spear fishing poll

[filletofish]

pole spear for starters / speargun for starters

[FJHIII]

go for the gun

[getoffmyback]

Guns........Riffes preferrably

[JiGGZ]

Start with a sling......Anyone can use a gun. The sling will force you to hone your stalking skillz and make you that much better when you go to the gun.

[rojodiablo]

Originally Posted by getoffmyback

Guns........Riffes preferrably

That's saying a lot to tell a newbie... invest in really expensive gear before you even know if you like the sport. Yeah, buy your first car, make it a Mercedes... Start with a pole spear. You will learn stalking tactics, and then try to find a used gun to start, or a low priced tube gun. 90cm is the best all around starter gun. I dive with Riffe guns, and they are great. But for a new diver to invest $400 plus in their first gun is unrealistic. Gat-Ku makes good polespears, so does JBL. Good spearguns that are very accurate and affordable are Hammerhead Evolution series. They start under $200. Then, when you need a big gun, and have $600-1000 to spend, look into the Riffe. It's worth every penny when you do step up to it, but take your time, and have fun. Paul. Hammerhead Muzzles: Spear gun modification, Diving Gear

[taggermike]

hey filletofish
Start with the pole spear. I brought home a lot of good meals with my basic paralizer tipped pole spear. I shot a 15lb halibut on my first outing. They're good value and easy to use. And if some thing terrible happens and you loose it you won't be out a fortune. I have found that you need to get farther from the beach to really make a gun worth while. Blasting small reef dwelling fish and breaking spear points was not too fun for me. Save the gun until you feel comfortable kicking farther out or in the kelp. Don't think the pole spear is just junior varsity. I still love using mine. It's a pathetic looking little thing, 5 feet long with a big old double butter fly point. Couldn't beat the price; I found it lying on the bottom in 10' of water just south of Swami's. I've taken halis up to 25lbs with it and have speared legal halis in only 3' of water. No long kick out or boat needed. Mike

[apneanaut]

Pole spear. With a pole spear you can swim more freely and get comfortable in the water. And by the time you can take calicos with a pole spear, you'll be a total stud with a gun.

[Smudge]

Pole spear. Gat-Ku's are badass and made right here in San Diego.

[Supa711]

Polespear, newb-friendly reload times. Line guns take a moment to reload, unless your freeshafting, but that isnt really advisable in so cal vis, especially freediving.

[slider]

A good 8' minimum pole spear is great to start.

[lobzila]

Pole spear! Find out if you like the sport first. Work your way up. I wish I had a dollar for every sheepshead I killed with a pole spear, I could of bought a bigger boat! I have taken halibuts to forty pounds with a pole spear and nothing is harder to do then stalk and shoot a calico (any legal size) with a pole spear. Put some time in the water and work your way up. When you are ready for a gun, talk to someone who is a serious hunter about what kind of gun to get, not the knucklehead at the dive store who will sell you his top of the line rock gun and tell you to try and take yellowtails and WSB with it.

[Carcharodon]

Originally Posted by getoffmyback

Guns........Riffes preferrably

Dont listen to everything sport chalet wants you to believe.