Guys,
God been fair with me. My last dissapointing trip been compensated with quite a decent trip last Saturday. This is an Indian Ocean area but NOT my regular "DOGGIE" pinacle. 4 Hours drive + 25 miles boat ride. I thought the weather was bad but it turn out not so bad, dark cloud & low viz of dive 3 & 4...... but diveable. In spite of left engine starting difficulty in the start of the day and the same engine blew its gear case/box halfway down the trip ( a replacement boat came to the rescue later ), I still did 4 bubble dives as planned.
I took 5 shots with my #2 Riffe. All 4 scored a good hit, 1 shot being a stoned shot on a trevaly. A good holding shot on a small +-5kg doggie that actualy have the unbelieveable power of pulling me for some 30 meters around the rocks !!! 2 similiar shots on a +-3kg Spanish Mackerel ( Asia type of Mackerel ). One too far away shot on a +-3kg Spanish Mackerel that did not exit enough for the Ice Pick to toggle...
The fun of the trip was that I succesfuly experiment three things.
First, I tested my friends Riffe Metal Tech 3 which is fully rigged with aluminum muzzle, 5 x 9/16 bands, 3/8 shaft with Ice Pick and 3 wraps of 500 lbs coated s.steel cable of at least 7 meters. It also has Stabilizer Wing Kit.
I tested the gun after the second dive where the viz have gone down from the 40 feet to about 15-20 feet. I rigged a 1.5 liter clear plastic mineral water bottle, filled with sand and pebbles and sink in 1 meter down, attached to a float. I took only 2 shots. First was 4 bands from as far as viz permits, perhaps at least 5-6 meters. The sand and pebbles gave me a dark silhoutte to aim. The shot was good, I was not concerned of the up/down aiming, I was after left/right accuracy and recoil. The recoil is very low compared to my 4 bands Standard #2 shooting a 5/16" shaft. At 5 bands the 3/8" shaft penetrated the bottle and still have energy to tug the speargun away from my hand after having the speartip travelled at least 7-8 meters. The shot to was very good and the recoil ( I was on two hands ) was much lower than my #4 Baja. I was extremely impressed with the fully rigged MT3. I did not do 6 bands cause the owner only use 4 and carry one spare. The only sad thing is that, even with the extra flotation of the pizza like Stabilizer Wing Kit, it still sink slow...sink...sink..sink.
I realy like the gun, it is a "fake" mid handle but the balance is good. Swing easy like my #2, power almost 90-95% of my #4 and the recoil at 5 bands is like #4 Baja at 3 bands (5/8"). If at 6 x 9/16 bands and recoil is still within limit, this 127cm gun with 3/8 x 55" shaft can equal my 155cm #4 Baja at 4 x 5/8 bands with 60" x 3/8 shaft.
I must have this fully rigged MT3 and I will use 6 x 9/16" bands for sure........... But I will order it with additional floater wing kit and a reel with 150 feet of 1000 lbs Kevlar. I think the price will be in the US$1000+ region where US$250+ are already for the 2 teak kits alone with the expensive installations.
If I may estimate from the short test I conducted, this can be the world's only short 127cm gun with 7 meter effective on a thick 3/8" shaft and 6 bands !! Judging from the extensive test I conducted on the MT#0, MT series the rear trigger set and extra band strecth of this semi mid-handle is a real killer. This is the only mid-handle I am happy with cause the butt is 3" further from my mouth compared to Riffe teak mid-handles.
Looks like the RAs and Omer in my list have to wait much longer... I might even retire my #4 Baja.....:naughty
Second experiment is with what ABRI has spark an idea for me and it is like what DonMoore is doing. It is a float system that allows me to surface a fish without having to carry it with me. It is a Riffe 7 liter utility float that is all closed, not open bottom like scuba diver's surface marker. It has oral inflation like the Riffe Torpedo Float and an additional C02 cartridge system. I tried the CO2 inflation on land and it filled the float just firm and nice. I experimented it trying to lift my +-5kg doggide from 80 feet. It filled up about 1/3 at that depth and I let it float up, it expands as it shallows and my boat boy picked it up on the surface. I hook a stringer of +-15cm length with 500 lbs coated cable of 40 cm on the available D ring. Looks like the stringer got to be at least 25 cm long. At 15cm, I hardly can push it eye-to-eye of the doggie, any bigger thick fish will need a longer stringer. I checked around and the C02 cartridge I need, is only US$5 for a pack of 4. I can get it from the airgun store cause the C02 aiguns use those small tube ones. US$1.25 a "fish delivery" to the surface without having to drag it underwater in a current or attracting a shark is sure a CHEAP deal !!!!
Third experiment is "Playing With the Sand". I saw it done on video and it is also in Terry Maas book. I tried once but it never worked but this time it is different. It was a last dive with very murky water of some 4-6 meter viz. I went around the rock and found what I was looking for. Sandy area meeting the rock mountain at +- 65 feet, current coming at the proper angle and suitable bait fish hanging around. I grab and spread the sand for like 3 times. I waited only 2 minutes and comes the +-3kg Spanish Mackerel from my right and at an angle to the current. I could hardly see it , I charged forward to get closer and intercetp it making the "T". Took a shot and it was some 5-7 feet above the sand while I was only 2 feet above the sand. A nice shoulder shot. In just two minutes I got it hooked on my regular floating stringer. Next try, did the sand throwing routine again. I could not believe my eyes, here comes another Spanish of similiar size. I charged again like before but it accelerated a bit and I shot very far. The Ice Pick did not exit entirely and after some 30 seconds, it broke free. SHIT !!!. Again I tried the sand routine and again another Spanish came, again it was about the same size...........MAN, it is not the size but how come today it worked like magic !!!??!!!! Shot the fish and landed it in under two minutes. I was so happy and almost into deco mode, so I ascend slowly and did a 3 min saftey stop.
On the last shot of the Spanish, a rookie saw what I did and was amazed. He stayed and did the same. When he surfaced 10 minutes later, he caught 2 Green Job Fish of about 1.5kg each. It is not the size but I could nopt comprehend how come the sand throw thing worked so well. Is it the bad viz ? It is for sure also my observation of the current angle, other bait fish and the topography was a factor to this success. Man 5 fishes coming and 4 being landed under 20 minutes is sure like MAGIC This place is not exactly fish heaven. I spent the first 20 minutes of this 4th the dive seeing nothing and also TOTAL ZERO SIGHTING on the 3rd dive.
What did my friends get? A Spanish Mackerel of +-8kg. One guy took a shot on a 17+kg Potato Cod ( legal here ) but got dragged around and lost it. A newbie saw a big Spanish and a big Doggie but as with all newbies, I rate his big as "medium-2-small", their eyes are not trained to gauge size underwater, not with so little experience. He shot the doggie with his JBL Mini Woody and naturaly it was out of range for his 2.5 meter shoot range. That second dive the viz was still a respectable 40 feet. He was cursing and cursing and wanted to get a Riffe. We all 5 other divers were using Riffe-s. I also saw a +- 8kg Spanish and a +-5 kg Doggie on first dive but it was too far and current too strong for me to go against in open water. There were some 40 feet away from a wall in 120 feet of water and I was down to 300 psi at 90 feet deep, so no go.
I am a happy man. I am ordering another Riffe utility float so that I carry two per dive. Save some money and get that Dream fully rigged MT3 early next year...anyone wants to be my Santa ???
And MERRY X.MAS to you all ............
If Chief Anderson kind enough, you may en-small (is there such an English word:duh) my photo
God been fair with me. My last dissapointing trip been compensated with quite a decent trip last Saturday. This is an Indian Ocean area but NOT my regular "DOGGIE" pinacle. 4 Hours drive + 25 miles boat ride. I thought the weather was bad but it turn out not so bad, dark cloud & low viz of dive 3 & 4...... but diveable. In spite of left engine starting difficulty in the start of the day and the same engine blew its gear case/box halfway down the trip ( a replacement boat came to the rescue later ), I still did 4 bubble dives as planned.
I took 5 shots with my #2 Riffe. All 4 scored a good hit, 1 shot being a stoned shot on a trevaly. A good holding shot on a small +-5kg doggie that actualy have the unbelieveable power of pulling me for some 30 meters around the rocks !!! 2 similiar shots on a +-3kg Spanish Mackerel ( Asia type of Mackerel ). One too far away shot on a +-3kg Spanish Mackerel that did not exit enough for the Ice Pick to toggle...
The fun of the trip was that I succesfuly experiment three things.
First, I tested my friends Riffe Metal Tech 3 which is fully rigged with aluminum muzzle, 5 x 9/16 bands, 3/8 shaft with Ice Pick and 3 wraps of 500 lbs coated s.steel cable of at least 7 meters. It also has Stabilizer Wing Kit.
I tested the gun after the second dive where the viz have gone down from the 40 feet to about 15-20 feet. I rigged a 1.5 liter clear plastic mineral water bottle, filled with sand and pebbles and sink in 1 meter down, attached to a float. I took only 2 shots. First was 4 bands from as far as viz permits, perhaps at least 5-6 meters. The sand and pebbles gave me a dark silhoutte to aim. The shot was good, I was not concerned of the up/down aiming, I was after left/right accuracy and recoil. The recoil is very low compared to my 4 bands Standard #2 shooting a 5/16" shaft. At 5 bands the 3/8" shaft penetrated the bottle and still have energy to tug the speargun away from my hand after having the speartip travelled at least 7-8 meters. The shot to was very good and the recoil ( I was on two hands ) was much lower than my #4 Baja. I was extremely impressed with the fully rigged MT3. I did not do 6 bands cause the owner only use 4 and carry one spare. The only sad thing is that, even with the extra flotation of the pizza like Stabilizer Wing Kit, it still sink slow...sink...sink..sink.
I realy like the gun, it is a "fake" mid handle but the balance is good. Swing easy like my #2, power almost 90-95% of my #4 and the recoil at 5 bands is like #4 Baja at 3 bands (5/8"). If at 6 x 9/16 bands and recoil is still within limit, this 127cm gun with 3/8 x 55" shaft can equal my 155cm #4 Baja at 4 x 5/8 bands with 60" x 3/8 shaft.
I must have this fully rigged MT3 and I will use 6 x 9/16" bands for sure........... But I will order it with additional floater wing kit and a reel with 150 feet of 1000 lbs Kevlar. I think the price will be in the US$1000+ region where US$250+ are already for the 2 teak kits alone with the expensive installations.
If I may estimate from the short test I conducted, this can be the world's only short 127cm gun with 7 meter effective on a thick 3/8" shaft and 6 bands !! Judging from the extensive test I conducted on the MT#0, MT series the rear trigger set and extra band strecth of this semi mid-handle is a real killer. This is the only mid-handle I am happy with cause the butt is 3" further from my mouth compared to Riffe teak mid-handles.
Looks like the RAs and Omer in my list have to wait much longer... I might even retire my #4 Baja.....:naughty
Second experiment is with what ABRI has spark an idea for me and it is like what DonMoore is doing. It is a float system that allows me to surface a fish without having to carry it with me. It is a Riffe 7 liter utility float that is all closed, not open bottom like scuba diver's surface marker. It has oral inflation like the Riffe Torpedo Float and an additional C02 cartridge system. I tried the CO2 inflation on land and it filled the float just firm and nice. I experimented it trying to lift my +-5kg doggide from 80 feet. It filled up about 1/3 at that depth and I let it float up, it expands as it shallows and my boat boy picked it up on the surface. I hook a stringer of +-15cm length with 500 lbs coated cable of 40 cm on the available D ring. Looks like the stringer got to be at least 25 cm long. At 15cm, I hardly can push it eye-to-eye of the doggie, any bigger thick fish will need a longer stringer. I checked around and the C02 cartridge I need, is only US$5 for a pack of 4. I can get it from the airgun store cause the C02 aiguns use those small tube ones. US$1.25 a "fish delivery" to the surface without having to drag it underwater in a current or attracting a shark is sure a CHEAP deal !!!!
Third experiment is "Playing With the Sand". I saw it done on video and it is also in Terry Maas book. I tried once but it never worked but this time it is different. It was a last dive with very murky water of some 4-6 meter viz. I went around the rock and found what I was looking for. Sandy area meeting the rock mountain at +- 65 feet, current coming at the proper angle and suitable bait fish hanging around. I grab and spread the sand for like 3 times. I waited only 2 minutes and comes the +-3kg Spanish Mackerel from my right and at an angle to the current. I could hardly see it , I charged forward to get closer and intercetp it making the "T". Took a shot and it was some 5-7 feet above the sand while I was only 2 feet above the sand. A nice shoulder shot. In just two minutes I got it hooked on my regular floating stringer. Next try, did the sand throwing routine again. I could not believe my eyes, here comes another Spanish of similiar size. I charged again like before but it accelerated a bit and I shot very far. The Ice Pick did not exit entirely and after some 30 seconds, it broke free. SHIT !!!. Again I tried the sand routine and again another Spanish came, again it was about the same size...........MAN, it is not the size but how come today it worked like magic !!!??!!!! Shot the fish and landed it in under two minutes. I was so happy and almost into deco mode, so I ascend slowly and did a 3 min saftey stop.
On the last shot of the Spanish, a rookie saw what I did and was amazed. He stayed and did the same. When he surfaced 10 minutes later, he caught 2 Green Job Fish of about 1.5kg each. It is not the size but I could nopt comprehend how come the sand throw thing worked so well. Is it the bad viz ? It is for sure also my observation of the current angle, other bait fish and the topography was a factor to this success. Man 5 fishes coming and 4 being landed under 20 minutes is sure like MAGIC This place is not exactly fish heaven. I spent the first 20 minutes of this 4th the dive seeing nothing and also TOTAL ZERO SIGHTING on the 3rd dive.
What did my friends get? A Spanish Mackerel of +-8kg. One guy took a shot on a 17+kg Potato Cod ( legal here ) but got dragged around and lost it. A newbie saw a big Spanish and a big Doggie but as with all newbies, I rate his big as "medium-2-small", their eyes are not trained to gauge size underwater, not with so little experience. He shot the doggie with his JBL Mini Woody and naturaly it was out of range for his 2.5 meter shoot range. That second dive the viz was still a respectable 40 feet. He was cursing and cursing and wanted to get a Riffe. We all 5 other divers were using Riffe-s. I also saw a +- 8kg Spanish and a +-5 kg Doggie on first dive but it was too far and current too strong for me to go against in open water. There were some 40 feet away from a wall in 120 feet of water and I was down to 300 psi at 90 feet deep, so no go.
I am a happy man. I am ordering another Riffe utility float so that I carry two per dive. Save some money and get that Dream fully rigged MT3 early next year...anyone wants to be my Santa ???
And MERRY X.MAS to you all ............
If Chief Anderson kind enough, you may en-small (is there such an English word:duh) my photo
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