Spear Fishing in the Salt

[AKCAPT]

Anyone know offhand if the regs for limits are different for spear fishing in Saltwater
Halibut, Yelloweyes and Lings? I have a group of top spearfishermen who want to try their hand at it this summer.... Can you imagine spearing a 150 pound halibut with no scuba and trying to capture it? I will be sure to post the photos and a detailed story in Mid June, after it happens.

[homerdave]

to the best of my knowledge the regs are the same... sportfishing is sportfishing, regardless of method. (as long as t is legal, of course)

[mnfish365]

150lb Halibut and only a snorkel? I'd like to watch the video! Same limits as rod and reel fishing. From my experiance with a 80lb Halibut in a 10' jon boat, I'd really like to see a big one with a spear. Aim for the head, and hope for the best.

[ak_powder_monkey]

yup same limits although I think size limits for lingcod might change in certain areas...

[Zissou]

One of these days somebody's going to be eaten by a salmon shark.

[jagfish]

Originally Posted by AKCAPT

Anyone know offhand if the regs for limits are different for spear fishing in Saltwater
Halibut, Yelloweyes and Lings? I have a group of top spearfishermen who want to try their hand at it this summer.... Can you imagine spearing a 150 pound halibut with no scuba and trying to capture it? I will be sure to post the photos and a detailed story in Mid June, after it happens.

If you ever want to check out some real seamonsters...visit spearboard.com sometime. Most of those folks are on scuba, but some freedive as well. There are some real whoppers taken on freediving...up to huge tuna.

I'm sure they'd have info on spear game regulations as well...

[AKCAPT]

Standy by for the photos and video to come in June.

[RastaHunter]

Make sure they know where the brain is and have them aim for that.
Ive never spearfished before, but Id like to see that.

[nickster]

Originally Posted by RastaHunter

Make sure they know where the brain is... .

Makes you wonder if they know where their own brain is!

I can't wait to see those pics and video....

[tdelarm]

To the best of my knowledge as I'm not a wildlife trooper just a poorly paid producer the regs are the same as sportsfishing.

Give Loic Thomas at Last Frontier Diving a jingle. He spear fishes Alaskan waters on regular bases and should have all the facts. F & G may have the answer after a few zillion calls.

http://www.lastfrontierdiving.com/

Should we be rolling tape on this for Alaska Outdoors Television?

[AKCAPT]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmrqCBG-7Xg

[tdelarm]

Ah yes. Looks interesting.

Did you catch our spearfishing episode we shot last summer? If not the links are in my sig. Lings and rockfish at 100 feet. This year we'll try again for Halibut...and some crabbing and whatever else we can scrounge up

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by tdelarm

Ah yes. Looks interesting.

Did you catch our spearfishing episode we shot last summer? If not the links are in my sig. Lings and rockfish at 100 feet. This year we'll try again for Halibut...and some crabbing and whatever else we can scrounge up

Great spearfishing video, got any freediving spearfishing video? I picked up a couple in Hilo last time on the Big Island, they were spearfishing for wahoo, tuna, mahi-mahi, and octopus. My son and I did a little fishing with polespears, but would love to get setup for guns and gear for up here.

[AKCAPT]

I checked the reg with the troopers and they limits are the same.

Should be interesting to see these guys hunt these fish without Scuba. It will be filmed in HD, so there should be plenty to check out.

The key is knowing where and when there is an abundance of larger halibut in shallower water. That part I already know.

Like I said, I will have the pictures and video as soon as it happens.

[POLE BENDER]

I heard that a few years back there were a group of divers (w/tanks) that took an 80 lb halibut from cook inlet, supposedly in about 60 feet of water. used an inflatable buoy after it was struck. sounds crazy to me!!!!

[akriverrat]

limits are the same jsut need to be completely submerged from what i remember. dont see a problem with that going after halibut. sounds like a fun ride

[CanCanCase]

We used to shoot 60# plus tuna and sea bass off SanDiego. I've known guys to spear 200+# jewfish....err... colossal grouper... back when that was legal in FL.

I've shot 60# butts and some 5-foot lings up here.

-Case

[coho slayer]

This is in the Outside magazine...a whole article on spearfishing/freediving. A rather large Tiger Shark. Better them then me....

[bushboy]

I'm thinking there needs to a big, giant torpedo hole through that tiger shark before I start "assisting" him to the surface.

[270ti]

IMO, Spearfishing is going to explode as a sport here in Alaska. I've done it, and it's awesome.

Capt, did you have any trouble getting your insurance company to sign off on having spearfisherman on your boat?