Been reading up on spearing and noticed that the overseas Spearos seem to like using pole spears a lot as opposed to guns. Does anyone in South Africa use pole spears, and if so what are the advantages, if any? I noticed that nobody in the country even sells them except for one shop on the KZN South Coast. Obviously using a gun allows a much better reach, therefore longer shots whereas I've read that using a pole spear is recommended if you are new to spearing because it gets you to you learn how to more efficiently stalk fish. On the other hand I also read that getting bigger fish with a pole spear is a bit of a mission. What are your thoughts guys?
Polespears - What are your thoughts?
- Thread starter Ninja-Nic
- Start date
It would be like playing golf with an old set of blade clubs and wooden driver, or tennis with a wooden raquet, or surflaunching a loch fyne with a seagull motor. If you want to do it properly you should swap your open cell suit for a rugby jersey, and your 80cm fins for some cheapies from sportsman's warehouse.
If you want to shoot serious fish, I wouldn't bother. It is a "roots" journey if you want to do it. Like swapping your 6 foot thruster for a 20 kilo John Whitmore longboard. Still fun, but save it for small days.
If you want to shoot serious fish, I wouldn't bother. It is a "roots" journey if you want to do it. Like swapping your 6 foot thruster for a 20 kilo John Whitmore longboard. Still fun, but save it for small days.
Ha ha, - memories of paddling a 2m dinghy at high speed on Durban harbor after our old-school Seagull motor "stopped working...". Point taken Jensent. It seems to be a matter of the right tool for the job.
Obviously it also depends on the skill of the individuals using the spear - I've read articles about pro Spearos diving deep going after big pelagics with pole spears. Check the link
http://onefish.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=5
I was also a bit surprised to see that these spears arent really that backwards in terms of technology etc - you can get them in alu, carbon, fiberglass and even graphite. Obviously different lengths and differ bands will provide different reults. Anyway, I think I may just give it a try and see how my luck goes.
Thanks for the reply Jensent, and nice boat you have there btw.
Obviously it also depends on the skill of the individuals using the spear - I've read articles about pro Spearos diving deep going after big pelagics with pole spears. Check the link
http://onefish.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=5
I was also a bit surprised to see that these spears arent really that backwards in terms of technology etc - you can get them in alu, carbon, fiberglass and even graphite. Obviously different lengths and differ bands will provide different reults. Anyway, I think I may just give it a try and see how my luck goes.
Thanks for the reply Jensent, and nice boat you have there btw.
Thing with the pole spear is that you need to hold it in place when you load it, so your grip has got to be tight.
Doing this underwater could potentially be a challenge to a newbie spearo.
I wouldnt even consider it unless I was very experienced or I was in Mauritius in a shallow populated reef.
I dont think the price difference is that much to be honest between a polespear and a speargun, but you can make a polespear very easily thus saving on costs.
Doing this underwater could potentially be a challenge to a newbie spearo.
I wouldnt even consider it unless I was very experienced or I was in Mauritius in a shallow populated reef.
I dont think the price difference is that much to be honest between a polespear and a speargun, but you can make a polespear very easily thus saving on costs.
southcoastspearo
New member
I think there are very few fish in South Africa you would have sucess with.
Most of our fish are hard to shoot with normal guns never mind something with just a 6 foot reach.
Obviously your doff fish like catface rockcod,koo koo bass and englishmen wouldnt be an issue but you would spend alot of time just looking for those species cos they quite rare these days...well in K.Z.N they are.
But YES it would definately do a world of good for your sneaking around the reef techniques.
If you do manage a class fish on a pole spear that would be a great achievement but you'll definately lose more fish than land...
Most of our fish are hard to shoot with normal guns never mind something with just a 6 foot reach.
Obviously your doff fish like catface rockcod,koo koo bass and englishmen wouldnt be an issue but you would spend alot of time just looking for those species cos they quite rare these days...well in K.Z.N they are.
But YES it would definately do a world of good for your sneaking around the reef techniques.
If you do manage a class fish on a pole spear that would be a great achievement but you'll definately lose more fish than land...
southcoastspearo
New member
I think there are very few fish in South Africa you would have sucess with.
Most of our fish are hard to shoot with normal guns never mind something with just a 6 foot reach.
Obviously your doff fish like catface rockcod,koo koo bass and englishmen wouldnt be an issue but you would spend alot of time just looking for those species cos they quite rare these days...well in K.Z.N they are.
But YES it would definately do a world of good for your sneaking around the reef techniques.
If you do manage a class fish on a pole spear that would be a great achievement but you'll definately lose more fish than land...
Most of our fish are hard to shoot with normal guns never mind something with just a 6 foot reach.
Obviously your doff fish like catface rockcod,koo koo bass and englishmen wouldnt be an issue but you would spend alot of time just looking for those species cos they quite rare these days...well in K.Z.N they are.
But YES it would definately do a world of good for your sneaking around the reef techniques.
If you do manage a class fish on a pole spear that would be a great achievement but you'll definately lose more fish than land...