hey from ventura, ca

[robm422]

Hi all,
just want to get started in spearfishing. Need to advise on type of speargun to get. I used to do a fair amount of free diving/ spearfishing in college on Oahu, but it's been awhile. Main areas will be the channel islands, probably ana cappa and santa cruz.
any advice welcome,
thanks
Rob

 

[Salehthefish]

hello mate

Welcome on DB and there are threads regarding choosing the proper gun...

all best

 

[Bill]

I dove that area for 25 years. Some day I'll do it again. Try to get to one of the competitions at Paradise Cove or Leo Carillo and see what they're using. You could start with a mid handle gun about one meter with a heavy (9mm or more) shaft and lots of power. Great for the 1-3 meter range, in holes and Halibut.

 

[robm422]

I will do that, thanks

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Welcome to Deeper Blue.

Choice of guns is something that is at least partly subjective and will be argued forever, but I'll give you my two cents anyway. If you want to shoot things like calico bass and halibut, then a Euro style gun of around 110 cm or a midhandle wood gun of around 50" would be a good choice, and would still give you a chance to take a white sea bass or a yellowtail if you got close enough and have the discipline to pass up fish that are out of range.

But if you really want to be prepared for white sea bass, then I would recommend a mid handle wood gun of 55" to 60" rigged with a reel or float line and a slip tip on the shaft. I'm partial to Wong guns, and have six of them, but of course there are other good choices.

http://www.wongspearguns.com/

The 62 pound white sea bass in my avatar was taken with a 58" Wong hybrid with 9/32" shaft, three 9/16" bands, and a Mori slip tip.

BTW, the northern channel islands are white sea bass mecca. Many divers up there don't even bother to get into the water until they see fish. They just cruise slowly through the kelp beds until they spot them. Down here, I'd almost never get in the water if I did that.

If you want to talk more about gear and techniques for CA diving, you should come over to the CA/West Coast forum. I'd be happy to help you as much as I can.

 

[robm422]

Yeah I would like to be ready for a white seabass if the opportunity arose.
I will check out that website, and move over to that other forum for further advice

 

[BatRay]

Welcome to the forums! Feel free to browse, ask questions, and head on over to the California/West Coast forum. And listen to Bill - he knows a lot

 

[agbiv]

Welcome from Texas! Db is a great place!