Rigging a 140 euro for bluewater hunting

[chrismar]

I'm heading off to the Pacific Islands (Samoa or Tonga) in the near future and I've been thinking a bit about how to rig my gun for the trip. For clear water and biggish fish, what are people's thoughts?

Spear options, all with a selection of lengths:
6.5mm - flopper or slip-tip
7mm - flopper or slip-tip
8mm - slip-tip only


Band Options:
1x18
1x20
2x16
2x18

The gun itself has a 2mm wall Carbon barrel and almost no flex. My first thoughts were along the lines of 7mm, 180cm spear with slip-tip and either a single 20 or double 16s. I'm sure there're a few guys here with some experience with long euros in the islands, so I'd like to hear opinions

 

[settingsteel]

I'm heading off to the Pacific Islands (Samoa or Tonga) in the near future and I've been thinking a bit about how to rig my gun for the trip. For clear water and biggish fish, what are people's thoughts?

Spear options, all with a selection of lengths:
6.5mm - flopper or slip-tip
7mm - flopper or slip-tip
8mm - slip-tip only


Band Options:
1x18
1x20
2x16
2x18

The gun itself has a 2mm wall Carbon barrel and almost no flex. My first thoughts were along the lines of 7mm, 180cm spear with slip-tip and either a single 20 or double 16s. I'm sure there're a few guys here with some experience with long euros in the islands, so I'd like to hear opinions

your thoughts seem just fine, I would opt for the 2 bands rather than 1, I am assuming your not after 300# tuna...aside from the gun a good float (s) is essential

 

[chrismar]

Floats will probably be an 11L foam-filled with a 35L inflatable. PVC floatline with dyneema core and a short bungie. And no, I'm thinking yellowfin, doggies, wahoo, etc. I don't think I'll be bringing up monsters from the deep

 

[Mullins]

7.5mm shaft, 2x16mm rubbers, flopper would be the most tried and true.

I have found that 2x16s shoots high, at least for RA guns, unless you have at least 40cm overhang...

 

[miles]

Hiya

For RA's, i echo Mullin's sentiments. 7.5mm spear with 2x16's

For Rabitech's, 8mm spear with 2x16mm's

Don't know what gun you have, so opt for 2x16mm's and a 7.5-8mm spear with a normal fixed barb. Slip-tips on a euro gun is simply not worth it. They're heavy, causing your gun to be in-accurate, are a pain to remove from fish, are EXPENSIVE, need loads of power to penetrate a fish, need proper shot placement or else they won't deploy. Rather stick to the plain fixed barb, much less hassles and they work very well!!

Regards
miles

 

[chrismar]

Cheers Dave & Miles.

One gun is a Rabi Apex 140, the other a bit of a mongrel. Basically an Orca with a carbon barrel and a RA open muzzle. Quite similar to what I've been using in 110 length for my day to day gun. I've got plenty of 9/32 17-4PH stainless spears lying around, so I'll probably use those as they're cheap and plentiful, unless you think the extra .35mm will make a big difference?

 

[smee]

Hi there, definately go with 2 x 16 bands. It gives you the option of loading up for longer open shots or unloading a band if shooting next to the reef so you don't have to worry about damaging/wedging your spear on a coral head.
Let me know if you make it to samoa, got a good spot for doggies right near town.
Cheers
Sean

 

[vanzijlp]

Hi there, definately go with 2 x 16 bands. It gives you the option of loading up for longer open shots or unloading a band if shooting next to the reef so you don't have to worry about damaging/wedging your spear on a coral head.
Let me know if you make it to samoa, got a good spot for doggies right near town.
Cheers
Sean

Hi Sean Are you still in Samoa? I'm heading to Savai'i next Thursday and will try and get some dives in. Any suggestions about weights. I'd prefer not to take my 10kgs with....