Judgeing the size of the fish underwater?

[Brecht]

Hi Guys, I'm quite new to spearfishing and joined Sealine recently. Could any of you more experienced spearos give this newbie some tips on spotting or sizeing up of fish with the aim to prevent undersized fish being landed by mistake. Fish like Galjoen and Cracker for example. Any and all advise would be appretiated 

 

[landshark]

Hiya Brecht,

Ledge asked the same question some time ago in this thread: http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=34447&forum_id=68.

Hopefully this will help a bit...

 

[Brecht]

Hi Landshark,
Thanks for the thread, it does make sence to wait for the biggest fish rather. And I asumeing that with experiance comes the skill of spotting differences between size and undersize fish like shape and colouration etc?
Cheers:fst:

 

[Ledge]

Hey Brecht,

The more time you spend diving with decent fish, the better your judgement becomes. When you shoot a fish, measure the length (as suggested by Landshark in the thread) and the weight (on land of course).

I like what the other guys say regarding your "gut feel". If you're questioning it, leave it.

Diving with guys that are more experienced than you is probably a step in the right direction. Stick together, Work together, glean as much as you can. Maybe your mate shoots a size fish... Look at it in the water. Get accustomed to the shape and size in this awesome environment we play in...

That's all from me...

Happy hunting

L

 

[Brecht]

Thanks for the info guys, I hope to do some diving over the weekend with some the guys and learn as I go along.
Cheers

 

[nantes]

let me put it to you this way

if you have to think obout its size then it is small

let it go pass

 

[Ledge]

It is especially difficult to judge the size with poor visibility. I have learned the hard way... I'm sure that many others have as well...

Cheers,
L

 

[eenvoet]

Myself find it easier to judge the size in dirtier water. Once diving in Sodwana, in 20m+ viz, had a wahoo come onto me and thought it was about 15kg, took a shot at it with my 1.4 with a double reach and the shot fell at least a meter short. The fish was probably more or less 25kg. Its one draw back of diving in the cape with dirty water is that most of us misjudge the size of fish and the distance when we get into clean water.