I think that the best way to understand where to shoot the fish is to study its anatomy. Thankfully I like to make fish chowder with all my fish heads. (Don't waste your heads! I'll post a Bermuda recipe to that end in the appropriate section of this site soon.)This requires that I boil the meat off of the bones and gives me the opportunity to study my shot in more detail.
I have made some comments on another thread on this site with regard to taking the time to get a kill shot and if the fish is of significant size, NOT shooting unless I think I have one. This results in fewer fish escaping with mortal injuries never to be found again and helps me sleep better at night. Also I am in Bermuda and we can only use pole spears by law so a kill shot can save you from having to buy a new pole every time you hit a big fish. Anyone who has has a large grouper take their spear for a run through the rocks will understand what I mean.
Obviously we are only human and can't always get that perfect shot even when it presents itself but I hope that these might help give a better understanding of where the ideal spots are.
My personal shooting angle of choice when targeting large groupers is from the top at a slight angle either left or right. Preferably angled slightly from front to back. This is the most vulnerable part of the fish's skull and the downward trajectory aids in maintaining the momentum of the pole spear, the power of which is already limited by what we can hold with our hand. A textbook version is shown in these photos. I haven't got any spinal nerve shot photos but if anyone else does let's see them!
I have made some comments on another thread on this site with regard to taking the time to get a kill shot and if the fish is of significant size, NOT shooting unless I think I have one. This results in fewer fish escaping with mortal injuries never to be found again and helps me sleep better at night. Also I am in Bermuda and we can only use pole spears by law so a kill shot can save you from having to buy a new pole every time you hit a big fish. Anyone who has has a large grouper take their spear for a run through the rocks will understand what I mean.
Obviously we are only human and can't always get that perfect shot even when it presents itself but I hope that these might help give a better understanding of where the ideal spots are.
My personal shooting angle of choice when targeting large groupers is from the top at a slight angle either left or right. Preferably angled slightly from front to back. This is the most vulnerable part of the fish's skull and the downward trajectory aids in maintaining the momentum of the pole spear, the power of which is already limited by what we can hold with our hand. A textbook version is shown in these photos. I haven't got any spinal nerve shot photos but if anyone else does let's see them!
