Is it a good idea to attach fish to the reel line on the speargun?

[Jay Cusack]

I've been spearfishing for only 2 years, so I'm very new to the sport but enjoy it very much and I hope perhaps someone could answer this question?

Is it ok to keep fish on the speargun reel line?
I have seen some videos on youtube of people shooting a fish then pulling it through with the reel line and just let it sit there on their speargun, but because I live in Australia and because of sharks I've been a bit scared to just let the fish hang on the speargun. i'm hoping someone could help me out.

thanks, first time posting on here

 

[Mr. X]

Really (reely? ), I've not seen or heard of that. Sounds like a bad idea in sharky waters. If you decide to fish in sharky waters, one option might be to use a float stringer - or use a speed-stringer and let the fish move up your float line until they are secured by a flopper near the float. But probably better to storesl your fish out of the water, for example in a boat, kayak or planche box float ( i.e. a float with fish storage inside).

 

[cdavis]

I've been spearfishing for only 2 years, so I'm very new to the sport but enjoy it very much and I hope perhaps someone could answer this question?

Is it ok to keep fish on the speargun reel line?
I have seen some videos on youtube of people shooting a fish then pulling it through with the reel line and just let it sit there on their speargun, but because I live in Australia and because of sharks I've been a bit scared to just let the fish hang on the speargun. i'm hoping someone could help me out.

thanks, first time posting on here
View attachment 54897

Depends on where you are. We stringer fish in the Gulf of Mexico all the time. Plenty of sharks, but they very seldom are a problem. Try the same thing in the Keys and you will have a problem pretty soon. Try it in the Bahamas and they will run you out of the water in a hurry.

Go with local knowledge.

 

[sharkey]

Australia is a big country, on the east coast the zones range from almost arctic in Tassie to tropical in Nth QLD. Each area will see locals using different setups. The best advice, not just for sharks, is to tow a float & flag. Boat strikes are 100 times more risky than sharks, & the rig line & float also let you play our large fish much better & more safely than a reel. The fish can either be kept on a stringer on the float or a speed rig used to thread them onto the rig line. I use several different systems depending upon where in Aust I am or what I am hunting. Here is a photo of a basic flag & float which should be part of your kit.