Ok bring on the fish - help me out

[abid]

My brother and I were given hawiian slings and i'd like to start spear fishing. I live in no. county San Diego, have some experience snorkeling in La Jolla, and am comfortable in the water - but i've yet to go out specificaly to shoot a fish - though i'm looking forward to it.

I have a ton of questions and am open to any suggestions, so i'll just start out.
--Good location for first-timers?
--I'm looking for requirements as to fishing liscense and size limits, i imagine the informations posted somewhere so i'll find it eventually.
--Is a hawaiian sling even an option? in the pics i saw here, ya'll got some bad ass guns.
--Common things to avoid, any stupid things you did when starting out i should know about?
--Think of anything you wish someone had told you when you were new?
--My equipment as of now is: sling, mask, suit, and fins (oh yeah and a stringer if i'm not being way too optomistic). Is a weight belt helpful (and how much weight)? anything else i should have?

This first time i'll be going out with my much younger brother so i'm not looking for anything too strenuous. I ran into some people just south of Carlsbad state beach, the campground, and they had some success in the lagoon there so i'm thinking we'll start there and head down to la jolla if visibility is giving us trouble. Right now the only thing i 'know' about spearfishing is: don't bring one into the la jolla lagoon, so even if you're not a world renown expert any advice or suggestions would be great. Checking these boards has me so psyched up and ready to go, can't wait :)

[DanR]

Congrats, I remember how excited I was and I started with a sling too. There are books in the LDS that will give you good ideas on where and what to shoot. I always liked going along the inside of the manmade rock jetties. It's pretty calm on the inshore side and there are lots of holes for the fish to hide in. You will probably see Opaleye (black/greeen with a white dot) alot. Also, you will see calico bass and small sheepshead around these rocks. The orange Garabaldi are a pain in the butt but they are the State fish so you can't shoot them. As far as weights go, if I'm not using a wetsuit then I don't wear one, if you are wearing a wetty you can read about weight amounts in the threads here and they have better info than I do. I lived in OC so all of my experience is north of Dana Point. You can get a plastic fish card at a dive shop or look online at the California fish and game website http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ . This will give you a good jumpstart on where and what and it won't cost you 5 bucks like the plastic card. GREAT LUCK and welcome to the Other 75% of the planet.

[DanR]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by abid
.
--Is a hawaiian sling even an option? in the pics i saw here, ya'll got some bad ass guns.
--Common things to avoid, any stupid things you did when starting out i should know about?


A hawaiin sling is a great way to start out because it's simple and forces you to learn stalking skills.

Things to avoid, KNOW your limits. The ocean is a fickle mistress, and the minute you take her for granted she'll put a big hurt on ya! If the conditions look to rough, don't go!

Next get to know how big fish look underwater, my first fish was six inches long, but it looked huge underwater. A good rule of thumb is: if you aren't sure if it's big enough, it isn't.
GL

[Rick Dawg]

Hawaiian sling is how I started out. I used it for 2 years then needed a gun for the bigger fish. Calicos and sheepheads are good targets to go for. Opaleyes and other perch taste like crap. If you do end up going to La jolla let me know. I would be more than willing to show you some of our shallow reef areas. Good Luck!:D

[abid]

Thanks for the info all. I'll definitely start out with those books.

So far i went shooting just south of Carlsbad state beach which i think is called Ponto beach - there's a little lagoon there. I followed a 5 poundish corbina but wasnt ready when he was close enough and ended up taking a shot when he was a bit out of range. My less conservative friend shot a sting ray for whatever that's worth, but he's one of those hunter types that shoots things 'because they're there'.

After that i stopped at the cove in La Jolla twice to practice my breath control. Sitting still or in a hot tub i can hold my breath for around 3 minutes. I need some work in this whole mind over matter thing cause soon as i'm in the ocean I'm lucky to go for 30 seconds without bugging out. I figure enough practice will help me calm down, i'm even thinking of trying yoga but so far haven't found any teachers conducting sessions under water.

Anyway, thanks again Dan, and Rick I'd love to take you up on that. I'm going out of town for a bit but i'd like to improve as much as i can while the weather is nice.

[Stodelle]

I got scolded once for diving in the opening of the lagoon. I actually entered the water over the rocks and was just using it as an easy out to get past the waves. My gun wasn't even cocked but I was given a stern lecture about NOT Spearing the lagoons.

Check out the Fish and Game website http://www.dfg.ca.gov it has all the requirements, sizes, closures, etc.

I've been spearing out in the kelp off the power plant in Carlsbad and that's a decent area. Same with the area out off of moonlight beach as well.

My only advice with the slings is don't shoot bigger than you can handle, or know you can take. I've seen other divers tag a fish with the spear only to have it swim off injured. When I would spear a fish, I used to hold/pin them down to the bottom until I could grab the gill plate, if it wasn't a kill shot.

Good luck.

[ochuntersteve]

When I used to work in a dive shop I would always start my customers off with 3 prong/ polespear/ hawaiian sling. In Hawaii, in a lot of cases the polespear is the most economical way to go and will produce more fish quickly. We would dive down hide behind a piece of reef and wait for the fish to get comfortable again and hopefully poke a kumu fish or, most of the time, a minnene (Hawaiian names).
For off the beach diving the polespear is excellent for calico bass, sheaphead, halibut, pearch and others. What I tell people is if you can land decent fish with a 3 prong and you like the sport once you get a gun you'll be a great hunter. Sometimes I wish I had my 3 prong when I am dealing with line and re-loading the gun. The polespear is kinda like paying your dues. I think everyone should start with a polespear. One tip is the grip, my mentor in Hawaii taught me to rap a grip where my pull hand goes in order to prevent slipping. We use a strip of rubber and wrap it around itself so it stays taught.
With your weight it all depends on your body composition and what type of suit you are wearing. I weigh 175 and have very little body fat. When I use a 654mm wetsuit I use 14lbs and when I use a 4-3mm with a 3mm hooded vest I use 12lbs. When I get a chance to skin it I use 4lbs. But always start off lite! Then gradually add a pound or 2. Another tip is the seasoft ankle weights. They come in 1, 1.5, 2, 3 lb pairs, I use 1 lb and 1.5 lbs and strap then right below my knee caps, try it.. You'll know your right on when you have perfect nuetral bouyancy at around 20-30ft, it's a great feeling. Hope this helps....
Steve
Orange County Hunter (http://www.ochunter.com)
PS: One tip, and I have heard of this many of times, is don't swim around with the polespear cocked in your hand, it will take its toll and wear your hand down, if the vis is poor load it before the decent or when you think you might have a target; also a good pair of gloves helps a lot, those leather and neopreme gloves when the water is warm enough are may favorites.

[OceanSwimmer]

Originally posted by DanR
There are books in the LDS that will give you good ideas on where and what to shoot. You can get a plastic fish card at a dive shop or look online at the California fish and game website http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ This will give you a good jumpstart on where and what and it won't cost you 5 bucks like the plastic card. GREAT LUCK and welcome to the Other 75% of the planet.

DanR; Thanks for the tip on where to get the fish card.

I appreciate hearing a reminder that it is important to know WHERE and WHAT. My freedive today was great; what isn't so great is observing a chucklehead reel fishing inside the La Jolla Cove Underwater Preserve ---inside the swimming area--- next to the swimmer's marker buoys.

Visibility is clearing here!