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Florida Gulfcoast Spearfishing Post here to discuss regional action or issues about spearing on Florida's Gulfcoast. |
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10-19-2018, 11:54 AM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sarasota FL
Posts: 11
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Fish Stringer advice (First Scuba Spearfishing dive)
Last week I did an exploration shore dive on an artificial reef in about 25ft of water at max depth. Tide was slack then incoming and visibility was about 6ft-10ft. Went through two tanks. Overall it was a good dive and saw plenty of marine life.
First dive was without my gun because I was with a guide who wouldn't let me take my gun until I demonstrated I wasn't an idiot then the second I was allowed to get in with my gun. I was not expecting to get in with my gun and I did not have a stringer so I was mainly gunning for grouper. Unfortunately I learned pretty quickly that grouper are smart and definitely act different when you have a speargun in hand. However I could not believe the amount of large sheepshead and mangrove snapper I saw that were swimming up to me and was completely bummed out I didn't have a stringer with me. Then I realized that I don't really know how to operate with a stringer staying submerged as I come from a freediving spearing background. Should I hook the stringer to the base of my dive buoy and safely ascend to string fish there? or should I just work quickly and keep the stringer in my hand? I'm weary about attaching the stringer to my side due to the possibility of the tax man coming and taking more than just fish off my side. ( Though if I'm told here to do that I will take your advice because I have no prior experience to base off of) I'm going out again in the next few days and I'm looking to bring home a full stringer of fish. Any advice will help and I know I can find it here as I ghost read here everyday! Thanks in advance |
10-19-2018, 12:28 PM | #2 |
Mer*Man*. Mer-MAN!!!
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: New Port Richey, FL
Age: 42
Posts: 2,106
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Re: Fish Stringer advice (First Scuba Spearfishing dive)
When scuba spearing, I have a double-ended brass spring clip that I use to clip my stringer to the D-ring that hangs off the bottom of my B/C near my right hip. I usually leave it clipped on during the whole dive. I don't remove it to put fish on.
I ain't afraid of no sharks! A lot of the pros carry the stringer in their hand, and just throw it down if they need both hands. The fish they shoot are too big to clip to their sides, anyways Check out the videos in this thread: http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=195056 |
10-19-2018, 12:41 PM | #3 |
Mer*Man*. Mer-MAN!!!
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: New Port Richey, FL
Age: 42
Posts: 2,106
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Re: Fish Stringer advice (First Scuba Spearfishing dive)
If you don't have a stringer yet, get one where the point sticks 6" or so past the clip. This allows you to stab the fish onto the stringer BEFORE you open the stringer. This prevents undead fish you previously strung from swimming away when you open up the stringer.
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10-19-2018, 12:49 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Port Charlotte Fl
Age: 76
Posts: 2,480
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Re: Fish Stringer advice (First Scuba Spearfishing dive)
The picture he posted is a good stringer, not only is the point longer than where it clips, but the corner is "captured" which where you want to clip the spring clip fastener, so it doesn't roll/slide/slip around the stringer. I use a double ended spring clip also, but instead of the D ring on my BC I have it on the bottom front of my weight belt. The reason being I can pull the buckle on the belt and be free of the stringer and belt. I have had strung fish get into a crack and wedge themselves, you cant always get enough slack to work the spring clip, but you can always drop your weight belt.
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10-19-2018, 01:02 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Palm Harbor, FL
Posts: 953
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Re: Fish Stringer advice (First Scuba Spearfishing dive)
Yep, "one handed stringer" is the way to go.
I used to bolt snap my stringer to my left hip d ring, but stopped that practice due to sharks and goliaths. Instead I hold it. It takes some skill development to juggle a gun and stringer, but it gets easier with practice. If I were going to clip it off I don't think I would use a metal connector and instead would use a thick o-ring or even a typical webbing quick connect. This way if something big, like a 500 pound goliath grabbed my fish and stringer, the o-ring would break or I could release the clip so you don't go for a ride... Easier to line up your next shot to get your fish back. I highly recommend watching this video. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/barebones/6756973 It's well worth the $17.00 and I'm almost certain the instructional video illustrates the one handed stringer, among other priceless tips. |
10-19-2018, 02:41 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: New Port Richey FL
Posts: 1,984
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Re: Fish Stringer advice (First Scuba Spearfishing dive)
I use a stringer similar to the one pictured. Attached point down on my BC pretty high up, on a lanyard - this one:
https://www.makospearguns.com/Consta...-p/mcccl.2.htm This way I can keep it connected and unclip the plastic buckle part and play out the bungee if I need more manueverability. In over 600 dives I've never had a shark or goliath try to nab my stringer - perhaps because of how close it is to my body, but also I keep aware of my surroundings and if there are sharks or goliaths around I then detach the stringer and hold on to it. I also kill my fish with my knife after stringing. |
10-20-2018, 07:07 AM | #7 |
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: st. petersburg,fl.
Posts: 2,221
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Re: Fish Stringer advice (First Scuba Spearfishing dive)
Thru the years. i have found that especially red grouper after being shot and not dead. Tend to start grunting which is like a dinner bell to CG's and sharks. Try to dispatch all your strung fish with a dagger style knife or kill spike. Some guys even use a Phillips head screw driver with a grinded sharp point with a pvc tube sheath.
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10-20-2018, 07:22 AM | #8 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: New Port Richey FL
Posts: 1,984
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Re: Fish Stringer advice (First Scuba Spearfishing dive)
Quote:
The Japanese do this with their sushi-grade fish and it is why it always tastes much better. |
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10-20-2018, 10:36 AM | #9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sarasota FL
Posts: 11
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Re: Fish Stringer advice (First Scuba Spearfishing dive)
I appreciate everyone's advice, I will let you all know how my hunt tomorrow morning goes
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10-20-2018, 01:16 PM | #10 |
Naval gazer extraordinair
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,214
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Re: Fish Stringer advice (First Scuba Spearfishing dive)
Whelp, it took these incidents for me to learn...
I had my stringer clipped on my weight belt. It had hogs and grouper attached. I was swimming along the sand looking under the natural reef...a few feet above the sand. A big ass nurse shark swam underneath me to grab my fish and started to shake violently, ripping my stringer off. His accomplice was right behind him. They both made a sand storm...eating my take while I tried to poke them off my catch. I was left with one hogfish with a bite out of it. Not too long later I went diving on a ledge that had an undercut. Whelp, I had fish on stringer clipped to my side, flashlight on, DEEP in this undercut looking for some grouper. My backside was undefendable. My body was deep into this undercut with all my gear on...shit then goes CRAZY on my backside due to the stringer. It actually turned out to be a big gag on the stringer getting his second wind but could've easily been a shark. I do brain my fish, btw. What was I thinking at the time? Would you like that to happen to you?
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“If the natural tendencies of mankind are so bad that it is not safe to permit people to be free, how is it that the tendencies of these organizers are always good? Do not the legislators and their appointed agents also belong to the human race? Or do they believe that they themselves are made of a finer clay than the rest of mankind?” ― Frederic Bastiat, The Law |
10-22-2018, 08:09 AM | #11 |
Mer*Man*. Mer-MAN!!!
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: New Port Richey, FL
Age: 42
Posts: 2,106
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Re: Fish Stringer advice (First Scuba Spearfishing dive)
LOL, could you still see light from as far back as you crawled?
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