Looking for a Dive Partner
Submitted by TGMitchell on Thu, 2013-06-06 21:50
I'm keen on getting into some more diving - have my advanced PADI but only about 50 dives under my belt. I'd like to learn spearfishing as well.
I have my own boat (5.5m fibreglass) and am currently fishing out from the Safety Bay Jetty. I'm off to Thailand next month and will be purchasing more dive gear there - so will have my own set up soon.
Problem is I don't know any divers here, so I never really get to do it as much as I'd like - so I'm putting it out there - if there is anyone out there interested my partnering up with me or taking me out on their boat it'd be good to hear from you
____________________________________________________________________________
The Black Baron
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
buying gear in thailand
be careful what you buy over there (Thailand) I qualified as a padi diver in 1983 and have logged hundreds of dives the problem with buying gear in asia is that the warranties might not be valid in Australia I am a thai veteran having been there about 40 times and I am married to a thai girl and please don't tell me you are going to shoot fish on air very unsporting
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
If it isn't for you, don't do
If it isn't for you, don't do it. If it isn't illegal, then don't complain about it.
I'm not for it, but then I think catching fish on bait is unsporting too.
jdavies_99
Posts: 114
Date Joined: 24/07/11
Agreed
I am with Till on this.
Its not illegal and until it is I will respect peoples rights to do it, however cant say I agree with it
If it was my decision I would make it illegal.
The more you spearfish the more you realise that the challenge/skill/fun is in getting to the depths that fish are at and then spending time below stalking them to get the perfect shot. If you are diving on air you will tire of the sport pretty quickly and never really appreciate it completely.
___________________________
2006 Sea Hunt 23 Walkaround w/ 150hp Yamaha 2006
1989 Haines Hunter Legend w/ 225hp Pro XS Mercury 2013
2006 Savage 14ft w/ 30hp Yamaha
1990 Zodiac 12ft w/ 4hp Mercury
TGMitchell
Posts: 221
Date Joined: 24/11/09
Sport My Arse!!!
Do you really think there is any sport in killing fish or any other animals for that matter?
The only 'sport' in it is how difficult you make it for yourself to catch the fish - the reality is that unless you are going out there (swimming) and catching them by hand you have an unfair advantage over them - exploiting an unfair advantage in any game, no matter how 'sporting' you try and make it is NOT sport.
In a 'sport' the rewards are 'equal' for the competing sides but you don't die if don't catch your fish.....
Fishing for me is not and never will be 'sport' - it is fun yes - I enjoy it yes but it is not sport. Its, at best, a hobby - a hobby in which I get fed at the end of the day.
Precisely where do you make the judgement call about what is right and not right about fishing or hunting?
If your definition of 'sporting' was employed to prescribe the law then all fishing with rods, reels, depth sounders, spearguns and lures would be illegal.
I'm all for laws and regulations that limit the amount of fish people catch and I'm all for consideration of the impact you make when you remove flora and/or fauna from an ecological system but at the end of the day I am fishing to get a feed, otherwise I wouldn't do it. Catch and release for the sake of 'sport' will never do it for me - I've frankly got better things to do with my time.
The Black Baron
Daniel Y
Posts: 423
Date Joined: 30/09/05
I disagree with you
I disagree with you completley.
Very loose definition of sport (From google): "An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others"
Does spearfishing involve physical exertion? Check.
Does it involve skill? Check.
Do you compete against others? Check. Either against other people in a tournament, or against your mates, or against the fish itself.
A sport doesn't have to be exactly equal for both sides, it just has to be a challenge and physcially exerting. Fishing is most definitley a sport for me. You can regard it as a hobby/sustinance if you like, but I will regard it as a sport.
I don't really have a problem with people spearing on scuba, so long as the follow the laws and regulations. I personally belive that spearing on breathold is much more challenging, fun, and 'sporting', but if people want to shoot the ocassional fish on scuba, I don't have an issue. Spearing is more selective than line fishing (it is infact pretty much the most selective form of fishing), so there's less bycatch, no post release mortaility of unwanted species, and theres far less waste produced.
TGMitchell
Posts: 221
Date Joined: 24/11/09
So I am competing against
So I am competing against the fish? or what?
The Black Baron
Daniel Y
Posts: 423
Date Joined: 30/09/05
Yes. You spear them you win.
Yes. You spear them you win. You don't, they win.
Here's an interesting idea...
Maybe you should actually try spearfishing before you claim it's not a sport.
TGMitchell
Posts: 221
Date Joined: 24/11/09
Firstly, sport is
Firstly, sport is competition between people - otherwise when I eat yoghurt its a sport - if the bacteria can run away in time then they win.... you get the point - so fishing / hunting becomes a sport when people compete against each other to get the biggest or most fish or whatever - otherwise its just hunting.
Secondly, you don't need first had experience at something in order make some basic observations about what category it will fit into. I have never played Grid Iron but I can quite easily surmise that it is a sport, likewise I have never baked an apple turnover but I can figure out that baking turnovers is not a sport
Thirdly, my reaction about sport was just that - a reaction - i was being pretty much accused of being unsporting - I am pointing out that I am totally not interested in fishing or spearfishing or scuba or farting as a sport - I fish for enjoyment and food - my intention to learn spearfishing is to enjoy it and catch some food. Period.
The Black Baron
TGMitchell
Posts: 221
Date Joined: 24/11/09
Who said anything anout
Who said anything about sport? I'm after a feed - sporting would be using no weapons (ie rods, lures, reels or spearguns) or giving the fish weapons to fight back with - that'd be sporting :-)
As for Thailand - I've been there a number of times and of course wouldn't buy everything there
The Black Baron
paula8519
Posts: 101
Date Joined: 09/03/10
dive buddy
Hi i am in the same position i dive the carnac area, hard to get dive budies pls give me a ring 93834270 cheers paul.
paul a
Paully
Posts: 3246
Date Joined: 15/08/09
Sporting Lol
Turn off your sounders, plotters and radars - the whole shooting match
Swompa
Posts: 3910
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Leave the boat on the beach
Leave the boat on the beach while you're at it!
JoeH
Posts: 85
Date Joined: 08/09/05
Knob comment
"please don't tell me you are going to shoot fish on air very unsporting"
^^^ Typical knob comment, that one.
Glad it's been pointed out, as it was my first reaction before any replies added.
Cheers,
Joe
The smaller the icebox you take, the bigger the fish will be.
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
knob comment ????
I am a big fan of spearfishing in my opinion it is the best ecological way to fish but I don't believe you should shoot fish on air (and I am entitled to my opinion) I have shot hundreds of fish over my life but never on air in saying that I do like to scuba dive as well with practice a young bloke should be able to get 25 to 30 meters free diving with a couple of minutes bottom time the author of the thread say he wants says wants to learn how to spear fish he should join a spearfishing club but they wont let him shoot fish on air some of the best free dive spear fisherman in the world are based in WA and are happy to pass on tips at comps and meetings
Pitty
Posts: 161
Date Joined: 08/12/12
Scuba
I respect that you don't like spear fishing on air but if you believe if is the most ecological way of fishing then surely whether you do it on a single breath or on scuba is irrelevant. I mainly scuba for crays but if I am in an area where I am able to spearfish I take my gun with me. 90% of the time I don't shoot anything, but if I see anything particularly good I have a shot. This is the most selective method of fishing and eliminates by catch and barotrauma to undersized fish. Surely this can only be a good thing.
UBIQUE
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
agreed slightly
I just think there is more challenge free diving to me shooting certain species of fish on air is like shooting like shooting fish in a barrel examples are barramundi cod , coral trout , Maori cod and pretty much any cod type of fish they cant help them self's if you are trailing 1 they will turn around and have a look at you on the other hand try getting close enough to a big blue bone for a good shot you would never get close enough on air the only way you can do it is to tail them on free air until you have your chance at it might take 3 , 4 or even 5 dives but if you get it you fell like you earnt it
Pitty
Posts: 161
Date Joined: 08/12/12
I can see your point as
I can see your point as species such as coral trout will just look at you, and the only way to get a decent bluebone is to ambush them, but in the end I am generally diving for crays and are really just looking for a feed, so sporting doesn't really come into it for me, just want a good feed and to have a bit of fun. There must be times when you have been diving on air when you see a big dhuie and wish you had your gun, sure the challenge is not there but they still taste just as good.
UBIQUE
Versus
Posts: 918
Date Joined: 06/03/09
I think WA is the only place
I think WA is the only place in Aus that still allows it? And I think it's banned in other places due to safety reasons more than sporting. Anyways.
For the SCUBA (if all else fails) you can always checkout club dives (through dive shops), I think most places do it once a month or something. As for spearfishing, I'm amatuer but have been a couple times with my brother whenever he's in town, and his mate who goes pretty much every w.e. In fact they are probably going this Sunday weather permitting. Last w.e when i didn't go, my bro's mate got a big mackie, think it was off Two Rocks. Send us a PM if you're interested
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
I think you can do it in Tas
I think you can do it in Tas as well, but it is banned in the other states.
Its banned in other states to reduce catch rates.
The only safety crossover I know is that in NT you can't have a speargun and scuba aboard at the same time, even if they're used separately.
TGMitchell
Posts: 221
Date Joined: 24/11/09
I think restricting their
I think restricting their use is sensible but banning speargunning on air is stupid - how about the benefits - like less by-catch and therefore less baro-trauma.... ANd you cant' argue that 'everyone would do it' either - otherwise we'd have to ban all fishing
The Black Baron
dodgy
Posts: 4586
Date Joined: 01/02/10
Not right till. That was
Not right till. That was thought to be the case but has been clarified by fisheries that scuba gear is allowed on board a spearos boat.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
No longer the case? Nice that
No longer the case? Nice that they bothered to clarify.
There has been concerns that it perhaps contributed to preventable deaths in Darwin and that was where I saw the matter last.
paula8519
Posts: 101
Date Joined: 09/03/10
spearing on scuba
The reality is that spearing on scuba is not as easy as it appears, most fish are spooked by the air ascending air bubbles and noisy excellation from the regulator, some fish that are easily spooked like jewies baldies and others are actually harder to shoot. Before the arm chair experts pass further pontifications why dont you try it . At the end of the day we are all subject to the same strict fisheries catch and take regulations. So if you have a magic flute and can charm them into your goodie bag go for it. I know some of the best breath hold spearos are so good that they take the maximum allowed allowed every trip and best of luck to them, its not the method but the quotas that save or ruin fish numbers.
paul a
TGMitchell
Posts: 221
Date Joined: 24/11/09
Hear Hear
Hear Hear
The Black Baron
jdavies_99
Posts: 114
Date Joined: 24/07/11
-
I cant say I agree to be honest.
Yes it is the quotas that save fish numbers, but also restricting the methodology plays an important part. Unless you are a complete gun and get your quota 100% of the time if you are employing a methodology that helps get more catches then you are going to take more fillets each year.
Ultimately though the law allows it and so that is life. Some of us spearos may hold the view that it is not as challenging (and that is not an arm chair experts opinion) but if it is legal then the law is the law.
___________________________
2006 Sea Hunt 23 Walkaround w/ 150hp Yamaha 2006
1989 Haines Hunter Legend w/ 225hp Pro XS Mercury 2013
2006 Savage 14ft w/ 30hp Yamaha
1990 Zodiac 12ft w/ 4hp Mercury
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Size mistakes
What happens when you shoot a fish that you find is undersize? As we all know, they look bigger underwater and the temptation to have a ping when there isn't much about and take the risk is always there.
Bit hard to just release it like you can when using lines etc and it has a bloody great hole in it.
But its legal and not much can be done until it can be looked at.
Daniel Y
Posts: 423
Date Joined: 30/09/05
When in doubt don't shoot
When in doubt don't shoot it. If you don't know what it is, don't shoot it.
Line fishing on the other hand, you have far less selectivity. Sure, using a big hook & bait can decrease your chances of catching small / undersize fish, but like it or not you're still going to get undersized and unwanted fish, a number of which won't survie release.
I've got nothing against line fishing. Infact I prefer line fishing to spearfishing. I just don't see how people can be pro line fishing, but against spearfishing.
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
nobody from the line fishings community
no body from the line fishing community has left comment being critical of spear fishing the debate and its a good healthy one it is about the pros and cons of spearing fish on scuba or hookas against spearing fish free diving
Daniel Y
Posts: 423
Date Joined: 30/09/05
read the comment above mine.
read the comment above mine.
sea-kem
Posts: 15043
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Beat me to the punch John.
Beat me to the punch John. Once speared the fish is pretty well F&^*&ed, At least you can release a line caught fish.As for spearing on air each to their own, I used to do and loved it. Gives you more time to be selective and make pretty sure what you are shooting is size.
Love the West!
Toby Roe
Posts: 118
Date Joined: 01/02/10
Spearfishing is the ultimate
Spearfishing is the ultimate catch and release as I can dive all day, see all sorts of fish yet not disturb them at all. I do agree that once you shoot a fish it won’t release well and that it can be hard for beginners to learn. However, proper education and a responsible mentor will help and there are two clubs in WA with a wealth of experience who are always willing to take a newbie under the wing. These are http://www.bluewaterfreediversofwa.com/ and http://www.waundersea.com/.
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Well jesse and I have dived
Well jesse and I have dived a speared on scuba for years Jesse still looks for the nod .Before he shots .It must be a good fish before we shot no chance of undersize that way . If this means no fish so be it. Each to there own. I Like having air on my back .Its a bit of an ego thing among freedivers that they are so much better because they hold there breath .And it is so much more sporting, ( I learn't this when I attended a WAUC bbq.) Well i dont see it that way ,you spear your way and we spear ours , both have there challenges and dangers, and if it comes down to banning any spearing then it should for both freedive and scuba.
Active Gyp-Rok solutions ,Residential and commercial ceilings and walls
Versus
Posts: 918
Date Joined: 06/03/09
It's a bit hypocritical to
It's a bit hypocritical to call it an ego thing. Could not the same thing be said of Lures vs Bait?
jdavies_99
Posts: 114
Date Joined: 24/07/11
Illegal
I don't agree with the argument that you cant release an undersized shot fish and so therefore it should be banned.
I think more fish would die each year from barotrauma than being shot undersized. It is a very poor spearfisherman who shoots without being certain of its legality.
As for shooting on air, some of us hold a puritan view that it is cheating. I am one of them people.
As both a scuba diver and a spearfisherman I know that you can get much closer on scuba.
Paul is right in that it is an ego thing but my ego says to me I would rather have the challenge of breathold. Other people may feel different but we each have our own opinion.
___________________________
2006 Sea Hunt 23 Walkaround w/ 150hp Yamaha 2006
1989 Haines Hunter Legend w/ 225hp Pro XS Mercury 2013
2006 Savage 14ft w/ 30hp Yamaha
1990 Zodiac 12ft w/ 4hp Mercury
squidder
Posts: 457
Date Joined: 03/09/10
Spearo's
come out on my boat regurally and only ONE is a bit gung ho in the Kill it dept'. He's been spoken too for shoot em up when they move. So as it stands I do not have a problem with taking fish by diving/spearing as long as it's away from land based vantage points.
As for catch and release by some, I totally appose that practise as I liken it to a bunch of FKN parrots taking a bite out of every fkn apple on the tree and only eating one of them.
As for what one uses, be it bait, lure or whatever I don't think it matters as long as one gets a feed.
TGMitchell
Posts: 221
Date Joined: 24/11/09
I'm glad a sparked such an
I'm glad a sparked such an interesting debate :-)
But I would like to point out that I didn't actually say anything in my post about spearfishing on air. The first about spearfishing is in its own setnence without reference to SCUBA - but the pontificators have done very well at jumping on it and making assumptions about my intentions.
My English teacher used to say assuming makes an ass out of u and me...
The Black Baron
duges66
Posts: 140
Date Joined: 07/03/12
FFS this goes to the heart of
FFS this goes to the heart of what a recent post by bluetonic was about http://fishwrecked.com/forum/am-i-wrong
The poster has asked if anyone wants to team up for a dive yet somehow it's been highjacked and his question seemingly ignored except by paula8519
Get off ya high horses.
There's 3 kinds of people in this world, those who can count and those that can't.
Rob H
Posts: 5817
Date Joined: 18/01/12
+100
hes looking for a dive buddy and gets a lecture on what he should and shouldnt do.
Im like some of the guys above have written-I catch fish to provide a feed me and my family in a way that provides an experience for my kids and me also.
That involves;
-fishing with bait
-sometimes trying for my bag/possession limit
-spearing on air
-exposing my children to risks WAY beyond what they would playing on a computer in the back room
-using technology such as electronics, outboards, scuba and even firearms (in the past while longlining) to catch kill or subdue my prey
get over it, as its spoiling FW.
Maybe we actually do need a page for "whinging complaints" to seperate those doing it from those whining about doing it?
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Daniel Y
Posts: 423
Date Joined: 30/09/05
The reason this thread was
The reason this thread was 'hijacked' is because the OP posted a few things in his OP and subsequent posts that were interesting/debatable/questionable, other than asking for a dive buddy.
It's a public forum and if you post on a public forum people are going to have their input.
Versus
Posts: 918
Date Joined: 06/03/09
hey, I offered too!
hey, I offered too!
sea-kem
Posts: 15043
Date Joined: 30/11/09
C'mon guys, that's what the
C'mon guys, that's what the site is about. Healthy debate, there's been some good argument from pretty well all points of view of taking fish. Are we all meant to be like North Korea? Not allowed to have a point of view. As long as it's kept civillised I reckon it's a good thing.
Love the West!
duges66
Posts: 140
Date Joined: 07/03/12
Want to air your opinions on
Want to air your opinions on spearing whilst on air? Start a thread on the subject.
Want to go diving with TGMitchell then answer his question.
I'm not contributing to this thread anymore as it just adds to the hijacking. I will start a thread for you so you'se can leave TGMitchell to get on with looking for a dive buddy.
There's 3 kinds of people in this world, those who can count and those that can't.
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
i didnt mean to hijack his thread
i didnt mean to hijack his thread just made a coment about spearing on air perhaps i best take him on a trip to onslow and teach him a bit about spearfishing (as he says he wants to learn how to spearfish) eg how to make your onwn bridels, rubbers, repace a trigger mechinism , explain why a sping steel spear is better than the stock spear you get when you buy your gun and why you use fold back floppers , or show him what a large cod can do to your elbow after it latches on to it, how to drag a coral trout out from under a ledge 37m down, or why you drop your weight belt and gun and swim like hell when you see the boat has pulled the anchor and is now 300 meters away and you are 40ks of shore , or how to fend of a 12 ft tiger shark that is taking to much interest in you but then what would i know about spearfishing
kmo
Posts: 127
Date Joined: 17/01/12
Careful what you wish for...
Some of the loudest greenies shouting for marine parks are the scuba diving clubs and scuba charter operators in the states without spearing on scuba. Here in WA freediving spearos and linos have a good relationship with scuba divers because such a large proportion are involved in taking a feed as well.
MattG
Posts: 104
Date Joined: 09/09/09
F**k me...
This thread is a classic example of why the rec fishing sector gets shafted by the govt time and time again.
We're too busy fighting amongst ourselves rather than fighting our common enemies.
Catch a fish within the law however you want. If you want a fight, pick one against the federal govt who have just locked us out of millions of square kms of ocean.
Why can't some people see the big picture?
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
here here
couldnt agree more was going to put that in my reply stop bluing with each other and look at what the feds have just done to rec fishing areas in the past week it affects all types of fishing
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Been to the rallies voted on
Been to the rallies voted on line been there done that you think you have any say ha. they will do what they want . Enjoy what you have while you have it.
Active Gyp-Rok solutions ,Residential and commercial ceilings and walls
sea-kem
Posts: 15043
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Yep same here Paul. Did
Yep same here Paul. Did anyone read Saturday's paper? The proposed lockout is all but done and dusted.
Love the West!
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
I do a fair bit of diving all
I do a fair bit of diving all year round. Crays crabs and prawns in the summer and just prawns, crabs and sometimes scollops in the winter, if your interested in that sorta stuff pm me. I am always happy to go with new people.
Vin
tot
Posts: 1162
Date Joined: 31/01/10
prawns
do you always use tanks for prawns? im keen if just a snorkel sometime, been wanting to have a crack for donkeys but not sure where to start.
Reverse cycle a/c supply and install - Ducted and wall splits
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
They're easiest to catch
They're easiest to catch against the bottom of the river and they tend to congregate in the deeper stretches.
JoeH
Posts: 85
Date Joined: 08/09/05
Easier to catch against the bottom....
C'mon, that's not very sporting now is it?
LOL!
The smaller the icebox you take, the bigger the fish will be.