Re: Cornwall Spearfishing
Hi Everyone,
I really want to start spearfishing but not sure what type of gun to buy? I live in south Cornwall so I will be just spearfishing in the area. Can anybody please recommend any please.
Many Thanks
Sam
Lucky you, south Cornwall is an excellent area for spearing.
I believe Dave at Spearo.co.uk is based in/near Bodmin. Anthony at Venture Sports Paignton is spearo-friendly. Both carry a range of different gear. Either should be able to help you. Conventional advice is 75cm-90cm (band guns) for UK waters. With the longer sizes being most appropriate for Cornwall, Pembroke & Channel Islands.
So for you, a 90cm would be the normal recommendation.
I generally recommend a 75cm band-powered speargun for UK beginners and it is what I use almost all the time now - even in Devon & Cornwall. When the water is really clear - as it can be in Cornwall - 90cm may not be enough, 110cm might be. I found that using a 90cm I missed a lot of close shots, as I just couldn't bring the gun to bare quickly enough. With the shorter gun, I get a lot more of the close shots - perhaps I miss more of the longer shots, or maybe not, the difference in range is quite small. Other considerations: there seem to be more opportunities close in than medium/long distance - also visibility is often poor.
If you like pneumatics (not my bag), the sizes are different. A 90cm pneumatic will likely be a similar length to a 75cm bandgun & possibly considerably more powerful (but lack of power is not generally a problem) & expensive.
You don't have to spend huge money. Popular companies: Omer (all good?), Cressi (esp. good value: Comanche), Beuchat. Other well regarded brands: Seatec, Seacsub, Rob Allen, Rabitech, Dessault.
For power, large diameter railguns like the Rob Allen, you could probably usefully go for a smaller size that normally recommended (e.g. 70cm where 75cm normally recommended).