Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
>Dan, >Just took up spearfishing this summer. Have been going off shore Savannah >(about 40 miles out) in 100 to 110'. Great fun and good eating. I amaze >myself at the rate I can suck down air when shooting fish. I wouldn't think >air could flow thru that little hose so fast. Anyway, we use .357 powerheads >for the good sized groupers, etc. Mine is a screw-in type, although the >old salts use a slip-in type with the barrel retained by friction fit o-rings. >That's too scary for me. >Two things: can you tell me what in the world is a disposible power head? Disposable powerheads are CNC machined housings that fit over several different types of rounds (9mm;357;16 guage;223;12 guage; and 444 marlins, the most destructive). A brass plug is slid in behind the bullet with lock tite applied to it so a metal seal occurrs. The spear point is pushed into the brass plug (one is made for each type of round)and fits into the open end of it snugly. (some times we crimp them slightly by gently biting on the brass (or maybe copper?) so it holds the spear tighter. When the spear is fired from the gun, impact with a fish causes the spear point to act as a firing pin, and the slug explodes out of the paper thin aluminum housing's flat end (where contact with fish occurs). The powerheads are watertight virtually forever, and they work as good at 325 feet as they do at 60. The first time I fired one on a deep wreck in Pompano, a bunch of George's buddies were trying to spin around to figure out what pressure hose just blew, eyes pretty wide!!---the sound will surprise people if they don't know what to expect, so you should warn people first. >And second, are the Ultimate guns still available? They are harder to come by now, but I might be able to track one down for you. Pat Frain (aka, Powerhead Pat) stopped making guns and lights, but some of his stuff is still around. They are all overbuilt, and each gun will still be awesome 40 years from now. I'll call Pat and see if he has any he'd part with. >If yes, where? If no, >perhaps a recommendation for a top quality 42 to 48" band gun? > A 60 inch barrel can handle a much longer set of bands, hence far more tractive force. My 60 inch double barrel (over/under) gun is accurate at 40 feet distances (if I can get the fish to hold still that long). The problem with JBL guns is that the round barrels are weak, and the oscillation caused by the firing alerts the fish and sets up movement of the shaft which degrades accuracy. And they can't take nearly the tractive force the Ultimate guns can (from using much shorter bands, stretching them maximally). The Ultimate guns have a rectangular/box type barrel construction which makes all other guns seem wimpy, and the trigger system is as rugged as a bulldozer.. While the Biller guns aren't as bad as the JBL's , their trigger mechanisms are like toys, and can't take the big loads. >OK, just one more thing. I have been told power heads are illegal in >Florida waters. Guess I was told wrong? Over 3 miles out you can use them. Getting back in with powerheaded fish can be an issue. You could bring a Hibachi with you and cook on the boat.... This is a delicate area, so if any one on this list is in the Marine Patrol, I have'nt actually said I shot any fish!!! But all our spearfishing tech dives are over 3 miles out. And if you are going to selectively target your fish dinner, so that only one fish dies (compared to the 1 to 10 death ratio of food fish to throwaways the commercial fishing industry uses to supply PUBLIX or any other supermarket or seafood house), then powerheading your one or two fish is the most humane way to take fish. They don't struggle, its quick and painless (relative to any commercial method), and unlike normal spearing, an injured fish will not swim away to die where you can't get to it. At over 200 feet, we can't get involved in any real exertion, so this is the only safe way to take the large and plentiful groupers or hogs we find on the deeper wrecks. It also prevents the struggling which can bring sharks in, which could make them crazy enough for us to have to hurt them. This way, the mere presence of blood in the water will at most have them curious, but not aggressive. Dan Dan Volker 407-683-3592
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]