245' dive, spearing two 45/50 pound Gag Grouper and getting both fish... and all the equipment back to the surface. This is no easy task. Great job Ricky!
Such awesome videos, thank you Dan!! Nice to experience the true nature of the sport/business of catching fish through your lens, and so refreshing not having to listen to all the gum flapping and vanity nonsense you get on other channels. Very much appreciated
I can’t believe how scared you are of sharks man lol cracks me up. I’m a huge fan of your videos and spearo skills. More topside footage and dialogue would be awesome. Keep up the great content!
Thanks Ben! I'll def try and do some more topside videoing. Had a few suggestions to possibly doing a short pre-dive clip, showing the spot, getting ready, etc....will try and give that a whirl and see how it goes. Thanks for your comments, Best, Dan
Hey David, it was def getting close to wrap it up or punch out and send the next guy up down. He got it done though and had a dive to remember! Glad you enjoyed the video! Best, Dan
I have dated a few giant gag holes........... I've never worn a tank or picked up a spear gun, but man do I love your videos. Some of the barely audible things you say from behind that mask make me laugh til I cry! Keep doing your thing..........great entertainment.
Thanks Jimmy, we could all use a little more laughter in our lives. I laugh at the same grunts you're laughing at, heck, sometimes I don't know what I was trying to say....Thanks for watching and I appreciate your comment! Best, Dan
Thanks NQ, it was a new spot I found the evening before and marked it for diving the next morning! Glad we stayed in the area and gave it a go! Best, Dan
Thanks Henry! Yeah that weather seems like a long time ago with two Hurricanes in the Eastern GOM in the last 3 weeks! Glad you liked the video! Best, Dan
Thanks Dan- I’m surprised how often it’s the smaller structure that holds the most big fish. I suppose it concentrates them unlike an area where there’s lots of cover and they can spread out
Hey Alan, yeah that's def a factor, another factor is those small places are much harder to find than the big stuff and throw in the 100-120 mile off shore distance and they receive very little, if any, pressure. Best, Dan
Hey BT, well, you were def one of the guys who got me doing deck footage and I appreciate it. I won't be back into "shallow" water until November but will def get some good deck footage then! Best, Dan
That was a workout, You earned that take. I can't help but think that a line on the shafts would have been a help down at that depth. You put on a good show
Thanks DBSA! A line gun could def be an asset in a lot of situations. It's about impossible to be "ideally set up" for every circumstance. Free shafting usually covers all the bases most of the time for us, but you're right, there's def times where I wish I had a line shaft! Best, Dan
@@danmacmahon3973 DBSA...Alan, and I am confident you know what you are doing. When I was shooting for production I would rope them by driving it through and keep it in action. Each shaft has a quick release clip and I can switch out a new shaft and line quickly when I was too successful. Usually not more than 2 were needed, but my targets were 5-10lbs each. I'll be targeting these 300# class bluefin soon, but I am very much enjoying your show for sure
Nice dive,big fish,an underwater battle... Dan,l hope that the storm, that I hear about in the news, Will pass away from you. God keep you safe, you and your boat!!
Thanks Yiannis, much appreciated! The Hurricane went by about 150-200 miles West of us and we suffered no ill effects. Just some heavy seas offshore. My thoughts are def with the people where it impacted. Thanks for the best wishes, and to you as well. Best, Dan
New to this, but I enjoy watching the channel. Had a question: What exactly are PH tips? Is it like an impact munition tip that you attach to the end of a normal spear?
Hey Kyle, yes, it's basically an aluminum casing (tube) that's machined to hold a rifle cartridge. The spear point acts as a firing pin. Usually called a "slip on" Power Head and is commonly used for personal protection or for taking large fish in deeper water. Best, Dan
@@danmacmahon3973 Cool deal! Thanks for the info. part of me as a kid wanted to do Marine Biology, so its cool to see these diving videos. And as a fisherman myself, its way different perspective and just as much suspense. Especially when you call out Cobia and then a shark turns up.
Great video. What kind of shark was that on the ascent? And, you said you’re 100+ miles offshore!! Do you all sleep on the boat or go back to marina each day?
Thanks MDB, I think a small Silky or Spinner. I usually just call those small ones "Hornets". Yeah probably 120 miles or so off shore. Yes, we stay out 3 or 4 days on a trip. Hard to beat a cup of coffee watching the sun come up out there! I built her with 4 comfortable bunks and we even have AC for the hot summer months. When you get a "little" older, you gotta get some sleep! Glad you enjoyed the video! Best, Dan
Dan MacMahon I’m sure those sunrises are gorgeous! I bet your viewers would like to occasionally see more of your boat. Thanks for a great channel. I look forward to your videos.
Hey JE, it's a home made gun we make ourselves. Roughly based on an older Sea Hornet but utilizing better quality parts and tighter tolerances. Glad you're enjoying the videos and thanks for watching! Best, Dan
SFF, I literally can't say enough positive things about them. If you're salty and run a big outboard boat off shore, they'll amaze you. They will hold my 44 footer on plane in 5' seas, running 18K at 15gph, and do it with no fuss. The V-8's would struggle to run that speed and burn 25gph to do it. I've only been running them a year so I can't speak for long term, but so far I'm happier with them than "any" other mechanical device I've bought in my life. They really are amazing. Hit me up if you need any more info. Best, Dan
How much bottom is the max you can stay at that depth? 245 ' the your mix. And if you stay a min or two longer how bad is the deco? Awesome video as always. God bless
T50, a very rough estimate would be 3-4 minutes of deco for every minute of bottom time. This could increase by a factor of two or more depending on mix, deco gas(s), length of dive, recent dive activity before current dive, water temp , work load and a host of other factors. An extra minute on the bottom might cause as little as 3-4 more minute of deco , or it might cause 8-10 additional minutes. It's def not an exact science, I'd go with the numbers that your tech training agency taught when one obtains the certifications necessary to do this type of diving. Glad you enjoyed the video! Best, Dan
@@danmacmahon3973 thanks Dan ! I was just wondering on this particular dive and with no residual nitrogen from a previous dive. I really appreciate your videos.
Thanks Anthony! Glad you liked the video. Yes, I occasionally will lose a shaft, almost always because it falls into a deep crack or hole and I can't reach it! I try really hard to avoid doing that though! Best, Dan
BP, I'm using a GoPro 6, mounted to a built in SS mount on a GoMask. Great set up. The GoPro 7 is being used by one of the crew and it's also a great choice. Haven't tried an "8" yet, but the 6 or 7 are both solid choices. Best, Dan
Enjoying the videos, very interested in what gas you are using for the deeper dives as I spotted a nitrox sticker on one of the tanks but the 200 + feet depth is way off for that.
TEH, just a light helitrox blend, max PO2 1.2-1.3 which is whats recommended for a working dive. I've been filling my own tanks for 20+ years (Nobody else touches them) I think I only have 2 tanks that have a nitrox sticker, traded another diver a gun for them. Glad you like the videos and good eye on that sticker! Best, Dan
@@danmacmahon3973 Thanks for your response and attention I meant my question The climb is required from a deep dive Stages of pressure equalization To avoid injury Pressure disease Before boarding the boat 😁
They always have to stop and decompress at different depths on the way to the surface . Most all of those are edited out unless there is something extra to see on the way up , and it keeps the video more interesting to follow to the end .
Hey Jim, without a Wetsuit, I usually wear 5-6 pounds of lead. The gun has 3 shafts on it and that helps with excess buoyancy. And the stringer is basically a bent shaft so there's more negative weight. No doubt the HP 100's are less buoyant but I need the capacity of the 120's to make long trips. Best, Dan
CG, I went back and looked at that and I def see what you're talking about. It's deceiving though, as it's just a RG "Pothole" with no ledge to it. The PH is probably around 8 feet deep with high sides to it. I wish there were ledges in that area, but I've never found even one! Best, Dan
Hey GL, I think he mentioned that he burned 1800, so he should have had about the same left, not bad at all for those two beauties in that depth. Really pretty new spot as well! Best, Dan
Hey atmm89, that wasn't me, it was my BIL Ricky. Yeah he def burned the mix on that dive (with good reason)! Hope all is well with you also ! Best, Dan
why do you not powerhead the large grouper that seem to cost big time when it is so critical,just wondering the difference in the amberjack and big groupers for powerheading
Hey Robert, I will sometimes PH a big Black in deep water but I never embraced Powerheading lots of bottom fish. I just enjoy free shafting too much. Best, Dan
Hey MB, it was Ricky, not me, but yeah they def gave him a work out! He did a great job with them for sure! Hows it going on the other side of the world? Best, Dan
That's a great question. I buy inexpensive lights from China as I've never been able to find a domestic light with the features I need. They're all over Ebay for $20 or so, if you go that route, buy the Panasonic rechargeables for it. Big Blue makes some great dive lights and a few of my tech buddies swear by them. My issue is that I just want an on/off switch, period. I don't want 5 settings that require 5 clicks to cycle through. Few things are more irritating them needing your light, turning it on and it's in strobe mode or low low power mode! Now you get to burn valuable time and frantically stab the button repeatably to try and find high power mode so you can actually see under the rock or wreck. No thanks. Anyway, that's my take on dive light! Best, Dan
Hey Peddy, I really like the 150'-160' as well. In the hot Summer months in this area, the fish are out deeper in cooler water, so that's where we go. And you're def right, extended range depths require lots and lots of training! Best, Dan
Thanks CB, I realized that the diver probably cut off his camera at the surface so I grabbed mine and recorded the fish on the deck. Really glad a lot of you guys convinced me to do that! Best, Dan
Where do you sell the meat? You should put a website up or put it right here on your RU-vid page and sell those fillets to us pack them in ice and ship them the same day or the next day some of the world has never tasted the fish that you shoot we only get cod and haddock bass trout and walleye! 🇺🇸❤️
A good plan but he works under a Commercial License and is required to sell EVERYTHING he shoots to his Commercial Supplier . That Supplier sells mostly to larger restaurants so they can offer a choice of FRESH FISH on their menu when you show up at their place for Supper .
You should do longer vids and commentary you could turn this channel into something amazing your a great spearfisherman and this channel and you have a lot of potential
Thanks JJB, I was playing around with the idea of maybe doing a minute or two of pre-dive stuff on the boat, maybe showing the spot on the sounder, talking about it (briefly) and maybe a minute of getting ready. I'll give it a shot asap and see how it goes. If you have any specific or additional advise, I'll def be up to listening. Thanks, Dan
At 245' it is obviously a tech dive. Some should be warned the profile is for very experienced divers... Plus at that depth bottom time makes for mighty quick video. Love it!!
Hey Mike, The Blacks in our area are much "darker" than the gags, but I know in some areas they can have very similar color patterns. I like them both! Best, Dan
BF44, the way I do it, usually 3-4 minutes. You could stay a lot longer than that but you'd have to carry a lot of Deco mix and be willing to deco for an hour or two . A very rough guide would be 5-7 minutes of deco for every minute of bottom time, this can and will vary greatly based on a lot of factors. Anybody considering this type of diving must put in the time and work and get the required tech training. 245' is no joke! Best, Dan
Do you like blinding them alive? I have seen most European (Greek, Italian or Spanish) spear fishing folks carry a small knife that they stick into the head of fish caught. End of struggle.
Arijit, when you're diving in 80 meters, every second counts. Trying to pull and use a kill knife on two large Grouper is a lot easier said than done. I carry a kill knife and have used it on occasion, but never in that deep of water on two large fish like that. Dan
TOD, you def could, I just really enjoy the free shafting part of it. I do know some guys who pretty much exclusively PH, but it just never was the way I wanted to go. But I do completely get what you're saying! Best, Dan
@@danmacmahon3973 I agree I love free shafting as well spearing the whole experience I'm just thinking on a deep technical dive like that big fish not a whole lot of time to wrestle with the fish ph the way to go :) I think that's why you use powerheads on AJ's you get a missed shot on those guys bye-bye shaft
Hey Daniel, it was literally the calm before the storm as we had a TS and then a Hurricane roll through the Gulf the following week. Don't know what the viz is like out there now, but you're right, it was great that trip! Best, Dan
I don’t know where is it, but in Spain is not legal, and if police catch go to the jail directly, this must be prohibited global world, not any value finishing like this, for me is ^ big Mather fucker^
Ravid, it's commercial spear fishing, which accounts for well less than 1% of the commercial bottom fish fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. We have a well managed fishery and fish populations are steady or growing. Dan
He did this time , and you heard his ask for extra time to leave the fish alone for a bit so he could get them on film . Really nice big fish those were .
There is now way anyone using a snorkel can dive down 245 feet , and it takes a special breathing mix ( not oxygen ) to play in the deeper water . This is his job , and he gathers fish for a Commercial Supplier who sells FRESH FISH to bigger restaurants so there will be fish choices on the menu when you show up for dinner .
