Spearfishing Magazine, winter 2005-2006 issue.

[Chad Carney]

The new Winter 2005/2006 issue of Spearfishing Magazine is printed and will be mailed within the week. Subscribers, please be patient as bulk mail is the only way a magazine can be delivered, and it is often notorious for taking several weeks.

Go to www.spearfishingmagazine.com to subscribe, or call 561-622-8922.

Highlights:

Spearo of the Year 2005 - Sheri Daye

Spearboard and Spearboard Open acquisition.
Julie Riffe's Big AJs, CA Halibut, Old Salts, Young Guns,
Pony Tanks, St Pete Open, Warsaw Groupers, Fish Management and much more.

Chad

 

[Chad Carney]

Here's the new cover.

 

[milhouse]

Nice front page.

In fact, any picture of Sheri is good to look at, but there's something about her hugging a YF:hmm Definitly a good ambassador for the sport.

 

[Polystigma]

Is this magazine worth subscribing to? Are there things in it that are educational for novice spearo's?

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Yep, its worth it.

 

[Spaniard]

Is this magazine worth subscribing to? Are there things in it that are educational for novice spearo's?

I use to subscribe to it even though I am UK based. Great way to learn about spearing in different conditions to what we have here and also some great pics/reports. I'm determined to get over to the US one day and shoot me a big stripey bass They look very similar to the bass we catch here but monstruosly bigger..........

 

[Polystigma]

I hear you on that one. The bass in the states are pretty freakin big. A year or two ago some guy caught a 54 pound striped bass in one of the lakes(rod and reel). I can only imagine how big the ones in the saltwater get.

I think I might subscribe to the magazine. Looks like a good read, could also pick up on some new technique. Because mine sucks....

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Poly- I also recommend Hawaii Skin Diver magazine. Despite the name, it deals with diving all over the world.

HSD has long been the preference of freedivers since that's the sort of diving covered there. Spearfishing has historically focused on scuba spearing, although more recently it does seem to include more on freediving. When the magazine first came out, I recall a lot of California guys taking one look at it and deciding that it had nothing to do with them since it was focused on scuba divers in Florida. It was already moving toward more balance, and now the new owner said in his first editor's comments that one of his goals was to bridge the gap between the communities, so I guess that means that the magazine may include even more on freediving in the future.

 

[Chad Carney]

Spearfishing has historically focused on scuba spearing, although more recently it does seem to include more on freediving. When the magazine first came out, I recall a lot of California guys taking one look at it and deciding that it had nothing to do with them since it was focused on scuba divers in Florida. It was already moving toward more balance, and now the new owner said in his first editor's comments that one of his goals was to bridge the gap between the communities, so I guess that means that the magazine may include even more on freediving in the future.

Bill,

HSD is a very good magazine!

I'm surprised to hear you say that you California guys thought that SM was focused on scuba rather than freediving. I have every issue and have to disagree.

I'm sure you knew the previous editor, Kurt Bickel, was an ardent west coast freediver. He made sure scuba stories and photos were kept to a minimum. Especially after founder, Mark Frisbie stepped out.

For the first 5 years of the magazine's history, I was one of few that wrote about scuba, along with some of my freedive articles.

There has never been a scuba diver on the cover. There have been 20 freedive covers.

I don't recall the dominant feature article ever being a scuba story either.

Perhaps it's a matter of perspective?

Chad

PS I think Tony Grogan is doing a good job so far, but I'd have to say his Florida scuba only perspective has already beefed up the scuba coverage.

I think he will add more balance, which is a very tough thing to do. I have heard Tony state that he wants to learn to freedive soon.

 

[Bucket One]

Bill,

HSD is a very good magazine!

I'm surprised to hear you say that you California guys thought that SM was focused on scuba rather than freediving. I have every issue and have to disagree.

I'm sure you knew the previous editor, Kurt Bickel, was an ardent west coast freediver. He made sure scuba stories and photos were kept to a minimum. Especially after founder, Mark Frisbie stepped out.

For the first 5 years of the magazine's history, I was one of few that wrote about scuba, along with some of my freedive articles.

There has never been a scuba diver on the cover. There have been 20 freedive covers.

I don't recall the dominant feature article ever being a scuba story either.

Perhaps it's a matter of perspective?

Chad

PS I think Tony Grogan is doing a good job so far, but I'd have to say his Florida scuba only perspective has already beefed up the scuba coverage.

I think he will add more balance, which is a very tough thing to do. I have heard Tony state that he wants to learn to freedive soon.

I got to go with Chad on this one Bill.

Even though we did finally get three scuba shot fish on the front cover two issue's ago with Derek Piniella, Ken Jones and Matt Jones with their first place fish from the St.Pete Open mixed in with three freediving shot fish.

I would like to see a full cover one day of a fish speared on scuba too Chad.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Chad,

Maybe you are right that its just a matter of perspective. I'll have to go back and take a look at some old issues, but it could be that the West Coast crowd was just so used to reading exclusively freedive stuff in HSD and that one from Australia (I forget the name now) that any scuba shooting at all seemed like a shock.

 

[fuzz]

I think it's that & the ads for scuba gear & scuba-centric spearguns/accessories.

Honestly, Spearfishing magazine just hasn't kept my attention. I've saved all my past issues of HSD, but got rid of all my old issues of Spearfishing. Personal preference, but HSD just seems like its on a different level.

 

[Amphibious]

I think it's that & the ads for scuba gear & scuba-centric spearguns/accessories.

Honestly, Spearfishing magazine just hasn't kept my attention.

X2

haven't got a hold of any HSD yet.....

 

[Polystigma]

So which would you guys prefer? I'm not really into scuba diving and would probably get board of a magazine with a majority of scuba stuff. Would HSD be a better choice for freediving and spearfishing related material?

 

[Huan]

I can't speak for Spearfishing magazine but in term of quality of print and layout HSD is beautifully presented.
The amount of work that it takes to setup like that must be huge.
I have a 2 yr sub to it and I really like it.
I also had a sub to International freediving and spearfishing news but i let it lapse,it was good but not as high quality as HSD.

 

[miles]

Hiya

I actually read about scuba spearing for the first time in HSD!! They had an article about some competition, where guys were free shafting at insane depths!! What really impressed me was just how HARDCORE these guys were!! The one guy pictured even had battle scars!!

I simply LOVE spearing fish!! The next best thing to spearing fish is reading or watching movies of other spearo's spearing!! The spearfishing community is not that big and there isn't much literature available. So ANY magazine that you can get hold of will have stories and tips in it. Ultimately, by acquiring as much knowledge, whether scuba or freediver, you WILL become a better diver!!

Regards
miles

 

[Chad Carney]

I believe the presence of scuba in Spearfishing Magazine, however slight, has made a memorable impression on freedivers.

The "Big Fish Stories" cover that Bucket One mentioned is still clearly freediver dominated. One small photo of Derek shows scuba gear and the other small ones (of Ken and Matt) are of undetermined hunting method, mixed in with the much larger freedive pics. SM's freediver graphic even appeared above the banner.

There have been many ads of scuba style guns, (if you know the difference), and many scuba charter boat ads in SM, but only one 1/2 page ad for scuba gear. It shouldn't surprise anyone that it was Zeagle Systems.

I think Tony will make a genuine effort to balance the two diving styles. In this winter's SM issue, his second, he has already increased it to the largest ever, by 8 pages.

I love HSD's layout and graphics, but wish Sterling would stop using such small type and non contrasting backgrounds. It makes it hard to read for those of us way over 40!

If you are an avid spearfisher, I have to recommend both magazines.

Chad

 

[jimdoe2you]

This is kind of a tough post since I try to stay politically correct and not offend anybody, but in the best interest of my deepeblue.net brethren, I shall offer up my humble opinion.

I subscribe to HSD and I have bought SM. The comparison is night and day.

HSD is an excellent (and I mean EXCELLENT) professionally produced publication! The articles are interesting and very informative. Two issues ago there was an in depth speargun test and comparison article called, "Speargun Mythbusters" that was one of the finest articles I have seen via written publication or internet!!!

SM (God Bless'em) appears to be a very small publication that reminds me of the type of papery magazinette that you can recieve free because the publisher makes money from advertisers. It's size is about half as large as HSD. I found the articles lackluster, almost as if it were relying on volunteer writers. I certainly hope SM grows and improves so it may offer to our community informative and rewarding articles to read. The conundrum here is that we may need to support SM in the interim so that it may get to this point. I personally will be watching closely and will donate my $20 toward a subcription in hopes that it will improve to a rewarding level of publication.

Jim

 

[Bill McIntyre]

I love HSD's layout and graphics, but wish Sterling would stop using such small type and non contrasting backgrounds. It makes it hard to read for those of us way over 40!

If you are an avid spearfisher, I have to recommend both magazines.

Chad

I second both motions. The photos in HSD are breathtaking, but those colored backgrounds that seem to be on the first page of most articles are really distracting.

But anyway, I think we need to support both magazines. They are all we have, and we need to encourage them. The cost of a subscription is a lot less than your share of the fuel expanse for a trip on my little boat.

 

[Chad Carney]

Hiya
I actually read about scuba spearing for the first time in HSD!! They had an article about some competition, where guys were free shafting at insane depths!! What really impressed me was just how HARDCORE these guys were!! The one guy pictured even had battle scars!!
miles

Miles,

It might have been different story, but that sure sounds like my first article in the second issue of Spearfishing Magazine, in the Fall of 2000. It was about the St Pete Open and the most competitive grouper showdown ever. 3 blacks were between 87 and 82 lbs. My buddy Steve won it and is the guy with the battle scars. The depth was 175' to 180'.

Does this title and these pics look familiar?

Chad