Interview with Gunther Pfrengle
Today’s live interview is with Gunther Pfrengle at Adreno Sydney! An absolute legend in the spearing community, spearfishing for almost 5 decades now, he has had more than his fair share of action out in and on the water. From spearing a 282kg tuna on camera to powerboat records going full steam in thick fog, dealing with sharks to competing in the deepest ever spearfishing competition in Greece, Gunther has had a few exciting experiences! Learn what drove him to get into the water and what kept him there for all these years. Pranger vs flopper, dual weight systems, competition spearing stories and tips and so much more. Have a listen and let us know what you think!
Important times:
- 00:13 Intro
- 03:50 Welcome Gunther, your reputation proceeds you!
- 04:50 Growing up in Bundeena
- 05:25 Early start in the water
- 07:30 Starting competition spearfishing 1973 and being in a club
- 11:00 Reality of commercial abalone diving
- 15:00 Scary story and how spearfishing saved 2 lives
- 20:30 Sydney to Hobart powerboat record
- 22:20 Full throttle through thick fog!
- 24:50 Underwater vertigo and blackouts: what is it like going to the edge?
- 26:30 How do you draw the line? When is too deep?
- 28:50 Tragedy strikes and close calls in the early freediving competitions
- 33:20 Freediving vs spearfishing: Adrenaline changes the game
- 40:00 The value of competition diving
- 43:25 Shrek is your partner for his first ever spearfishing competition: what does he need to know?
- 45:13 Using 2 weight-belts: a harness and a weightbelt
- 47:10 Where do you attach a dive knife?
- 49:10 What is your strategy for competition scoring? What do you target first and where do you go first?
- 53:50 Code brown stories
- 55:15 Spearo community and friends: what makes a good dive buddy?
- 56:25 Floats and flags
- 58:35 What is in your gear bag? Pranger vs flopper
- 01:03:50 282kg Bluefin Tuna
- 01:09:20 Bull in the water vs bull on the land!
- 01:12:50 Spearfishing Greece: the deepest competition ever!
- 01:19:30 Shallow hunting
- 01:20:50 How often should you be diving to be a good comp diver?
- 01:21:30 Spearo Q&A
- 01:24:10 What does the spearfishing experience mean to you these days?
- 01:25:15 The shark situation, what are your thoughts?
- 01:30:25 Commercial shark fishing
- 01:32:30 That video scared a lot of spearos, should we keep spearfishing with all these sharks around?
- 01:34:50 Buddy diving with sharks
- 01:37:10 Audience Q&A: What’s your favourite species to target?
- 01:43:00 Fish back in the day vs now
- 01:50:00 12inch prangers
- 01:51:30 Other tips learned from experience
- 01:54:10 Josh Bollen: Do you lose meat with a pranger?
- 01:55:05 Thank you Gunther!
- 01:55:45 Outro
Listen in and subscribe on iOS or Android https://link.chtbl.com/Download_This_Episode
Important Links
Noob Spearo Partners and Discount Codes
- Adreno Spearfishing – Buy your spearfishing equipment here. Use the code NOOBSPEARO save $20 on every purchase over $200 at checkout – Flat shipping rate, especially in AUS!
- Neptonics Spearfishing and Freediving – Use the code NOOB10 to save 10% off anything store-wide. Free Shipping on USA orders over $99
- KillShot Spearguns | Simple, Effective, Dependable Wooden Spearguns. Use the Code NOOB to save $30 on any speargun:)
- Adam Sterns FreedivingFamily.com use the code SPEARO to get 20% off any course and the code NOOBSPEARO to get 40% off any and all courses!
- Penetrator Fins Use the code NOOBSPEARO to save $25 on the full Penetrator Spearfishing Fin Range here.
- Immersion Online freediving classes | 28-day Freediving Transformation (CODE: NOOB28 for 15% off) | Equalization Masterclass – Roadmap to Frenzel | Free Courses | Freediving Safety Course | How to Take a 25-30% Bigger Breath!
- How To Freedive | The 5 minute Freediver | Break the 10 Meter Barrier – Use the code NOOBSPEARO to save $
- Old Man Blue | Wickedly tough and well thought out gear! Check out their Lobster Bag HERE
- Noob Spearo MAD GEAR | ‘Spearo Dad’ | ‘Girls with Gills’ | ‘Jobfish Tribute’
- The Best Place to Find Fishing Buddies and Fishing Trips | Fishing Trips (fishingtripsapp.com)
- Spearing Magazine Subscribe to the best spearfishing magazine in the world. International subscription available!
- Audible.com Get a free audiobook along with a 30-day trial here. Listen to 99 Tips to Get Better at Spearfishing
Related posts:
NSP:241 Kingfish Cup | Geeking out on Yellowtail Kingfish Seriola Lalandi | Simon Trippe & Craig Sea...
NSP:240 Mackay Spearfishing Life with Neptune Spear and Dive Couple | Kaitlyn and Shelby
NSP:188 Devin O'Dea & Eric Keener | 30/30, Catch and Cook 22, BHA & Breaking Apathy
NSP:185 Matthew Novakovich | Making Ocean State Spearguns
