Just how tough are these Sumora spears?

Founder member Craig Heslop puts a 1.7m, 7mm Spring Steel Sumora spear to the test:

On a recent trip to the Sea of Cortez, I debated long and hard about how many spare spears to take along on the trip. I finally decided on 6 spears in total – knowing the reputation of the area as a prolific producer of strong, quality gamefish. My weapon of choice is my old faithful Sumora Leven. A 1.3m railgun, fitted with 1.7m, 7mm spring steel spear and 20ml rubber band. I have used this gun for 10 years now and it is still dead accurate.

Well after lugging a 12kg gun bag around on a flight that took us through 4 different airports I was reminded just how strong the Sumora steel spears are – I didn’t bend a single one! This is what the spear endured:

2 x Amberjack 48lb’s (98lb)
3 x Wahoo 40 – 50lb’s (140lb)
Rooster 45lb’s (45lb)
20lb snapper (20lb)

(which holed me up in a cave for 20 min in a strong current)

All of these are strong fighting fish, yet the spear is still dead straight! When I started diving, my first gun was a conventional model: 1.2m barrel without rail, fitted with 1.8m spear to accommodate for spear sag. It still amazes me how much of a difference shortening the spear by 10cm makes to its durability: I used to have to replace spears after every fish shot over 30lb’s but the railgun has eliminated this problem.

Now back from London, the spear test continues. Herewith recent extracts from my diving Diary:

15 Jan ’04: Shoredive off Durban

1 x King Mackerel (17lb)
3 x reef fish (12lb)

18 Jan ‘04: Cape Vidal

2 x King Mackerel (28lb)
1 x Queen Mackerel (14lb)

19 Jan ‘04: Cape Vidal

6 x King Mackerel (66lb)
8 x Queen Mackerel (100lb)

(There were two big Zambezi and Tiger sharks in constant attendance during this dive, thus I was putting considerable pressure on the fish to haul them in quickly, however spear did not bend)

23 Jan ‘04: Shoredive off Tongaat

5 x Various reefies (16.5lb)

24 Jan ‘04: Shoredive off Salt Rock

7 x King Mackerel (198lb)
1 x Spadefish 5lb (5lb)

(What impressed me on this dive was that all fish were strung on my float as I was shorediving, the last fish shot was a King Mackerel of 50lb, which was dragging the weight of the other fish (+-150lb’s) through the water when fighting)

13 Feb ' 04 - Boat dive off the Bluff

1 x Queen Mackerel (15lb)

Assorted Rockcod, Bream, Tasle fish (20lb)

18 Feb '04 - Shoredive off Salt Rock

5 x Queen Mackerel (55lb)

4 x Spadefish (25lb)

2 x Seapike (22lb)

20 Feb '04 - Boat dive at Sodwana Bay

4 x King Mackerel (45lb)

Kaakap (22lb)

Amberjack (20lb)

21 Feb '04 - Boat dive at Sodwana Bay

6 x King Mackerel (66lb)

3 x Kaakap (35lb)

Amberjack (25lb)

22 Feb '04 - Boat dive at Sodwana Bay

3 x King Mackerel (22lb)

1 x Bluefin Kingfish (9lb)

Spear Synopsis:
Spear still straight although not as rigid as when new. Anti-corrosion coating still in place and no sign of rust. Spear still sharp.

26 Feb '04 - Shoredive off Umhlanga

4 x Queen Mackerel (55lb)

4 x Rockcod (12lb)

27 Feb '04 - Shoredive off Umhlanga

4 x Queen Mackerel (60lb)

28 Feb '04 - Shoredive off La Mercy

2 x King Mackerel (25lb)

2 x Queen Mackerel (30lb)

1 x Indian Mirror Fish (10lb)

22 March - Shoredive off Hibberdene

5 x Rockcod, 2 x Rubberlips

& 1 x Copper Bream (35lb)

28 March '04 - Boat dive off Umdloti

3 x King Mackerel (32lb)

Assort. Reefies (12lb)

Total Weight thus far: 111 fish (1,409.5lb)

Spear Synopsis:
Spear starting to look a bit tired. Tip is now rusting and some of coating has been scratched off. Still shooting dead straight though!

Disclaimer:
Please note that the above account is only representative of what your spear is capable of enduring, however actual resilience is dependent upon a number of factors, including:

Proper care for the spear
Not shooting into caves & rocks
How much pressure is placed on the fish during the fight.

Accordingly Sumora does not guarantee the life of your spear, however adhering to recommended care guidelines will ensure that you obtain maximum use from the spear.