How sharp should you go...

[Divefresh]

When sharpening a flopper point? Can you draw it out too far with a long sharp point and have it mess up the flight travel? I ask only because when I was over on the west coast earlier this year I spoke with alot of guys that had problems with punching through Big sheephead at a longer distance. I know they are pretty strong skinned and have a thick noggin, but when I was there I only shot a few that were small. Now I sharpen my flopper points REALLY sharp for the big scaled fish over here (some with 2" - 3" scales) and head shots on the bigger sheeps can sometimes deflect I know..will getting a really sharp point eliminated a deflecting head shot at a further distance? I rather not use a slip tip and bust it all up on a possible rock, when I can just toss floppers around. How do most of you get a good edge on you shafts if you do get crazy with sharpening? Wheels, simple file, grinder? I will be over there again soon and plan on Paddy hop'n but I really want to get my trophy sheephead for the wall.

Thanks,
Ryan

[Mobius1]

i like to get them sharp as i possibly can JBL makes a good quality double barb slip tip thats cheap enough and great for reef fishing i will try to find a pic but for the glancing head shots i find its mostly up to chance angle to fish and such good luck.

http://diveremporium.com/JBL/823.jpg


they are around 40 bucks and the site i found
http://diveremporium.com/speargunacc.html
they are just up from the bottom.

[Fishit]

I think you go as sharp as you can... JBL Good... But go Mori he's the **it if you got the dough,just dont shoot reef.

[deckhandmike]

JBL tips suck unless your shooting a massive shaft that is super powered up. For BIG sheepshead I find a 9/32 flopper with a average sharp point to penetrate best. A 5/16 would probaly be better but needs a lot of band power that I normally wouldn't put on a rockfish gun. But for sheepshead it's all about shot placement. I aim right behind the gills level with the spine. Forget about a headshot at any distance. Just blast and let them run. I try not to put any pressure on the fish and retrieve it by hand. Mori slip tips are a waste of money on reef fish and the larger JBL tips have too much surface area to penetrate well. To sharpen I slap it real quick on a wet grinder.

[rojodiablo]

I use a grinder; I put a sharp point on a shaft, but not a long taper; just a short ^ and sharp on the point. 2 things; #1, it will not smash up too badly in rock. #2. Shot placement is like Deckhandmike says: Put the bullet in the body, try to stone it if you can. But don't bother with a head shot, unless that is the only angle given you. Uhu in Hawaii and Pargo in Baja have scales to make a sheephead blush; you find that what really works on them is what works everywhere.
I used icepicks everywhere for years; found there was no real reason to use them with the rare exception of hunting true open water fish.