PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

One breath. One shot. 55 feet down. Personal Best bass - 41lbs

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It's a truly amazing sight to see. Take a deep breath, dive down in 50+ feet of water into a massive school of the biggest bass ever seen. As the sea of fish parts beneath you and you slowly settle to the bottom (did I mention it was 55 feet down! Yow!) the fish begin to return and form a circling funnel all around you. It was a tornado of bass all in the 30 to 60 lb class - no exaggeration. An actual Bass-nado.

The difficult part was to hold your breath long enough to be able to hone in on the largest fish in the school. One fish limit. One shot. When I shot my fish I knew it was a PB by far but I also knew that if I had just a little more air and a little more patience, I could have picked out one for the record books. I shot a bruiser but there were fish in the Bass-nado that were much bigger.

Really exciting stuff. It lets you see what your sonar/fishfinder is really seeing. You just have to have the stones to jump in the water and take a look (55 feet down). :)

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Great stuff. Congrats

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

cool stuff...this was in NJ?

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Cecil the bass.

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Not a sport no matter what depth ur at , it's amazing it's still allowed definitely not a fan !!
Pin hooking bad enough , don't need this , sport anglers brought back this species back years ago , don't remember any diving groups involved , maybe I'm wrong .:mad:

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

haters gonna hate lovers gonna ............with in the law and congrats on a great fish.just add bbq,butter and fresh garlic.

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Great fish! Congrats and ignore the ones who could never do what you accomplished.

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

I'll offer my opinion on this that no one cares about or wants. I think spearfishing is cool in theory but in today's age where so many fisheries are in trouble I don't think it's great to have a means of catching where there is no release possibility. Also not a fan of killing large bass, I'm not a scientist but I have reliable info that bass that size are usually female and responsible for producing most of the viable eggs.

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

this is the part I don't get.no one owns the fish period!!! if the law says he or she can harvest 1 bass at legal size than why do the haters have to always try to squash that persons trophy?????? start your own thread!!!

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

They shot 2 fish!! Give them a freaking break, Geeeeez! My PB fluke 8.5lbs was spearfishing so I can relate. Awesome work!! I can only imagine what a huge school of bass above me while laying there in silence is like! When I'm on scuba, I can't hold my breath for 2 seconds and I suck a tank dry in minutes, lol. So yeah holding your breath for 50+ft and waiting there to get the perfect shot is amazing! Nicely done!! Next time bring a gopro attached to your gun or head so you can record it!! Okay enough exclamation marks, lol. :D:p:D

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Well, I've argued this point before in favor of spearfishing. As long as you know your size and quota limits, spearfishing (in theory) has a much, much, much lower incidental kill percentage than any other means of fishing. Think of the bicatch of the commercial trawlers or netters and think of all of the gut hooked or fowl hooked or undersized fish that are killed every day by commercial or recreational fishing.
Spearfishermen take only what they will eat (in theory) and 'release' all of the other fish unharmed.

As far as taking bass over 40 pounds. Well, you got me there. Good breeder stock and unnecessary to kill for any reason. My only defense is that is was a PB and I ate it for several meals. If there was a 100 pound fish I would have shot that one instead because it's only natural to want to push our own personal bests in the sports we enjoy. And yes, it is a sport. And a damn hard one at that. (did I mention I got 55 ft down on one breath - I'm pretty proud of that if you haven't got that message yet);)

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Congrats!!! Wish I could accomplish this with or without a spear :D

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Nice fish. On the whole spearfishing thing, do what you want. I personally don't like it because I think a lot of the fun with recreational is NOT seeing what's down there with your own eyes or hitting your presentation, but it's still a form of fishing. Do what you enjoy. Nothing wrong keeping your catch just as I did with my 40.

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

dont worry about the back seat quarterbacks who are tied up at the docks- Nice kill

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Congrats on a great achievement, the guys bitching are the first ones to post pics of 'limits' during the spring and fall run.

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Sounds like an amazing site to see. I definitely want to give spearfishing a shot. Congrats on the PB!

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

I personally don't eat Stripers so I'm certainly not posting dock pictures of my limit. Actually fish 3 days or more per week so I'm not tied to any dock . Furthermore I dont hate any guy that spearfishes , just don't approve of the method !
As far as PB's

Sword 464
Tuna 975 , w20 plus Gts landed over 500#'s
BE 313
YF 243
Striper 49
Striped marlin 187 fly rod
Wahoo 993/4
Sails 72 / 120 fly & conventional
Spearfish 45
White 89
Tarpon 125 6 # class. Caught over 25 on fly !
Landed 7 swords in one night 143 to 297 NJ
Steelhead Fly 25#
Cod 52#
Pollock 43#
Mako 500#
35 trout over 5#'s in 5 seasons out of public waters local !
Fluke 10.5 lbs
Walleye 13,7 lbs Fly Rod
Brown trout 19#'s LO chartered 14 years
Tog 15#
Tilefish 48#'s
Bluefish 21#
BM 350 #

I've actually spent more time in canyon than most ,almost 25 seasons & hundreds of trips from 1967 to 2004 when fishing was very good almost all days ! I've had the pleasure of fishing in 12 countries & love
fishing most all types .
So I'm not any hater of fishing just don't like spear fishing :mad::cool:
PS non of above taken w / spear ! Couple were harpooned ! :D

Capt Lou
100 ton master
7th issue

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

and all this give you the right to rain on some ones parade??

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

What is it with dentist having to shoot their trophies!!! Hahahah jk!!

Good for you glad you got a PB even more jealous you got to see a massive school of big fish all around you!!!

Most impressive is 1 breath 55 foot hold shoot retrieve and swim back to top!! Really really impressive!! I may be able to do like 10 feet!!

Congrats in a day you won't forget to soon

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Your Awesome

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Agreed! Not sure if the topic even belongs on this site. To use the argument that no one owns the fish is funny. Just because you can does not make something right. Everyone has the right to be an ******* too. Nothing personal, just my opinion.

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

I thought the same until I did it and W.O.W.! Seeing a school of seabass, huge tog, etc in their own environment is just amazing. Esp if you get into wreck diving, forget the fish, but the ship wrecks from a time most of us forgot is breathtaking (no pun intended since on scuba lol). If you want to argue the meaning of "fishing" then what about the crab guys we all watch on tv, they are supposedly "fishing" too! Putting a giant trap in the water and coming back a few days later to pick it up is not fishing to me! But that's just my 2cents. Okay carry on! :D:p:D

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

If someone wants to pound their chest on a public forum you have to realize that not everyone is going to agree with your perception of things. This is America and everyone is allowed to voice their opinion without making it personal.

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Now that's funny:D! All kidding aside, nice catch with the spear, could only imagine what it looked like down there!

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

The negative comments on this board are beginning to really piss ne off. People bitch and moan about everything on here. Limiting out on bass, spearfishing....wait until people stop posting their reports on here due to negativity from the peanut gallery all the time. It's amazing how someone gets 3 pages worth of bitching for spearing a fish but when I post a BFT report 4 weeks ago in detail with location and lure color I got 2 damn weak comments.

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

We all know the saying..Opinions are like (*)'s - everyone has one.

Here's mine.....When I read people hating on actions that are totally legal...It makes me want to keep every legal fish I catch from now on and feed them through my wood chipper and shoot them into my tomato garden...Because I like tomatoes.. wah wah wah....

Holding your breath, free diving to 50ft and taking a shot at a fish isn't sport??? C'mon!! That takes more balls than dragging a spoon all day waiting for a rod to pop.

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

no rumster all I am saying is to each their own.if some one wants to post about an accomplishment,he should be able to without anyone saying otherwise.also by the "positive posts" I am not the only one that feels this way.

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

I'd be happy just to fit in a wetsuit!!!!!:p

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

What's your point? So you have killed more trophy fish then most and you have the balls to say a spearfishing is a bad thing because of personal opinion. go pound sand man!

Op Congrats on your pb, very impressive!! Something most of us will only dream of now go find a bigger one!

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Now that`s funny. LMAO

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

I'm with yah :mad:

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Sport fishing defiantly has a greater impact than spearfishing. Each to their own. What do you want? More regulations? Congrats on the PB!!! Holding your breath at 50 feet is way more sporting than swimming a live bunker. Good deal!!!!!!

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Congrats on your pb I'm going to be taking dive classes soon and can't wait to start spear fishing. But until then I'll just be hunting over my bait pile with my crossbow. :D:D:D

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

x2,10 point plus corn = full freezer!!1

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Catch and release people are funny. How can you fault the guy? Is it jealousy? He's not breaking the law by any means and on top of it it's way more of a sport than dropping a jig to the bottom. Great job!!!a

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

There are tremendous differences between breath hold (free diving) and SCUBA. Spearfishing can be done by both methods but you need training and experience in either before you invest in a spear.

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Exactly what I was thinking. The guy held his breathe and free dove to 50', shot a nice bass, then had to surface. Yah i be pissed about a post like this too. Makes dragging stretches and spoons behind the boat and hauling in 20 lb fish on 50# gear look a lot less sporting.

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Duffman for president!

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Inshore boat Fishing is not a sport...takes zero athletic ability. Swimming and having the lungs to hunt a fish @55 feet deep is an accomplishment and more of a sport then rod and reel fishing. Need not worry if spear fishing will hurt the stocks as if you looked around the docks in the morning the vast majority of folks are not in this kind of shape. :eek: I am very surprised that people would thumb their nose at this accomplishment. I say congratulations sir. Good luck and stay safe.

Re: PB Spearfishing Bass 41 lbs
 

Thats a great fish Doug. I used to be a spearfishing junkie and know how intense it can be to battle a big bass underwater. The 25-30 pounders I use to take were no where near as big as this fish. I used to dive the inlets on long island where the currents, waves and visibility were all a challenge. Black fish were like bird hunting and the bass were big game. Loads of fun. I have to get back in shape and do it again soon. The decline in visibility really put an end to my underwater hunting. I will say however, given decent conditions, I could out gun a rod and reeler by 10:1. Still not many can do what we do and I dove with lots of guys who couldnt hack it. Nothing like being in the Zone.