Where's the best place to spear in the USA?

[Reel Crazy14]

LA rigs sound like top notch spearin. What kind of fish do you shoot on those rigs?

 

[louisianadiver]

LA rigs sound like top notch spearin. What kind of fish do you shoot on those rigs?

Cobia (ling or lemonfish in Louisiana lingo) in the 20-80 pound range; amberjack to over 100 pounds but more commonly in the 30-50 pound range; red snapper to 30+ pounds but more commonly in the 10-20 pound range (my favorite fish to hunt and eat; see http://claycoleman.tripod.com/id21.htm); gags and groupers of all sizes. The big Warsaw groupers that were common in the 1970s (and who killed their share of divers) are rare today, especially at reasonable diving depths, as are Goliath groupers (can't get used to calling them that). You can also bag mangrove snappers in the 8-15 pound range on snorkel between tank dives. Big triggerfish can also be taken on tank or snorkel. That's not counting the no-eaters like jack crevalle (at least not many people eat them around here), barracuda, tarpon, etc. The rigs can be a cool dive even without the spearing (see http://claycoleman.tripod.com/id118.htm) when the water is clear. -Clay

 

[jagfish]

That said it's not an ideal place to hunt. Water is "wierd" to say the least with several haloclines and thermoclines common in 100' of depth with each distinct water mass all moving in different directions. Most have no reachable bottom, the water just gets thicker or it's WAY too deep to go there. Navigation is compounded by both the layer cake water and the fact that compass don't work out there, they just pooint to the nearest average metal mass. There are a lot of 6' long fish out there, but there are also a bunch of fish that feed on 6' long fish. Being well down in the middle of the food chain is a new experience for most of those who dive elsewhere.

It's great hunting, but not for the newbie with poor water skills or those with a faint heart.

FT

Now that is a chilling desription!

JAG

 

[Rick Murchison]

http://claycoleman.tripod.com/id118.htm)

Very nice work Clay.
Thanks for sharing some wonderful images.
Rick

 

[Rick Murchison]

Water is "wierd" to say the least with several haloclines and thermoclines common in 100' of depth with each distinct water mass all moving in different directions. Most have no reachable bottom, the water just gets thicker or it's WAY too deep to go there. Navigation is compounded by both the layer cake water and the fact that compass don't work out there, they just pooint to the nearest average metal mass. There are a lot of 6' long fish out there, but there are also a bunch of fish that feed on 6' long fish. Being well down in the middle of the food chain is a new experience for most of those who dive elsewhere.

It's just the Gulf, after all, Fred...
She can carress ye gently, fascinate ye, make ye laugh... and turn on ye like a mad dog, all in half a heartbeat.
People ask me "what will conditions be like in the Gulf?" I always answer "I'll let you know when I get back."
Rick

 

[FredT]

Yep, and I love it! It's truly amazing how fast she can raise up and sink her 10" long fangs firmly into your arse.

I just figured a "fair warning" was in order.

FT

 

[louisianadiver]

Very nice work Clay.
Thanks for sharing some wonderful images.
Rick

Thanks very much, Rick. I guess we're a bit off the subject here, but the rigs are interesting dives independent of the spearfishing. The pilings are covered with blennies and other neat stuff. Most common are seaweed blennies:
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/id30.htm
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/id32.htm

tesselated blennies:
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/id63.htm
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/id147.htm

and just cool stuff:
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/id148.htm

Have a good look around on your safety stops after that big AJ or snapper has been bagged. -Clay

 

[Hunter]

I have read all of the replies to this question and I would definately like to say it would depend on your skill level. I have been shooting the rigs for many years some close to the Missisippi river where the vis is zero down to about twenty feet then it opens up to very clear on out in the gulf. I would like to say that the rigs are not a place to get your first exposer to spearfishing.

The disadvantage to shooting the rigs is that there is no bottom. You have to make sure that you make well placed shots and your bouyancy is always critical.
If you are a beginner, shallower depths where you have a bottom, the fish that you shoot are easily placed on a stringer.

I just returned from the Dry Tortugas for a four day trip and we shot many nice Black Groupers, Reds, Big AJs, and of course the easy to shoot Hogs. I have hunted the Tortugas for the past four years diving Nitrox and have really been successful and had tons of fun.

Don't leave out those freshwater lakes for some fine spearing as well. I take every chance I can to shoot some flathead cats in a couple of lakes in Arkansas in late summer and fall.

There is nothing like feeling that shaft release then to feel that quiver of the line on contact. What a rush!!!

 

[hawaiianhaole]

Come on boys,

Aloha, we all know where the best spearfishing is at , the 50th state .........well if you didnt know the 50th state is hawaii hahaha. Hawai'i has some of the nicest water around 75feet visiablity gorgeous coral reefs ,caves, recks , warm water temp. year round, avg air temp through out the year is 80degrees. Reallly its like some mistical place from beg.to advance from shoreline to bluewater nutin beats it. all we lack is the freshwater diving . I feel like a lawyer in a closing agrument lol anyways if any of you guys every down my way drop a line aloha ,

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Welcome to ScubaBoard hawaiianhaole

I've never speared on the LA rigs, but everyone I know who has says its the place to be.