SPEARFISHING NATIONALS! New Zealand 2023: My Final Competition

[@nikoi9150]

i couldn’t agree with what you are saying more. need more spearos like you

[@BlueNeoprene]

Thank you Nikoi! I make these videos to try and get more people engaged with messages can be boring, admittedly. Talking about sustainability has less appeal to most people than shooting fish. Plenty of content like that out there so little point in the bigger picture. I hope to bring important issues to light while still engaging with people.

[@Sealman4958]

Hey bro awesome vid. I'm a diver on Stewart Island and while I know a lot of people who share your values, it's definitely disheartening seeing how many even down here have almost no sympathy for the ocean. Spearfishing is a special thing and it's up to us to make sure future generations get to experience it too. Keep up the good work.

[@BlueNeoprene]

Cheers B1155FU15HAD0WXD! I am often taken back by some people's disregard for sustainably, but I don't think it comes from a bad place usually. I believe that everybody has the capacity to care, deeply. But this often repressed. Educating people to the reality and possible futures for our oceans would open the hearts of most. To see the beauty of our natural world and understand the fragility. To see the planet dying and live in its steady decline. I don't think you can be conscious of this and not want to aim for positive change. It's an uncomfortable reality, for a long time I wanted to believe it was all goods and I could kill as many fish as I liked. It's not like that unfortunately. We can't resent people for not sharing our world view. If somebody is indifferent to conservation it is likely due to misinformation or lack, they're of. The people who have no sympathy for the ocean are also those who would benefit most from the expanded consciousness that environmental aware ness lets you tap into! I want people who hate sustainably and enjoy killing fish to watch these videos.

[@bomblifenewzealand]

Respect to you for your view on that topic. Values are important. You stand out amongst those idiots who dont respect kai moana. you got my sub

[@BlueNeoprene]

Chur my bro, stoked to have you here! I have been finding motivation for KZbin hard to come by recently. Your comment helps, I need to remember that I don’t do this for myself for for others and our world.

[@bomblifenewzealand]

@@BlueNeoprene always keen to come for a dive with you and learn some new things. Let us know bruv

[@KiwiKaimoana]

I must say this video is not a surprise and I admire you for taking a stance on how berleying wastes fish. I saw the leaderboard on Facebook and saw you were on zero and instantly I realized that something is up. Oscar doesn't go into a spearfishing comp and on day 1 have a score of 0 unless something else is going on. Wasn't sure what it was but I figured you'd have a good reason.

[@BlueNeoprene]

Thanks KiwiKaimoana, I got a few "?" when the scores went up. Fish burley is so sad to see, I have little sympathy when the sharks turn up in those situations. I'll take filleted fish frames out occasionally and dive them, but killing fish for this purpose exclusively, bad karma.

[@keriboi]

Hey dont discount those fish! I bought 10 kohies at the fish auction and used them for bait the following day to go out and catch a 20lb snapper. I got a lifetime fish, you guys went diving and competed with the best and the local fire brigade got funding from my donation.

[@BlueNeoprene]

Hey Keriboy, thats a cool story. I am stoked for you! You benefited from this event, so did the fire brigade and basically everybody else involved. But the environment and mother nature pay the price ultimately. I will not deny the positivity it brought to many people, but they have their own voices. I am here to try and speak on the behalf of our natural world, which certainly did not benefit from the event.

[@keriboi]

@@BlueNeoprene its called Sustainability. Everyone was hugely within their limits of take. The Bay of Islands charter fleet would take more snapper daily that what that whole comp took over two days. Its an annual event. Need to look at the bigger picture.

[@dirty_diver]

I feel the same way about spearfishing! Starting from my love of ocean. Also, my list of fish I would like to spear includes pink and blue maomao - it sounds sustainable and they look delicious .. and Ive never seen them. Hawaii just had a comp JUST for invasive species. I think is a great idea.

[@BlueNeoprene]

Mao mao species are good options to target in terms of sustainability, they also taste excellent! I saw Ryan’s video of said competition, very good idea. Fortunately for us in nz an invasive species comp wouldn’t be much more than exotic seaweeds and long spine Kina

[@dirty_diver]

@@BlueNeoprene He (Ryan Myers) didn’t mention, but Kimmi entered and won something! Im such a fan of hers.

[@Ffn23]

Tripper

[@BlueNeoprene]

Life is a trip my g

[@hemirizvi6585]

Alot more sustainable than commercial fishing even recreational fishing (long lines, trawling, kontikis, drag netting) don't be so hard on yourself. You obviously love the sea and the life that calls it home, I respect your spiritual and intellectual connection with the ocean but at the end of the day it's the most sustainable way of fishing and your not disrespecting the place you are so fond of by letting yourself stray from your conservative beliefs for 1-2 days to show your full abilities. Much love brother and I love your take on the Moana all of us kiwis are so deeply connected to. 🎉

[@hemirizvi6585]

Ps I can't fault you for your view of burleying illegal fish

[@BlueNeoprene]

Hey Hemirizvi, thanks for the support. I used to desire the ability to show off, but it doesn't feel right to me in this context anymore. I don't want the reputation of a killer; I want to save the fish! My past achievements at nationals, I felt pride at the time. But now they symbolize to me the diving I am probably least proud of. My diving performances at nationals have been riddled with mistakes and arguably characterized by greed. The mindset of competition is not productive for the calm, methodical and patient style I try dive. That may be my own fault, but for me I don't think it's worth competing. Either I retain my values or indulge in a competitive mindset that will probably haunt me. 1-2 days is too long for me to ignore the way I truly think and feel!

[@hemirizvi6585]

Also your outlook on nationals completely flipped itself from last year lol you were literally saying the complete opposite. Can i ask what happened over the last year for your view and beliefs to completely do a 180?

[@BlueNeoprene]

For starters the conditions were completely different. This year was heading out to epic spots on epic days, while the previous year was challenging spots on challenging days. Right from the start it was clear that a lot more fish would be killed. However, the most seemed to relish the opportunity, excited to kill as many fish as possible. I have spent time reflecting on the way I conduct myself with the growth of Blue Neoprene. And have come to the realization that I do not want to promote anything that I wouldn't want to see other people doing. I don't believe that it is fair to say my views and beliefs changed a whole 180. Both events can be judged from the same perspective and obvious differences found between the two. If this year's event happened a year earlier, I think I would feel the same way. Nowadays I am harder on myself and more resolute in my beliefs, but they are not new ones. I want to be a servant of mother nature, but I cannot do that while inspiring death. Humans are monkey see; monkey do. The more you do something the more likely others are to follow suit. If everyone dived like they were in Nationals or another Competiton, there would be less fish and more deaths. I don't want to encourage this, and I don't really want to be a part of it myself. Not to say "DONT DO COMPS" but personally it's not for me anymore, but I could always tell. The burleying speech was the final nail for me and I never want to ever be associated with such acts. In competing you are both condoning and associating yourself with the event. I don't think events of spearfishing NZ do much to help our environment (except catfish cull). I am in constant competition with myself and don't feel the need to measure against others. I don't need to be the best, I just want to keep improving.

[@rvierra7235]

Dude, if you dont like the competition format, then fine. But to continue to harp on the matter serves no purpose. Just here to watch some spearfishing, not start a political movement.

[@BlueNeoprene]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I’m glad you found this video. There is often more to be gained from listening to those who disagree, rather than agree! I state the aim within the first minute but if you want to overlook that I will reiterate. The aim is to help people make an informed decision regarding their own participation. A lot of people have never competed and are curious of what it’s like. Beyond that the purpose is to show the somewhat ugly truth about competitions. Watch it with the sound off, or watch something else if you don’t like to hear differing opinions. But I think you, in particular, would benefit from trying different thoughts. Much love my Dude 🌊💙

[@mattgreenaway4091]

Cringe much 😂😂

[@Senates]

how?

[@BlueNeoprene]

Thanks for the comment, hope you enjoyed xo

[@mariobertora]

I had bad experiences of compo spearfishing here in NZ and Italy. Left the competitions (Never taken too seriously anyway) due to persisting plague of cheaters !!!!!!

[@BlueNeoprene]

So, you're telling me that fish don't naturally eat lead weights? lol. I think a big part of spearfishing is freedom and much is lost in competitions.