Due to the recent popularity of Rok's thread, I've decided to post how I practice spearing and would like to see others post what what their operating procedures are too.
I get out more often than the averge joe, and have some pretty decent numbers so the days of coming home skunked are long gone. My crew are fairly near the uppper end of the learning curve to and as such we can always bring in more fish than we do. Our freezers would soon be over flowing and our neighbors tired of fish if we shot every fish we could. Therefore we are all highly selective, not just with which fish we take but also which shots we take. Meaning we pass a many shots that would only hit the fish and wait for the kill shot to present itself, or a reasonably good chance at it. If I don't think I am very likely to put a fish's lights right out I will not take the shot. This is also a consequence of freeshafting but that is another thread. All fish are immediately brained once they are on a stringer for good measure, this is only humane and has the added benefit of eliminating the erratic movements that bring in sharks.
We also never take a species we don't want to eat our selves. My friend Robb hates mangrove snapper and will not shoot one even though he could give it to someone else. I am the same way with triggerfish.
If a fish cannot be precisely IDd it doesn't get shot period.
We always make sure a red grouper of shovelnose lobster are left on a ledge or piece of cheese bottom to keep the spot well dug out. I don't know that this can hold back massive sand deposits from storms but it is a small price to pay otherwise.
I also do not consider spearing a "sport". Wikipedia says: Sport is an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. A set of rules that are applied to both sides are key. Since competition is key to being a sport, fairness is important and two equal teams playing eachother is often the pinnacle of a good sporting match. Hunting is the opposite. It is the planned death of your prey to provide you with food. There are no hunters in nature that wait for a fair fight, in fact they do everything in their power to give them a competitive advantage. If you want a sporting event with fish try to catch them bare handed once they have seen you swimming after them. Otherwise kill them as quickly as possible and be thankful that their death will bring you and your family health and strength. Especially when compared to hormone saturated industrial produced alternatives.
What about you guys?
I get out more often than the averge joe, and have some pretty decent numbers so the days of coming home skunked are long gone. My crew are fairly near the uppper end of the learning curve to and as such we can always bring in more fish than we do. Our freezers would soon be over flowing and our neighbors tired of fish if we shot every fish we could. Therefore we are all highly selective, not just with which fish we take but also which shots we take. Meaning we pass a many shots that would only hit the fish and wait for the kill shot to present itself, or a reasonably good chance at it. If I don't think I am very likely to put a fish's lights right out I will not take the shot. This is also a consequence of freeshafting but that is another thread. All fish are immediately brained once they are on a stringer for good measure, this is only humane and has the added benefit of eliminating the erratic movements that bring in sharks.
We also never take a species we don't want to eat our selves. My friend Robb hates mangrove snapper and will not shoot one even though he could give it to someone else. I am the same way with triggerfish.
If a fish cannot be precisely IDd it doesn't get shot period.
We always make sure a red grouper of shovelnose lobster are left on a ledge or piece of cheese bottom to keep the spot well dug out. I don't know that this can hold back massive sand deposits from storms but it is a small price to pay otherwise.
I also do not consider spearing a "sport". Wikipedia says: Sport is an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. A set of rules that are applied to both sides are key. Since competition is key to being a sport, fairness is important and two equal teams playing eachother is often the pinnacle of a good sporting match. Hunting is the opposite. It is the planned death of your prey to provide you with food. There are no hunters in nature that wait for a fair fight, in fact they do everything in their power to give them a competitive advantage. If you want a sporting event with fish try to catch them bare handed once they have seen you swimming after them. Otherwise kill them as quickly as possible and be thankful that their death will bring you and your family health and strength. Especially when compared to hormone saturated industrial produced alternatives.
What about you guys?