Under water spotlights/Spearing platform

With the set net ban coming up Im thinking of converting Tinny Punt into a spotlighting boat with spearing platform for flounder.
I'M going to need a lot of light for the murky local estuary.
Im thinking a ply covering from the front seat forward that a couple of people can easily stand on and only be less than a foot above the surface of the water with a couple or maybe even three underwater spotlights adjustable for depth and direction mounted off the ply running off a total loss battery supply.

Have never seen anything like it before but recon it could be the go.

Any ideas, suggestions, links to good submersible lights etc appreciated .

Cheers Cam.

Go for it VC. I'll take the port bow:thumbsup:

Something like these?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000...archweb201603_

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000...archweb201603_

Or these.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3290...archweb201603_

My pick is the water will be reasonably shallow so wide would be better than a spot beam.

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Originally Posted by Shearer

Go for it VC. I'll take the port bow:thumbsup:

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You just don't want to be clinging onto the starboard bow do you?

Our American friends do this kind of stuff. They call it gigging. Worth a Google.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0nsFDpxqbs

Sounds like an awesome idea to me, I reckon it would be heaps of fun [emoji106]

How are you thinking of mounting the lights? I had an idea that might work ok....

If you mounted them on some bits of vertical pipe with a series of clamps then you could raise or lower them depending on the water depth.

It would also give you the option to remove them completely if you wanted to use tinny punt for something else.

Kinda like this (excuse the drawing[emoji3])

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...fdcf11367c.jpg

Just a thought [emoji106]

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Much like I was thinking, kukuwai. For spearing you'd want to be going pretty slow so really only need to light up an area slightly forward and down. PVC conduit from Bunnings is pretty cheap at about $5 for 4m.

Ive seen photos of a sit on kayak done with strip lighting in the grooves...light shone down nicely...also old school spotlight bulbs in test tube with tight fitting bung to seal them off.
sure beats the nights of using possum spotlight hooked onto car battery sitting in drum dragged behind us as we walked the mudflats....light in water gets away from the reflection issue nicely.plenty of fully submersible LEDS around now...you should be able to spear successfully from existing seats by leaning overside.much more stable than standing.

How about this VC. Sounds like a good curry.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3294...archweb201603_

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Originally Posted by MB

Our American friends do this kind of stuff. They call it gigging. Worth a Google.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0nsFDpxqbs

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Yea similar to that but lights underwater so not getting the glare and reflection off the surface .

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Originally Posted by kukuwai

Sounds like an awesome idea to me, I reckon it would be heaps of fun [emoji106]

How are you thinking of mounting the lights? I had an idea that might work ok....

If you mounted them on some bits of vertical pipe with a series of clamps then you could raise or lower them depending on the water depth.

It would also give you the option to remove them completely if you wanted to use tinny punt for something else.

Kinda like this (excuse the drawing[emoji3])

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...fdcf11367c.jpg

Just a thought [emoji106]

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

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Yep something like that that slides up and down or maybe a swivel mount that can swing down into water.

A Minikota would be the shizzle with that set up

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Originally Posted by kiwijames

A Minikota would be the shizzle with that set up

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Yea it would but I have oars already.....if the concept works and gets enough use I may look at getting one.

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Yea it would but I have oars already.....if the concept works and gets enough use I may look at getting one.

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I've obviously missed it, but set nets are banned? When did that happen? My grandmother would turn in her grave. She repaired nets as a young woman and netted flounder into her seventies.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Ive seen photos of a sit on kayak done with strip lighting in the grooves...light shone down nicely...also old school spotlight bulbs in test tube with tight fitting bung to seal them off.
sure beats the nights of using possum spotlight hooked onto car battery sitting in drum dragged behind us as we walked the mudflats....light in water gets away from the reflection issue nicely.plenty of fully submersible LEDS around now...you should be able to spear successfully from existing seats by leaning overside.much more stable than standing.

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Its super super stable,can walk around the topsides as is but thought vision and access to spear all the ground in front would be better standing.
Only gonna have a 2 foot strip on each side of the boat available to spear if sitting.

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Originally Posted by kiwijames

I've obviously missed it, but set nets are banned? When did that happen? My grandmother would turn in her grave. She repaired nets as a young woman and netted flounder into her seventies.

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Yep much to our disgust

https://www.fisheries.govt.nz/news-a...t-plan-review/

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Originally Posted by kiwijames

I've obviously missed it, but set nets are banned? When did that happen? My grandmother would turn in her grave. She repaired nets as a young woman and netted flounder into her seventies.

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From the first of August they are banned in golden and Tasman bays, they have already been banned on most of both coasts of SI but not including estuaries. .....for whatever reason the ban we have received includes all our estuaries, the entire west coast of NI will be banned too but you guys get to keep your harbour and estuary netting.

Because Dolphins.

whats the ruling on rowing out the net and dragging it back in with ropes from the shore ? Or real 'old school' with a horse on the deep end of the drag net and two men on the beach - the old timers did this at Waikuku Beach. I have tied the top rope on a set net down to the lead line with strings so the net is only 300mm high so tying it down to 1 metre high would turn a set net into a passable drag with a bit of extra weight added

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Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

whats the ruling on rowing out the net and dragging it back in with ropes from the shore ? Or real 'old school' with a horse on the deep end of the drag net and two men on the beach - the old timers did this at Waikuku Beach. I have tied the top rope on a set net down to the lead line with strings so the net is only 300mm high so tying it down to 1 metre high would turn a set net into a passable drag with a bit of extra weight added

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Pretty sure that is still allowed, but no set netting.

I have only done a bit of floundering, but I did find old school submersible lights better than the LED version, the more yellow colour of the light seemed to make the flounder easier to see.

We just use to walk the flats with an underwater light. Just for giggles I used my bow a few times. In the sixties my Dad use to hunt Kawhia harbour for flounder. They would drag a boat behind them to hold the flounder. They often got 100 at a time.

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Originally Posted by Cigar

I have only done a bit of floundering, but I did find old school submersible lights better than the LED version, the more yellow colour of the light seemed to make the flounder easier to see.

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I find the same for spotlighting animals....the new leds pick up eyes awesome but the old slightly yellow halogen is way better for actually Identifying the animal I found.... haven't done it for a long time tho.

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I gave some of yesterdays catch to dad for him and mum to have for dinner. He just sent a txt saying.....

"you guys have to find a way to keep catching them, they are bloody delicious!"

I read it out to the boys and the 4year old has solved the problem for us...

"yea dad we just need to put up a sign for the dolphins that says, don't come in the channel !" [emoji23][emoji23]

If you devise an ingenious plan VC then let me know as i reckon I'm gunna need to set my boat up too [emoji106]

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Originally Posted by kukuwai

I gave some of yesterdays catch to dad for him and mum to have for dinner. He just sent a txt saying.....

"you guys have to find a way to keep catching them, they are bloody delicious!"

I read it out to the boys and the 4year old has solved the problem for us...

"yea dad we just need to put up a sign for the dolphins that says, don't come in the channel !" [emoji23][emoji23]

If you devise an ingenious plan VC then let me know as i reckon I'm gunna need to set my boat up too [emoji106]

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you know that youngun isnt silly at all.........there is no reason they couldnt be sonically told to bugger off from some areas....you could have half a harbour that is unpleasant to thier senses and the other half as normal..and set netting still allowed.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

you know that youngun isnt silly at all.........there is no reason they couldnt be sonically told to bugger off from some areas....you could have half a harbour that is unpleasant to thier senses and the other half as normal..and set netting still allowed.

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Trouble is that if it is unpleasant enough for the dolphins it will probably drive off the intended quarry too.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

you know that youngun isnt silly at all.........there is no reason they couldnt be sonically told to bugger off from some areas....you could have half a harbour that is unpleasant to thier senses and the other half as normal..and set netting still allowed.

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Now, it we had something to drive off the meddling polies, ....

Right a plan is forming..... kinda.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...68eef8fddc.jpg

From the front seat forward I can get a 1200 wide sheet on their and still have some bow clear for ankor etc.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...0a5c92bfd0.jpg

Probably arsehole that passengers handle on the port side.

Make up a light cheap alloy frame that drops on top and locks in with ply on top and possibly handrails on sides that double as drop tubes for the spotlights..... Undecided on handrails, could be handy for leaning over and pearing into the murk or just totally unnecessary.

Very very roughly to scale.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7bd635d25b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...eb522d58ee.jpg

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

Bloody Tapatalk wankers.

Attachment 143745

Attachment 143746

Just get a long spear, longer the better and quietly pole your self along. The light only needs to be one of those under water handhelds as you can then controll the depth and the direction of you beam. What I used to do years ago and it worked a real
treat. KISS.

Attachment 143751

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Originally Posted by Cigar

Attachment 143751

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Pirates gone mad!!! Walk that plank now:P you need to train to run a marthon to get to the end :XD:

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Originally Posted by Gapped axe

Just get a long spear, longer the better and quietly pole your self along. The light only needs to be one of those under water handhelds as you can then controll the depth and the direction of you beam. What I used to do years ago and it worked a real
treat. KISS.

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Would work in ideal conditions but I only get ideal conditions alighning with tide times and time off about twice a year.....ok maybe only once a year.
There is a ironically clearer water esturary nearby but it is more polluted....I may end up having that as my local as ya cant shoot what ya cant see.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

you know that youngun isnt silly at all.........there is no reason they couldnt be sonically told to bugger off from some areas....you could have half a harbour that is unpleasant to thier senses and the other half as normal..and set netting still allowed.

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They have never been in the estuaries.....that is the most puzzeling bit....the only area left open is the area where 50% of the time on a boating trip you will see dolphins. WTF

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

you know that youngun isnt silly at all.........there is no reason they couldnt be sonically told to bugger off from some areas....you could have half a harbour that is unpleasant to thier senses and the other half as normal..and set netting still allowed.

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My employer import nd sells gill net "pingers" for just this purpose on both gill nets or long lines but according to commercial fisherman the pinger actually works like a "dinner bell" especially for orca, they end up catching "fish heads"

Do it ow bro!!!

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Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

I'm starting to wonder VC, is this new harpoon platform for flounder, or are planning on getting rid of the problem species?

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Might need to get a parrot and eye patch.

you could use that pesky handle to lock your ply in place...
mikee.....with all the studies that boffins have done over the years you would think by now they would just about be able to talk to them big fishes....

we put a board(seat) across the gunwhales near the stern so you sit on the board,feet on the back seat,spear over the back,oars and rower in for'ard position rowing/manovering boat backwards.(stern first)
Various lights,one was a piece of 1/2" pvc pipe,wires down the pipe,with an 12v indicator bulb siliconed in the end, clamp thing bolted to transom that pvc could slide up and down in,slide down in deeper water,up in shallower.
leave the bulb underwater while on,worked pretty well

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Originally Posted by gadgetman

Might need to get a parrot and eye patch.

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Apply to parliment, thats where most of the pirates seem to be!