Urgent Advice Needed on Specific Guns (need to buy now...)

[Diving Gecko]

Hi There,
Some of you may have seen a post where I was asking about second-hand guns in Thailand.
Nothing materialized and I need to buy a gun within the next day.
So, now I am looking into pneumatics - as that's what's around and I am also into the idea of them. I have read a lot already but have a hard time choosing.

So, basically, choices are limited to either Cressis or Seac-subs.
I know that both are 13mm barrel, which I read is better if I ever want to "dry barrel" them - could very well be, so that's good and not a parameter in choosing.
In terms of length, I am looking at either 70,75 or 90cm.
I will be spearing largely on reefs in South Thailand (legal as long as it is outside of marine parks). I am hoping to get a few groupers and perhaps red snappers on the edges of the reef or a small cuda. So, I'd say 80% reef and not really open water.
I know from shooting air pellet guns in my youth that I would hate a hard trigger, so I wonder which trigger mech is the better one as that's def something that could drive my choice.
Here are the options:

Cressi SL/STAR 70: No power reducer which I think could very well be a problem. I wont have access to new spears here at all and a lot of the hunting will be on reefs.

Then I have Seac-subs Asso and Seac-sub Hunter in both 75 and 90 cm. I don't really know what the difference is between the two models? Are they equally powerful? The handle and trigger looks "nicer" on the Hunter. Is the trigger indeed a better design? The Seac-subs available all come with power reducers, so the choices are to do with length and model.
With the proposed fishing grounds what length would you propose, 75 or 90 cm? Also, is the Hunter worth the 15-20% more over the Asso (I am already stretching my budget way too much).
Finally, I can get an Asso 90 for the same price as a Hunter 75 - what would you go for in that regard?

 

[foxfish]

Asso 90 with power reducer is the way to go...

 

[Diving Gecko]

Cool. Great to hear that 90cm is the way to go. Just wondering what it is that the Hunter has over the Asso? Is it the handle and a better trigger mech, is it better balanced or what is it?
I looked at the Euro and US prices and no matter what the size of the gun, the price difference is 20-25 Euros between the two models from 50cm to 135cm leading me to think, it might just be the handle and some trim that is upgraded and that's what you pay for. But again, if the Asso trigger is stone hard(?) and the Hunter is smooth, then it might be worth the upgrade. But unfortunately the shop here i asking a lot more than 20 euros for the Hunter 90cm over the Asso 90cm.

Best,
David

 

[foxfish]

I have no idea to be honest it just that the asso has a good reputation & I own one!
Trigger tension, on a lot of air guns, is caused by the line release!
You can relieve this issue by using a accurately fitted spear line & stretchy bungee cord.
A 90 is not that long & will give that extra punch to kill bigger fish or penetrate thick grouper skulls.

 

[Diving Gecko]

Have gun. Need boat, water and fishes. Thanks so much for the advice!

David

 

[Diving Gecko]

Just a quick thank you note to this forum and the people who responded to my cries for help. Just finished a week of sailing but only in one mooring spot was the visibility ok. In other places I couldn't even see the end of the gun. But I got two fish. Prepared one Thai style with a lime sauce and the other just with salt, pepper and butter. Both super delicious.
The gun took much more pumping than listed in Asso manuals. Also, I tended to aim too low, but once I noticed I got the two fish.
Never saw any snappers nor barracuda and the groupers I did see were tiny.
Can't wait to go spear fishing again just dunno when it will be.
Also, I am a dark side disciple and I did not even need to convert first
thanks again, I learned so much on this forum!

 

[Diving Gecko]

Back from the trip now. It was a sailing trip in South Thailand and it was great despite not spearing much.
Here are a few pics of one of the two fish I did get. I am still not sure what it is, but it tasted great.
Do you know what it is?

(I have ID'd the other one, but don't have pics - it was a streaked/striped rabbitfish. My two Chinese friends loved it which makes sense as it is a delicacy in parts of China around the lunar New Year. The rest of us liked it as well, almost creamy flesh and in some hard to explain way very soft and firm at the same time. It has spikes, a pretty distinct oval flat shape and no real scales which is what made me able to ID it.)

Also, as you probably can tell it was speared very low and actually got off, but luckily I found it soon after on the bottom. The other one was speared higher, but a bit further back.

 

[azapa]

looks like some kind of chub