target practice

[sjurba]

since I only shoot at what I intend to eat,so I dont get that much practice...Any sugestions on a suitable practice target? Plastic bottles?(might pollute) driftwood? (could damage the spear)Small fish and jellyfish is not an option... A strawbale would be good,but abit heavy to bring to the waters...

 

[dom12]

Get a wine cork and screw it onto the tip, then you could use whateva you want, ive done it with rocks, realy works and spear tips doesnt get a scratch!
Just make sure you are giving good space and making use of the full range of the gun, dont wanna be hitting the target too hard and bending your spear or having it bounce all over the place.

Dom.

 

[devondave]

Kelp fonds are a good makeshift target, make sure there are no rocks or divers behind them though.
Not enough spearos use target practice for their new or modified guns or just early season practice before aiming at a fish.

 

[Jonny250]

since I only shoot at what I intend to eat,so I dont get that much practice...

Is that because you don't see many edible fish, or because you dont like eating fish?

I'm pretty sure ALL the spearos on here only shoot what they intend to eat (except for one or two that might sell their fish :rcard).

Shooting rocks, even with a cork on the end, sounds like a good way to bend a spear.?! :naughty

Omer actually make target fish! rofl

 

[sjurba]

I do alot of diving in freshwater,and here in Norway were a bit limited in what we are allowed to shoot...Pike. In the sea on the other hand,but thats a fair two-three hour drive from where I live,and I find it a bit frustrating missing that nice cod I wanted to invite home for dinner just becouse my aim is off.

 

[shrek]

do you shoot bait fish for burly? such as herrings they make good targets if you can head shoot a fast moving herring you can hit anything

 

[Mr. X]

I like Dom's cork idea but the cork might adversely effect the trajectory and behaviour of the spear. As Jonny wrote, Omer started selling a (rubber) target fish - so you're obviously not the first to wonder what to target.

http://www.subprof.com/tienda/product_info.php?products_id=19529&language=en&nom=OMER+FISH+TARGET

Notice the handy-dandy target circle too .

Alternatively maybe an old polyurethane swim float might do from the local charity shop (ours often carries such things for £1 or £2 - and the money goes to a good, local cause).

 

[Pav]

for a birthday one year I made a buddy a "crapshot".

It was basically some of that blue floor insulation they use in new builds cut into the shape of a fish. It had a line attatched to the bottom with a fishing weight attatched.

He still claims the annual sustainable fishing award!

 

[sjurba]

What kind of insulation is this? will it disintegrate into small bits of plastic when speared?

 

[Pav]

It was a "novelty gift", not sure if he ever used it (but based on his fish count probably not)! Its pretty high density so expect your spear would just puncture it. We use it at work to create models. Easy to cut / shape with hotwire cutter.

 

[sjurba]

Hmmm, abit like this heavy blue or green higdesity isopor we use to insulate the ground round foundations I supose...