BajaNomad - Spear fishing in BCS?

Spear fishing in BCS?

Lee - 2-15-2012 at 12:34 PM

Can't find answers in a search here.

A fisherman I know told me someone was spear fishing near rocks nearby and brought in some fish. I failed to ask questions about it like was this guy MX, or what kind of gear he had.

Anyone doing this down here and what's being used.

I'm talking free diving.

Osprey - 2-15-2012 at 01:14 PM

Gotta have (Gringo/Mexican/Lithuanian)

Mexican Fishing License
Rubber band type spear device (no gas propelled spears)

Bajamatic - 2-15-2012 at 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Osprey
no gas propelled spears

WTF is THAT?!! - nevermind. its a common speargun. Got it

I always thought it was illegal for any american to fish with a spear? You post suggests its legal with a fishing permit, is that true??

[Edited on 2-15-2012 by Bajamatic]

ElCap - 2-15-2012 at 01:43 PM

Yes, legal using a polespear or a speargun with bands, but not a pneumatic speargun. Also must have a fishing license, and also have to follow other rules such as what are in force around Cabo Pulmo, Isla Carmen, and possibly other areas.

Bwana_John - 2-15-2012 at 02:29 PM

Quote:

Yes, legal using a polespear or a speargun with bands, but not a pneumatic speargun. Also must have a fishing license, and also have to follow other rules such as what are in force around Cabo Pulmo, Isla Carmen, and possibly other areas.

Also- no spear hunting with SCUBA, breath hold only.

Mula - 2-15-2012 at 03:22 PM

Neptunes of Long Beach (?) and the San Diego Fire department and Life Guards do now and used to do a lot of free diving/spear fishing out of San Nicolas and Iledefonso.

Jurel, Cabrilla, Grouper.

tiotomasbcs - 2-15-2012 at 04:31 PM

Hey, Lee. Take Jimmy out and pay for gas and beer and he'll show you around. He's a very good spearfisherman and knows the area. Big ego but he's a kid--42 or so?! Cabo Extreme. Tio

mulegemichael - 2-15-2012 at 04:37 PM

yeah; no tanks, no spearguns...only hawaiian slings......we have a great guy here locally, daniel, who will take you out in his boat or yours, (i prefer mine), and spearfish, gather scallops and oysters, dig chocolates, and take you to the beach to enjoy a pacifico while he cooks all of the above in any way you like them, and more....it is a wonderful day with a fab guide...mulege; no bad days

sancho - 2-15-2012 at 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mula
Neptunes of Long Beach .

Ran into some of these guys yrs. back, fishing Cerralvo
Isle, as I remember they were going down 80' or so

Mula - 2-15-2012 at 05:00 PM

Yeah, once of the San Diego Life Guards got a huge grouper a couple of years ago off Ile de Fonso in San Nicolas deep diving. 42 or 43 lbs I think.

The camera with the photo on it disappeared. .

And a friend caught a 31 lb. sawtail grouper out of Coyote last Saturday.

shari - 2-15-2012 at 05:35 PM

Spear fishing is quite popular here, especially for yellowtail, halibut, sheephead and calico. I believe the hawaiin sling type pole is illegal. the limit for spearing fish is 5 fish a day.

bigzaggin - 2-15-2012 at 05:54 PM

So just to be clear, you can use ANY speargun with bands or only the Hawaiian sling? Have heard many variations on this over the years.

shari - 2-15-2012 at 06:06 PM

the regulation states that you can only use rubber band or spring type harpoons....I was told by the fisheries officer that the pole hawaain sling type was illegal because people injure too many fish and lose them.

bigzaggin - 2-15-2012 at 06:29 PM

I am more confused know than I was when this thread began. Seems to be some confusion.

Mulegemike...agree of disagree with Shari? Just trying to arrive at some consensus (dying to spearfish a certain cove down there).

sancho - 2-15-2012 at 08:05 PM

Here's an Official? statement, doesn't make it
any clearer re: Hawaiian sling
http://conapescasandiego.org/contenido.cfm?cont=REGULATIONS
as pointed out rubber band/spring type harpoons
spring type harpoon are OK, sounds like a H Sling to me,
but I'm sure Mex officials may modify the regs
as Shari info suggests

AASelf - 2-15-2012 at 08:30 PM

http://www.palapasventana.com/details.aspx?SPID=45&PPID=...

http://tailhunter-international.com/

woody with a view - 2-15-2012 at 08:51 PM

you are only allowed single point tips. no three prongs.

getting ready for halibut season....

24baja - 2-15-2012 at 09:53 PM

http://www.seasniperbaja.com/
http://www.seasniper.com/content/

Chris Chaput at Seasniper free dives and spearfishes, check out his photos, website

[Edited on 2-16-2012 by 24baja]

bigzaggin - 2-15-2012 at 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
you are only allowed single point tips. no three prongs.

getting ready for halibut season....

Woody - Where do you see this in the "Sportfishing Regulations?" It says, "Underwater fishing is limited to five fish per day, using rubber band or spring type harpoons, and only while skindiving."

signed,

Confused.

Spearguns in Baja

dean miller - 2-16-2012 at 06:36 AM

First I will submit you to reading a post I made long ago to this forum about spearfishing in Baja in the early 1950s and 1960s, second I will reply to your question and hopefully provide some spear fishing guidance

"BAJA Spear fishing equipment of yesteryear

I have been in the process of October clean and toss, then retrieve and find a new hiding place for the treasure I can't live with out for another year. This year's un pleasantry I uncovered a stash of old spear points that I had used in Baja during the big fish glory days of the 1950s and 1960s

.During those halcyon days of yesteryear when Baja was devoid of roads, RVs, snowbirds and even a Baja forum (if you can believe that!)

My tribe who was actively sticking the big ones, consistently bent arrows, tore up guns and on several occasions actually snatched the gun from the hands of the shooter as he watched it and the stuck fish wave bye bye as the entire rid disappeared into the murk. So by trial and error over a period of a number of trips and equal number of years we developed special points and gun rigging especially for for the bib ones in Baja.

In Baja we used Samson guns which had twin line releases. One side was for a normal shooting line, the other was for a detachable modified Samson or a "twin spinner" point which was attached to a 20 plus foot length of 7X7 SS cabling, attached to a line, terminating in a float.

The fish was stuck, the battle was on. The shooting line was attached to the gun, the other SS line was attached to the modified point which detached from the arrow but was attached to the cabling line and float. So the gun, the point stub and the shooting line remained with the diver, the fish was held by the detached point, the cable and the float.

We christened this technique as "drop shaft."

We always attempted to keep the fish from running and holing but were seldom successful, however the SOS cabling seldom broke but on occasion frayed. So as expected one necessary piece of equipment was a pair of very heavy duty workmen leather gloves to work the line and the fish.

So often the fish was allowed, generally not by choice to hole up and bleed out.

To hasten the process of bleeding my diving buddy Jack Waite (see Skin Diver Magazine Vol 1 # 1 December 1951 He's all over the issue) made a special 38 caliber gun. It was a non descript 38 which he obtained at Hy Hunter in Pasadena ( remember him?.) Jack cut the barrel off at the back of the frame, a 1/4 hole drilled transverse where the hammer struck, the handles were removed and I fabricated and welded a new handle about 2-1/2 feet long complete with trigger.

When a fish was in a hole we placed the 38 caliber 6 shooter next to the fishes' head and had at it. The fish always received the message and became very docile and could be removed from the hole with out difficulty and gently horsed to the surface.

Those were the days that have come to a sudden and screeching halt.. No more big fish and no one in their right mind would ever take a fire arm no matter how modified or even ammo to Baja! If you do the authorities just may hole you up .

sdm "
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NO SPEARING WHILE USING SCUBA ! Do not even have a recovery tank on board

In those halcyon pioneering days of yesteryear spear guns were powered by a variety of methods rubber, compressed CO2, compressed springs and ammo such as 22 and 38 caliber.

Even in those early days the Mexican government was strongly opposed to guns and ammo entering their country as well as any thing that could be concealed and and propelled an object, so that eliminated the cartridge powered guns,the spring guns as well as the C02 guns leaving only the currently popular rubber powered spear gun.

I never used a pole spear in Mexico. Using a pole spear down therewould be an insult to those great Mexican fishes. I am not conversant with that portion of their F&G law therefore cannot comment on the pole spear, So If you have one leave it at your snow covered home

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are a serious Spearfisherman I would not suggest the small "pop gun" so popular with the novices, rather something in the 90 to 110 length, rigged with some sort of terminal gear with floatation . Also a few spare shafts (arrows) and perhaps extra package of line.

Please bear in mind if a spear gun can be trashed it will be done by the Mexican fishes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The name of the dive club is the "Long Beach Neptunes." FYI The oldest spear fishing club in the US and the world who hold more spear fishing records than any club in the world..with very limited membership

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Edited on 2-16-2012 by dean miller]

mulegemichael - 2-16-2012 at 08:20 AM

shari and all....i'm pretty sure the "rubber band" spears are called hawaiian slings...they sell them in the tackle stores in loreto and los barilles so makes me think they are cool...i have seen guys using them around the east cape...that's all i have....no spearguns allowed!

bill erhardt - 2-16-2012 at 08:55 AM

Here's a photo of a rare spear fishing catch.
Long time Baja Sur denizen Tom Merrill, who makes his own guns and fishes alone out of a kayak, got this big wahoo off Isla Cerralvo.

tm1.jpg - 38kB

Spearo - 2-16-2012 at 09:04 AM

A Hawaiian sling is more like an underwater slingshot where you fire the projectile with a rubber band from a handle that is retained in the hand. I have never heard that they were illegal in Baja, though I have never seen anyone hunt with one.

Most of the gringos use band guns (I bring three), what you typically think of as a speargun. Most of the locals use polespears, which is just like it sounds. Pneumatic guns which propel the spear by compressed air are illegal. It is also illegal to spearfish with scuba gear. 5 fish a day limit spearfishing, its 10 fish a day hook and line.

Bring at least a full 3mm wetsuit. The water temps in SOC in March are usually 65-75 depending on where you are. I wear a full 3mm suit, a 3mm shorty over that, socks, hood and gloves plus a 12 lb belt.

dean miller - 2-16-2012 at 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bill erhardt

Here's a photo of a rare spear fishing catch.
Long time Baja Sur denizen Tom Merrill, who makes his own guns and fishes alone out of a kayak, got this big wahoo off Isla Cerralvo.

`````````````````````````````````````````
Bill,

GREAT FISH! & FROM A KAYAK! A HUGE CONGRATS!

Never stuck a Wahoo- understand the can give you a tussle..and often need dual float terminal gear.

FYI--I have not used a Samson gun since the early/mid 1960s- went to homemade Addict, then began using JD Preece (aussie) Riffe ( a SS versin of Preece) and for last 20 + years Alexander mechanisms.. What do you use?

Good luck and keep onposting pictures of great fish !!!!

SDM

windgrrl - 2-16-2012 at 01:04 PM

Saw 2 locals in spear fishing off Punta Pescadero a few weeks ago. All looked according to Hoyle. First time I had seen camo neoprene suits!

Lee - 2-16-2012 at 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spearo
Bring at least a full 3mm wetsuit. The water temps in SOC in March are usually 65-75 depending on where you are. I wear a full 3mm suit, a 3mm shorty over that, socks, hood and gloves plus a 12 lb belt.

Can't figure out where ''SOC'' is. It's not SoCal and it's not BCS. Water did cool down at Pedrito and it's noticeable. Maybe 65? I surf in a 2/1 shorty this a.m. -- West breeze from a fog bank and scattered clouds made it feel cooler though air was probably 65. Guessing here.

So, a full 3mm PLUS 3mm shorty over that doesn't sound like BCS. Is that deep water?

tiotomasbcs - 2-16-2012 at 03:44 PM

Sea of Cortez. Tio

Lee - 2-16-2012 at 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tiotomasbcs
Sea of Cortez. Tio

Originally posted by Spearo
Bring at least a full 3mm wetsuit. The water temps in SOC in March are usually 65-75 depending on where you are. I wear a full 3mm suit, a 3mm shorty over that, socks, hood and gloves plus a 12 lb belt.

OK -- Sea of Cortez. 65-75 is pretty nice to be wearing 6mm suits. What's up with that? Thin blood? Staying out and down for hours? I don't get it. Booties and gloves? Why?

Spearo - 2-17-2012 at 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lee

Quote:

Originally posted by tiotomasbcs
Sea of Cortez. Tio

We spend a couple hours in the water when we go out. I lose the shorty when the water gets up over 70 but the 3mm stays on all the time. We also hunt rocks and caves alot, the suit gives you protection. Gloves are a must for handling the fish, all of them are armor plated, full of teeth and covered with spines. If you are reaching into a cave trying to fish out the big pargo you just speared you are going to want some gloves on.

BTW, 5mm and 7mm suits are common among the local hookah divers. They belt up with 20 lbs and basically walk around on the seafloor.

woody with a view - 2-17-2012 at 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mulegemichael
shari and all....i'm pretty sure the "rubber band" spears are called hawaiian slings...they sell them in the tackle stores in loreto and los barilles so makes me think they are cool...i have seen guys using them around the east cape...

slings are allowed. spearguns (propelled by rubber slings) are allowed.

Lee - 2-17-2012 at 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spearo
BTW, 5mm and 7mm suits are common among the local hookah divers. They belt up with 20 lbs and basically walk around on the seafloor.

Got it. Sure reads like NorCal diving. That's a lot of protection.

I can see this is more than diving down and shooting fish. A site I saw spoke about breath control, how to relax slowing the heart, etc. This is really a science.

So, just curious, assuming a dive bag to bag fish, how do you handle a 20lb fish -- wrestle it back to shore or a dingy?

How deep do you dive?

Anyone?

bigzaggin - 2-17-2012 at 11:52 AM

There are really two types of spearfisherman - guys who hang in shallow water and gun for bass/corvina/halibut, etc...and those hardcore dudes who practice "breath control" and spear yellowtail and do all that bananas stuff.

If you're just doing this on the casual, you need to dive about 10-15 feet. Otherwise, it's a whole different ballgame of gear, prep work, mindset, etc.

Spearo - 2-18-2012 at 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigzaggin
There are really two types of spearfisherman - guys who hang in shallow water and gun for bass/corvina/halibut, etc...and those hardcore dudes who practice "breath control" and spear yellowtail and do all that bananas stuff.

If you're just doing this on the casual, you need to dive about 10-15 feet. Otherwise, it's a whole different ballgame of gear, prep work, mindset, etc.

You hit the nail on the head. The deeper water stuff is much more complicated and dangerous. I stick mostly to water less than 20 ft but have done some bluewater stuff.

Shooting a 20 lb fish and fighting it out from its hole is like a knife fight in a phone booth. Once you get control f the fish, you pith it behind the eye with a knife to kill it. Then you can put it on a stringer on your belt. Its important to kill the fish before stringing it. I once put a monster triggerfish on my belt and started swimming back to the boat. The trigger clamped down on my love handle through the wetsuit and lets just say a scene ensued. I have a nice little scar with a great story attached.

woody with a view - 2-18-2012 at 11:22 AM

Quote:

The trigger clamped down on my love handle through the wetsuit and lets just say a scene ensued.

that's some funny stuff right there!

Spearo - 2-18-2012 at 11:47 AM

Its funny now. When it happened...not so much.

I love triggers but I treat them with special respect. I have the jaws of that particular trigger on my bookshelf as a reminder.

marv sherrill - 2-19-2012 at 10:18 PM

Spearo - you've got to be nuts to put a bleeding fish on your belt stringer anytime - I question the pithing thing too - holding a thrashing yelowtail, trying to extract your dive knive from where-ever, then attempting to stick it in the eye seems a little over dramatic and potentially dangerous to you - one can easily guide a speared 50 pound fish to the surface - and please - boat it asap - with the occasional shark and schools of humbolt squid around, you'll lose more that a piece of your love handle... Just some advise from 40 years of spearfising.

dean miller - 2-20-2012 at 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by marv sherrill
Spearo - you've got to be nuts to put a bleeding fish on your belt stringer anytime - I question the pithing thing too - holding a thrashing yelowtail, trying to extract your dive knive from where-ever, then attempting to stick it in the eye seems a little over dramatic and potentially dangerous to you - one can easily guide a speared 50 pound fish to the surface - and please - boat it asap - with the occasional shark and schools of humbolt squid around, you'll lose more that a piece of your love handle... Just some advise from 40 years of spearfising.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marv,
I CONCUR with you 100%.

I suspect our knowledge and experience is falling on deft inexperienced ears..

sdm

woody with a view - 2-20-2012 at 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigzaggin

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
you are only allowed single point tips. no three prongs.

getting ready for halibut season....

never read the regs. i just listen to the guys who were there before me. local knowledge trumps.....

alot of slings have 3 tips. maybe that is what Shari is refering to where alot of fish are injured by one of the 3 tips and gets away only to die later.