Lets talk pole spears...

[spynet000]

Anyone spearing in Delaware, Maryland and / or Virginia waters prefer a pole spear over a gun on SCUBA or free diving? If so, what pole do you prefer? Length, tip etc. I'd really like to put down the gun for a few trips and try a pole spear. I've read about the JBL's, Gat-Ku, Ray Odor etc. but was wondering what some TFer's prefer.

[Loop Wing]

I still use the gun freediving, but that is only because I have not bought a Gat-ku. I have a couple friends that will out fish me with a pole spear. Not because of tech., but because there is no reloading. Everytime I pull the trigger I have to rewrap the line, set the shaft and aim again. A pole spear you just pull back and shoot again. My buddy's have all gone to a single tip with a flopper. If they are going for flounder or bigger fish they use a slip tip. Hope this all helps.

[spynet000]

I still use the gun freediving, but that is only because I have not bought a Gat-ku. I have a couple friends that will out fish me with a pole spear. Not because of tech., but because there is no reloading. Everytime I pull the trigger I have to rewrap the line, set the shaft and aim again. A pole spear you just pull back and shoot again. My buddy's have all gone to a single tip with a flopper. If they are going for flounder or bigger fish they use a slip tip. Hope this all helps.

Loop wing- thanks for the reply. What area in this region do you mostly spearfish? Do you know what length pole spears your friends prefer to use?

[Loop Wing]

I spear mainly the shore dives off nags head. Also when I can get a ride the cbbt and light tower. I am not sure on length, but want to say 7 and 8 footers.

[kapoc]

I used to use poles on flounder when blowing bubbles freeking awesome results

[Scubapro67]

Use a 6ft JBL travel pole spear in and around the wrecks off Va Beach (low vis 5-15ft typical) - highly productive, especially when the stringer is attached to the elastic. Just pull the fish down the spear and off the end to the waiting stringer.
Not just for Flounder, also highly effective against Tautog, BSB, and lately the odd Hake. I use a 4" double wing spearpoint.
Also use a JBL Comp Magnum speargun with a 24' coil lanyard instead of the normal line, this saves having to wrap the shooting line after each shot. I've also seen spearos not bother wrapping the line between shots - bit difficult around wrecks etc...

[spynet000]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Scubapro67 - have I seen some of your videos on you tube before? Don't you basically attatch a string to the end of the rubber with a big washer?

I splurged yesterday and went with a 7' Gat-Ku only because my girlfriend wanted to buy me the "nicer" spear for Christmas. Personally, I think it's a lot of money for a pole with a tip on the end.

[Scubapro67]

Not me doing the videos.
I attach wire with a T piece on the end to the elastic - you can pretty much improvise anything similar. Can get challenging using the elastic to shoot when you have a number of fish already on the stringer!

[spynet000]

Can get challenging using the elastic to shoot when you have a number of fish already on the stringer!

I was wondering how that would affect your shooting after a few on the stringer. Often I don't have to shoot the flounder, just stab them. But if a tog comes into range and I want to use the rubber that might not work out so well...

[fishizzle]

I prefer polespear over gun and hunt up & down the coast w/ viz ranging 1'-20'+ and I've used quite the variety of spears in the process.
Gat-ku-good/fast spear, but the carbon fiber/hybrid thing is just not me, seems too whippy. Plus, after shooting a rather large species of freshwater fish, the female end of where the travel spear comes together bent out. It still works & I love the grip on it, but it lacks the takedown power I prefer. I think I might put this one on the market if I can find that paralyzer tip.

JBL-I just don't like it at all, just my opinion. Not knocking it down, but it doesn't work for me. I recommend modifying the band (the 5/16th band is just plain wimpy) and adding your own grip using speaker wire and hockey tape (I do this w/ all polespears). Its polished lightweight aluminum that is fairly slippery when wet. I've killed fish w/ it, but don't recommend anything over 10-15#.

Ray Odor-Awesome spear. Heavyweight aluminum that breaks down in 3 sections for a low price. Good size band, plus the extender just pokes right through fishies. Hell, I 'accidently' left this underwater in my dive spot, found it about 2-3 months later, removed some of the growth and then killed fish with it. The flopper retainer rusted off and the black coloring turned a bluish aluminum color. Great spear-def. recommend to have in your arsenal.

Han'apa travel spear-Crap spear good for inshore small species and back up spear when travelling.

Trident f/g polespear-My go to spear, until my I lost it this year landing boat over head in some chest hi beach break. Can't beat it for the value. Of course it gets modded right away w/ upgraded bands, grip, maybe some epoxy around the cap. I've taken stripers to 25# w/this baby & filled coolers numerous times.

For tips, I like paralyzers when targeting trigs & for everything else I prefer the JBL p/s slip tip. Just don't forget your teflon tape.