Greetings all. My brother and I will be taking a spearfishing class in the near future and I am trying to gather enough facts to "know what I don't know". The class consists of about a 3 hour classroom session and then a trip out to the rigs about 60 miles out of Lake Jackson/Freeport for 3 "open water/hunting" dives.
1. Any gun recommendations and what should I look for? I am 5'6" in good shape and very stocky. We will probably be diving off shore rigs in blue water exclusively while spearfishing, probably around 10-12 trips a year. I understand a band gun is the way to go rather that a pneumatic. Any suggestions regarding shaft length would also be helpful. The owner/instructer of the dive shop said he would fit out any gun for rig diving not purchase from his shop at a cost of around $60 to $90 dollars. I am looking to spend @ $500 on a gun, less if possible but more if an argument could be made regarding quality/safety/ease of use.
2. Any other specialized dive equipment we should consider? This also includes anything that should definitely be left on the beach, lights and various other entaglemernt hazards etc.

I realize most if not all of these questions will be covered in the class, I just wanted to get information from as many sources as I could.

I apologize in advance if this has been beat to death in other posts.

Welcome aboard brother!!!

There are some very serious rig divers that frequent this forum and can answer your question with real world experience. They will be able to lead you down the road to the best experience with your new obsession.

You would probably get the best advice from guys in the Louisiana area of our forum. If you would like me to move your post, let me know

Chris

Thanks, go ahead and move it.

no lights, etc. If you want to spear the rigs, gun, knife, cable cutter. I use a jbl gulf magnum but the riffes seem to be catching on and have more range from what I understand.

Don't let Scott fool ya we haven't got him convinced to buy a Riffe yet.Get a Riffe you won't regret it

A 110cm+ Rob Allen with reel won't let you down. Plenty of power, easy maneuverability, accurate and easy on the wallet. Great beginner guns too!

Sounds like you will be scuba diving...
I used a JBL Gulf Mag XHD and a JBL Woody Mag for a long time when I started. Killed many fish and big fish. Simplest rigging method is a single wrap of SS cable, connected straight to the muzzle of the gun. Simple, easy to re-load, and effective. Great for average size snappers and groupers, which you will be starting on.

The "riding rig" is best when hunting Big fish in rodeos. Gives you the option of letting go without losing your gun. I never liked it, so I just rigged straight to the muzzle.

Lots of people shoot Riffes and kill plenty of fish. I have never shot one, but they seem to be light and have a recoil problem when powered up.

I am now shooting a homemade gun because I couldn't buy exaclty what I wanted in a JBL, Riffe, Wong, etc. My gun is a combination of all 3. looks like a Riffe, but has twice the mass and weight with zero recoil.

If I didn't have my homemade gun, I would probably shoot a JBL woody Magnum. It has a good feel in the water with great punch out to about 15'. You can pick one up for less than $250. I'd still be shooting mine if a fish hadn't dragged it to the bottom.

For Freediving, the rigging will be very different. The Rob Allen suggested above would be a good freedive gun. I have tried using one for SCUBA, and it just doesn't work. Reloads are slow and thin shafts will get bent around the pipes of the rig.

Mike Cryer or Hydrohunter is who you will be taking the class from I assume. He is no slouch! He, his wife, and his boys can slay 'em on the rigs, they even have a few state records. His shop is the only dive shop I know of that is owned by a true spearo. His advice and rigging is good to go.

BTW, I am in no way affiliated with them or their dive shop, just vouching for his advice as being reliable and sound.

Mike will prolly recommend a Riffe Island cable rigged with a leash for tying off the gun (to the rig not your BC). I went with the No Ka Oi, and he laughed cuz thats what his wife shoots!

Right on all counts. I have been looking at spearfishing for a while and wanted to get "trained" by someone with some "real world" experience and not just by some one "handing out cards" and who knew which end of the gun gets pointed at the fish. We happen to be diving at Mammoth Lake last week end and judging by the trophies on his wall, Mike was the guy to talk to. Looking at taking the class next week.......gotta start saving up for that Riffe!!!!!