Pole spearing & scuba? Techniques?

[Mambo Dave]

Heya hunters,

I realize they're more made for freediving, but I'd like to hear from anyone who successfully uses a pole spear whilst scuba diving.

Every now and then I find a nice sized snapper just hanging out where I could use the pole spear (of course, not any time I've actually brought it along), but other times it's tough to get a sizeable fish.

I'm ok with the rarity of seeing one worth shooting, but I'd like to know what you do to more effectively get to a fish you see (as we have to be closer than a spear gunner typically would be).

And, the thought has crossed our minds that just like the fishing boats do, perhaps using some bait fish, cut up as a sort of chum, would work to attract certain species of game fish. Problem being, of course, it could attract a shark.

Keeping the pole spear keeps it sporting for me, but if you all say so, I'll give it up and just get a spear gun eventually.

So what can ya tell me?

Thanks

Sharkbait Dave

 

[Noi]

Ah, the quandry every florida spearo has asked themselves... am I goin' big or am I goin' small... every time I've ever gone small I see the "big one" and as he swims away I swear it will never happen again. As much as I love snapper, if it's not big enough to shoot with my big gun, I can live with that. BTW chummin does work for snapps, lots of chum(chunked sardines), but as you probably know they're real spooky and you'll need about a 20' pole spear, later, Noah

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I almost always have a pole spear and a gun with me, start with a good metal pole spear.

 

[Mambo Dave]

I've used a good metal pole spear, but find the fiberglass is more accurate.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I find the aluminum ones much more rigid and accurate. I've taken small mangroves and some decent sheepshead with my aluminum pole with a dual winged single swivel tip. Not the best tip for free swimming fish, a paralyzer would work much better, but I typically use my pole for flounder(in which the single tip is ideal).

If you want big fish, get a gun.

Bring what you need for the type of fish you shoot the most on whatever particular site. I don't bring my gun out on my beach dives, as mostly I come across fish easily handled by my polespear. If a larger fish comes along, I may come back later with a gun in hopes that its still around. If I bring a gun on my beach dives, alot of times the effort required with loading and stringing fish shot by the gun will end up limiting the amount of time I spend actually shooting fish in comparison... and some of the smaller fish would probably get obliterated by my larger spear shaft.