• 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!

reel or float line? One band or two?

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.
P

pikappetapi022

New Member
May 31, 2005
23
0
0
48
I'm about to be a new RA 110 and am trying to figure out if I should buy a reel to use with it or just attach a float line. I'll mostly be spearing on the reef in the Keys but I might take it into the bluewater once in a while. In the past I've always used a float line for safety reasons as well as to retreive fish that have holed-up. Now I'm thinking that I'd like to try a reel on the gun, can I use both, what do you guys think? I'd also like to know how you guys feel about 1 band or two. I'm still undecided about the number of bands to use. Thanks for all your input.

PJ
 
Hiya

Many of the questions you ask are dependant on your area that you dive in and your diving style. If you're diving off a boat, then a reel gun is ok. Less tangles than a float line, but you're also less obvious to other boats on the water and its very easy to lose your gun.

If you're shore diving, than a float line is essential. It'll help make you visible to others, by means of your float, it'll give you a place to put your fish that you've shot. Also makes losing a gun quite difficult!!!

Double 16mm bands vs. Single 20mm band. I assume this is what you're refering too. Single 20mm has great power and good penetration. 2x16mm has a little more power. Single 20mm is quicker to load and causes less tangles, BUT is a PAIN to load, especially if you're new to railguns!!! 2x16mm's are easier to load. The single 20mm should be more accurate, but there is such a small difference in accuracy that it really doesn't matter. My personal PREFERENCE is a single 20mm with a 7mm spear. Quick to reload and sufficient power to take almost any fish that you'll come across on the reefs.
For Blue Water i'd opt for the 2x16mm set-up.

For blue water hunting, forget about a reel, unless you're hunting fish under 15kg's and even then, only if you're experienced enough. Rather stick with a float line system, as its easier to handle and less likelyhood of losing your gun.

Regards
miles
 
Thanks for your input. I'd mostly be hunting from a boat on a reef line about 25-50ft deep. I was going to get a single 20mm band but than was thinking about all those grouper hiding in the holes in the reef and was thinking the 2x16mm would be better so I don't smash up my shaft. I've still got a lot of thinking to do which is why I posted this out there, to see what others have to say. Once again thanks for your input.

PJ
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…