Pole Spear Versus The Sling

[munitionfishin]

HEY GUYS GOING TO THE BAHAMASIN JUNE AND I WAS WANTING TO GET SOME OPINIONS ON POLE SPEARS AND HAWAIIAN SLINGS. GONNA BE FREE DIVIN NUTHIN REALLY DEEP THOUGH STILL WORKING ON THE WIND FACTOR BUT I CAN COMFORTABLY STAY DOWN IN 30 FT WITH A FLOATING GUN ON SNAPPER AND STUFF. I DID USE A POLE SPEAR AS A KID ALOT DOWN IN THE KEYS BUT NEVER USED A SLING. JUST WANTED SOME PROS AND CONS. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY INFO.....

[fishhunta]

slings are ****in hard. some people are just plain good at it, but i can't hit shit with one. the best method(besides sneaking guns over) is to have your buddy shoot from afar at a grouper woth a sling, this will make him hole up immediately, where you come in with a pole spear and hit him in the hole. as for hogs, you won't have a problem getting close enough with a pole spear. get a nice long one with some mass to it, otherwise itll just bounce off them.

[munitionfishin]

ANY MANUFACTURERS YOU RECOMMEND ON THE SLINGS? I ALREADY HAVE THE POLE SPEARS COVERED BUT I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT SPEARFISHING SPECIALTIES SHOP BEFORE I BUY ANYTHING...ALSO HOW RISKY OF A PROPOSITION WOULD IT BE IF I ............ACCIDENTALLY FORGOT TO REMOVE MY BAND GUN FROM THE VELCRO I HAVE MOUNTED IN MY BILGE AREA.......

[slipknot]

Polespear with a paralyzer work's great on lobster! (so I hear?);)

[fishhunta]

we always.... let me rephrase that. i know someone who always brings guns to the islands. just keep them stowed. if you are searched at customs(probably wont happen), say its for bluewater freediving on the way back to the mainland. it is not illegal to posses a gun as long as it is properly stowed(hidden is better). if you get caught red handed, pay the cops off. the bahamian police force is the most corrupt in the world and they will definately take a bribe out at sea.
another thing is, check into the eez laws and enforcable waters of the bahamas. it is my understanding that the bahamians have authority of the waters within 12nm of any inhabbited island, matinella bank, ect. are out of their terretory. my buddy carries with him a laminated copy of the international code that states this and has showed it to the poloce before, and they laft him alone.
as for the brands of slings, a simple wooden one works the best, some people like the ones with the handles, but i don't.

[kitefisherman]

In terms of being the most corrupt, I would put the Mexican police up against the Bahamian police any day of the week.

[munitionfishin]

NOT LOOKING FOR ANY NUMBERS HERE, BUT ANY SPECIFIC AREAS THAT I SHOULD TRY FOR . I HEARD CAT CAY AND GUN CAY HAVE SOME GOOD AREAS THAT DON'T GET HIT TOO HARD??? IF NOT, I'LL PROBABLY JUST END UP CRUISING THE REEFLINE AND LOOKING FOR ROLL-OFFS AND BIG BOTTOM. THANKS FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK IT'S REALLY NICE TO KNOW PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY TAKE THE TIME TO HELP A BROTHER OUT......

[FredT]

Originally posted by munitionfishin
ANY MANUFACTURERS YOU RECOMMEND ON THE SLINGS? I ALREADY HAVE THE POLE SPEARS COVERED BUT I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT SPEARFISHING SPECIALTIES SHOP BEFORE I BUY ANYTHING...ALSO HOW RISKY OF A PROPOSITION WOULD IT BE IF I ............ACCIDENTALLY FORGOT TO REMOVE MY BAND GUN FROM THE VELCRO I HAVE MOUNTED IN MY BILGE AREA.......

Bahamians think the only reason yanks exist is to give them money. Get caught with a triggered gun or pole spear over there and you can expect to give up 6 months salary, if you're lucky enough to not spend those 6 months in a Bahamian jail.

As for slings, those are my preferred free diving tools. I make mine from old oak or maple limbs ona wood lathe. Generally with slings, the simpler the better.

The sling shaft also makes a great long reach lobster tickle stick!:D

FT

[Screen Name]

Slings........well, I wont say they suck, because I really like FredT..........Well, he can take it........in my opinion, THEY SUCK.

I started out with a sling, because thats how the "men" do it. Shot a snapper, and as soon as the shark got there (and there are tons of them in the Bahamas, and they are used to being fed) I realized that I had this little handle to fend off the shark.

With a pole spear, it pretty much stays in your hand, while the fish.........and sharks, stay at the other end. And paralyzer all the way. I've gotten several big grouper with a paralyzer. :D

[FredT]

Originally posted by Screen Name
Well, he can take it

No problem.

Slings do take a bit longer to learn. Practice with a wrist rocket and instinctive shooting on dry land helps accuracy with a sling a lot. They do have a much better range than a pole spear though, and pole spears don't work for a tickle stick for beans.

OTOH When the tax collector comes by it is a rare thing when you don't get a useable sling shaft back after his meal. ;)

I've made dozens of sling shafts for less than $5 each. Pole spears can get expensive if you leave them in a tax collector's gill slit. That tactic usually ends up pulling the rest of the collectors away from where you are hunting. :cool:

FT

[munitionfishin]

thanks guys but i've been looking at legalities on the net and everything i find is saying slings are the only legal weapon to use. no mention of pole spears ,legal or not on any sites i can find

[FredT]

ANYTHING with a trigger release isn't. Some pole spears and the fancier slings use a "catch" to maintain tension in the band for a push button release of the shaft. That "push button" is what makes those illegal in the bahamas. Taking of ANY game by ANY method on scuba is prohibited over there.

FT

[grouperassasin]

Fred knows what he's talking about. No trigger mechanism of any kind. I grew up with my family having aboat down in Walkers and over at Running Mon Marina in Port Lucaya. The bahamian police are very corrupt, however, I don't think I'd take my chances over a fish. Bahamian jails are not very nice! With a little practice, a Hawiaan sling is perfectly capable. Go with the one without a handle, it just gets in teh way havign to trun it the right way and all that crap. simple round piece of wood or polymer with a hole in it and something on the sides to hold the bands, and you're golden. We used to have a couple divers in the water with snorkeling gear, they would swim around and the boat would stay close, as a diver goes down after a fish, the boat keeps an eye on them, you come up, hand the mate the fish, shaft and all, he hands you a spare shaft and you're huting again without any delay. Just spot Hogs from the spot on their back that's easily visible from the surface. You'll be able to get close enough to them that you can almost poke them with the end of your shaft. Groupers will take a little more stealth. Great idea mentioned above about tag teaming the groupers to make them hole up. It works very well. Just practice some and you'll be surprised how well you can do with a Hawiian sling. Bring extra rubber and a few spare shafts with you, and you'll be golden. Good luck on your trip! Give us a report when you get back.

[munitionfishin]

thanks fellas i'm headin down to my LDS on monday and stocking up. i'm going to have my wife will be camerawoman .... so will post pics as soon as i get back