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Skishing Equipment.

1K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  Keith White 
#1 ·
Skishing (wetsuit fishing, feet off the ground)
Wetsuit swimfishing (use of a wetsuit to take the angler to offshore reef, etc)
Wetsuit wading (use of a wetsuit to wade, rather than use, waders..LOL)

Ok, just a quick run down on equipment, for all 3 of the above.

Wetsuit:

Preferably a 2 pc, with built in hood. Choose 7mm for buoyancy and, the ability to retain movement
for casting etc. I would recommend a 7mm 2pc spearfishing type suit, smooth inside, lined outside for
durability. You will need to put these on 'wet' using soapy water or powder dry using lots of talc.

As the water chills or for added buoyancy, you can use a 'smoothskin' extra chesty layer. Normally made by
chopping up an older smoothskin suit, these are hard to put on and take off. Care is needed as well as lubricant
and a light touch to stop fingers getting pushed through the material. They can be 5mm through 8mm in thickness.

Fins:

We use 'strap on fins' for use with divers boots. These are the long, usually competition hard grade fin
designed to deal with fast current and tide. You can move real fast with these fins but time is required
to allow you legs to get used to pushing so much water. Long fins also help stabilise your position in the water.

Chris uses his normal freedive fins but has modified his neoprene socks with a 'sole' as walking over rocks
and pebbles isn't good for any distance.

It is possible to use your felt bottomed boots with fins called, force fins. These have a bungy strap
attachment and are fast to put on, and take off.

We have custom built fin straps on which the fins ride over the shoulder whilst walking or fishing from
reef. This strap becomes a rod lanyard when the fins are off the strap and on your feet.

Belt:

Vital piece of kit. This 2" wide webbing or rubber strap carries a few D rings, your boga grip and pliers.
Probably best to have everything on a lanyard and the rod lanyard attaches to one of the D rings here too.
Either use an Aquaskins strap or a 2" rubber quick release dive strap for safety.

Gloves:

Normally 2 to 3mm divers gloves. Fingers chopped short on both first and second fingers.
Choose close fitting ones to stop water flush through the wrists and fingers. Makes it easier
to grip stuff like Bass too.

Boots:

We use 5mm dive boots with a hard sole. Zipped style and these are worn under the neoprene
on the leg bottoms to stop grit and sand getting inside the boots. That can be uncomfortable.
With force fins you can wear your standard wading boots. However, force fins lack the drive of full
length free dive fins so we don't use them here. They would most likely suit lots of locations though and
be comfortable on and around rocks for wading and swimfishing. For wading, they would be first choice
and we do use them in situations like that here.

Knife:

Always carry a knife. We use a blunt pointed divers knife made by omer. It makes sense
especially when skishing.

Lights:

Always carry 2. Make sure they have 'O' ring seals. No lights will last forever as they will get
doused in salt water spray. If you get 2 seasons from a light you've done well. We use Petzl
lights by choice.

Plug Bag:

Small and needs a strap which can quickly attach to your belt to stop the bag swinging loose
underneath you when swimming. Must be rot proof as we let water IN. You bag must not retain
air. We use a variety of Aquaskinz bags, normally a 3 or 5 bag.

Rods/Reels:

These items need to be protected from the salt environment or built for the job.
We use Tenryu rods and VS reels by choice. Both so far have proven great in, on, and
under the sea. You don't have to spend mega bucks but don't expect gear to last forever
either. 1 season for a 'washed each time' standard reel would be good. Most rod fittings will
see corrosion inside a season too unless you buy better hardware.

Compass:


Useful, take one, keep it small.

Watch:

I actually use a Suunto D4 freedive specific watch as does Kevin.
They work in the water, have a backlight, an alarm and, they give quite accurate water
temp readings. Expensive but as we dive too, worth every penny.
 
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Discussion starter · #3 ·
Tubes Mike.

However, again, these systems are being modified as we go.

Kev has strung cord across the tops of the tubes inside the bag to stop plugs floating out of the
bag when doing lure swaps.

Chris Isaacs has prototyped a new, hydrodynamic chest pack system that looks great.
I reckon we could all be swapping over to that system soon.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Boga has handled long periods of immersion for some years now.

2 strip clean and oil services inside 10 years, still going perfect.

We attach a coiled lanyard to one end, use the lip grip to connect to a D ring on
our belts. Job done.

Can't recommend them highly enough.
 
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