiller"

 

[thornton]

I am new to this so I'm hoping someone can clarify. The different options are: 1)stringer tied directly to wieght belt/diver, 2) stringer tied to a tow line and towline tied diver, 3) speed stringer to gun and gun attached to float via towline and 4) stringer attached to float and float attached to diver via tow line.

Is it a hassle dragging around a float? Isn't it always pulling on you?