New speargun

[nate duffus]

Hello I was looking for some input on the mako
predator 3 was thinking 80 cm double band 16mm mostly going after lingcod and kelp green ling's due to regulations over here on Vancouver island thanks in advance

 

[Mr. X]

Welcome nate. That'd probably work. Danno, the owner of Mako is an active forum member so may respond in person.

Speargun length decisions generally relate to the visibility that you are likely to encounter (and consequently the range). Local spearos - or your own experience in the area - are generally the best guide to that.

Seem to recall a forum member using something similar to spear Ling Cod near Seattle several years ago. I used to live in that area, so it caught my attention. He posted a good image of his gear & catch too. I recall he had a really short Rob Allen railgun (maybe 70cm or 50cm even - the latter is available as a custom order, I think they can make them pretty much any length for custom orders. Presumably for very close range around rocks, so short, robust speargun with a strong (thick) spear. Doubt if you'd really need 2 bands for such close range work but nice to have the option (e.g. the RA Sparid comes with single 16mm bulk rubber (more powerful than screw-in rubbers) but a muzzle & spear that will accept a second rubber later if you wish to upgrade it - the spear is 6.6mm which I would consider medium weight, you might want something a little thicker if you are mainly poking around caves and holes in rocks?).

A small pneumatic might be worth considering - not really my thing tho'.

I'll move this thread to the USA/Canada regional area of the forum and leave link at this location (beginner spearfishing), might get more responses that way.

 

[nate duffus]

Great thank you for the input very helpful

 

[prospector]

Hello I was looking for some input on the mako
predator 3 was thinking 80 cm double band 16mm mostly going after lingcod and kelp green ling's due to regulations over here on Vancouver island thanks in advance

Good choice, I use a larger riffe down here in Baja but when I’m back in BC I use the Rob Allen 80 it’s perfect, the guns are very similar, happy hunting.

 

[nate duffus]

Good choice, I use a larger riffe down here in Baja but when I’m back in BC I use the Rob Allen 80 it’s perfect, the guns are very similar, happy hunting.

Thank you very much

 

[nate duffus]

Thank you very much

Are twin bands a good idea you think

 

[nate duffus]

Thank you very much

I've been on the fence about the twin or single bands

 

[prospector]

Are twin bands a good idea you think

Yeah, if you are worried about the shaft hitting the rocks you can always just use one, I like to try and manuever myself into a place where the backdrop is clear then let fly, isn’t always easy with ling but works well with greenling.

 

[nate duffus]

Yeah, if you are worried about the shaft hitting the rocks you can always just use one, I like to try and manuever myself into a place where the backdrop is clear then let fly, isn’t always easy with ling but works well with greenling.

Great super helpful thanks again

 

[nate duffus]

Yeah, if you are worried about the shaft hitting the rocks you can always just use one, I like to try and manuever myself into a place where the backdrop is clear then let fly, isn’t always easy with ling but works well with greenling.

One more question if yah don't mind they offer twin 14 mm other 16 mm I'm unsure of which to go with

 

[prospector]

One more question if yah don't mind they offer twin 14 mm other 16 mm I'm unsure of which to go with

That’s kinda hard to answer, lots of opinions, generally the 14 mil bands will be a little easier to load, also they will be a wee bit shorter than the 16 mil bands, this translates into a shorter relaxed length, in other words the thrust lasts a little bit longer than it would with the 16 mil bands. On Myron Allen 80 I use 16 mil on my riffe which is around 100 cm I use three 14 mil bands, hope this helps, cheers.

 

[nate duffus]

That’s kinda hard to answer, lots of opinions, generally the 14 mil bands will be a little easier to load, also they will be a wee bit shorter than the 16 mil bands, this translates into a shorter relaxed length, in other words the thrust lasts a little bit longer than it would with the 16 mil bands. On Myron Allen 80 I use 16 mil on my riffe which is around 100 cm I use three 14 mil bands, hope this helps, cheers.

Thanks again

 

[Mr. X]

You can load a single band quicker than 2. Loading 2 bands is an unnecessary hassle for most beginners IMHO. Having to load a thick, new band can take some of the pleasure out of spearing - and inject a little more difficulty and quite possibly pain/injury.

2x14mm is a popular option in Hawaii for some reason (big fish for beginners/youths?). We estimated that configuration to be about the same or slightly more powerful than a single 3/4"/19mm/20mm band but easier and slower to load- but there are other variables, some mentioned already by others.

2x16mm seems more relevant for very big pelajic fish I think. A single 16mm bulk rubber band is quite powerful. If you get a speargun capable of taking 2 rubbers (which depends on muzzle & spear notches & strength of trigger-mech supporting it) but fit it with a single 16mm rubber to start off with, you won't go far wrong - it keeps your options open. From there you can either move down to 1x14mm band or upto 2x14mm or 2x16mm or 1x20mm or even 2x20mm (although that would likely warrant a thicker spear shaft too and , perhaps, therapy! ).