Abstract:
A device for spearing a fish may include a shaft having a spearing tip at a first end thereof. A first grip may be attached to a second end of the shaft. A second grip may be slidably engaged with the shaft. An extension spring may be interposed between and may be attached to the first grip and the second grip.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to devices and methods that may be employed to spear fish. More particularly, the invention relates to spearing of lionfish. 
         [0002]    Lionfish is a species of invasive non-native fish that has invaded the waters of the Caribbean. The lionfish is one of the most venomous fish on the ocean floor. Lionfish have venomous dorsal spines that are used for defense. When threatened, the fish faces its attacker in an upside down posture which brings its spines to bear. Lionfish have no natural enemies that inhabit the waters of the Caribbean and they are destroying reefs across the Caribbean. Various steps are being taken to stop the progression and reproduction of the lionfish and push back the lionfish and its havoc from the Caribbean reefs without damaging the reef or injuring the divers. 
         [0003]    Current practices for eradicating lionfish involve spearing the lionfish with large conventional fish spears that may contact and destroy portions of delicate coral reefs in which the lionfish may swim. 
         [0004]    As can be seen, there is a need for a method for eradicating lionfish which does not result in damage to coral reefs. Furthermore there is a need for a compact and easy-to-carry device that may perform such eradication by killing lionfish. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention, a device for spearing a fish may comprise: a shaft having a spearing tip at a first end thereof; a first grip attached to a second end of the shaft; a second grip slidably engaged with the shaft; and an extension spring interposed between and attached to the first grip and the second grip. 
         [0006]    In another aspect of the present invention, a method for spearing a fish may comprise the steps of: providing for applying spring force to a shaft that is attached to a spear tip; providing for placing the spear tip adjacent the fish; and providing for releasing the spring force to allow the spear tip to impale the fish. 
         [0007]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  are perspective views of a fish spearing device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1  taken along the lines  5 - 5 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the device of  FIG. 1  in a potential spearing mode; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the device of  FIG. 1  in fish-impaling configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0014]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0015]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a self-contained powerful and environmentally safe spear device that may kill marine life on reefs. The present invention may provide a spring-driven self-contained spearing device to capture or kill marine life on reefs without disturbing the surrounding environment. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , it may be seen that an exemplary embodiment of a spearing device  10  may comprise a piston grip  12 , a cylinder grip  14 , an extension spring  16 , roll pins  18 , nuts  20 , a shaft  22  and a spear tip  30 . Optionally, the device  10  may be provided with a spear tip safety cover  24  held in place with an elastic band  26 . A coupling  28  may be provided so that various types of the spear tips  30  may be attached to the shaft  22 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates the device  10  in a configuration that may be considered a relaxed mode.  FIG. 2  illustrates the device  10  in a configuration that may be considered a potential spearing mode.  FIG. 3  illustrates the device  10  in a configuration that may be considered a relaxed, safe mode. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an exemplary method of using the device  10  to spear a fish such as a lionfish  40  is illustrated. A diver (not shown) may pull the piston grip  12  into a retracted position with one hand while holding the cylinder grip  14  with his or her other hand. This action may extend the spring  16  and draw the spear tip  30  to a position near an outer face  14 - 1  of the cylinder grip  14 . In this configuration the device  10  may be considered to be in the potential spearing mode. The diver may then position the outer face  14 - 1  and the tip  30  near a lionfish  40 . After the tip  30  is positioned near the lionfish  40 , the diver may release the piston grip  12  while still holding the cylinder grip  12 . The spring  16  may then force the shaft  22  forward and the tip  30  may be driven into and through the lionfish  40 . 
         [0019]    The device  10  may be uniquely capable of killing lionfish because lionfish, by nature, do not swim away from predators. On the contrary, lionfish depend on their venomous appendages to defend against predators. Consequently, a diver can position the spear tip  30  close to or in actual contact with the lionfish  40  before releasing the piston grip  12 . Consequently, the spear tip  30  may need to travel only a short distance before impaling and passing through the lionfish. Tip travel of only about  6  to about  8  inches may be suitable for impaling a lionfish. 
         [0020]    It may be seen that with such a short tip-travel distance, the tip  30  may be readily controlled by the diver so that the tip  30  and/or the shaft  22  does not strike and damage delicate coral reef. Moreover, it may be seen that the device  10  may be compact so that it may be attached to D rings of a conventional buoyancy control device and carried continuously by a diver. Thus the device  10  may be available for use at any time that a diver may see a lionfish and wish to kill it. 
         [0021]    The device  10  may be adapted so that it may be employed to kill a lionfish that is in location not readily accessible to a diver, e.g., a crevice in a reef. In that case, the diver may remove the tip  30  from the coupling  28  and replace it with an extension tip  32  (see  FIG. 1 ). Even though the extension tip  32  may be long, its tip travel may be the same as that of the tip  30 . Furthermore, it is possible to replace the tip  30  with an expandable three prong tip  34  such as that shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0022]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.