speargun for yt

bajabum · Jul-17-2008, 11:09 AM

what size/brand? mostly offshore kelps for Yellowtail dorado,sometimes grouper in baja. been borrowing my friends Riffes, he has 7 guns, but its time to have one on board all the time, too many missed opportunities. also what do you think about spearing a swordy? been real close to sleepers, how big of float? how likely of landing it? possibility of being skewered? any one have a gun for sale?

marlyn · Jul-17-2008, 11:57 AM

do NOT try to spear a swordie as you probably will not live to tell the story! i would recommend a riffe rear handled gun for all around ease of use.i hear great things about wong guns too but i have always been happy with riffe and havent tried any others.my 2 cents.....

**chuam** · Jul-17-2008, 12:51 PM

It's also not legal to spear a swordy in US waters.

Riffe No Ka Oi is a good starter.

makojoe2004 · Jul-17-2008, 12:52 PM

thATS WHY YOU DONT TALK ABOUT IT

iclypso · Jul-17-2008, 05:13 PM

Plenty of good railguns that will get the job done. I have a 110cm Carbon Rabitech that I love and it's perfect for all the species you mentioned. Any Rob Allen or Rabitech above 110cm would be perfect. Riffes would be great, too. Wongs are the cream of the crop.

Some people advocate JBLs. I have one and it works but it's really noisy and doesn't float.

bajabum · Jul-17-2008, 05:46 PM

Thanks for all the advice, still would like to spear a sword. talked to F&G, they said as long as you are in the water its legal, not sure i was talking to a warden though.

Santino · Jul-18-2008, 02:37 AM

After trial and error with different set ups I now feel I use the perfect gear arrangement for paddy hopping.
I prefer a Sea Sniper Reef Pro 130 ,2x 16mm (5/8ths) bands and a 9/32nd threaded shaft w/
Mori slip tip. I like using a break away set up (keeps the gun independent of the shaft shooting and float lines). Then attach 6' of bungi to 50'+ of float line (or just get the two combined). You can use just about any float/bumper for fish under 20lbs but if you run across something bigger you may want a little more buoyancy (30lbs+).
I have used many set ups, with plenty of success and failures. The failed attempts to land a fish have brought me to my final set up for a variety of reasons.
You do not have to use the set up I detailed to land fish, this is just what I choose to use when I know I want to be successful.

mercerm · Jul-18-2008, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bajabum

Thanks for all the advice, still would like to spear a sword. talked to F&G, they said as long as you are in the water its legal, not sure i was talking to a warden though.

28.90. Diving, Spearfishing. Persons who are floating or swimming in the water may use spearfishing
gear and skin or SCUBA diving equipment to take fin fish other than giant (black) sea bass, garibaldi,
gulf grouper, broomtail grouper, trout, salmon, striped bass or broadbill,

**chuam** · Jul-18-2008, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makojoe2004

thATS WHY YOU DONT TALK ABOUT IT

Feel free to be in the water with a pissed off swordfish..................

mercerm · Jul-18-2008, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuam

Feel free to be in the water with a pissed off swordfish..................

Chances are he wont be able to talk about that encounter...

bajabum · Jul-18-2008, 01:47 PM

Thanks for the info on the regs, i'll look for em south of the border, couldnt be any more dangerous than driving down there. not going to be in the water very long after hitting a sleeping fish anyway. been baiting them for 30 years to no avail. life is full of risks, i like my chances. thanks for all the advice.

dniss · Jul-18-2008, 02:18 PM

Mark Morgan at Spear Shack in O.B. (619 226 2406) is an avid Baja Spear guy who sells, makes, and modifies gear. He knows his stuff, so you may wanna give him a call.

DavePloessel · Jul-19-2008, 03:17 PM

Get a 55" or bigger midhandle with a sliptip - bigger is better offshore in good vis.

Locally, this summer, if you dive offshore paddies, you will see tuna, you'll want more range then - I run a 60 or 63"gun offshore dependinging on vis.

Eruo or railguns are nice, but typically dont have the punch at range for the blue as they usually come rigged with smaller dia shafts. Bring a gun to a gunfight - if you are going to spear offshore, bring a big gun witha big shaft.

Rig with a floatline - at least 100'. and maybe a bungie as well.

Swordies HAVE been speared. Not legal in US waters - you can spear local marlin though. Legal to poke swordies in Mex. GNARLEY fish, but fun (I hear).

Check out James and Joseph (ask for Damien).

NATEDOGG · Jul-19-2008, 03:37 PM

There's a book by Carlos Eyles called Secret Seas it's a collection of short stories (great books for spearo's). The first story is of a guy called "Outboard Jack" a big guy with a lifetime of ocean spearing experience back in the 70's that speared a Swordie off Avalon bank. Well, let's just say it's not a happy ending...
I've heard of some guys that have tried it with no success. Both times the fish charged the divers. Went straight out, then came straight back at them. One fish actually pierced the boat's hull. Meanest fish in the sea IMO. So, I would not recommend it.

As a side note, the gun setup for trying to successfully land a fish like that would be expensive a inconvenient to keep on the boat "Just in case".

Back to reality

For the gun question I wouldn't recommend the No Ka Oi. All Riffe's Blue Water guns need work to shoot straight. The Standard #3 is the best gun Riffe makes. It's an all around great gun to keep on the boat for any occasion. If you prefer a euro style gun, AimRite makes awesome guns and has a "real" lifetime warranty (Rick will replace anything for any reason... forever). Other than that, Custom guns like Wong, Mori, and Sea Sniper are the best in the world for a price. There are almost too many manufactures to name and I guess any gun COULD work, BUT as we all know... "You get what you pay for."

Fisha · Jul-25-2008, 11:07 AM

Good luck trying to land a speared swordie......seems to me like a deathwish