• Welcome to the DeeperBlue.com Forums, the largest online community dedicated to Freediving, Scuba Diving and Spearfishing. To gain full access to the DeeperBlue.com Forums you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:

    • Join over 44,280+ fellow diving enthusiasts from around the world on this forum
    • Participate in and browse from over 516,210+ posts.
    • Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
    • Post your own photos or view from 7,441+ user submitted images.
    • All this and much more...

    You can gain access to all this absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today!

pole spears

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
you don't generally tether pole spears, the weight of them make the fish stay put. there is some video of the Manny Puig (sp?) spear being used tethered, but it's probably not within sane pole spearing territory.

good luck!
 
Last edited:
you don't generally tether pole spears, the weight of them make the fish stay put. there is some videos of the Manny Puig (sp?) spear being used tethered, but it's probably not within sane pole spearing territory.

good luck!
yea thats what actually gave me the idea was seeing manny do it... i also saw a couple other guys doin it... but i tested my pole spear in the pool and it dosent go flying 10 feet like those guys spears do. i pulled it as far as it would go until it felt like it would rip any further. also i noticed when i bought it it had the rubber up inside the pole so i adjusted it so i got the most out. but then it didnt fly far so i put it back short and it still didnt really shoot far..

whats theres have that mine dosent?... stronger tension rubber? i can see why youd wanna teather a pole spear like they do when it shoots so far out of reach.
 
i retract my previous statement about theres shooting further... i looked at the video's again.... they really dont shoot any further then mine.. :martial
 
first, they're a very short distance tool, not like a gun. That's part of the challange. I doubt if I typically hit anything beyond about 3 feet from the end of the spear with my Gat-Ku or either of my 3-prongs. You can use a hand hold closer to the tip to get more power, but then the tip will be further from the fish, so it doesn't help much, and they seem to be much less accurate.
Put your effort into learning to get close to the fish, and practice shooting a lot when there aren't any fish around. I warm up by shooting at kelp blades at the start of a dive.

Keeping in mind that it's harder to get each fish, so each will be more valuable.

Howard
 
first, they're a very short distance tool, not like a gun. That's part of the challange. I doubt if I typically hit anything beyond about 3 feet from the end of the spear with my Gat-Ku or either of my 3-prongs. You can use a hand hold closer to the tip to get more power, but then the tip will be further from the fish, so it doesn't help much, and they seem to be much less accurate.
Put your effort into learning to get close to the fish, and practice shooting a lot when there aren't any fish around. I warm up by shooting at kelp blades at the start of a dive.

Keeping in mind that it's harder to get each fish, so each will be more valuable.

Howard
yea i noticed the difference in the throw didnt really help much when i adjusted my sling length in the pool... i found i was better off with a short sling so i can get max power and have the tip as far away from me as possible. ill have to try that kelp shooting practice.

do you freedive or scuba?.. ill be freediving. i cant imagine being able to get close enough to fish to use a pole spear when you have those loud bubbles blowing every few seconds.
 
for three prongs (pole spears) i like to dive bomb. it makes it easier to pin the fish to the reef, sand, ect...
what kind of tip do you have on it

i've used pole spears since i was 12. I think there great. it takes a bit of getting used to and you'll probably need to get better at stalking but the dive bomb takes care of that problem
 
for three prongs (pole spears) i like to dive bomb. it makes it easier to pin the fish to the reef, sand, ect...
what kind of tip do you have on it

i've used pole spears since i was 12. I think there great. it takes a bit of getting used to and you'll probably need to get better at stalking but the dive bomb takes care of that problem
dive bomb as in attack from above? my three prong has barbs on it.
 
yeah you dive onto the fish from above ive shot most of the fish like that or poking around holes. Ive only seen one person use a 3 prong with barbs the guys in hawaii just use unbarbed three prong tips. I don't know if you will need to pin the fish to the rocks with your barbed 3 prong but you shoud experment around. the dive bomb wont work in some places but it works on shallow 25-30 feet reefs.
 
Prongs wit barbs on them are often the cheaper hobbie type polespear, (what I started with) The barbs on these are usually quite short, and good for smaller type fish, Goat fish, leather jackets squid etc. If your barbs are of the short type you'll have to be a bit choosy about what fish you target, save frustration by losing fish.

As willoomy said three prongs usually dont have barbs, mine doesn't. Mind you the prongs are about 35cm long.

With my old polespear I used as a teenager targeting the above fish plus other Small varieties they would stick to the barbed prongs like shit to a blanket.
Happy hunting
 
1.wear grippy gloves when using a polespear.

2.Curl your band around the spear when you load it so it does not bend if its a cheap one (just turn it while you load no big deal)

3.Think of your fist as the hand of death when targeting fish.

4.Do not push forward while discharging the spear (scares fish and may throw off accuracy).

5.If you do not wish to lose the fish pin it to the bottom then bearhug it until you surface and can finish it off with a knife.
 
Last edited:
Prongs wit barbs on them are often the cheaper hobbie type polespear, (what I started with) The barbs on these are usually quite short, and good for smaller type fish, Goat fish, leather jackets squid etc. If your barbs are of the short type you'll have to be a bit choosy about what fish you target, save frustration by losing fish.

As willoomy said three prongs usually dont have barbs, mine doesn't. Mind you the prongs are about 35cm long.

With my old polespear I used as a teenager targeting the above fish plus other Small varieties they would stick to the barbed prongs like shit to a blanket.
Happy hunting
when you say a three prong with barbs is usually a cheaper type polespear are you saying a non-barbed three prong is better? i purchased mine from sport chalet... i asked them wich is better the non-babred for 15.99 or the barbed for 27.99... he then asked me "do you wanna keep the fish you shot?" seemed like an obvious choice to me. i know tho that once i get into it and wanna shoot larger fish ill go to the single tip with that latch type thing to hold them on there.
 
With a 30 dollar three prong don't expect much speed or durability but it will get the job done. in Hawaii barbed three prongs are virtually unheard of.
there many very very good hawaii speros that only use 3 prongs (un barbed) and i have seen 200 dollar three prongs and they don't have barbs so for someone to say that you wont keep fish without barbs probably knows very little about pole spears.
but your pole spear will probably work well enough just try it out
i have shot (and kept many fish with my pole spear and it doesn't have any barbs.
i looked up some barbed 3 prongs and i think you should still try to pin the fish to something. the barbs will help but the fish might still wriggle off so watch out for that.
definitely try the dive bomb technique its a great way to start out you should also try poking around holes.
good luck
 
Last edited:
when you say a three prong with barbs is usually a cheaper type polespear are you saying a non-barbed three prong is better? .

No I'm necessarily saying a non-barbed prong is better. But it can sometimes be a good indication of the quallity of the spear/ tip/ prongs.

the prices that you quoted are both relatively low, so I would say that they are both starter poles and therefore the barbed prong sounds like it might have been a good choice. I'm sure with a bit of practice you'll be feeding yourself and friends soon.

was there a big difference in the length of the prongs?

For example, My pole cost me around $120, 3m long 3 prongs no barbs.
It's not the best by far, in fact it's a good example of overpriced japanese anything. But it is a big step up from say a starter spear.

l
 
If I were you, at this stage I wouldn't worry so much about barbed or not.
Either way your pole is a good cheap way to get your foot in the door, and if you like and you can always up grade later.

Try improving the way you target fish, when you are able to constantly get close to them and take shots you will know several things:

My pole is/ isn't good enough for you
The fish I catch always get off, they might be too big for your pole
Or You might be happy with your catch and your pole will be fine.

It really will be determinded by what and what size fish you target.

I started with a pole that sounds identical to yours and used it for about four years, it always filled my ice box. It's only been the 3 years since moving to japan that I got back into it with about 10 years in between. The fish here are bigger than what I was used to so I upgraded.

What fish will you target where you live?
What size do you regularly see?

post any pics. of your catch so we can all have a gander.
 
freerestriction; you said it had the rubber inside maybe what you bought is a roller polespear i think its from cryst spear not so sure though.. polespear dont have the range of speargun but it makes you a better hunter, it hones your stalking skills/techniques. i think max range for a polespear for smallfish is 3-4feet. 3prongs (others call it pralyzer tips)is designed to paralyze fish but gives you fair range whereas single barbed tip or slip-tip is designed for holding larger fish.. safe diving :)
 
No I'm necessarily saying a non-barbed prong is better. But it can sometimes be a good indication of the quallity of the spear/ tip/ prongs.

the prices that you quoted are both relatively low, so I would say that they are both starter poles and therefore the barbed prong sounds like it might have been a good choice. I'm sure with a bit of practice you'll be feeding yourself and friends soon.

was there a big difference in the length of the prongs?

For example, My pole cost me around $120, 3m long 3 prongs no barbs.
It's not the best by far, in fact it's a good example of overpriced japanese anything. But it is a big step up from say a starter spear.

l

well my tip was 30 and the pole was 40. i think its a hollow alluminum pole, its by JBL. there was a similar JBL pole for 120 but the only difference between mine and the 120 dollar one was that the 120 dollar one was a three peice. other then a lil easier traveling size id prefer the solid sturdier one peice. i believe its 7ft long, then add another 1ft for the barbed tip.

the tip i have is spring steel of some sort that dosent rust. my buddy has the non-babred one and it rusts..

im going to go spearing tomorrow, ill let you guys know how it goes.. my feeling is if i can atleast see a few "keepers" then i will no doubt get a kill. the first time i went there were some smaller ones that i could have killed with out question had they been legal size.
 
If I were you, at this stage I wouldn't worry so much about barbed or not.
Either way your pole is a good cheap way to get your foot in the door, and if you like and you can always up grade later.

Try improving the way you target fish, when you are able to constantly get close to them and take shots you will know several things:

My pole is/ isn't good enough for you
The fish I catch always get off, they might be too big for your pole
Or You might be happy with your catch and your pole will be fine.

It really will be determinded by what and what size fish you target.

I started with a pole that sounds identical to yours and used it for about four years, it always filled my ice box. It's only been the 3 years since moving to japan that I got back into it with about 10 years in between. The fish here are bigger than what I was used to so I upgraded.

What fish will you target where you live?
What size do you regularly see?

post any pics. of your catch so we can all have a gander.


i dont really see how much batter a pole can be then mine...its very light... does not bend at all and has some length.

ive only been the one time so far but im going tomorrow so if ill let you guys know how it went... hopefully have a picture of a fish to show aswell.

im targeting kelp bass and barred sandbass mainly... they have to be 12" to be legal. but if i saw a halibut id deffinatly give it a whirl... they have to be 22".
 
i dont really see how much batter a pole can be then mine...its very light... does not bend at all and has some length.

Quite right a JBL is a good pole to have, not a starter, I just assumed it was. Three prongs that rust are very common. The rust helps keep the fish on, it's what they use in Hawaii. Mine is also well rusted. Ok seems like you got a good spear, you just have to get used to it, and I'm sure you will get plenty of fish. Some of the methods described for those that use guns will also be useful to you, little things like don't make eye contact with the fish. Try to act uninterested in the fish, as if you dont want it on your spear (very hard at first, hell always) Try not to chase the fish at full speed they wont come back if you miss, and you will scare others away. Practice getting close then kapow.

Looking forward to seeing your catch.
 
DeeperBlue.com - The Worlds Largest Community Dedicated To Freediving, Scuba Diving and Spearfishing

ABOUT US

ISSN 1469-865X | Copyright © 1996 - 2024 deeperblue.net limited.

DeeperBlue.com is the World's Largest Community dedicated to Freediving, Scuba Diving, Ocean Advocacy and Diving Travel.

We've been dedicated to bringing you the freshest news, features and discussions from around the underwater world since 1996.

ADVERT