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G'day,
I'm looking at buying a speargun - I've been using a sling for the last year or so. I mostly just spear the inshore reefs, but i'd like to get a decent sized gun (1m>) so I can go for some larger stuff if I get adventurous - preferably with the option of adding a second rubber later. At the moment I generally get flatheads, leatherjackets, butterfish, etc. but I've been seeing a lot of pike recently and it's really frustrating with a sling!
Which guns do you guys use? Have any of you tried pneumatic guns?
I'm looking at maybe a SeaHornet Magnum, but I'm also interested in the idea of pneumatic guns - i've found some that are fairly reasonably priced overseas, but I'm not sure about how our customs will deal with a speargun.
Any advice would be really helpful.
Cheers.
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'Bout spearguns, I use an old gun (the brand sticker has worn off, that's how old it is!), that's about 1.5m long - a longer gun is generally better I reckon - powered by a single rubber. I have a long cluster head on the end, and have used this outfit to take leatherjackets, sweep, pike, flatties, blackfish, trevally, flounder and a big whiting a few seasons ago. I don't know much about them, but I think that pneumatic guns have power issues (ie/ not as powerful as rubbers) and also can be an expensive exercise if they malfunction. Also they are expensive to buy compared to rubbered guns. I think that, at least for your first gun, you would do best to concentrate on buying a reliable rubbered gun. 2 of my mates use the Seahornet gun that you mentioned, they are very happy with them. For my next gun I will be looking at something from picasso I think, more expensive than most guns, but worth it.
Hope this helps
JAz 
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Thanks mate, I think maybe the Sea Hornet or an Edge is the way to go.
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20-02-2004, 03:28 PM
(This post was last modified: 20-02-2004, 06:44 PM by glen.)
If you are serious about your spearfishing then keep away from the compression guns, you will end up with to many missed opertunities and not enough trophy fish. Look for something from Picasso, Rob Allan they will give you good results and last you quite a few years. The 1100mm size category is ideal for the bay and blue water, just stick 18-20 mm rubbers on it and you will have not only good distance but also good stopping power. Prices do vary. Good luck <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clover.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='  ' />
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Thanks A1 I didn't really want to spend that much at this stage... I think I'll go for an Esclapez Challenger - in my price range and I've heard some good things.
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hey guys..
new to this forum and making my first post..
i have 2 spear guns sea hornet tourist and a sea hornet lazer
generally use the smaller one as its easier to use around rocks. have used it to take rays, leatherjackets, luderick, whiting and calamari at phillip island near woolamai.
i was at a shop today and saw a speargun forgot the name but it looked the good was around 180 w9ill get back to you on that though..
pat
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What sort of rays are you taking? I generally leave them alone.
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only shot one, let it go though after my mate i was spearfishing with told me theres no fun in spearfishing a ray. i didn't know cos it was my first time but since then i just watch them glide along through the water
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i guess some people eat them. is it like shark/flake?
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never tried it my gf's dad was telling me his brother caught one of a boat.. cooekd it on the bbq wasn;t to crash hot according to him
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A lot of people say that rays taste like flake, I reckon it's a load of BS, I speared and ate a ray once, meat tasted 'funny', and was very stringy.
I'd give em a miss if I were you.
Jaz
PS Banjo sharks (AKA fiddler rays) are nice to eat, but a bugger to clean <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=' ' />
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Hi fellas,
Caught heaps of rays from the boat and kept a few over the years for the table as well. I have found that, like alot of fish, the larger the ray the less palatable <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='  ' />
Glen you are right about them being stringy. I tend to cut strips about 1/2 inch thick and fry in the pan. Poor man's flake but hey it beats eating Bird's Eye fishsfingers
Another things with rays is i have found their meet to get an ammonia taste to it if you don't quickly cut the wing flaps off.
I'd think twice about spearing one if i was floundering,... had one turn on me and the spike went through the waders like a hot knife through butter <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='  ' /> I was in a bit of pain for the good part of an hour
<img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/beer_mug.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':beer' />
AK
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my uncle was telling me when he was my age (17) he speared a fish but hidden under the sand was a ray a huge one it took off and snapped the string off his speargun he lost his spear. if i see one i generally just watch em as there too big to spear.
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ok thanks guys. i will not eat any rays! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':beer' />
however, i will keep trying to grab those banjo sharks by the tail. i just can't resist trying! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=' ' />
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Hehe yeah the banjo's are fun - I reckon just throw em up onto the beach (or boat) - no need to spear the buggers (probably bounce off the head anyway).
On a side note I was spearing with a friend the other day and what must be one of the biggest stingrays in PPB swam underneath me in about 3 metres of water. It was huge! Like 3 metre wingspan or so, it was like having the death star going beneath you, it just kept going. I know they are placid creatures, and I usually love seeing them, but the sheer size of the thing scared the bezeejus out of me. It's the second time i've seen it (it's got a favourite spot) but I'd forgotten about it. The first time I saw it, it was charging a few of us cos it wanted our fish. Got pretty insistent but finally went away.
Any idea how large they get to? I can't imaging anything much bigger than this one!
Also I never spear them - kinda seems silly. I'd be worried about getting stung, and I'd have no idea how to clean or fillet the bloody thing.
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hey
last time i was down at san remo pier just waklking along saw 3 huge stingrays must of been 2m across at least. all swimming in about 1m of water or less just gliding along..
i went out to go spearfishing today but the conditions weren;t the best too rough.
pat.
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Hi guys i have 2 guns i regulary use here arond portstephens one is a sea hornet pacific i use for bream pigs niggers etc it works fine!.My second gun is a rob allen sniper awsome weapon the rolls royce of guns.It is used for bigger things such us kings cobia jewies tuna and hopefully before long marlin.Anyway good luck and remember dont think just spearing anything makes you a big man spear only what you can eat <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':beer' />
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Hi all
I am recently using a sling but are looking to purchase a gun. I was thinking maybe a seahornet competition. What do you all think?
Any other good guns worth checking out?
Cheers
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I haven't bought a gun for ages, but I have heard good things about Picasso, Esclapez and especially Rob Allen guns...something you'll need to figure out is whether you want to spear with a multi-pronged 'cluster' head or just a single point with flopper barb. Most of the above guns come standard with a non-threaded spear with the flopper attached directly ie/ since they are not threaded you can't put a cluster head on them. I think most of the seahornet guns have threaded spears so you can screw on a cluster head or a single point, depending on your preference on the day.
In my opinion if you are just starting out spearfishing and will be spearing smaller/thinner fish like mullet whiting and pike, you'll be better off with a multi-prong cluster head. It will give you a greater margin of error than a single point spear. I started off spearing with a single point, and got VERY frustrated with the amount of fish I was missing. When I changed to a cluster head I started getting more fish.
Jaz
PS Also think about price, the three brands I mentioned are much more expensive than seahornet <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />
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yeah thanks Jaz
I was quoted about $180 for a sea hornet competition gun brand new. Do you reckon thats a bit expensive for a first gun? I've got the money for it but I would rather buy say a weight belt or diving knife instead of paying top price for my first gun. Do you use a weight belt? I was told you need to be quite advanced before you require a weight belt.
Anyway back to the guns, I was looking at a few Rob Allen guns but most are out of my 200-250 price range. I havn't found any info about Picasso guns. I have also been told Mares and Nemrod are relkiable brands. Is this true? I would definately want a cluster head on my gun with the option of changed to a mako point when I'm targeting larger species (Kingies at Portland mainly).
Any one with some info please post it because Im'm trying to purchase a gun before Wednesday. ( wednesday I'm going to Tassie to do some spearing with my dad).
Thanks SAUCE <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />
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