Hello! From a newby in NC

[wayniac]

Hey guys and gals! First of all I'd like to thank you for all your awesome posts... I've been lurking for about a week, and your expertise was very helpful in my gear search...

I'm originally from San Diego, CA, but I now live in central NC... I've done just about every above water watersport imaginable, but I just never got into freediving, SCUBA or underwater hunting... With the exception of a few times in South Florida and a couple times at Catalina Island with some friends... Due to an infestation of carp in my local lake I figure it's time to give it a shot...

I'll mainly be spearfishing in freshwater at a max depth of 25'... the visibility is 3-7' depending on weather conditions... As I stated my main targets will be carp, but the occasional catfish may end up as dinner... I also want my gear to be able to handle the VA/NC/SC coasts during family vacations, so I will be purchasing another spear in the future... Unfortunately, my wife put a $300 dollar :head budget on me(which I slightly exceeded, shhhhhh!!! :naughty) Here's my set-up -

Mask: Mares Star Liquidskin spearfishing mask $49.95
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Mares-Sporasub-Star-LiquidSkin-Spearfishing/dp/B002X31LWI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2AV9BHIP0C4IF&coliid=I2PTTC10VSXHU1"]Amazon.com: Mares Sporasub Star LiquidSkin Spearfishing Mask - Black with Grey Skirt: Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41iuRytHOiL.@@AMEPARAM@@41iuRytHOiL[/ame]

Snorkel: Omer Zoom - Green camo $44.00
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Omer-Zoom-Ocean-Mimetic-Snorkel-Mimetic_Green_Camo-ONE/dp/B001O1BNQE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2AV9BHIP0C4IF&coliid=I28YHXZROKS8WU&psc=1"]Omer Zoom Ocean Mimetic Snorkel-Mimetic_Green_Camo-ONE : Amazon.com : Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31lYtTru%2BhL.@@AMEPARAM@@31lYtTru%2BhL[/ame]

Fins: Mares Pro Instinct Quattro Power - Green Camo $136.00
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Mares-Pure-Instinct-Quattro-Spearfishing/dp/B00ASSQGV6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2AV9BHIP0C4IF&coliid=IX8I3QP2PGC8Q&psc=1"]Mares Pure Instinct Quattro Power Spearfishing Fins (Mens 8-9 / Womens 10-11, Green Camo) : Amazon.com : Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41nEjy9tlsL.@@AMEPARAM@@41nEjy9tlsL[/ame]

Fin Socks: H2O Odyssey 2mm mini socks $10.00
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/H2Odyssey-Mini-Sock2mm-Unisex-Sock/dp/B00CPC2TYG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2AV9BHIP0C4IF&coliid=I7U5WU7R00QCG&psc=1"]Amazon.com: H2Odyssey Mini Sock2mm Unisex Fin Sock - Available in All Sizes (Large): Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41nJxMqSU8L.@@AMEPARAM@@41nJxMqSU8L[/ame]

Gloves; IST 2mm green camo spearfishing gloves $27.90
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Camouflage-Fishing-Gloves-Swimming-Snorkeling/dp/B0020CAEMU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2AV9BHIP0C4IF&coliid=I26424A6I31X31&psc=1"]2mm Camouflage Spear Fishing Gloves with Amara Palm Camo Scuba Dive Diving Diver Divers Swim Swimming Snorkeling Gloves, Green Camo, Large : Amazon.com : Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41KUDWeUssL.@@AMEPARAM@@41KUDWeUssL[/ame]

Rash Guard: Mares rash guard top camo brown $40.00
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Mares-Pure-Instinct-Guard-X-Large/dp/B007ANV55E/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2AV9BHIP0C4IF&coliid=I30267IOPKAUTS&psc=1"]Mares Pure Instinct Mens Rash Guard Top Camo Brown (X-Large, Camo Brown) : Amazon.com : Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zBED3MvIL.@@AMEPARAM@@51zBED3MvIL[/ame]

Spear: 2' Lionfish mini pole spear with 6" 6 prong tip $26.95
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Lionfish-Mini-Spear-with-Tip/dp/B004P6QRSE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2AV9BHIP0C4IF&coliid=I2O48SUFYREJ2L"]Lionfish Mini Spear with Tip : Amazon.com : Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31rGntH25kL.@@AMEPARAM@@31rGntH25kL[/ame]

So at this point I was doing pretty good with my budget, a few buck over but not bad, and then I ran across a floatboard that I just couldn't pass up for the price $98.13
Best Hunter Okipa 2 Double Bladder Board. Accessories Buoys, Scubastore.com, buy, offers, dive

I already have some camo boardshorts and a small dive knife that I'll be wearing as well... And that is that folks :thankyou

Is there anything critical you see missing, or something you think that may be helpful for me to add in the future? All recommendations, suggestions and critique gladly accepted... Happy spearing!

 

[wayniac]

Weights and a weightbelt... Duh!

Thinking this weightbelt -
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Rubber-Spearfishing-Freediving-Stainless-Options/dp/B00CH46EDE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2AV9BHIP0C4IF&coliid=IEQ7MIFG3O5P5&psc=1"]OMER Rubber Weight Belt for Spearfishing and Freediving Nylon or Stainless Steel Buckle Options (Nylon Buckle ($26.95)) : Amazon.com : Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31oVAuhBXQL.@@AMEPARAM@@31oVAuhBXQL[/ame]

with these weights -
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Pearls-Vinyl-Coated-Weights/dp/B00355GKYW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2AV9BHIP0C4IF&coliid=IDMHNE3WSI77H&psc=1"]Sea Pearls Vinyl Coated lead Lace Thru Style Hard Weights - Black, 2Pounds : Amazon.com : Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31%2Bx%2BCZCenL.@@AMEPARAM@@31%2Bx%2BCZCenL[/ame]

Do you guys think about 6 lbs(three 2lb weights) would be correct since I'm not wearing a wetsuit (the water is about 80 degrees here already)...

I'm 6'2 220

My wife is going to knock me the f*!% out... lol :ko

 

[H2o Sniper]

I'm glad you didn't forget a flag so you dont get ran over by a boat, ski doo or something. I hope you went to a nearby dive shop to try yhe mask on before purchasing to make sure you have a perfect fit, there's nothing like a pergect mask. Most important thing you need is a dive buddy and that you both learn about saftey together. There's a lot of dangers that you both really need to learn about for your own safety. With that said back to your gear. I know how exciting it can be buying new gear but some used gear might give you better bang for your buck when first starting out. As an example, I bought a brown camo wetsuit with loading pad for spear gun for $25 , old spear gun for $50 fully funtional and shoots straight, long blade fins for $55, low volume mask w/ snorkle for $25. Let me be the first to say welcome to your new addiction Wayniac.

I hope you bought a sparring helmet too for your wifes right hook <--- Wayniac after wifey finds out, hahaha!
Have fun and safety first, Aloha!

 

[H2o Sniper]

Do the fish there let you get that close to use a short spear like that?