First post and this has to be a beaten to death topic, but I looked and didn't find much.
I'm an accomplished diver, have my own boat etc., but new to spearfishing. Last summer I bought a JBL 450 I think it was and had a good time shooting fish, limited out every time we went out. But I had to keep to the medium sized Grouper and Snapper as the big ones would often get off of the spear and I hate wasting fish, it's just wrong. I had no trouble hitting them, I seemed to get good penetration, but unless I stoned them, often they would get off. Try as I might, I just can't always stone a fish, maybe that will come with experience.
I dive in water with more vis than any gun has range, always SCUBA never freedive and I'm looking for a gun / shaft / tip combo that will hold a big Grouper / Snapper / Jack etc. Price is relevant, but not the primary concern, in other words I don't mind paying for a good gun as long as I get what I pay for. Although I'm only a beginner I'm partial to wood guns that are positively buoyant without the shaft.

Ocean Rhino, you will never look back.

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24foot Young 250Yamaha *Reel Sweet*

I'm leaning towards an RX5, partially because I can get any replacement parts I need at PCDC, that being the shop I use when in Panama City.
But, I was wondering if there were better guns out there for the type of shooting I do.

I will find out the particulars for you but a friend is selling his Ocean Rhino RX5 and it is in like new condition with 4 or 5 shafts. I will let you know shortly the length and the price.

Thanks, I appreciate it

Can not go wrong with the RX-5; especially with good visibility. Absolutely love mine. And Kevin is always there to answer a question for you .

Can't remember if it floats without a shaft . With the kill package & spare shaft it lays pretty much nose down & ass up at a 45* on the bottom.

Try to get in the habit of putting your arm through one of the bands after you shoot; when you retrieve & string up your fish. One of the first times I tried free shafting I got so excited about getting to the fish before he spun off the back of the shaft that I let go of the gun. Quite a few seconds passed after fumbling with the stringer, getting him on it, and then remembering wood floats after looking around & not seeing the gun.

We actually found it too a long ways from where we were anchored up...
There were several empty jugs on board that I half filled & tossed over the side at about 5 minute intervals until the other divers surfaced. We pulled anchor & followed the trail & at about the same distance from the last jug as each jug was from one another we found it floating. (I figured that probably about 5 minutes had passed when I first let go of the gun & I made it back to the boat & got out of my gear to toss the first jug).

Any How, on the RX-5

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http://www.tampabayspearfishingclub.org

http://www.divebudz.com

RX5 that is 59.5" long from butt to tip. 5 total shafts (2 look like they were never shot). Bag. This has the shark kill spike in the front of the gun and the removable kill spike in the back of the gun. It is in near perfect condition. If you are not interested in the gun, let me know as I will post it up for sale but I wanted you to have first shot since you were looking for one. It has 3 bands that go with it but they are useless and hold no value whatsoever.

PM me with an offer and please know that buyer will be responsible for shipping costs as well.

Bubba.
941 225 0048

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Good shot placement and proper shot angle will greatly reduce or eliminate fish tear offs. If your speartip/barbs are operating properly and you are losing fish, you are likely not using optimal shot placement and shot angle. You may also be trying to shoot from too far away and not getting good penetration.

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Ocean Rhino Spearguns: Designed & Built By Commercial Spearfishermen
E-mail:oceanrhino@gmail.com Web: OceanRhino.com

Ditch the 3/8" shaft and the 3rd band in favor of more accurate shot placement and more shaft speed.

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www.zeagleexpress.com
Serving the dive community since 1982

All the dudes at PCDC use Ocean Rhinos locally for a reason--it is an absolutely great reef gun. I consider it the AR-15 of spearguns--tough as nails, lots of options with shafts, bands, kill spike(s), light attachment, list goes on. Pat and the boys at PCDC are world class with service, support and advice, and Kevin is more of the same. Won't go wrong with the OR RX5 if you dive the waters off PCB.

It could have been any or all of the three, is there a drawing or something that shows the exact shot placement? I could show you the quarter size spot I was aiming for, but it's hard to describe. I was ideally going for an above quartering shot trying to separate the spinal cord.

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words (better a video). Youtube has a lot of good spearfishing vids and if you look under photography/videography on this site, you will find more good examples of "stoned" fish. Check out FISHKILLA'S video thread and watch his Christmas 2012 vid for a lot of stoned shots highlights to get a great example of proper shot placement. Hope this helps.

Try this:
Fish should be angling away from you at about 45 degrees.
You should be above the fish so the shaft also has a down angle.
Shaft enters right behind the gill at lateral line height.
Shaft travels forward and slightly downward, across the fishes neck which pins his neck so he cannot flex it.
If the fish cannot flex it's neck, it cannot swim.
Shaft may sever spine which stones the fish.
If not stoned, the fish still cannot swim any real power with neck pinned.
Shaft exits out the gill plate on the other side. This prevents any possibility of tear out or the fish shaking the shaft.

Develop the discipline to only take this shot at this angle, from a reasonable distance, and your lost fish ration will drop dramatically. Fishkilla's site has a ton of video showing this technique and how effective it is.

__________________
Ocean Rhino Spearguns: Designed & Built By Commercial Spearfishermen
E-mail:oceanrhino@gmail.com Web: OceanRhino.com

What your describing is pretty much what I've been trying, but I've also taken shots with them facing me, and truthfully many shots with them at the same level I am. I'm an avid cave diver so going into wrecks and peering into ledges etc. ( I've got some really good lights),looking for fish doesn't bother me as much as if I weren't cave trained, and when inside you can't always get a downward angle on them.
I've found that sometimes the big fish somehow or another sense your coming and either move away from a wreck out into open water or go inside of the wreck.
I think I have to get better with shot placement, become more accurate, maybe shorten my shots, I don't lose many fish, but I hate losing any.

Stay off the bottom when stalking or approaching a fish. Try 6 or 7 feet. Your gun is pointed downward so the tip of your gun is only 3 to 5 feet off the bottom (depending on angle) or about 1 shaft length.

Never take 90 degree shots. Just keep approaching the fish and he will turn once you get too close for his comfort. Anticipate the turn and deliver the shot when he reaches the optimal angle for the shoulder/out the gill shot I previously described.

__________________
Ocean Rhino Spearguns: Designed & Built By Commercial Spearfishermen
E-mail:oceanrhino@gmail.com Web: OceanRhino.com