NSP:172 Spencer Allen | Yard Sales, Pole Spearing and Getting Clear of Burnout

Interview with Spencer Allen Today's episode is with Spencer Allen from California. He is an all in spearo that has fully embraced the lifestyle and has been a big contributer to the 99 Spearo Recipes book. His cooking is even better than his spearfishing! After losing all his gear in a house fire, he stopped hunting and never really got back into it until he started kayak fishing. After being smashed attempting a big surf launch he almost gave it up again, but decided not to quit. He found some buddies to take him out again and ended up catching a 41 inch Halibut. He has been hooked ever since! Join us as we chat about spearfishing and cooking, the Channel Islands, finding buddies and ways to be a better spearo. Let us know what you think about this episode! Important times: 00:13 Intro and 99 Spearo Recipes messages 05:25 Welcome Spencer! Tell us about yourself! 09:07 What is a yard sale and how do you launch in the surf? 11:39 I hooked a 41 inch Halibut! 12:18 What is your fishing/hunting history? 13:58 14:30 How did you transition from the surface to hunting underwater? 16:27 Spearfishing clubs vs doing a course 19:47 Paying someone to help you start vs taking someone out 20:54 How did you find buddies and into the spearfishing community? 22:46 First experience with a pole spear 23:37 Tell us about the first pole spear you got and how you have upgraded it 25:23 Scallop foraging and hunting groups that go after only 1 species 27:37 Tips for bringing in fish and your first Sheepshead 29:39 I feel more like an otter, explain. Dive Camp Videos and 31:44 Decision making in spearfishing 33:40 Establishing fundamentals and experimenting with different ideas 38:38 Meat Eater and hunting mammals 40:01 Nature is brutal and cruel at times 40:50 Have you cooked with Octopus? 41:27 Umami - tell us more 43:39 Overcooking - how do you cook your fish for the right time? 45:02 Why do people think that undercooked meat is unsafe? 47:31 99 Spearo Recipes that you have submitted 49:33 As we get better we target better tasting species - this can take away from our cooking skills 52:10 "What can I do with what I have?" 54:47 Tell us about Uni - urchins, why do people automatically turn their nose up at it? 57:15 Flavour profiles of urchin in different areas and time 01:00:52 Getting trophy scallops on oil rigs 01:04:08 You work in a high pressure career and decided to take a sabbatical which lead you into making videos 01:09:05 Who are your favourite influential spearos? 01:10:22 Stewardship vs Gate Keeping: finding buddies and making spearfishing welcoming to people 01:15:00 Values, circumstances and interests: being clear about what you goals are and difficult conversations 01:18:44 Boats vs kayak fishing - kayak's have their own appeal 01:21:04 Memorable experiences in the Channel Islands 01:22:18 What are the conditions like in the Channel Islands? 01:23:45 What are the funniest stories you have from spearfishing? Punching to dispatch 01:28:00 Do you still fish from the surface? 01:29:27 Freediving community in SoCal and equalizing 01:32:21 Freediving courses -  is more than a level 1 necessary? 01:35:33 What's in your gear bag? 01:39:26 Spearo Q&A Describe the spearfishing experience in 1 sentence Most influential people in spearfishing If you had to start all over, what would you do differently? Who's the best person to go spearfishing with? What is your dream spearfishing destination? What do you do to combat imposter syndrome 01:44:04 Last piece of advice 01:44:43 Outro Listen in and subscribe on iOS or Android Important Links   Noob Spearo Partners and Discount Codes . Use the code NOOBSPEARO save $20 on every purchase over $200 at checkout – Flat shipping rate, especially in AUS! – Use the code NOOB10 to save 10% off anything store-wide. Free Shipping on USA orders over $99 + Free Shipping with promo code NOOBSPEARO at ! #ad #manscapedpod | Simple, Effective, Dependable Wooden Spearguns. Use the Code NOOB to save $30 on any speargun:) use the code SPEARO to get 20% off any course and the code NOOBSPEARO to get 40% off any and all courses! Use the code NOOBSPEARO to save $25 on the full Penetrator Spearfishing Fin Range . 28-day Freediving Transformation (CODE: NOOB28 for 15% off) | Equalization Masterclass – Roadmap to Frenzel | Free Courses | Freediving Safety Course | How to Take a 25-30% Bigger Breath! | The 5 minute Freediver | Break the 10 Meter Barrier – Use the code NOOBSPEARO to save $ | Wickedly tough and well thought out gear! Check out their | ‘Spearo Dad’ | ‘Girls with Gills’ | ‘Jobfish Tribute’ | Fishing Trips () Subscribe to the best spearfishing magazine in the world. International subscription available! . Listen to 99 Tips to Get Better at Spearfishing