SBO with a pole spear

[OceanEd]

I have been working on a couple of bluewater/big fish pole spears lately. One is a modified Aaron Christ and the other one is made by Bob Cockerham. The idea is to have them at least 12 ft. long and rigid enough at that length so that they will not "wobble" too much.

They have slip tips that are not attached to the pole, but to a reel that will be attached to my BC with a breakaway clip. I will use a Foldspear as my back up if I need a second shot.

I don't want to attach the tip to the pole because I think a large, strong fish will still bend the snot out of a pole that long, no matter how strong it is. I am also reluctant to use a fixed tip on a pole that long because I guarantee it will become a useless pretzel the first time I hit a big fish and the fight is on.

Any suggestions or thoughts are always welcome.

I will be testing them out as much as possible before the SBO, and am thinking about shooting the SBO only with pole spears. It might be interesting.

Is anyone else shooting a pole spear in the SBO?

[Seth]

every time i read one of your posts i have a craving for a polespear... gonna have to get one, hopefully before summer... if im lucky i'll actually hit something by christmas :)

[Griswold]

OceanEd,

How about making one something like an oversized foldspear, say with 3 or 4 foot sections, with heavy bungie and/or cable connecting the sections. It could be strong and straight when pushed, but pull apart when pulled hard enough thus helping to prevent the potential for getting bent.

The same concept might work for just the front section and/or the tip.

[Seth]

when are you gonna work your magic on a polespear Griswold?

[OceanEd]

Gris:

I don't see why it wouldn't work. You would just have to use some industrial strength bunji and make sure it is SECURLY anchored at both ends of the pole spear. The biggest problem I am having with long, multi section pole spears is that they tend to wobble a bit more than I like so the sections would have to have a close tolerence while still being able to slip apart.

The other problem I can see is one I am having now with a blue water pole spear if the slip tip (or fixed tip) is attached to the pole: sometimes I have a hard time holding on to the pole if I am being towed through the water! It is a lot easier when using a gun because there are things to easily hold on to.

Good to hear from you. Hope you will be at Blue Wild this year.


Seth:

I love it! Yeah, Griswold, when are you going to do some pole spear magic???

[Griswold]

I'm only 6 months behind schedule, that's pretty good for me. Haven't stopped thinking about it though, does that count?

How about coming up with a way to depoly a Carter CO2 float after hitting a big fish? It might make it easier to shoot a BIG one while freediving.

[OceanEd]

Gris:

I have about 3 ft. of 400 lb mono attached to each of my Carter float bags. On the other end of the mono I have crimped an 8" "spike" made from an old shaft and sharpened at one end. It works like a slip tip, but I shove the spike through the eyes of the fish and then blow up the bag. It take the fish up to the surface. This is while I am on SCUBA.

I will think about the freediving angle.