RI Gun choice validation

[echris50]

Hey guys. This is my first season spearing and I've been using a tiny 45cm mares gun and I'm planning on upgrading over the winter. I dive in RI and will be doing shore dives almost exclusively. We get pretty meh vis, maybe 5-10 feet on average, 15 on a great day. I work at a ski shop and we also do dive so I can get a discount on mares, AB Biller and Riffe guns. I'm targeting tautog now but see striped bass fairly often and I want to be able to take them as well. I've been leaning towards a Riffe comp 1S that we have in the shop but I'm wary that it's to much gun.
Can anyone chime in and validate me?


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[Mr. X]

Looks like tautog is a type of Wrasse. We spear wrasse here occasionally "for the pot" but don't generally go out after them - they are not considered good sport (rather docile and tend to stay in one area for years) and some consider them inedible although the larger ones (5lb+) can provide good, solid white meat.

Striped bass can be very big and heavy duty robustness might be necessary/useful.

Visibility sounds fairly poor, like the UK. For the conditions you describe, I would be tempted to get a short SA-style railgun - they are heavy duty - and, as you are in the USA, I would likely go for a Mako, with a barrel length somewhere in the range ~70-100cm.

If you are set on buying from your ski shop. Not familair with the model you mention but I quite like the look of Riffes although forum member Bill doesn't recommend them (preferring the lovely but more expensive hand built Darryl Wong spearguns). Make sure the length is not too long for the visibility that you are dealing with. A B Biller's seem a bit old fashioned to me and, perhaps, not developed & improved over time as much as they could & should have been - but I expect they do the job. Do they have a loose ring around the spear to attach the spear-line? That is considered old fashioned and undesirable by many spearo. Mares offer some modern, cutting edge even, spearguns -- one that I was interested in was withdrawn from sale for some reason (Google it) - perhaps due to barrel flex?

 

[Broseidon]

The Riffe looks great but seems like a bit of a canon for such low viz. As Mr. X said, you're diving in very similar conditions to the UK, we wouldn't dream of using anything as heavy duty as a Riffe over here, we use railguns pretty much exclusively over here. About an 80cm gun would suit you well. Personally, I use a 60cm and an 82cm.

I'll second Mako - have a chat with Dano @MAKO Spearguns - he's a top guy - this would suit you - http://www.makospearguns.com/Predator-Pro-3rd-Generation-Speargun-p/mpp3gr.htm

I've never seen a Biller gun but for reference, the only Mares guns I've tried was terrible.

 

[echris50]

I love mako but with the discount I get I would be foolish not to take advantage. I strongly prefer a wood gun because of the durability.


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[Broseidon]

It sounds like you've already decided which gun you're buying, so why start this thread? I think your best bet is to buy the big wooden gun that you want, find out first hand how difficult and cumbersome it is to use in 5ft viz, then buy a smaller rail gun. Spearfishing is all about having the right tool for the job, you'll learn that from experience

 

[echris50]

It sounds like you've already decided which gun you're buying, so why start this thread? I think your best bet is to buy the big wooden gun that you want, find out first hand how difficult and cumbersome it is to use in 5ft viz, then buy a smaller rail gun. Spearfishing is all about having the right tool for the job, you'll learn that from experience

I've got access to the whole Riffe and mares line. My 2nd choice right now was the comp 0, 2 bands and a smaller shaft and a shorter overall length. I'm not opposed to a railgun, I would just want to stick with one of the brands we carry


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[echris50]

The mares viper pro 90 has been a contender also


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[Apneaddict]

A pathos 82 is a perfect gun for these conditions, powered up with 2x14mm small ID rubbers.


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[Apneaddict]

I used a mako 70 with a roller down there and it was perfect for tautog.

I'd want more punch for the LARGE stripers. I took a 49 lb'er with a 120 out at block island this year.


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[Broseidon]

A pathos 82 is a perfect gun for these conditions, powered up with 2x14mm small ID rubbers.

That's the gun I use - it's flawless - best gun I've ever owned. Simple, small & powerful. I didn't know you could get them in US?

 

[Mr. X]

That's a solid recommendation.

I don't like wasting money, so I can understand the appeal of employee discount. It will also give you first-hand knowledge of a product that you sell, which should help you help other customers (i.e. become a better, more successful employee). That said, get the speargun that "floats you boat" - otherwise you will likely regret it and end up hankering after it until you get one (and then find that it has its own problems ). I agree with most of what Broseidon said except that I would not discount wooden guns from consideration - they are far more popular in the USA than Europe - but nor would I assume that they are more robust, like a chain they are only as strong as their weakest link. Regardless of materials/brand/model though, Barrel length is critical: if it is greater than the visibility available, it will be useless.

You might also consider re-sale value, just in case your first speargun choice turns out to be...sub-optimal. Or, if you decide spearfishing is not for you. Or your needs (e.g. location) change. And - esp. as the Donald just got elected - you might want to consider where it is made.