Free Diving - Produces World Record Bass ???

[NIGHTSTRIKES]

Wow, this really caught my attention.
A Long Island fishermen free dives without a air tank into 50'of water and spearguns this Striper. Free Diving Record 60lbs.
http://www.noreast.com/photogallery/photos/1958.jpg
This gentlemen quotes "I shot 4 other's as big "

Anybody else heard of this ?

Why Shoot Multiple Size Fish This Way...

Check Out These Other Bass That Have Been Caught
Check Out This PIC (http://www.spearfishingextreme.com/images/hunting2/IMG_1671.JPG)
PIC 2 (http://www.spearfishingextreme.com/images/hunting2/IMG_1682.JPG)
PIC 3 (http://www.spearfishingextreme.com/images/hunting2/IMG_1693.JPG)
PIC 4 (http://www.spearfishingextreme.com/images/hunting2/IMG_1691.JPG)

[ 07-21-2005, 10:08 AM: Message edited by: NIGHTSTRIKES ]

[eh009us]

I think this might be the guy featured in the book "on the run" but not sure. I haven't read it in a while. You should read the stories in the book. I'll stick with my boat.

[Seh34]

bad shots.. ;)

i can see how someone could get trigger happy. it's a rush...especially when they start pulling you around..

we stop after one fish per person, just too much meat.

[ 07-21-2005, 12:35 PM: Message edited by: Seh34 ]

[Fly Ty R]

If you're going to eat them (and why would you spear fish if you weren't?), why target those cows? The better eating fish are way smaller. Like hunting, there's no catch and release with a speargun (and I don't count a miss as a "release")...

[PROFINITY]

:mad: VERY MUCH NOT COOL :mad:

[CapeMayRay]

What state has a 4 fish limit?

[CaptG]

Looks like a fun and challenging way to fish to me! Way to go man!

[DaPlumber]

Nice shot moron right thru the meat . Just kiddin

[fisher224]

That is something I have wanted to give a try for quite a few years. I know a few guys who do it around some of the jetties in OC and at the Russ Chattin Bridge and they get some pretty impressive catches. They also get some monster fluke. Major Thumbs Up To This Guy!!!

[Jimbo]

Free dive? Way to go!

Why take a large cow? Why take a trophy buck? 'cause ya can!

[KeysKid]

Steve,
Interesting to note the different mentality on this site from the same post on the "other" board.

[Fishenough]

A waste. Bass that big are not good to eat. I have no problem with people keeping their legal catch, but this dosen't seem right.

[clamchucker]

Originally posted by CaptG:
Looks like a fun and challenging way to fish to me! Way to go man! Rodger that but "sour grapes" for thoes who will not/can not venture such ;) :D

[Notch]

Hey- I say if you got the nads to free-dive with all those sharks and stripers big enough to eat ya, then have at it! It's got to be a challenge to get within range and shoot one of these beasts.

I don't see what alot of you guys are bit**ing about. If this guy would have been chumming clams and caught this fish, you'd be slapping him on the back. I'd like to see those who complain jump into a rough current, dive 50' without a tank, spear and retrieve a fish like this. Hell, most people wouldn't even be able to find a fish like this with sonar!

I say WAY TO GO!!!


Notch

[Fred81876]

that looks great to me,just think how many baby weakfish and fluke that guy saved

[Fishenough]

You got a point Fred ;)

[PROFINITY]

I am NOT against free diving or spearing fish. I am against the taking of the breeders to the extent that is being depicted. Just because someone can does NOT mean they should. Personally I rather have seen them killed 20 average size fish opposed to taking one breeder.

[henrybasstardo]

He's the man!

[ 07-24-2005, 04:49 AM: Message edited by: henrybasstardo ]

[Dr. Bass]

He's King

[Grasshopper]

Awesome Fish Way to Go!!! Been fishing for Stripers for 20 years havent broke 50lbs yet. Guys got brass ones free diving and spearing a 60 lb fish. Seems like not everyone thinks so. Some guys are to hung up on catch and release. If I'm a hunter I'm going for the big buck not the yearling.

[Esox1]

Allot more can go wrong when you are under water. This guy has guts. We have been down the road already concerning stripers eating baby fish such as fluke. But, I would like to add, how about all the baby blueclaws. Bluefish are like lawn mowers and stripers are like swimming vaccum cleaners. They are cleaning out our back bays.

[Chris Gatley]

I have friends that do this. they travel to do it too. They look at it as extreme fishing. I can see their point. Eventhough I do not spearfish, who are we (those that don't do it) to say what is right or wrong. They have just taken a sport to another level.


chris

[Flatsman]

I have to admit that spearfishing is sporting and these guys definitely have the nads. I've seen freedivers on TV taking 100# + Tuna with spears in 80' of water in Baja and I say that's badass. BUT, taking multiple bass that size? For what? The meat's no good & it's not like you're going to mount it as a trophy with a big hole in its belly. Save the breeders - eat the slots!

[NIGHTSTRIKES]

Flatsman,
Welcome to the BassBarn.Com,
Glad To Have You Aboard.....

How's the fishing been around the Squan area ?

[Flatsman]

Thanks for the welcome, Nightstrikes. Hit or miss - couple flatties in the elks tourney last weekend - biggest went 5.2 - about .2 shy of being a contender. Tons of bunkers around with nothing underneath - I'll prob hang up the bass rig til sept. Went offshore early this a.m. to look for bft, found the wrong kind o blues & snotty southeast coming home. A few mahis outside on thurs, but no tuna.

[NIGHTSTRIKES]

Yeah, I here you about the Bass Rigs...
Let's hope that the off-shore bite keeps creeping closer with these warm water temps.

Thanks for the report and comback...


Take Care and Enjoy the Site....

[henrybasstardo]

The meats no good?
We cooked a 30 pounder last month and it was incredible. A 20 a few weeks before that same thing, delicious. Just cut out the dark meat (toxins)

Anyone eat it raw? I'm thinking of trying it. I was in hawaii a week ago and the locals were eating the Trevally we caught raw. Really good with vinegar and onions.

No crime as long as you eat it and don't waste it.

[clamchucker]

Come on you guys....had YOU cought it with "hook & line" all the back slaps & congrats would be overwelming. Would be dead, hanging from a hook attached to a scale for a photo at some mirina. Instead...sour grapes..hmm
I have dove/taken MANY a fish via spearfishing (some big ones have drug me down to the bottom & came close to ending my life). It's always the same old story whenever you out do the "hook & liners", they tend to hate you because your dogs better/bigger than theirs. Can not even attempt smile (as to being human)at the sob's as even that would insite a fist fight. What are ya gona do.......Follow your own drummer, be an individual, stay clear of the sheep....because you know what happens to sheep...The stock mkt/meat mkt, slays em ;) hmmm....

[cee beaver]

hb

i am a avid sushi eater and striper
's raw are excellant but i think sea bass are better raw

anyway, fyi, at a sushi house, just ask for Suzuki, no not the rice burner, it is the japanese term for striped bass

i like them with a little wasabi and pickled ginger

also, my fav. place for sushi and you can get "suzuki" is , sorry brain fa t, i will get back to you

the beav

[Dr. Bass]

Originally posted by Notch:
Hey- I say if you got the nads to free-dive with all those sharks and stripers big enough to eat ya, then have at it! It's got to be a challenge to get within range and shoot one of these beasts.

I don't see what alot of you guys are bit**ing about. If this guy would have been chumming clams and caught this fish, you'd be slapping him on the back. I'd like to see those who complain jump into a rough current, dive 50' without a tank, spear and retrieve a fish like this. Hell, most people wouldn't even be able to find a fish like this with sonar!

I say WAY TO GO!!!

:D


Notch

[hipkvw]

Originally posted by Flatsman:
I have to admit that spearfishing is sporting and these guys definitely have the nads. I've seen freedivers on TV taking 100# + Tuna with spears in 80' of water in Baja and I say that's badass. BUT, taking multiple bass that size? For what? The meat's no good & it's not like you're going to mount it as a trophy with a big hole in its belly. Save the breeders - eat the slots! Damn straight! Welcome to the Barn!

[hipkvw]

Originally posted by clamchucker:
Come on you guys....had YOU cought it with "hook & line" all the back slaps & congrats would be overwelming. Would be dead, hanging from a hook attached to a scale for a photo at some mirina. Instead...sour grapes..hmm
I have dove/taken MANY a fish via spearfishing (some big ones have drug me down to the bottom & came close to ending my life). It's always the same old story whenever you out do the "hook & liners", they tend to hate you because your dogs better/bigger than theirs. Can not even attempt smile (as to being human)at the sob's as even that would insite a fist fight. What are ya gona do.......Follow your own drummer, be an individual, stay clear of the sheep....because you know what happens to sheep...The stock mkt/meat mkt, slays em ;) hmmm.... I dont think anyone said it wasnt a great accomplishment but shooting NUMEROUS fish of that size is wasteful. Now I dont think a small group of spearfisherman are going to put a dent in the breeder population but nobody likes to see so many big fish harvested.

As for eating all the flounder, weakies, and crabs...we have been down that road on the Barn. Thats a joke. Dredgers are decimating the crabs even in winter! Flounder is probably the most consumed fish in our country! Comms and recs put a hurting on them. Stripers?? Give me a break. What about the hundreds of years before the rebound in the 90s-present? I guess there was never so many stripers in the history of stripers? ROTFLMAO

What they dont eat croakers? There are more croakers than anyone I know can ever remember. See what happens if the market and popularity for croakers ever hits the public(although im sure it wont). We will be blaming the stripers for them too. smile.gif

[capthersch]

I free dove for years and trophy stripers were the targets.
We let many pass by that were well above the 18? limit to spear that one big fish over 40?.
During tournaments the fish speared (and there were many) were donated to an orphanage.
The sisters would show up with coolers and ice, we would tally the score then pack them in ice.
The total amount of stripers speared nationally and annually would not even come close to the amount of stripers caught and weighed in a one day NJ striper tournament.
BTW a good shot is just behind the gills; all of my shots were there.

Hats off to the spearfisherman.

[HarborNights]

I agree Hip. Why waste the breeders just because your there and can. Be more of a selective hunter and do the species a favor. Take mid range ones. Its better for everyone this way and who knows maybe if they leave the monster cows be they get bigger and we all benefit from that. Its awsome and a great accomplishment to do what they do my hats off to them. But man leave the big cows alone maybe 1 not multiple cows. Ok?

[zinghaha]

Wow, I think I'll go back to using dynamite during thunder storms. Talk about a rush and big fish floating to the surface. I mean why not? I should be allowed to pursue these fish in a way that is exciting and satisfying to me as well. That is what everyone else does. Maybe I will lobby for legalization of thunderstick fishing, that is a catchy name. Impose creel and size limits. Too small, toss them back. Permit fees and safty equipment required and everyone is happy.

[hipkvw]

Originally posted by zinghaha:
Wow, I think I'll go back to using dynamite during thunder storms. Talk about a rush and big fish floating to the surface. I mean why not? I should be allowed to pursue these fish in a way that is exciting and satisfying to me as well. That is what everyone else does. Maybe I will lobby for legalization of thunderstick fishing, that is a catchy name. Impose creel and size limits. Too small, toss them back. Permit fees and safty equipment required and everyone is happy. LOL..good one...

[Bunka Chunka]

Yo Fizz this could be our next challenge :D
I know there are quite a few non-hunters on this board and i respect that.The Hunter above with that Cow Bass is no different than a Trophy Buck Hunter.We all know the ones with spots taste better ,but what kind of a challenge is that?He said he has bagged others that size,but who knows that could be a lifetime number.I think that would be a great Hunting opportunity.As long as the Proper limits were obeyed i see no difference in it compared to lettin one suck in a Bunka Head,,Kudos to that Gent :D

[Grasshopper]

Who says the big ones are no good to eat. Your nuts more meat is all, they are delicious at any size. The recreational fisherman are not going to hurt Striper populations with the current size and bag limits. Everyone is entitled to a trophy bass. That big breeder could be at the end of her life expectancy at that size, better I eat her than the crabs!

[CaptG]

I agree Grasshopper, who ever say's cow striper meat isn't as good, obviously has never eaten one..Furthermore, they're probably sore that they aren't catching them :D

[ 08-05-2005, 01:59 PM: Message edited by: CaptG ]

[Reelman73088]

Man there are a lot of jealous people in this room. I agree that if it had been with a line and hook they would all be about congradulating this guy. I say it takes a lot of risk to do what these free divers do and why would u take the risks they take to kill a slot fish. You wouldnt, you would go after the biggest striper u could find and hey why not. These guys who are mad are just mad because they didnt get to take those cows with a line and hook themselves, because if they had they would see no problem in keeping them. I mean ive never caught a cow striper but it doesnt make me mad that these guys went out and caught a bunch im happy for them and any real fisherman would be too. I say CONGRATS.

[capthersch]

The one thing about spear fishing is I was selective about size and not quantity.
Unlike hook and line I was able to kill only what I wanted.
Large tog, large fluke, large seabass and large stripers.
There were many times I went home empty handed because I passed on smaller but legal fish.
As far as leaving the cows to be caught again and /or breed that is an individual choice.
I will not judge anyone for their choice; they keep it legal that is fine with me.
The preachers can preach I don?t have to listen.

[fisher224]

WA Wa Wa Wa Wa!!!!!!!

What a bunch of sour grapes whiners.

It takes alot more balls and skill to spearfish than it does to chunk clams and bunker or eel for bass anyday.

[clamchucker]

Originally posted by capthersch:
The one thing about spear fishing is I was selective about size and not quantity.
Unlike hook and line I was able to kill only what I wanted.
Large tog, large fluke, large seabass and large stripers.
There were many times I went home empty handed because I passed on smaller but legal fish.
As far as leaving the cows to be caught again and /or breed that is an individual choice.
I will not judge anyone for their choice; they keep it legal that is fine with me.
The preachers can preach I don?t have to listen. Big AMEN/10-4/rodger all that Capthersh. smile.gif Being selective cuts the (blind) hook/handling kill big time! Can see that you are not a collective of the flock. More power to ya. smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif

[cam]

Why so many? Multiple divers? Otherwise it looks like someone went well over regulations... for any state.

[cam]

Originally posted by Esox1:
Allot more can go wrong when you are under water. This guy has guts. We have been down the road already concerning stripers eating baby fish such as fluke. But, I would like to add, how about all the baby blueclaws. Bluefish are like lawn mowers and stripers are like swimming vaccum cleaners. They are cleaning out our back bays. You're joking right? The past two years has seen the best fluking in at least 15 years. And as far as blueclaws go... I live on the bay in TR. If I throw out a trap at noon, by dinnertime I'll have about 2 dozen keepers. And are you really saying you'd rather see a high population of crabs over having 60lb. bass around???

[CaptG]

Another elitist :D

[Re-Bait]

Not to hijack this thread but check out this spear fish report from Ixtapa Mexico last week...

I.S.C.'s local representative Abel Cortez reported this interesting story. A local commercial diver named Guncho was spearing PARGO near an inshore rock in just a few meters of water. He was astonished to see a huge MARLIN near shore and took his chances by spearing the huge fish. After several hours he managed to land the big MARLIN, which he brought to shore. Estimates place the MARLIN at over 380 kilos. Huge MARLIN of this size have been hooked but not landed during the late spring and summer months in previous years.

[Fred81876]

hip
i believe there are to many stripers in relation to alot of other species,many years ago when there were alot of bass, there were also alot more bunker,crabs weakfish,eels etc.. today the numbers of everything else is down except for the stripers
cam
the best fluking 15 years ?? with the crabs,talk to some of the guys on the deleware

[bass ackwards]

I would'nt want to reduce the amount of one fish because other fisheries are not doing as well, people should work to stregthen #ers of the other fish and not reduce a strong fishery so they are all poor. I dont know about other areas but LBI fluking is good and the blue claws are everywhere and big.As for weakfish I understand that it is normal for them to go through long cycles that are good and bad. Just my 2 cents.

[cam]

Originally posted by Fred81876:
hip
i believe there are to many stripers in relation to alot of other species,many years ago when there were alot of bass, there were also alot more bunker,crabs weakfish,eels etc.. today the numbers of everything else is down except for the stripers
cam
the best fluking 15 years ?? with the crabs,talk to some of the guys on the deleware I strongly doubt that stripers are the reason that the Delaware has supposed "crab issues". We have a higher population of migratory, and resident, stripers in this region, and like I said, our crab numbers are extremely high.

And how is it that you're surprised about the comment on fluking? Have you read any of the reports? Most charter boats are hitting their limit well before their time's up. Every person I know w/ a boat is crushing the fluke, and there's even guys consistently getting them from the surf. I may have even been conservative on the 15 years. Some people I talk to say they haven't seen fluking this good since the early 80's...

[CaptG]

If it's so good, how come the fluke quota is going to be cut back by 25% next season due to survey results that revealed decreasing biomasses and overfishing! How long exactly have you been fishing off NJ? Can you rationalize for us the acceptance of a 1 or 2 fish recreational bag limit per man for an increasing population of striped bass which are not commercially fished for in this state, while our other inshore fish whose numbers have been proved to be declining, still have higher recreational bag and lower size limits per man compared to the striped bass and of which are commercially harvested in this state at twice the rate of the recreational harvest?

[cam]

Originally posted by CaptG:
If it's so good, how come the fluke quota is going to be cut back by 25% next season due to survey results that revealed decreasing biomasses and overfishing! How long exactly have you been fishing off NJ? Can you rationalize for us the acceptance of a 1 or 2 fish recreational bag limit per man for an increasing population of striped bass which are not commercially fished for in this state, while our other inshore fish whose numbers have been proved to be declining, still have higher recreational bag and lower size limits per man compared to the striped bass and of which are commercially harvested in this state at twice the rate of the recreational harvest? I've yet to read a single article or report showing a declining fluke population in the Atlantic or bay systems. I notice you're from Mt.L, so I'm guessing you focus on the Delaware and Delaware Bay, and I honestly don't know how the populations are there. As far as the cut backs are concerned, the way it's been explained to me is that the gov't isn't looking at the actual population, but rather the overall "catch". The numbers concern them as they are high, and they are going to either A)decrease the keep limit 2)increase the minimum size; for next season. However, they're not taking into account the fact that the season's catch is high because the population is high, and that the catch to population ratio is quite reasonable. It's not because everyone has suddenly become better fluke fisherman this season. Oh, and since you apparently think you're slick and calling me out, I've been fishing NJ waters for 20 years, and I've personally never seen better fluking. And finally, the only way I can rationlize such a small keep limit for stipers in a state where they're not commercially fished is that they're a highly migratory fish. Just because they're not commercially fished in NJ doesn't mean they're not in the dozen other states they pass by throughout the course of the year. Yes, other fish we see in NJ are also migratory, but not to the extent of the stripers, OR, we don't see as high of a migration amount(cobia, spanish mac's, etc), if any at all (dependent upon water temps). God, I feel like I'm back in school :eek:

[CaptG]

You have a good grasp of our fisheries cam, however the biomasses of fluke are not fully recovered and the cutbacks are a result of surveys that show a decreasing biomass...most likely die to increased fishing pressure, not the striper. I understand the striper is a migratoy fish, however as you said so yourself, the poplations of resident bass in our water's is high and continues to rise, yet the size and bag limits are set w/ regard only to the migratory populations of striped bass, and with no regard to the significance of the amount of resident fish in our coastal bays! Enjoy! I'm off to the shore!

[Brian E. Mullaney]

THAT IS THE WUSSY WAY - IF YOU ARE GONNA GO DOWN THERE TAKE A LOBSTER TAIL WITH YOU AND HOLD IT OUT AND WHEN THE BASS GOES TO EAT IT CRUSH ITS SKULL WITH YOUR BAREHANDS ;)

[Brian E. Mullaney]

HOW COME NO ONE MENTIONS BLUEFISH WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT BABY WEAKS & FLUKE BEING DEVOURED??

[NIGHTSTRIKES]

Or
Cannibalism.......

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid180/p794bfc08d5434666a7e804f0cc02f908/f308c7e5.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid180/p244d67b5d713015c92ace5fc1df13a33/f308c7ea.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid180/p4636326d8d9691b21f6106fb873b72dd/f308c7d6.jpg
I recently came across large schools of these baby weakfish being eaten by : You Guessed It.
WEAKFISH !!!

[ 08-12-2005, 04:25 PM: Message edited by: NIGHTSTRIKES ]

[Brian E. Mullaney]

whats one of the best fluke baits?? fluke belly :D

[aj bruno]

Way to go with that fish.
Stay within your limits and take what you wish. Big stripers taste great!