OC Md. report

[27 sailfish]

Have to beware shooting big fish - unless set up for them.

Been more then one diver lose a gun when the shot did not kill the big fish right off the bat.

Few years ago - off NC - saw a fellow diver aiming on a large 60-70 lb Amberjack ( reef donkey ). Another diver waved him off the shot.

Not sure what the outcome would have been - but most likely not good for the diver.

Worst was diving Winter Quarter shoal about this time 4 years ago. Literally a hundred Rockfish around us - all nice 30 to 40 inchers.

My buddy had me laughing so hard I spit my regulator.

He held up his spear gun like a machine gun and pretended to mow the school down.

[kwalk59]

I had this same conversation several times with Brandon and just before we went down. One thing we never do is attach the gun to us. At any time we can let go of the gun.It might be an expensive dive but not your last. You tell an 18-20 year old dont shoot anything so big that you cant handle it. He looks at that fish and says to him self I can handle that and he did!! At my age my mind says you can handle that and my body says Oooohh no you cant!!! :-)

[spynet000]

I had this same conversation several times with Brandon and just before we went down. One thing we never do is attach the gun to us. At any time we can let go of the gun.It might be an expensive dive but not your last. You tell an 18-20 year old don't shoot anything so big that you cant handle it. He looks at that fish and says to him self I can handle that and he did!! At my age my mind says you can handle that and my body says Oooohh no you cant!!! :-)

I have a loop of shock cord attached to the end of my gun that loops around my wrist. If the fish wants my gun it can easily slip off my wrist and has worked out well for me. It's one thing to play with big fish in shallow water but when you're at 70ft or more it's a whole new ballgame.