How to spear safely with others?

[Mr. X]

...
Have you ever thought about doing a AIDA freediving course? ...
Bryn Spencer

On the other hand what the hell do I know..

...Hopefully something, as I was hoping to take your spearo course. I am hoping that you will cover all this and more (freediving technique & practice, local fishing spots/techniques, gear selection - boats, floats, etc.).

 

[Hypersquid1]

oh i have sort of a dumb question. i was at block island on vacation, and there was this old salt saying how he saw a huge striper swim by his boat, and next time it happened he said he would take his gun and shoot it. why is it so terrible to load a gun out of water? sort of a dumb question but why is it all that bad?

 

[poacher]

Many reasons ,
one is without the density of water to slow your spear it may hit the end of your shooting line and bounce back at you or a bystander another is out of water you tend to try and load in different positions and the gun may slip and hit you etc. also it is not considered sporting to spear from a boat with a gun and also refraction means you will have to aim at a diferent spot to where you see the fish if your above the water and it is below.

 

[Mr. X]

... why is it so terrible to load a gun out of water? sort of a dumb question but why is it all that bad?

http://www.sumora.com/speargunsafety.php
The above link is pretty good. Some possible reasons that come to mind:

- if you are firing out of the water you are probably messing around (spearguns are generally designed to be fired at fish, while under water -- manufacturers, such as Riffe, often have special tanks/pools for test firing).

- spearline, etc. are more likely to break, releasing the spear (no water to damp/impede it -> greater impulsive force)

- increase chance of spear bouncing back into shooter (no water to damp it, in either direction)

- fish are usually in the water, people are usually out of the water

- sits well with other common guidelines (never have a gun loaded out of the water -- ref. the guy shot in the backside by his octopus story on the injury thread).

- you might run foul of some odd hunting laws (bow hunting restrictions, crossbow bans,...)

Not about spearing but perhaps of some marginal relevance: http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/S-FathersAdvice.html - Written by Mark Beaufoy of Coombe House, Shaftesbury, Dorset, England, in 1902, on presenting his eldest son, Henry Mark, with his first gun.

 

[stone_shot]

I have a mate back in the States who thought it would be fun to shoot his new pneumatic at a tree in the back yard. I can't impress on anyone the speed that the spear rebounded at when it hit the end of the line-- a blink would have missed it. There was the sound of the shot closely followed by the sound of his spear ramming through the kitchen door behind him, Luckily it missed him because there was no way he would have been able to react fast enough to get out of the way. I've never seen anyone turn so pale.

 

[Hypersquid1]

ok ok so firing a speargun out of water is a big no no. definately not oging to try it after hearing the kitchen door story.

 

[Mr. X]

Stone Shot, thanks for the vivid, real life-life illustration. [Here is another: http://forums.deeperblue.net/showpost.php?p=559618&postcount=6]

A vegan pal sent me a link to this years ago -- thought it might appeal to you: http://www.terrybisson.com/meatplay.html

 

[Pav]

I'm like you Mr X and usually spear alone. My mates back from Aus this year :friday and I look forward to spearing with him. We will take turns playing captain of the yak whilst the other dives. Offering encouragment :wave and towing to where we want to be! , and preparing the sushi !

I reckon 30mins in / 30 mins on the yak taking turns will be a good approach and we should maintain our energy levels. We have dived together before when we first started but what ever rules we set I never relaxed when we were both in the water. Only other way I'd be happy would be to fish opposite ends of a cove with an agreed markers that we would not pass. / or for one of us to have an unloaded gun.

 

[petex]

you should always know where your partner is spear is not only thing to be
worried:cold, fog, sudden strong wind
here in finland i look where my friend is before i dive ,it doesnt take long
and you can free your mind for fishing
i am not a professional but that is my advice

 

[Mr. X]

Thanks Pav & Petex. Pav, turns out I already have several volunteer crew for my kayak -- unfortunately the one best suited for spearing with me is 6' 4", so we'll have to take turns! (If you ever want to get rid of that Tandem...).

 

[Zygote]

Mr X

Take a working VHF with a full charge, use c16 for distress calls and remember that it could be a long wait for Whiskey Bravo..

I look forward to reading the MCA report.

 

[scottie3030]

do u have to do a corse to use VHF? i was thinking of getting one!

 

[ben]

Yes....contact your local chandler or sailing school for details...its not hard just a few evenings and short exam that cant be failed unless your a complete numptie....
You then have to register it afterwards and get a call sign (if i remember correctly) if you intend to use it to let the CG know every time you leave port or return home. If you only want it for emergencies i wouldnt bother registering, just keep it charged, switched on in the boat and have a list of frequencies of channels to hand or programmed just in case...