I've been casually spearfishing for years and have been dropping each fish one at a time into the boat. Went off the rocks the other day and it was a pain to get out for each fish.
I'm after advice from the spearo's out there, what do I need to purchase and how do I use the gear? I'm guessing a bag attached to a float with a rope to the gun, maybe a line through the gills? I normally only catch one or two person meal size fish in 5m or less water. I've heard of people running a line through the gills, is this within the bag? And yes, I have thought about the sharks smelling the caught fish, I'll use a long rope!
There's loads of different designs, is this what I need?
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/images/misc/forum-image-missing.gif diveimportsaustralia.com.au/products/Pelaj-Bullet-Float-with-Flag-%252d-5-x-11.html
diveimportsaustralia.com.au/products/Pelaj-Camo-Floatline-20M.html
diveimportsaustralia.com.au/ocean-pro-catch-bag-spring-loaded/
Hi KB,
I used to spear a lot up in the NW of WA and fish didn't last very long on the float because of the sharks so we would just return to the boat with each fish. We were going mainly after spanish macks. When I did use one it was the Pelag style float attached to the handle of my gun with a home made float line consisting of high load spectra line threaded through some clear tubing, both items you can get from bunnings (i thinks its called drinking grade tubing - its clear and you can buy by the length). I found that this type of float line floated a lot better than any off the shelf ones which tangled me up all of the time. I never bothered with the catch bag. Have a good look on the spearo forums to get some advice as i havent speared for years although I still have got my gear. I used a couple of Rob Allens and this beautiful Riffe which is truly a joy to use:http://www.riffe.com.au/mid-handle-speargun/40-i-island-stabilizer.html
good luck - its super fun.
cheers
Adrian
float lines are shxt. the get snagged on everything and then u are sewimming along and all of a sudden swimming backwards because a shark has your fish in it's mouth. Bobbie boards are popular because you can get the fish out of the water.
The fuurther the fish are away from you up the line th more chance of them being eaten. Personally I shove mine down my wetsuit and under my weightbelt but it's not recommended! especially if you live in nsw...
I occasionally use a boogie board though. a lot safer. surfski even better. then you can get out of the water if it gets real.
ive done a hell of a lot of diving in nsw and a 30 metre ski rope with a Beauchat float attached by a shark clip on the float, 2 metres of thick bungee on the other end of the ski rope. then from bungee to spear shaft is 2mm spectra cord about 3 metres long - speed rig (spear fully detaches from gun on firing) and fish get pushed back from shaft to float.
only lost a few to sharks and rays and 30 metres back has very rarely caused a problem with snags cause the ski rope floats.
theres ways of dropping the line if needed and jointing it half way for shallow water with a finger trap splice.
had many large jewy and king on and never had a drama fighting from the surface.
spearing with a passion for 30 years.
also places like whitworths have got heaps of gear to play with. some great on line shops as well.
Thanks for the feedback guys.
@myusernam: Regarding the boards, seems like a good idea when away from land/boat. For me I've always enjoyed keeping my spearing simple, chuck the gun in the car and I'm good to go. The board seems to take it to the next level and another toy I need put in the car and wash and store in the garage.
@Salties: I didn't think of whitworths, good idea for the ropes/connections. I had a quick look, couldn't see actual spearfishing floats etc. but if it was cheaper I could tow a mooring buoy around! 
(not cheaper though, those foam filled ones are $90!)
http://www.spearfishing.com.au/essential-equipment/floats-buoys/beuchat-long-double-lined-float-with-flag-1
+
www.spearfishing.com.au/essential-equipment/float-lines/problue-float-rope-way-fish-stringer-speed-spike-various-lengths
You can usually find some inflatable floats for about $30-40 on special if you are patient.
On the float line, the stainless speed spike clips to the handle of your gun. The stainless cable clips to the float. Shoot fish, unclip speed spike and jam speed spike through gills and out the mouth, reclip the speedspike to gun handle, take fish off spear and you are good to go again. The fish will get pulled to the float end of the line and sit under your float. Modify length of float line to suit water depth, mines only around 10-15m so it's easy to manage when your around the rocks.
Diving around headlands here I haven't had issues with sharks, but offshore a bit, everything goes straight into the boat!
Some guys I know just tie the fish to their dive belts or guns, but a float line I reckon isn't a bad compromise.
Oh yeah, you might need to get some clips as well, one for your float, and one on the handle of your gun if it didn't come with one.
spearfishing.com.au/collections/rigging/products/shark-clip-2-6-x-100l-with-swivel
yeah forget boat shops for floats 
the rig i set up is for bigger fish but not tuna or REALLY big fish. the float isnt foam filled and ive never had a drama with the fully grown jewies. the gun is set up so that if the fish gets away with the gear at least the gun is still slipped over my shoulder and safe.
Select to expand quotekitebored said..
Thanks for the feedback guys.
@myusernam: Regarding the boards, seems like a good idea when away from land/boat. For me I've always enjoyed keeping my spearing simple, chuck the gun in the car and I'm good to go. The board seems to take it to the next level and another toy I need put in the car and wash and store in the garage.
@Salties: I didn't think of whitworths, good idea for the ropes/connections. I had a quick look, couldn't see actual spearfishing floats etc. but if it was cheaper I could tow a mooring buoy around! (not cheaper though, those foam filled ones are $90!)
hey no probs. It sounds like we do very differ4ent spearing. I am out in a boat on the great barrier reef. Plenty of sharks and coral to get it snagged on. Large plentiful fish. saltiest sounds like the man to listen to.
, spewing I didn't have a normal flopper head on at the time. Some people don't rate Australian salmon, my wife does an awesome salmon patty. Cheers.
a good 9 inch pronged head will nail a pretty big fish. what gun is it? if its a sea hornet with its big flopper head then the larger fish will not stay on it half the time as the pronger wont go through the entire thickness. i ended up only using the pronged head in the end.
the thinner shafts with the single flopper work really well though with a longer range also.
