evan, how successful are you when you drag the line, i'm curious about
it. i mean, do you get a fish a week doing that, one a day, one an
hour, how does it work out most of the time ? can you dependably catch
something to eat ? what size/type of a fish do you typically catch on
a drag line like this ?

I'd say 1-2 fish a week is pretty typical. Varies tremendously with
the area we were in. Fish size is proportional to lure size. If you
drag a 12" lure, you're going for something too big! Something about
4" long worked well, catching say 10 lb fish like Dorado, tuna, etc.

i'd like to try spearfishing. i have some material i read about it but
i've never done it. i have all the gear though, except for the actual
speargun. i am not a very good free diver because i haven't really
worked out the whole ear equalization thing yet, but i've gone to the
pool a few times with my mask and snorkle and things and tried to get
past it.

(a) lots of practice during cruising makes perfect. I got so that I
could go down to 30' and just slowly cruise around for about a minute.
45' was the most I went down. Good long fins help enormously. THey
rocket you downward.

(b) equalize lots as you decend. If you wait too long, it gets
hard/impossible. Equalize more in the first 15' or so. (like 2-3 times)

aside, once i get past that i'd really like to do some freediving and
spearfishing. i understand that some people even do this in the deep
blue water fishing for things like yellowfin tuna, giant monster sized
fishes, but even if i was able i don't know that i'd ever try that ..

Yeah, I don't get that. I spearfish for food so a typical little 2-3
lb reef fish for supper is perfect for me.

i've never harvested oysters/mussels before. it sounds like you just
wait until low tide, walk out to where they are, and pry them off the
rocks. is that how you do it, or do you have some other method for
collecting them ? are they hard to find ?

Yes, in short. Mussels like vertical pilings too but I wouldn't pick
them in a harbour. These are cold water creatures so you won't find
them in the tropics.

Evan Gatehouse