New Dorset Spearo & Gun Advice Please...

[Tarpon Catcher]

Hi, this is my first post but I have been reading loads of threads and have to say it is an amazing site. Thanks to everyone for sharing.

I need some advice on spearfishing in Dorset and guns please. This is my situation...

I live in Bournemouth and have only spearfished in the med (south of France), Cuba, seychelles and just returned from Mexico. Prior to Mexico I was only really snorkelling and shallow diving for fish up to 5lb close to shore. Whilst in Mexico I went out for 5 half day sessions with my son who is 11 and we were taught by pros to free dive and spear much bigger fish. We both caught the bug and managed to bag lots of Barracuda, grouper, snapper and other fish and we got down to 15/20 metres. To say we are hooked is an understatement! Photo attached of the catch from one of our days. The largest Barracuda was speared by my son Charlie and was 1.2 metres long.

I have never spearfished locally in Dorset as I never thought it would be any good. Reading the Dorset forum it looks great for bass, mullet, flatties and lobster. I also have a Boston Whaler 22ft boat so getting around to different places out of Poole harbour is therefore a very viable option.

I have a Geronimo 55 and a Hawaiian sling and have just got a Mares 55 pneumatic. All good fun but everything changed in Mexico where we were using 140 double band guns. Even got to fire the instructors £1,500 triple band gun which was awesome but a real bitch to load! I really liked the range of the 140 double band guns and was able to load it comfortably.

So my question is are the two 55 guns I have good enough for Dorset or would I be better with something bigger? I have read posts saying 100 to 110 is max needed for UK/Europe and I get that as fish are smaller and vis is more limited. In the past, I have chosen guns based on what fits into my suitcase but as I'll be spearing locally length is no longer an issue.

I expect mainly to be going after bass. Having lure fished Poole from the boat for the last seven years, I know some good spots where the bass hang out most years.

Any guidance gladly received. Thanks.

And anyone local to Poole/Bournemouth who fancies going spearing off a boat in 2014, drop me a message.

 

[foxfish]

Welcome to the forum, a 75 single band gun will do most days but a single band 90 is always tempting & most guys use both.
The other option is a 90 dry barrel airgun, that will actually be the same length of a 75 band gun but, will have more power than a 90 band gun.
There are dry barrel conversion kits for most airguns or you can even buy them ready fitted nowadays.

 

[BatRay]

What a great introduction. I recommend also checking and posting in the regional subforum, as the locals check it on a regular basis. You can reach it at this link: http://forums.deeperblue.com/forums/uk-ireland.139/
Welcome to Deeperblue

 

[Tarpon Catcher]

Welcome to the forum, a 75 single band gun will do most days but a single band 90 is always tempting & most guys use both.
The other option is a 90 dry barrel airgun, that will actually be the same length of a 75 band gun but, will have more power than a 90 band gun.
There are dry barrel conversion kits for most airguns or you can even buy them ready fitted nowadays.

Thanks a lot. The air gun conversion kit has me confused but I'll check the forums to see what this means.

 

[Tarpon Catcher]

What a great introduction. I recommend also checking and posting in the regional subforum, as the locals check it on a regular basis. You can reach it at this link: http://forums.deeperblue.com/forums/uk-ireland.139/
Welcome to Deeperblue

Thanks - I'll check the link out now.

 

[foxfish]

Simples ... an O ring on the spear prevents water entering the barrel ... the result is much more power, no recoil or noise.
The O ring arrangement is fitted into a replacement screw on muzzle .. or dry barrel kit.