Spearfishing Grand Haven Pier on Lake Michigan

Spearfishing for Sheepshead, Catfish and Sucker on Lake Michigan out of Grand Haven.
Freediving, using Mako 90cm Predator Pro, with GoPro Hero2 mounted to the gun.
I missed two opportunities on a largish catfish which you will see.
Visibility in the deeper water toward the end of the pier was lessened considerably by the river plume and a deep water current stirring things up.
The largemouth and smallmouth bass were ridiculous, there were so many of them and they kept swimming alongside us and charging the whole time we were down.

[@Brandon1267]

looks like i'm going bass fishing off the south pier in grand haven around august! LOL

[@NorthernMike]

Very glad to read that not only do you eat the fish you spear, but that you leave the "gamefish" alone. NICE.

[@johnh3797]

You cannot spearfish "gamefish" in Michigan.

[@thedevilsadvocate886]

@@johnh3797 what are non game fish? Invasive species?

[@davidshuff2700]

@@johnh3797 So what was that you were shooting?

[@johnh3797]

@@thedevilsadvocate886 not necessarily, suckers,fresh water drum and catfish along with carp can be legally taken

[@johnh3797]

@@davidshuff2700 wasn’t me shooting boss, but looks to be a sucker of some species. Fresh water drum “sheepshead” resemble bass and probably what he was going after as well. Who knows, all I know is that last time I bow fished the pier heads anything on the River side was a HUGE no no and the lake side (which is where he was) was open all year to NON game fish.

[@TylersReelFishing]

Those were some nice bass!

[@Fmaster28]

I’ve lived in GH all my life and I never knew we had so many bass off south pier.

[@aaronhoyes1781]

20 years ago, I got the worst ear infection imaginable after swimming here. I had a throbbing wad of green pus pushing against my eardrum for 3 days that hurt so acutely that I began considering piercing my ear canal with an ice pick in order to alleviate the pressure. Good times! Love West Michigan!

[@MrBonafide247]

Hey mike I am moving up to Michigan in July. I own and make custom spearguns. And interested and the Spearfishing community around there will continue making my custom Spearguns but just mailing them out for all my orders would like to talk to you guys about getting into the Spearfishing community and learning about some of the different lakes and species

[@DonutSacker]

Do you have a website? I interested.

[@Fishingmichigan22]

Those are some nice bass swimming around there. great video!

[@j.r.w6623]

Do you still spearfish?

[@henriquedearruda8902]

This reminds me of the SEGA arcade game, the Ocean Hunter.

[@petergreen9739]

Someday i will head back to MI. When i do i'm going to be force feeding some fish the steel like i do here in Guam. Stoked.

[@andrewresczenko1958]

Do you ever see walleye around the pier?

[@UplandAndOverland]

Those smallmouths look like the one I caught out in holland, much bigger than inland lakes

[@SURFISHADDICTION]

superb my friend I'm a saltwater addict from Florida used to live up in Mi when I was Young wow the bass in Your vid!! if you ever wanna do Florida I have the dream spots and big fish from 4 ft deep to whatever u want

[@revmike2080]

+robert rockwell Thanks for the compliment! I actually get down to Florida a few times a year (Fort Myers) and have done a trip to Marathon for spearing. Where abouts in FL are you located?

[@brandonmann4652]

I live 40mins from there and just bought a 120mm to spearfish in Florida with but definitely useing it here

[@cysprouse2863]

Okay man. This looks like too much fun! I wanna go spearfishing!! I guess I'll just settle for regular fishing for today. At least I can drink beer haha

[@dakotagrimsby1830]

Going bass fishing here today

[@quinnd4756]

how deep was this here?

[@toastmaster24]

Glad to see somebody doin it the right way :)

[@timmarkowicz779]

Why don't you go for the ultimate challenge and spear some gobies???

[@revmike2080]

well, actually in boredom, I have skewered a few... ;-)

[@hellosweetheart3350]

Anyone else notice the smell of watermelon when they filet a Whitefish?? Or is it just me lol

[@escubasteve]

I wonder if you can spearfish off the beach of silver lake park?? if so id love to go this year

[@MrBonafide247]

You can see some of the videos that I've done down here in Florida where I'm at now just type in bona fide spearguns into KZbin and all my videos,will come up

[@alexszukala]

Awesome

[@marccolacicco6687]

Dude, nice video. I just moved from Miami to Chicago and used to spearfish every weekend down there. When did you do this? Is the water warmer on the other side? There is ice all over here. Need to get a dry suit ASAP

[@revmike2080]

Thanks! Water is generally about the same all the way around, although you have deeper water closer to shore on your side. If you day trip up to wisconsin, you can legally shoot panfish, not sure on Illinois, but I think they are pretty restrictive on what you can shoot. Over here (MI) it is only rough fish, catfish, and whitefish for legal species) Look up wisconsin speargun hunters on Facebook, they have a pretty active group near you. I use a 5mm OPEN cell WETsuit into december, and if I was to dive more in the Jan-feb, I would probably just go up to the 7mm. We freedive, so a dry suit would be too much drag (baggy, etc...) Good surfing in Lake Michigan as well. Welcome!

[@brianfeutz5530]

revmike2080 very cool are u on the inside or outside of the piers

[@revmike2080]

brian feutz outside, the inside would put you in the grand river channel and that is the chocolate river, if you get my drift....

[@justinhughey5208]

Hey man I just moved to Grand Haven from Colorado! I spearfish all the time in Florida. is there a club up here to get together with people like you? I need spear fishing friends

[@revmike2080]

+Justin Hughey Not really a "club" but we connect on a Facebook page that I manage >> "Michigan Freedivers and Spearos" Be glad to connect with you We are having a meet and greet dinner on Tuesday, March 15 (details on the FB page)

[@ramoninininini]

+revmike2080 where you guys locate im from chicago i will be nice if we go one day to spearfishing all together

[@ramoninininini]

+revmike2080 where you guys locate im from chicago i will be nice if we go one day to spearfishing all together

[@SteveN-ws4vu]

Wanna meet up in August and do a little spearfishing?

[@findorsal1470]

why did you shot the smallmouth bass?

[@jessemiller8818]

I am getting a speargun for my birthday this month. i live in muskegon. do i need a special license for fishing with a speargun?

[@revmike2080]

Jesse, that is awesome! No special license, just your standard fishing license. What gun are you getting?

[@jessemiller8818]

i'm not entirely sure yet. probably the JBL explorer 20 but i dont really know anything about spearguns. never done it before

[@revmike2080]

Jesse Miller I would definitely go with something a bit bigger, especially for the carp aspect (tougher skinned) something in the 70cm range with two bands, is about right for the average conditions in lake michigan, that way you could just use one band if only shooting suckers or very close range, but have the option for the second band. I shoot a 90cm Mako and only occasionally it is too murky to use effectively, but I got the bigger gun as I also go to Florida and the added range and power is essential. For the same money as the JBL 20, you could get a Mako 70cm ($165) I have been very happy with mine, and no issues.

[@revmike2080]

www.makospearguns.com/Predator-Pro-2nd-Generation-Railgun-p/mpp2gr.htm

[@jessemiller8818]

that looks great thanks! what kind of shaft type would i choose? the options are notched or mini shark fin

[@flakpanzer737883]

Hey I was wondering for michigan regulations how long is the line on your speargun required to be,

[@mikesabatino2683]

The Michigan Regs say you have to "have the spear under control by means of an attached line not exceeding twenty feet in length" (no free-shafting in Michigan I guess) www.eregulations.com/michigan/fishing/bow-spear-fishing-regulations/ =)

[@justinbarber2386]

I'm a certified diver on the east side of Michigan, and have thought about buying a spear gun for a long time. However, I thought it was illegal to spearfish, regardless of species, in the great lakes, or any water connected... I'm not trying to say I am right, but just want some confirmation. I think it would be a great time...

[@revmike2080]

Justin, thanks for your comment. Michigan regs say you CAN spear in "ALL WATERS except: Designated Trout Lakes and Designated Trout Streams and Michigan-Wisconsin boundary waters" ...With the exception of the boundary waters, the bulk of the great lakes don't fit the description. When you go inland, you need to watch for the "Designated" trout lakes/streams (we cannot spear in these or even possess spear gear, unless they are exempted. (there is a list of exempted) Be aware there are "regular" trout lakes that you can spear in. Example: Muskegon lake is a Trout lake (Type F), but not a DESIGNATED trout lake, therefore OK to spear. From the DNR guide: [Designated Trout Lakes: All Type A, all Type D and those Type B* lakes marked with an asterisk (*) are designated trout lakes] Hope that helps, if you have a specific question, the regional DNR enforcement should be able to help you out. (I called ours before our segment aired on Michigan Out of Doors, just to make double sure we were in the right. =) We have a Facebook group "Michigan Freedivers and Spearos", might jump in there for connect with other spearos.

[@scrapper145]

revmike2080 How often do you go spearing in lake michigan? I have trouble finding fellow spearos to go out with on the lake. Hows the the michigan shoreline?

[@revmike2080]

Miguel Ferdinand We have a Facebook group Michigan Freedivers and Spearos. If you join that you can probably connect with some folks thru there. Otherwise, hit up the "Freshwater Spearos" section of Spearboard.com and post a shout out there. Hope that helps, Mike

[@jeffyboye9739]

Can you tell Which pier this is

[@Rodentfisherman]

I’m pretty sure that brown trout are gamefish

[@revmike2080]

You are correct. Never run across any so far, in the fall you sometimes see salmon around the piers as they prepare to make the run up the rivers to spawn.

[@mattgotsskill]

is this the left side of the pier wher people swim? or the other side?

[@revmike2080]

mattgotsskill There is only ever 1-2' of visibility in the river, this the lake side.

[@RockHardClimber]

Its very interesting to watch how curious the bass are. I would think they would be more skittish, but they look like they come right up to you to try and figure out what you are.

[@mrme8419]

1:12 hunting rocks at this point lol

[@warmdream1863]

That didnt look like very deep water to me. if it was deeper than 50 ft, The sun wouldnt reflect in the water

[@revmike2080]

warm dream Correct, I replied to a comment earlier this is about 16-26' as the fish hang around the structure of the pier. Thanks for your comment/question.

[@garyemeryoutdoors2990]

thank you for not spearing the bass haha, very cool and interesting video

[@ahernandez1080]

GaryEmeryOutdoors it's illegal to spear or bow hunt game fish in Michigan.

[@russgabel]

What kind of spear gun are you using?

[@revmike2080]

That is a Mako Predator Pro G2 90cm Probably the longest I would recommend for around here due to visibility (doesn't work so well if the tip of the speargun is projecting out ahead of you into the murk...) A few of my friends are using 70cm with good success. =)

[@revmike2080]

Russ Gabel Double 16mm bands, open muzzle, mini shark fin makospearguns.com

[@revmike2080]

Russ Gabel First bit of "equipment" you should get though, is qualified training. We've already had one close call with an untrained diver pushing it, and blacking out. Definitely don't want to have anything more serious.

[@mattcoleman9068]

gay sorry you did not show the fish you got

[@bradymetzger4783]

What did u film this with?

[@revmike2080]

Go Pro Hero 2 720p 60fps Standard Housing (I think) The new "Dive Housing" is beyond noticeably better. See the difference here >>> Gopro Dive Housing

[@bradymetzger4783]

thanks mike

[@planisphere2044]

Nice Largemouth bass however I don't think they taste to good.

[@brittonscorzelli3637]

Planisphere 204 where did you hear that ??? They taste amazing

[@hellosweetheart3350]

Small mouth live near the rocks btw

[@flakpanzer737883]

Do you have a dive float, if so what is it tied to?

[@mikesabatino2683]

Dive float is the standard cylinder float with weighted flagpole thru the middle We hang the stringer off the flag, and then clip the gun to a 35-50' float line. With that setup, we are free to drop the gun if need be, and also keeps the flag and fish "with us".

[@michaelmarceau375]

Do you eat these fish or just kill them?

[@revmike2080]

+Michael Marceau I eat what I shoot. Some of these "trash fish" (sheepshead, catfish, and even carp are quite good)

[@jordanhicks5131]

revmike2080 catfish are not trash fish.

[@revmike2080]

I agree, thats why I put it in "quotes" =)

[@dalonfrench789]

Would love to go spear there I always see catfish but you can spear them here in Texas kinda lame :/ but we have a whole lot of tilapia so it's ok I guess. Check out my speargun reviews on my channel would appreciate it l!

[@coltondonohoe7557]

wh ydidnt you shoot those bass

[@revmike2080]

Bass are not legal to shoot in Michigan, just rough fish, catfish, and whitefish.

[@MrBonafide247]

Yes it's bonafidespearguns.com

[@user-lq1gi9hv7k]

very noisy

[@fredbear1568]

Where on the pier was that?

[@revmike2080]

South. North pier doesn't hardly have any rocks and therefore doesn't hold 1/10th of the fish that the south does.