Underwater hunting with bare hands

[trux]

I just stumbled upon a photo from a traditional lamprey hunting that local Indians use to perform at Willamette Falls (OR, USA):

credit Stern
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Actually I find it quite heroic, not really because of the bare-hands hunting, but because of the diving in the industrially polluted waters at Willamette Falls:

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Well, hunting by bare hands in shallow rivers, or at the sea shore is not so exceptional (I remember my father fished trouts by hands in his young years), but if you have any stories or photos concerning underwater fishing while freediving, do not hesitate to share them here.

 

[Jon]

I've gotten carp, rock bass, and bluegill with my gloved hands. I've also ridden musky and sturgeon, but let them go as they are not allowed to be hand caught in our area. I find it easier to do when the water is cold as they don't move as fast then.

I had a scuba student grab a trout out of a passing school when I was teaching a class once. He was pretty fast and it was impressive to watch. I know it's not while freediving, but still fun to watch.

Jon

 

[CarbonCod]

I used to hunt flatties with my hands before I could afford to buy a knife and a speargun. It worked supprisingly well.

I swam along the bottom, and when I spotted one I swooped over it really fast and grabbed it. Got a nice 3kg turbot once. People didn't belive in me when they saw the fish on the beach. Good times.

Then I got money and lots of knifes and spearguns. But I don't get as many flatties anymore I guess I was more focused when not having any tools :martial

 

[trux]

Ah, I almost caught a giant pike this weekend when I was in Prague. But that was on scuba too. I went to dive with my brother to a lake, and we discovered the fish paradise. It felt like in the Red Sea - I never saw so many fish in the same place - a dozen of giant carps, half a dozen of pikes, and hundreds when not thousands of other smaller fish surrounding us in circles like barracudas before an attack Perhaps I'll post a video or some photos soon, if I get it from my bro.

But back to the pike - it was the biggest one I ever saw, and it was not afraid at all. I was just milimeters from it, and if I really wanted I think I could have caught it. On the other hand, being without gloves, I doubt very strongly I'd be able to hold it.

 

[Jon]

Unirdna was the first one I ever saw grab onto a musky- that's how I knew it was ok for me to do. I've also seen him hand catch garfish.

At freedive-a-palooza a few years ago I watched Fred (fjohson) grab a snapping turtle that was sleeping at about 20'. It's neck came WAY ot and around back to the point that I thought it was going to bite him- but he knew what he was doing. His buddy, Roland, has gone down to Oklahoma to go Noodeling the past couple of years. Maybe he'll post about it.

I have hand caught trout while scuba diving, but mine don't really count as they had just finished spawning and were pretty lethargic before they died. they were pretty big, but not much of a sport.

I remember watching video of Many Puig hand catching some pretty large grouper by getting them to swallow his fist so that he could shove it through their gills and pull them to the surface.

 

[mishu1984]

Jon that is from his video ultimate predator

 

[Jon]

It was on the same video as Meghan Henney Grier. They were riding hammerheads and harassing other forms of sea life as I remember. The grouper footage was very cool- and very memorable.

Jon

 

[cdavis]

Almost caught about a 8 lb grouper by hand once. Not sure who was more surprised, him or me.

Connor

 

[vali]

my only underwater hunting with bare hands was when i catch an octopus in the red sea...this is not a fish so i don't know if it counts, but i remember i had quite a struggle there...
after a scuba session, me and my buddy diver went to do snorkeling arround the boat [somwhere about 50m from the boat] above a beautiful reef.
the octopus tryed and manneged to go under a rock. i started to look for her under this rock, but with cautions, because there was two lion fish near by. i-ve noticed thet on the top of the reef there where tiny wholes and i expected the octopus to search an escape route throught them....i was lucky because i was patient....eventually the octopus make the exit on the reef surface and i grab her...
of course, after a little "playng arround" i let her go in a cloud of ink