Northern Marianna Islands

[Phil14312]

I'm headed out to Saipan for an internship with their Department of Fisheries and Wildlife in the middle of June through September.

I'm relatively new to spearfishing, currently using a 115 Omer Euro gun for California beach dives.

Any background on the spearfishing around Saipan would be great, as well as gear recommendations also. Thanks.

[Mattedhead]

Rick Bettua at Aimrite would be your man for info!

[Platypus]

Rick Bettua at Aimrite would be your man for info!
As a matter of fact - he is there right now! :) He'll be in Saipan until the 17th I think...

Give Morito-san a call at AQUASMITH or you can visit their website. www.aquasmith.com

Edit: I think you have to be able to freedive pretty deep to get into any decent fish, but Rick knows more than me.

[spearguam]

Phil,
There is plenty of spearfishing around the Islands. i have not dove Saipan, but I am living in Guam right now. I have heard there is some good fishing up there as well as Rota and Tinian. I think a lot of the spot that are accessible will be pretty picked over. If you can get to some of the more remote reefs you will be set.

As far as gear. Your 115 cm gun sounds perfect. A lot of the guys on Guam use similar guns. I have a 110 cm Riffe Euro and I am very happy with it. I also use a reel and feel that is the best way to go for around here. I have a 1.5 mm wetsuit (Omer Dahlek). The water is warm, but after a few hours in the water you will definitely get chilly if you don't have any suit on. It is also nice for reef and sun protection. I wear 6# of weight with this set up. All other gear should be basic.

Hopefully more people will chime in. I would love to get up there one of these days. Guam is very fished out.

[syrespect]

Haha, Saipan is more fished out than Guam. I will be in Saipan on the 17th for their 2nd Annual Spearfishing Competition. Hopefully Rick can stick around for this. Ask around for Morito or Felix. These are the guys with the connects for freedive/spearfishing.

[Phil14312]

Thanks for information guys.

If anyone is on Saipan and wants to show me the ropes a little, I'd be buying beers :)