New member from Sarasota

[oneoldude]

Hi All,

I am a new member but an old guy. I started freediving and spear fishing around 1958 but been out of the game for many a year. I figure if I do some fish hunting I will get some excercise that I sorely need! But I have no gear and am out of the loop.

I live in Sarasota Fl and would like some pointers to good places to go in depths of 30 feet or less. Also, are there any dive shops that cater to freedivers in this part of the world? By "this part of the world" I mean from Venice to Tampa/St. Pete. I am looking for shops that sell used stuff, trigger parts, spears, rubber etc. because I am a tinkerer and enjoy making and modifiying gear.

Thanks for the site and thanks for any replies.

 

[Bill]

Aloha OOD
From one to another. If you shot your first fish in '58, you probably beat me by a few months. Depending on how long you have been out of the game, you'll notice a few/lot of changes. The big game gun costs a thousand now instead of a hundred, the fins are a little longer and grandmothers dive 230 feet.
Be very careful, this stuff is addictive.
Bill

 

[Erik]

Welcome 1oldD. You 'old' guys have lots to contribute, please do so! The gear selection is probably a little more than you remember, and there's some good science behind some of it. But there's no substitute for experience, hunting instinct, and good stories....so bring 'em on.
I'm from the wrong end of the continent, but I'm sure there are some shops close to you....lots of spearos in Fl. Hopefully they'll start chiming in.
Cheers,
Erik Y.

 

[oneoldude]

Now that I think of it, I guess I started freediving about 1956 at about 14 years of age.

I made my own 1 band mini speargun and did quite well with it until I hit a 30+ pound snook on the gill plate (yes I was a bad kid in those days). The spear just bounced off! That is when I bought a US made arbalette (sp?) type gun and couldn't hit the bottom with it.

I suppose I want to relive my youth and do it right this time. That is why I am looking for parts from which to make a short range gun. I have seen some of the custom wood guns on the net and they are very pretty and quite easy to make.

I have some decent cypress boards (they grow in water don't they?) for barrels and if I can salvage an old trigger mechanism or two from somewhere I should be on my way.

It's going to be fun!

Thanks,

oneoldude

 

[Alison]

Welcome OOD
I just love your signiture
There a couple of links been posetd recently, one in particular from an Italian member with a brilliant site about gun making, I think it was in a which one should I buy thread in the speargun section. Icarus Pacific has writtten an article on the hunting home page about the wood work involved, They may be of help to you.
Anyway once again Welcome, its good to have new members with experience (especially of life as well as hunting).
Ali

 

[cdavis]

Welcome OOD,

Its great to have another DBer in Sarasota. Got your phone, will call later. Think about getting together to train.

Connor