SpearFactor Spearfishing Podcast

Spearfactor #25 with Focus Freediving’s Brandon Zeek. In this episode, Brandon and I discuss how he got started in spearfishing and freediving in Southern California. In freediving, Brandon has worked his way up to an instructor level and runs focus www.freediving.com. We discuss one of the recent challenges he has encountered in freediving. He had a squeeze on a 60m dive a few months ago. We discussed in great detail the ends and outs of squeezes and ways to prevent them. As the conversation progresses, we discussed in detail the differences between freediving and spearfishing, and the ways they complement each other. We also talk about his experiences working with the Diving for a Cause organization where he Colleen Gallagher and Terry Maas traveled together to help the local people in New Zealand and in Panama. While in New Zealand, Brandon was lucky enough to land a 74 pound kingfish. Brandon is a great diver and a solid guy. If you are thinking about taking a class in Southern California area, you can reach Brandon on Instagram at @depthzeeker or online at www.focusfreediving.com

NOTES:

Introduction to Spearfishing/Freediving

3:00-11:47

How has weightlifting helped or hindered your diving

11:47-16:35

Brandon’s recent squeeze & the advantage “packing” 

16:35-26:50

Different types of squeezes & how to prevent

26:50-40:46

Spearfishing vs Freediving 

40:46-46:48

Just Get Wet Meetups

46:48-50:27

Most Memorable fish (74 pound Kingfish & Dogtooth Snapper)

50:27-101:06

Diving for a Cause Trips

101:06-1:09:25

Closing

1:09:25-End

Sponsors for this podcast included:

https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1583785&u=2550967&m=89945&urllink=&afftrack=

Follow Spearfactor:

Instagram @the_spearfactor, Facebook Spearfactor Group, YouTube, and Reddit.

If you would like to support the show?

 Go to the supporter page at https://www.patreon.com/the_spearfactor

 Your donation helps keep the show going with editing and production cost. 

Until next time, I hope you land the fish of a lifetime!

LEARN MORE

SpearFactor is all about sharing information about spearfishing to enhance your experience in the ocean. If you are a new spearo, please checkout www.spearfactor.com for more information on targeted fish types and spearing.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Podcast: https://www.Spearfactor.com/podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_spearfactor

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SpearFactor

#spearfishing #spearfishingpodcast #spearfactor #onedropspearfishing

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This is part 1 of a 2 part series of the Spearfactor podcast with Mr. Ted Harty, USA Freediving Champion. If you don’t know who Ted Harty is, you should. Seriously! Ted started out as a scuba Instructor in 2005 before discovering the sport of freediving a few years later. Early on in his instructing career Ted was fortunate to meet and be mentored by Kirk and Mandy Krack of Performance Freediving. From there, Ted became a competitive freediver and an a freedive Instructor. During this time, Ted accomplished an impressive list of accomplishments. 

• 1st place finish PFI Competition Breathless 2009

• 1st place finish PFI Competition Deja Blue 2011

• Broke longest standing USA Freediving record during 2011 Freediving World Championships in Italy, with a Dynamic Apnea swim of 170m

• Selected to be Captain of the 2012 USA Freediving Team during World Championships

• Constant weight dive of 85m (279ft) in 2012

• 1st place finish PFI Competition Deja Blue 2014

Ted and Kirk shared the same passion for freediving safety being the number one goal in our sport. When Ted first started Instructing there were only a few instructors around the world. This led to many students, many days, and many lessons learned in the water. Because of this, Ted has wealth of knowledge from instructing students from all different kinds of backgrounds. He shares these experiences with us all through numerous media outlets including podcast, tv shows, and his websites. On Ted’s websites, he offers several freediving courses covering everything from equalization to a 28-day Freediving Transformation. There’s even a few of these course for free. CHECK OUT HIS WEBSITES AND SIGN UP FOR A FREE ONLINE CLASS!!!!!

Immersion Freediving

Freediving Safety

Use Promo code: spearfactor for a 15% discount

You can also reach Ted through social media at:

IG @immersionfd

FB Ted Harty or Immersion Freediving

NOTES:

General Safety for Diving 

3:00-16:45

Freediving Safety Website

16:45-21:45

Ted’s Goal for www.freedivingsafety.com

21:45-26:40

How to dive safely in poor visibility

26:40-34:45

Easy way to use the buddy system

34:45-40:35

The Myth of “I know my limits”

40:35-46:55

Proper buoyancy and the role it plays in diving

46:55-57:06

Transitioning from SCUBA to freediving

57:06-1:06:00

28 Day Freedive Transformation Program

1:06:00-1:16:30

Mammalian Dive Reflex 

1:16:30-1:26:16

Closing

1:26:16-End

Sponsors for this podcast included:

Did you enjoy this? 

If so, please share this podcast with your friends! Thanks for listening and be sure to follow SpearFactor at:

Follow Spearfactor:

Instagram @the_spearfactor, Facebook Spearfactor Group, YouTube, and Reddit.

If you would like to support the show?

 Go to the supporter page at https://www.patreon.com/the_spearfactor

 Your donation helps keep the show going with editing and production cost. 

LEARN MORE

SpearFactor is all about sharing information about spearfishing to enhance your experience in the ocean. If you are a new spearo, please checkout www.spearfactor.com for more information on targeted fish types and spearing.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Podcast: https://www.Spearfactor.com/podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_spearfactor

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SpearFactor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Spearfactor, I speak with San Diego diver and fellow San Diego Freedivers member, Kristina Chang. We discuss how she went from surfing up in the bay area to diving down here in San Diego. We also discuss her ridiculously delicious looking dishes that she makes with her catches. She is quite the culinary connoisseur. We specifically talk about dry aging fish and where her inspiration comes for dishes. Furthermore we discuss some of her future goals for trips and fish to land. Enjoy

Awesome Fish Tikka Masala Recipe

https://foodiesterminal.com/fish-tikka-masala-recipe/

Connect with Kristina on Instagram

@kristinacchang

NOTES:

Background and Beginning Diving 

3:00-7:15

First Bluefin Tuna 

07:15-13:25

Dealing Ear Issues

13:25-17:37

Surf Trip to El Salvador

13:50-20:10

Cooking Amazing Fish

20:10-32:05

Lobster Diving at Night

32:05-36:45

Traveling & Food Recipes

36:45-47:30

How surfing compliments diving

47:30-52:30

Closing

55:30-End

Sponsors for this podcast included:

1. Akason Cameras 

https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1583785&u=2550967&m=89945&urllink=&afftrack=

Did you enjoy this? 

If so, please share this podcast with your friends! Thanks for listening and be sure to follow SpearFactor at:

Follow Spearfactor:

Instagram @the_spearfactor, Facebook Spearfactor Group, YouTube, and Reddit.

If you would like to support the show?

 Go to the supporter page at https://www.patreon.com/the_spearfactor

 Your donation helps keep the show going with editing and production cost. 

Until next time, I hope you land the fish of a lifetime!

LEARN MORE

SpearFactor is all about sharing information about spearfishing to enhance your experience in the ocean. If you are a new spearo, please checkout www.spearfactor.com for more information on targeted fish types and spearing.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Podcast: https://www.Spearfactor.com/podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_spearfactor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Spearfactor, I speak with Eric Anderson from Central California. Eric shares how his experiences in the Marine Corp has contributed to being a better dive buddy and spearfisherman. We continue on to discuss the diving conditions in Central California as well as the targeted species in his area. Additionally, Eric shares insights to the differences in diving in Northern California vs. Central California. The gear used up in these regions are very specific to diving in holes for lingcod and around rocks for rockfish. These area are known for tough conditions and big sharks. Eric shares one encounter with a curious white shark while diving at the channel islands. This episode gives us an in-depth look to the dive culture in Central California.

Check out Eric’s Instagram at

@eric_janderson

NOTES:

Background 

2:50-5:10

How the Marine Corp helped his diving

05:10-07:05

Gear Prep 

07:05-08:55

Spearfishing in Central California

08:55-13:50

Targeted Fish (lingcod, rockfish)

13:50-18:30

Gear for Central California 

18:30-22:05

Tips for diving in low visiability

22:05-25:30

Diving in Central vs Northern California

25:30-28:15

State of the kelp forest and science

28:15-35:20

Future plans and goals

35:20-44:05

White shark story & having a tourniquet with you.

44:05-51:55

Seasons in Central California

51:55-55:30

Closing

55:30-End

Sponsors for this podcast included:

1. Akason Cameras 15% off

https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1583785&u=2550967&m=89945&urllink=&afftrack=

Did you enjoy this? 

If so, please share this podcast with your friends! Thanks for listening and be sure to follow SpearFactor at:

Follow Spearfactor:

Instagram @the_spearfactor, Facebook Spearfactor Group, YouTube, and Reddit.

If you would like to support the show?

 Go to the supporter page at https://www.patreon.com/the_spearfactor

 Your donation helps keep the show going with editing and production cost. 

Until next time, I hope you land the fish of a lifetime!

LEARN MORE

SpearFactor is all about sharing information about spearfishing to enhance your experience in the ocean. If you are a new spearo, please checkout www.spearfactor.com for more information on targeted fish types and spearing.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Podcast: https://www.Spearfactor.com/podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_spearfactor

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SpearFactor

#spearfishing #spearfishingpodcast #spearfactor #onedropspearfishing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recently, I teamed up with Brad Thompson from OC Spearos, and Jon from Cast and Spear for a good cause. We spoke with Ryan Huff's widow, Diana Huff. Ryan drowned open day of lobster season last year. Now, Brad Thompson, Jon Stenstrom and I joined forces to support this wonderful fund that can help save lives.

The OC Spearos’ Ryan Huff Memorial Scholarship Fund is taking donations! Applications to earn your scholarship for freedive education and certification will be posted in the next couple of weeks. Please give to help fund this initiative. More info at this link - https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/oc-spearos-ryan-huff-memorial-scholarship?fbclid=IwAR0Zc94P4PlJNhP-WthT3I0RoMausa2uk1VkdcwnPBuogN8qa0HgsJOQMi8

Learn about Ryan Huff's life, how you can get a free certification course if you qualify, and lobster diving tips to stay safe during the lobster opener.

1:28 - Ryan Huff's intro into spearfishing

3:00 - How Ryan Huff passed away

5:45 - Diane's mission to keep Ryan's memory alive

8:45 - OC Spearo's goal to push spearfishing safety

11:00 - Raising $5000 for the Ryan Huff Memorial Scholarship Fund

16:40 - How to join the OC Spearos

17:00 - Why even seasoned spearos could benefit from a freediving course

24:44 - Common misconceptions of freediving courses

31:44 - Lobster diving safety tips

HOW TO SUPPORT

1. Charity Fund: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/oc-spearos-ryan-huff-memorial-scholarship

2. Charity shirts: 779spearco.com

3. OC Spearo Fund announcement: http://www.ocspearos.org/oc-spearos-ryan-huff-memorial-scholarship-fund

4. Join the OC Spearos: http://www.ocspearos.org/club-membership/

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In this episode of Spearfactor, I chat with Dave Gleeson. Dave got his start spearfishing in the Islands around Rhode Island. He shares with us some of the things he has learned by hunting this waters such as insights to find better visibility, the change in seasons, conditions and what gear to use. We also discuss why the sport of spearfishing has grown so much in the past few years in the Northeast of the country, and world wide. 

The podcast takes a turn when Dave shares his story about shallow water blackout while training in Hawaii. We talk about why it happened and the benefits to taking a free dive class. Thank you Dave for sharing your experiences with us all!!!

Check out his photography and Instagram at

@Daveunderwater

Dave’s Dive Shop:

New England Freedive Spearfishing Co.

NOTES:

Background and Diving in Rhone Island

02:45:-11:55

Finding Good Visibility

11:55-17:05

Spearfishing Popularity 

17:05-20:55

Diving vs Fishing

20:55-28:45

Gear for RI

28:45-33:30

Stories and Traveling 

33:30-38:00

Shallow Water Blackout and Freediving

38:00-1:45:00

Future Trips (Azores, California, Alaska)

1:45:00-1:07:45

Seasonal Changes in Rhode Island 

1:07:45-1:11:45

How Your Education has Helped You

1:11:45-1:12:45

Dave’s Photography and Closing

1:12:45-End

Sponsors for this podcast included:

Did you enjoy this? 

If so, please share this podcast with your friends! Thanks for listening and be sure to follow SpearFactor at:

Follow Spearfactor:

Instagram @the_spearfactor, Facebook Spearfactor Group, YouTube, and Reddit.

If you would like to support the show?

 Go to the supporter page at https://www.patreon.com/the_spearfactor

 Your donation helps keep the show going with editing and production cost. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Podcast: https://www.Spearfactor.com/podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_spearfactor

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SpearFactor

#spearfishing #freediver

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Spearfactor, I chat with my good friend Cody Drawdy. Cody shares his story with us about how he got started in spearfishing on the East Coast of American where he had to deal with sharks and 2’ of visibility. We also talk about some of your spearfishing trips to Guam and Baja, and the things we learned in those places. Enjoy!

NOTES:

Introduction and Background

02:53:-23:22

How we met on social media

27:52-28:00

Lobster Season 

13:00-37:30

Ethical Diving

38:00-57:00

Stories and Traveling (Baja and tips)

57:00-1:32:40

Closing

1:33-End

Sponsors for this podcast included:

1. Akason Cameras 

https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1583785&u=2550967&m=89945&urllink=&afftrack=

Did you enjoy this? 

If so, please share this podcast with your friends! Thanks for listening and be sure to follow SpearFactor at:

Follow Spearfactor:

Instagram @the_spearfactor, Facebook Spearfactor Group, YouTube, and Reddit.

If you would like to support the show?

 Go to the supporter page at https://www.patreon.com/the_spearfactor

 Your donation helps keep the show going with editing and production cost. 

Until next time, I hope you land the fish of a lifetime!

LEARN MORE

SpearFactor is all about sharing information about spearfishing to enhance your experience in the ocean. If you are a new spearo, please checkout www.spearfactor.com for more information on targeted fish types and spearing.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Podcast: https://www.Spearfactor.com/podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_spearfactor

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SpearFactor

#spearfishing #spearfishingpodcast #spearfactor #onedropspearfishing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Spearfactor, I chat with Nick Watkins from Spearchannel. Nick shares with us how his brand, Spearchannel, began, where he wants to take it, and how he plans to achieve success with it. He also shares with us some of his struggles as the brand develops and attempts to reach future goals. Additionally, we discuss his own beginnings into spearfishing while growing up in south Florida. Nick shares with us his recent travels to Panama and Bahamas, and some of the shenanigans that occurred while on these trips hunting Yellowfin tuna. I hope you enjoy!!

Contact Nick:

IG @spearchannel

FB Spearchannel group page

NOTES:

Introduction Spearchannel the brand

05:53:-09:52

Issues with developing Spearchannel

09:52-13:00

Monetizing and the direction of Spearchannel 

13:00-20:30

Next step for Spearchannel 

20:30-30:00

How Nick got started

30:00-31:40

Types of fish and conditions where he lives in Florida 

31:40-39:35

Diving with sharks and stories

39:35-47:15

Trips to Bahamas & Panama, lost fish stories

47:15-54:04

Hunting Yellowfin

54:04-1:01:01

Team Trips 

1:01:01-1:03:50

How to Progress in Spearfishing

1:03:50-1:07:10

Best way to have Snapper

1:07:10-1:10:15

Closing & Contact Information 

1:10:15-END

Sponsors for this podcast included:

Kimera spearfishing Promo: SpearFactor for 5% off.

Los Bigotes Apparel

Hotrod Spearguns 

Akaso Cameras Promo: akaction10

OneDrop Spearfishing

Did you enjoy this? 

If so, please share this podcast with your friends! Thanks for listening and be sure to follow SpearFactor at:

Follow Spearfactor:

Instagram @the_spearfactor, Facebook Spearfactor Group, YouTube, and Reddit.

If you would like to support the show?

 Go to the supporter page at https://www.patreon.com/the_spearfactor

 Your donation helps keep the show going with editing and production cost. 

Until next time, I hope you land the fish of a lifetime!

LEARN MORE

SpearFactor is all about sharing information about spearfishing to enhance your experience in the ocean. If you are a new spearo, please checkout www.spearfactor.com for more information on targeted fish types and spearing.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Podcast: https://www.Spearfactor.com/podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_spearfactor

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SpearFactor

#spearfishing #spearfishingpodcast #spearfactor #onedropspearfishing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I speak with Brian Fern and Allen Yangco from Longfins Spearfishing. These two gentlemen truly define what the term giving back to the community means. Longfins originally started out as a online diving store that Allen started, but it failed. This failure didn’t discourage Allen from continuing on with the Longfins brand. He felt that the failure was a blessing in disguised. After seeing many of the divers in their area not diving safely as well as several diving related deaths including 4 of Allen’s friends, he and his friend, Brian Fern, decided to continue with Longfins by holding spearfishing seminars for the youth of Kauai. The goal was to share their over 50 years of knowledge and experience with the kids of Kauai to teach them how to ethically hunt and safely dive for fish. The seminar is free and everyone is encouraged to attend. 

During the show, the boys share numerous stories of bad and good dive buddies, sharks, recovering fish from caves, and ethnical fish hunting. Allen shares a story about when he was diving near a bay with monk seals when a huge tiger shark came at him. Allen did not see the shark but his buddy quickly intercepted it and saved Allen from an attack. Additionally, Brian shares a story about when the current picked up so bad on the reef that he and Allen had to shoot their shafts into the reef in order to avoid getting swept out to sea. 

This episode is full of tips to make you a better and safer diver. If you would be interested in attending the seminar or want to put a one yourself in your local area, feel free to contact the boys at @long_fins on IG.

Brian Fern @solid.ink

Allen Yangco @aloha_spear_it

NOTES:

Introduction and Longfins the brand

04:15:-09:04

Ethical Spearfishing

09:04-22:50

How to dive safe

22:40-25:00

Spearfishing seminar for Youth

25:00-31:20

Diving for GT/Ulua

31:20-40:10

Build the community with kids for safety

42:15-49:55

Diving with sharks and stories

49:55-1:03:00:

Goals for Longfins

1:03:00-1:08:34

Real life situations & Safety tips (recovering fish, weighting tips, currents)

1:08:34-1:29:55

More details about the spearfishing seminar

1:30:00-1:36:00

Closing & Contact information

1:36:00-1:38:29

Sponsors for this podcast included:

Kimera spearfishing Promo: SpearFactor for 5% off.

Los Bigotes Apparel

Hotrod Spearguns 

Akaso Cameras Promo: akaction10

OneDrop Spearfishing

If you would like to support the show?

 Go to the supporter page at https://www.patreon.com/the_spearfactor

 Your donation helps keep the show going with editing and production cost. 

LEARN MORE

SpearFactor is all about sharing information about spearfishing to enhance your experience in the ocean. If you are a new spearo, please checkout www.spearfactor.com for more information on targeted fish types and spearing.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Podcast: https://www.Spearfactor.com/podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_spearfactor

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SpearFactor

#spearfishing #spearfishingpodcast #spearfactor #onedropspearfishing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I speak with veteran diver and dive boat Skipper Dan Walsh. Since the 1970s, Captain Dan has operated dive boats such as the Bottom Scratcher, and Spirit of Adventure for spearfishing’s elite pioneers. He was there filming when Terry Maas shot his record bluefin tuna at Guadalupe Island, which is one of the most popular moments in California’s spearfishing history. He’s explored the Baja peninsula in its’ entirety a few times over and has dove remote stretches of the coast that I have dreamed about diving for years. But besides Baja, Captain Dan has traveled the world filming, freediving, scuba diving, and hunting places like Dangerous Reef, Australia and tiny islands in Micronesia. His presence at most of these places was requested in order to film for show like Shark Week on the Discovery channel and various other nature shows. 

One of the things that caught me off guard about Captain Walsh was how truly humble he was during the podcast. With almost 50 years of experience on and around dive boats, you would think that he would be more than justified to have a hint of an ego. Not the case, which is probably why he has been able to learn and share so much information with us.

Facebook: Buddy Walsh

NOTES:

Introduction/Early days

02:22:-09:45

Running dive boat stories, Cortez Banks, etc.

09:45-15:50

History of Bottom Scratcher

15:50-22:00

The evolution of the dive industry & divers

22:00-28:30

Terry Maas and diving Guadalupe Island stories

28:30-40:40

Diving San Clemente Island

41:10-45:15

Favorite diving in the world: Baja

45:15-53:00:

What makes a good boat captain

53:00-58:32

Boating tips

59:00-1:07:34

Funny new diver stories with sharks.

1:07:34-1:16:10

Closing Advice

1:16:10-1:19:35

Sponsors for this podcast included:

Kimera spearfishing Promo: SpearFactor for 5% off.

Los Bigotes Apparel

Hotrod Spearguns 

Akaso Cameras Promo: akaction10

OneDrop Spearfishing

Did you enjoy this? 

If so, please share this podcast with your friends! I hope that you guys can relate to the show and learn that we are more similar than different in so many ways. I hope we all can learn to enjoy the ocean and then, protect it.

Follow Spearfactor:

Instagram @the_spearfactor, Facebook Spearfactor Group, YouTube and Reddit.

Until next time, I hope you land the fish of a lifetime!

LEARN MORE

SpearFactor is all about sharing information about spearfishing to enhance your experience in the ocean. If you are a new spearo, please checkout www.spearfactor.com for more information on targeted fish types and spearing.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Podcast: https://www.Spearfactor.com/podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_spearfactor

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SpearFactor

#spearfishing #spearfishingpodcast #spearfactor #onedropspearfishing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices