hawaiian sling or gun

[scubasurf1990]

Hey there i am new to spearfishing but ive been scuba diving for a while. Now that im trying to catch my dinner i need to know what type of spear to use. I know that the hawaiian sling is probably a little harder to use than a gun, but if im scuba diving i have plenty of time and not the restraints as you would with free diving. Is there any special gun or spear that works best for beginners? :confused: thanks

[MUDSLNGR]

I started with a 6' pole spear then a JBL, now I have a 100cm Riffe. The pole spear taught me to hunt, and the JBL taught me to shoot. But in shallow inshore waters, which is where i spend most of my time since I dont have a boat, the Riffe is too big. I would start with a pole spear, It'll teach you to stalk fish. Since you have to be close to use it. Scuba is Ok, but learn to free dive. You'll get near more fish without the bubbles scaring fish away. And its more sporting.

[isibrigade]

Hey there i am new to spearfishing but ive been scuba diving for a while. Now that im trying to catch my dinner i need to know what type of spear to use. I know that the hawaiian sling is probably a little harder to use than a gun, but if im scuba diving i have plenty of time and not the restraints as you would with free diving. Is there any special gun or spear that works best for beginners? :confused: thanks


THe BAD news- the sport of spearfishing isn't about how much time you have underwater, but stealth. As mudslinger mentioned, it will be hard to get close enough to many SOCAL species of gamefish with the bubbles that are a biproduct of SCUBA. I second his advise on learning to freedive.

The GOOD news- there are plenty of fish that don't mind 'bubble-blowing' and make for perfect targets and food for the novice spearo. Half of my customers are those who are just getting into the sport, some of which are diving SCUBA.

A polespear makes a perfect beginners weapon to learn how to stalk fish. Most great spearos started with polespears not knowing how much it would benefit them. I personally am gratefull that my first years of spearing were with a polespear, not a gun.

-Dustin

[So Cal Shaggy]

I have been spearing for the better part of 20 years and started out with a polespear and still take out just my polespear on some days it is fun to use a polespear and it makes you a better hunter plus a polespear is easier to load than a gun making for multiple shots in a dive less work than loading a gun.

[scubasurf1990]

ok so my next question; is a pole spear the same as the hawaiian sling, and on the hawaiian sling where you use your thumb to pull the band, when you release the shaft, do you let go completely of the band or do you hold onto it. thanks

[patrick]

2 different things.. hawaiian sling (http://abbiller.com/hawaiian.html) polespear (http://abbiller.com/travelspear.html)

i dont know what you mean by thumb, but on a polespear, you hold the band with your whole open hand and stretch the band, then grab up on the shaft, "cocking" the polespear... then you just let go and the spear shoots forward.. i dont know about other ppl, but i grab the end of the spear at the end of the shot, so i can control the fish i will inevitably destroy... ive never used a hawaiian sling....

[fishkabobz]

Poker, you shoot the sling as you would a bow and arrow. Pull the back of the sling with your right hand, and hold the handle with your left. Shaft flies with no line behind it. It's great for reefs where the fish just drop to the bottom and don't run too far. How many times have you had rockfish hit the end of your shooting line and try to tear off anyway?

The key is, go with where you are hunting. So cal can be a place where you'd use either tool. But the gun is more convenient/effective/practical.

If you want to be a ruthless fishslayer, go watch any and all of Art Pinders old movies. That man does things with a Hawaiian Sling you'd not think possible...

[SnpperWhisperer]

Mate, just buy a basic pole spear and have a go and see what you can get and see if you enjoy doing some hunting. You may discover a 'new you'! Guns are generally easier to catch fish with, so it depends if you want easy fish for the pot or to learn more and get more serious. Never know till you try.

[dr.ed]

Short digression;)
fishkabobz
"go watch any and all of Art Pinders old movies. That man does things with a Hawaiian Sling you'd not think possible..."
Where can you get these????

i had the priveledge of diving with his brother Don in '62. Don too was amazing with a Sling!!!:lol:

[crkt]

i have been spearfishing for three years now and i still wouldnt move up from a pole spear. i have been using it all my time in the water and it has taught me everthing that wouldn't have learned if i could shoot from ten feet away. stalking a fish, getting close, and waiting for the kill shot is an important skill... plus pole spears are just plain badass ;)