In this interview with Neptonics madman Jerry Guerra we get right into equipment. We chat speargun components, rigging FO-Pars & points of difference, proprietary Neptonics gear and more. But it’s not limited to equipment. Jerry has a very effective style for explaining core hunting strategies and ideas and I learned a sh#t tonne. This interview is killer. Listen in and Subscribe!
Neptonics is a brand well know for high quality spearfishing equipment. They specialize in high grade speargun components and have their own patented and unique equipment. Jerry Guerra’s journey started with his own shop in 2004 and eventually he joined forces with Neptonics and became an owner of the business. Learn more at neptonics.com
3:00 Jerry Guerra Introduction and Background. The Old Man & the Sea and Boy Scouts of America
9:50 Starting to spearfish deep. How it all started
12:00 Spearfishing equipment preparation
17:00 The spearfishing hunting journey to mastery
The cone of death. Dropping within a 30ft span of your target fish or structure.
Reducing profile. Less intimidation for fish, increased hydrodynamic efficiency
Increasing deeper diving accuracy and economy
The rock bottom hunting technique. Allowing the fish to relax and return
30:00 Boating reconnaissance and building skills for finding new ground
34:00 Memorable Fish | Black Grouper Behemoth
39:00 Blackout Story | How he survived and what he learned
46:30 Geeking out on Spearfishing Equipment
“No one will take care of your gear like you will” – Jerry Guerra
Different style Mechs | pros and cons
Are there some common issues people have with DIY speargun upgrades?
Triggers and handles. Pulling shot issues
Safety | Do or Do not have
Shafts | preferences
Tom asks “A question that I spent a lot of time researching was how to eliminate points of failure, what kind of knots, bungee connected to gun or float, what gauge shark clips, better options for shooting line bungee, basically how do you make connections as fail safe as possible?”
Dyneema vs Mono shaft to speargun line aka shooting line pros and cons
Muffling noise, parts and accessories?
Spectra, dyneema, monofilament, stainless wire. Uses and application
Essential 3-4 knots every spearo should learn. Where to learn and where and when to use them
Floatline material | PVC, Vinyl, (+spectra fusion – Riffe float lines), thermoplastic, poly lines. Application for each
Reels? How and what application should they have?
Breakaway setups | Key adjustments to make and changes to your hunting
Shark Clips vs D-Shackles
What setup did you use to capture a 280+lb fish?
Floatline Clutch | Utility
90:00 Planning and preparing for international spearfishing trips
Spearfishing Equipment checklist for trips by Jerry Guerra from Neptonics
Chlorophyll
Warm water plumes and Wahoo behaviour
Wahoo hunting technique | racing the fish to mimic the competition drive for bait
99:30 Funniest Moment out Spearfishing | Hunting MahiMahi naked
101:20 Spearo Q&A
What is the single biggest lesson youve learned
Who is your fav person to go diving with and why?
What is something you do a little different than everyone else?
NSP:124 Valentine Thomas Making a Living Spearfishing | Part 2
Second Interview with Valentine Thomas! This episode we cover what’s happened to her in the last 5 years including guesting on the Joe Rogan Podcast, attending international fishing symposiums, moving to Florida, shooting a huge Marlin and her very own cookbook. You know pretty much just your average person’s last 5 year story:) In addition, we review some safety issues, sustainability, and so much more. Listen in!
Valentine Thomas with the Black Marlin mentioned in the interview
Important Interview Times
06:00 How her perspective and life has changed since our last podcast
What has changed? Events, discoveries along the way
International Symposium of Fisheries Sustainability, organized by the FAO of the United Nations in Rome.
New life in Florida | French Fish and Seafood Cookbook
How has that been reflected in her life, choices, and habits
Confronting attitudes and dealing with BS
Freediving and spearfishing progress. Marlin in Cabo, Baja
Fish handling | reducing fresh water to clean the fish before bagging or vacuum packing
19:00 Her work in fighting against certain commercial practices
RECENT INSTA POST: Markets and fishing | making better choices and influencing others. Perceived value
Seafood labeling and carbon monoxide
WASTE: Valentine POST on INSTA: Fisheries are discarding and wasting around 10 BILLIONS pounds every year (conservative estimate!). Why is that?
1 – To comply with regulations. If they fish over their quotas or if they accidentally caught species they aren’t supposed to (by-catch)
2 – The market value of the fish caught is too low
This is why varying our diet and why the variety of species we consume is so important. We create the demand, consequently the market
Nefarious practices | impinging on National waters, people smuggling
Inequality of fishing laws, fishing law enforcement and some countries inability to police their own waters
Traceability and Seafood Labeling | Ecolabels
Lionfish – Invasive Problem | Creating consumer demand, incentivizing restaurants and changing public perceptions
Also countries with very well managed fisheries now importing a huge percentage of their national seafood intake from poorer countries with less well managed fisheries
Aquaculture. Seems to be an amazing idea with lots of problems. Enclosed waterway nets of species like Yellowtail Kingfish cause damage with the volume of fecal matter and also seem to attract disease whereas open ocean fish farming seems to mean large nets can be broken off in storms and become ghost nets and lose their capital investment in the equipment.
Reduced Transport Footprints | Additionally, why do people in Australia demand fish from 1000’s of km away when they have amazing fish on their doorstep. Very short shelf life
Different forms of fishing and how they impact the environment. Harvesters (Oysters), purse seine, long-lining, trawling
Helping bleeding hearts understand the place and utility of commercial fishing and using quota to ensure stocks are maintained.
Using the whole fish | sharing the good stuff with others and promoting good practice
03:30 Ed Martin from Killshot Spearguns Introduction and all about the Florida Keys (his store is in Islamorada).
Geography
Water Temps
Depths and bottom structure
Seasonal issues
Common species
16:00 The rationale behind this Wooden Speargun DIY build episode + Ed Martins spearfishing background and the Killshot Speargun story
23:25 Errol “What are the pros/cons of Wood VS Pipe speargun in your mind?
Duncan Henderson also asks “Why do you choose to work with wooden guns? whats the advantages in your opinion?”
27:50 CONCEPTING AND PLANNING | Making your first speargun advice!
What are the crucial decisions to make before you start?
SearchingForTheEdge on the spearfishing Subreddit advised prospective gun builders that the number one key is to build your gun around your spear. Don’t try to build a gun and then later try to find a spear for it. It’s much easier and faster to buy the spear and use it for all the measurements. Is this good advice?
Sven Franklin “what is the ideal shaft overhang length as this varies from company to company and personal opinion among spearos?”
Joe Pedro “Enclosed track vs open track, how to decide which is best for certain fish targeting setups?”
Can we borrow or steal some ideas from the best manufacturers?
48:20 SPEARGUN MATERIALS
Composite vs Solid one piece?
Wood types? Mahogany, Sepo, Teak etc
Glue? Resin? Sealant? Epoxy? What is the difference?
Making a test gun
What components should I buy rather than make myself? How do you make these choices? Where is a good place for buying components?
To safety or not to safety?
What tools do I require? What tools do I desire? Clamps, jigsaw, dropsaw, mitresaw, cordless drill, gloves, plastic, straight edge, file, masking tape, rubber for relieving clamping pressure, tape measure, belt sander, verniers, small chisel, router, drill press
66:15 How much time does it take to make a speargun?
69:00 Buoyancy and ballast | How do we work this out?
74:40 Daniel Mann “Why is oil a terrible choice to finish a timber speargun?”
79:00 Care and maintenance
80:30 Duncan also asks “What are the common problems with people’s homemade wooden guns?”
Interview with Rosie Sharman, Blair Herbert and James Beckman
In early March, 2020 I traveled to New Zealand with James Beckman to chase fish at the Three Kings Islands. I was invited by Nat a few years ago to head over and this year (thanks to Patron listeners) I was able to make it happen! This episode is a trip debrief after 4 days on the water…. and 5 hours driving…..and at least 3 beers each:) Needless to say, it required a wee bit of editing. Thanks Pat;)
Rochele Davey (Potter) is a multiple spearfishing world (and NZ) record holder for many species. I was privileged to spend 4 days with her, Nat (her husband), Rosie and James for a dynamite spearfishing trip in New Zealand. Late on the second day after diving all day, I sat down with Rochele and had the privilege of listening to her spearfishing journey. From adapting a purchase system on roller spearguns to being dragged behind a 107lb Yellowtail Kingfish through a dangerous channel, this interview has plenty of awesome moments! Listen in:)
This episode was recorded on the back deck of Florence Nightingale IV, a 60 Crayfishing Boat at the Three Kings Islands, New Zealand in early March, 2020. Thanks to Patron Listeners who funded this (and every) Noob Spearo trip!
Rochele “Hey mate, couple of pics of my gun here. First one is in the loose position ready to load the bungy”
“Loaded, so imagine the rubbers have been loaded onto the shaft and you’ve pulled the string through so the pulleys are close together. If you want less power because you’re shooting around reef just ease the cord a bit.” – Rochele
Spearfishing Conservation with James, David , Etoile ‘ET’ and Blair | Conservation, Social Media & Sharks
This episode is an extremely wide ranging chat recorded on Blair Herbert’s Matakana porch. It was awesome to arrive in New Zealand and partake of Blair’s awesome hospitality and record this first interview at his place. The conversation focuses on Spearfishing Conservation and related topics but we digress…..a lot.
Blair is an avid spearo with a background is Fisheries Management. David Dupavillon is an experienced spearfishing guide and Splash Spearfishing Team Member. ET is knowledgeable and well researched in many facets of the worlds oceans and it’s inhabitants. She is currently completing a degree in Marine Biology and is a shark conservationist. James Beckman was my travel buddy and he’s also been a past guest on the show (listen here to learn more about him). Everyone loves spearfishing:)
I really enjoyed this chat and my entire trip to New Zealand in early March, 2020. Thank you to the PATRON listeners who made it happen!
