Monster interview with Florida legend, G.R. Tarr! Equipment pioneer and local legend, G.R. created and runs Red Tide Spearfishing. In this chat he shares crazy tales, awesome tips and insights. Enjoy! https://link.chtbl.com/n52RRXie
G.R Tarr has been spearfishing since 1965 so there are just a few tips and bits of info in here. He’s influenced our sport in many ways. He pioneered the tuna clip float line pull and clip technique for landing big fish. He came up with the idea to make the semi enclosed track hybrid speargun. He created and runs RedTideSpearfishing.com. Leave your thoughts about this interview in the comments below:)
Important Times
04:30 GR Tarr Introduction and a bit about Red Tide spearfishing
6:00 Thinking about and making spearfishing equipment
12:00 The Semi-Enclosed Track Speargun
21:50 GR’s first days spearfishing
23:25 How do you teach and acquire new spearfishing skills?
27:00 Spearfishing Ethics and Mindset
36:00 How do you get calm? How do you reduce your heart rate?
41:50 Competitive running and breaks from spearfishing
54:00 Veterans Vault | Travel Spearfishing
How do you plan and prepare for trips?
Bluewater Spearfishing and learning where to go and target them
Spearfishing guides and acquiring knowledge
Moon Phases and specific species
Divers, how many and who do you take?
Food and hydration for dive trips | the banana fallacy
82:00 Scariest Moment Discussion
85:00 Speargun Shafts Discussion | Making Shafts for Specialist Spearguns
Episode 132 with a spearfishing legend! Eric Allard is a renown spearfishing guide predominantly operating out of East Africa. He owns and operates Extreme Bluewater Spearfishing with Nigel Spenser taking spearos out to hunt the legendary Dogtooth Tuna, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna and other target species. It was only natural that we chatted all about how to hunt these species effectively and East African Spearfishing. Enjoy!
Important Times
3:00 Eric Allard Introduction. Zanzibar, Tanzania Extreme Bluewater Spearfishing with Nigel Spencer.
9:00 Introduction to the water and growing up in Kenya. Early lessons spearfishing
11:00 Cooking passion
13:00 104kg Dogtooth Tuna Capture Story | Lessons, Tips and Key Knowledge for Hunting Dogtooth Tuna
23:00 Marine Science Background and Related Study
34:40 Scariest Situation in the Ocean | Losing the Boat Offshore
NSP:132 Eric Allard Extreme Bluewater Spearfishing | East Africa Dogtooth Tuna
40:50 Veterans Vault | Spearfishing in East Africa
Background of Tanzania | Legality of Spearfishing
Geography and Features
First Aid Plan for spearfishing in Country
Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique and other East African Locations
Operator of Extreme Blue Water Spearfishing based in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Born in Mombasa, Kenya, Eric grew up on Kenya’s beaches. Avid fisherman at age 6.
Eric has dived most of Tanzania’s coastline and has been a Spearfishing Guide since 2009. His clients get to dive for the largest Dogtooth Tuna in the world off Latham Island
Features heavily in Barret Harveys ‘African Spearfishing Diaries’ vids.
Also possibly one of the most requested people to get on the podcast
This interview is jam packed with good info for any spearo wanting to do their first bluewater spearfishing trip. Adam Malski prepared a tonne of info just for this chat several months after getting back from his first Coral Sea Spearfishing trip (watch highlights here). Adam is a Sydney based, North Shore Underwater Club member with a down to earth nature and a lifelong learner mentality. Listen in!
Important Times
06:00 Who is Adam Malski?
12:50 Adam Malski has competed at high levels in Triathalons, Running, Boxing, Mountain Biking and others. I ask him what skills have crossed over into spearfishing.
17:38 North Shore Underwater Club and Sydney Diving
19:00 What is one of the biggest lessons you have learned in your spearfishing journey so far?
Adam Malski with New Zealand Yellowtail Kingfish
24:00 Veterans Vault | First Timers Guide for Blue Water Spearfishing Charters
What went into the planning phase of the trip?
What equipment did you decide on?
How do the Dories operate?
How do you work effectively as a team and dive buddy on a bluewater charter?
How do you plan which grounds to fish?
What are common issues first timers experience blue water hunting?
Dogtooth Tuna tips for first timers
Dogtooth Tuna Coral Sea Spearfishing with Adam Malski
55:00 What is your favourite species to hunt, how do you find them and how do you hunt them effectively?
“Hey all, If you haven’t had a chance to jump in and help with the effort to expand spearfishing opportunity, now is your chance! And we really need your help with this one.
In a recent public hearing the proposal was met with opposition from the angling community who have cited two (2) main areas of concern:
Spearfisherman disproportionately catch & kill trophy sized fish (there are only ~ 50 active spearfisherman in the state so we are outnumbered 10,000 to 1 by anglers)
We are unable to judge the size of fish underwater before shooting.
My contact at the CPW has requested that spearo’s send him an email at josh.nehrin[email protected] stating support for the proposed regulation. In order for him to more easily organize the emails, we are suggesting you use the following template and address the two bullet points above in the statement of support section if possible:”
This interview is about Matt Tratt, the man who was tragically bitten by a shark off Indian Head at Frazer Island. Rob Tratt was with him spearfishing when a shark (likely a Bullshark) attacked. Matt and Rob were in relatively shallow water when the shark bit him and opened an arterial wound in his leg. Matt Tratt was a much loved Father, Husband and Brother and Spearo. This episode is a tribute to him and the full story of what actually happened.
Important Times
03:30 Rob Tratt Introduction and a bit about how we connected
16:00 How important was the spearfishing lifestyle to Matt?
21:40 How would Matt’s mates describe him?
40:40 Background behind the Frazer Island Trip
58:40 Sharks at Frazer Island? Spearfishing at Indian Head
68:20 The shark attack story | What happened to Matt Tratt
Matt’s first Queeny (Kingy lol).
28kg mackerel off Indian head 2015
Matt Tratt with Cod and Blackspot Tuskfish
Me and him spearing at the Marloo wreck (both on the surface)
Rob Tratt Morwong
Rob Tratt Barry (barracouta)
Beach launch for the Marloo wreck (check spelling) I’m driving, Matt walking around.
Rob Tratt with a pig shot 1hr 11 min from Brisbane, from like 4 weeks ago.
Massive thoughts about hunting Dogtooth and other Bluewater species, Southern California Diving, Dirty Water Diving and more….all with the host of the SpearFactor Podcast, Bret Whitman. We have a good old time in this episode. Listen in!
The Path Of The Jedi – The Benthic Boys – Mike Pooler & Joe D’Agostino
The Path Of The Jedi – The Benthic Boys – Mike Pooler & Joe D’Agostino | Mike Pooler is the owner/operator of Benthic Ocean Sports in Destin, Florida; and Joe D’Agostino is his chief Freediving Instructor International (FII) Instructor there. Additionally, Benthic Ocean Sports services all freediving Spearo needs for the Florida Panhandle and South-East US with the highest quality hardware from all over the world. These guys are an FII-accredited institution and are absolute legends! They instruct Levels 1 & 2, a Waterman Survival Course, and a Spearfishing Course, among many others that they do privately for some of the military folks in the FL panhandle.
Mike and Joe are seasoned Spearos and have had some *seriously* impressive Pelagics on the other end of their spearguns! These guys shoot some of the largest and most epic fish available in Gulf of Mexico waters, and his Chief Instructor Joe D’Agostino instructs and travels throughout the freediving and spearfishing community worldwide. We’re sure you’re going to enjoy this conversation!
Important Times
11:00 Early Obstacles
14:00 What is “Benthic”?
15:00 How did you get involved and put together as a Freediving Shop?
16:00 The Path Of The Jedi
22:00 Favorite species to hunt…tune in for the Panhandle’s most desirable species
27:00 FL Panhandle’s Freedive Spearo Club – Agua Verdes
30:00 Tough situations out in Blue Water
44:00 Veterans Vault: Dyneema vs Mono | Timber vs Pipe | Equipment Discussion
Americans with wood guns and mono…what are you guys doing?
The Benthic Boys think Dyneema is the right stuff – why?
Line memory – what is it?
Critical knots to use and why.
“Game Changer” – what’s a quick-disconnect knot and why’s it important?
Line management and tangles
Reels vs. Floatlines
Reel Gun safety – Tension, tension, tension!
Don’t be married to your equipment – “You can buy a new gun, you can’t buy a new Mike!”
The importance of education and safety within the freedive spearfishing community
Best Buddy Practices – “Finality is Reality”
Minimum safety requirements – One up-One down, learn your buddy’s “dive profile”
Courses offered at Benthic Ocean Sports (FII Levels 1 and 2, Waterman Course, Spearfishing Course
The mental and physical benefits to spearfishing
80:00 Spearo Q&A
What separates you from other spearos?
What is the spearfishing destination you’d most like to visit?
Most influential person in your spearfishing journey?
Connect with Mike Pooler & Joe D’Agostino at Benthic Ocean Sports @
