Hey guys... I have been pole spearing off and on for a while now, but just recently decided to take the dive into guns... I have been trolling the forum for the last couple weeks and have already got a lot of good info that has helped me in determining some of the new gear that I have got/will get.. So thanks a bunch already.
I have been spearing in orange county CA, but only once in a while.... I plan on trying to get out often this year, as my brother-in-law has also recently gotten into it.
It was funny actually...I told my wife that I wanted to get some new spearfishing equipment for christmas. She had no idea where to begin, and what to get me, so I ended up picking out my own stuff. However, because of my inexperience, I apparently really didn't know what to get either.
I was primarily looking at just getting new fins, mask, snorkel and knife...considering the mask/snorkel/fins that I had been using were part of a cheep U.S divers kit that we got before our honeymoon to Hawaii....I know...it is embarrassing to admit that I was spearing with that gear. But honestly, I was only really going for opaleye and surf perch in about >15ft of water. Then it happened. One day of great visibility. I found that the slight nervousness that I normally experienced in low visibility was gone and I immediately made a B-line for deeper water....THIS IS AWESOME!!! SO MUCH LIFE!!! SO MUCH I WANT TO EAT!!
So I chose some closed heal fins (aqua lung caravelle), which looked great to me in comparison to what I had. After learning a bit more and wearing them once I feel as though I could have made a better decision (longer fins), but I will stick with them for a bit, until my dive time allows me to go deeper than ~25ft comfortably.
For mask, all I knew was that I wanted one with a black skirt, and that fit well. I got the Tusa Visio tri-ex mask, which seemed to fit my face the best, and has really good visibility. I like it I think. At least for what I am doing now. If I end up going deeper I will look into a more low volume one (which I had no idea about when I bought mine).
Then I looked up on the wall of the sports Chalet that I was at and saw spearguns..... I want.
I knew nothing about them at that point. I just thought...I am good shooting things above water...It seems like a better fit for me than a pole spear. Plus...seriously, spearguns are just pretty damn cool.
Naturally I looked at getting the least expensive one..well...(my wife did actually), I was looking at the biggest one. They were all of one brand. I bought the small one. (JBL mini). Then I returned it to get the next size up (JBL mini carbine). Then I returned it to get the (JBL carbine) which has two bands. Then I returned it when I learned about line releases and but pads. So then I decided that I would finally be happy with the next step up (JBL explorer lightning 22), which had a line release, shock cord, more range, ability to add an extra band, and a rail (all things I started to read up on as I began to really look into spearguns).
However, there was another thing I noticed in my research.... Out of every forum that I trolled, and JBL was mentioned, ~6 out of 7 people thought JBL was utter crap. :head
I figured that I would try it out first before totally jumping ship on JBL, all while starting to look at other guns that were in my price range.
I went out on Sunday. Unfortunately, The visibility wasn't great, it was very cold (don't have a hood yet....MUST get one before next time), and I couldn't find much to shoot at....Well...I actually took one shot. A perfect side shot at a good sized opaleye from only about 7 ft away. I missed. Still not sure how. I know with not being familiar with the gun, I could have barely missed high or low....but still...yeah...abort.
So I just returned the JBL...and ordered a Cressi Comanche elite 95 for $206. I wasn't too sure about the open muzzle, and am happy it comes with a real... but realize I probably wont need it. In fact... I do realize that the combination of a reel and open muzzle is usually the least advisable set-up for a beginner, but I couldn't help myself.
So thats it for my long intro. Thanks for taking the time to read...
And I'm sure I will be posting soon (~7-10 days) asking advise on rigging and other set-up advice.
-jeff
I have been spearing in orange county CA, but only once in a while.... I plan on trying to get out often this year, as my brother-in-law has also recently gotten into it.
It was funny actually...I told my wife that I wanted to get some new spearfishing equipment for christmas. She had no idea where to begin, and what to get me, so I ended up picking out my own stuff. However, because of my inexperience, I apparently really didn't know what to get either.
I was primarily looking at just getting new fins, mask, snorkel and knife...considering the mask/snorkel/fins that I had been using were part of a cheep U.S divers kit that we got before our honeymoon to Hawaii....I know...it is embarrassing to admit that I was spearing with that gear. But honestly, I was only really going for opaleye and surf perch in about >15ft of water. Then it happened. One day of great visibility. I found that the slight nervousness that I normally experienced in low visibility was gone and I immediately made a B-line for deeper water....THIS IS AWESOME!!! SO MUCH LIFE!!! SO MUCH I WANT TO EAT!!
So I chose some closed heal fins (aqua lung caravelle), which looked great to me in comparison to what I had. After learning a bit more and wearing them once I feel as though I could have made a better decision (longer fins), but I will stick with them for a bit, until my dive time allows me to go deeper than ~25ft comfortably.
For mask, all I knew was that I wanted one with a black skirt, and that fit well. I got the Tusa Visio tri-ex mask, which seemed to fit my face the best, and has really good visibility. I like it I think. At least for what I am doing now. If I end up going deeper I will look into a more low volume one (which I had no idea about when I bought mine).
Then I looked up on the wall of the sports Chalet that I was at and saw spearguns..... I want.
I knew nothing about them at that point. I just thought...I am good shooting things above water...It seems like a better fit for me than a pole spear. Plus...seriously, spearguns are just pretty damn cool.
Naturally I looked at getting the least expensive one..well...(my wife did actually), I was looking at the biggest one. They were all of one brand. I bought the small one. (JBL mini). Then I returned it to get the next size up (JBL mini carbine). Then I returned it to get the (JBL carbine) which has two bands. Then I returned it when I learned about line releases and but pads. So then I decided that I would finally be happy with the next step up (JBL explorer lightning 22), which had a line release, shock cord, more range, ability to add an extra band, and a rail (all things I started to read up on as I began to really look into spearguns).
However, there was another thing I noticed in my research.... Out of every forum that I trolled, and JBL was mentioned, ~6 out of 7 people thought JBL was utter crap. :head
I figured that I would try it out first before totally jumping ship on JBL, all while starting to look at other guns that were in my price range.
I went out on Sunday. Unfortunately, The visibility wasn't great, it was very cold (don't have a hood yet....MUST get one before next time), and I couldn't find much to shoot at....Well...I actually took one shot. A perfect side shot at a good sized opaleye from only about 7 ft away. I missed. Still not sure how. I know with not being familiar with the gun, I could have barely missed high or low....but still...yeah...abort.
So I just returned the JBL...and ordered a Cressi Comanche elite 95 for $206. I wasn't too sure about the open muzzle, and am happy it comes with a real... but realize I probably wont need it. In fact... I do realize that the combination of a reel and open muzzle is usually the least advisable set-up for a beginner, but I couldn't help myself.
So thats it for my long intro. Thanks for taking the time to read...
And I'm sure I will be posting soon (~7-10 days) asking advise on rigging and other set-up advice.
-jeff
