Spearfishing 101: How to Dive Into a New and Exciting Fishing Experience
Spearfishing is an iconic aquatic sport that began booming in the early 1930s, but this rooted means of survival goes back much farther in human history. As one of the oldest and most sustainable fishing techniques, spearfishing can be dated back to the Paleolithic era when early man began making home across Africa's coast. They used barbed poles (harpoons) and even documented this on ancient cave walls. Along with this, spearfishing was so utilized throughout the years that you can even find mentions of it in the bible, Job 41:7.
Pushing technological advancements aside for a moment, spearfishing has not altered that much since that first harpoon was invented. And though it has clearly withstood the tests of time, it does not change the fact that getting started is not exactly an easy process, especially with the laws and regulations in place today to ensure that this fishing practice stays sustainable. Now, if you still crave to master this extreme sport and tap into your primal instincts, then here is a comprehensive overview on how to get started.
What You Need
Aside from needing profound patience and good swimming skills, you are going to need to stock up on quality gear, including:
- A spearfishing license to fish legally (The proceeds from the fee goes towards efforts for conserving the fish and their environment)
- Mask
- Snorkel
- Wetsuit and a weight belt to counteract buoyancy
- Fins
- Gloves
- A good knife
- A spear or speargun
What Kind of Spear/Speargun Should You Get?
Every piece of equipment you get serves a vital purpose, but the spear is one that drives the ship. As a beginner, you may be wondering what type of spear to get. The answer to that question depends on your individual strength and where you plan on fishing. For some more insight and direction, start with shallow water.
For shallow water spearfishing, the most commonly used spears are the Hawaiian Sling or Pole Spear. Both are affordable, and you can even make a DIY one with the right tools and materials. These spears have sharp ends and sometimes feature three prongs. The sling, or band, allows you to fire the spear shaft at your catch.
The Hawaiian Sling
Much like a bow and arrow, the typical wooded shooter on this speargun uses a high-powered rubber strap to propel the spear forward. The band attaches to a tube that houses the spear and keeps the spear in place. This allows you to aim accurately while shooting. The tube also features a holder that the spear attaches to, making it seamless to retrieve after shooting.
The Pole Spear
Traditionally, pole spears are made out of fiberglass and were designed to fire directly out of the hunter’s hand. The tip connects to a rope that you thread through the fiberglass tube, and that said rope connects to a high-powered band located at the end of the pole. On the pole, there is a notch that allows the band to be pulled back and gives the hunter a free hand to finalize the setup. Once the spear is loaded, the band releases from the notch and held in the hunter’s hand ready to fire. Once the spear is fired, it is easily retrievable from the hunter’s other hand, as they were holding onto a bungee coil that is connected to the end of the rope.
Deep Water Spearfishing Equipment
Heading into the deeper waters, most hunters choose to use an all-powerful speargun. These tend to get pricey, but they do work exceptionally well. Breaking it down some more, there are currently two main types of spearguns on the market for deepwater spearfishing: band powered and pneumatic.
Pneumatic Spearguns
Pneumatic spearguns do not contain any bands or slings; the air powers them. All you would need to do is insert the shaft into the speargun barrel. As you push that in, air will compress inside the shaft, which will push back out when you pull the trigger. This speargun requires reloading time but does provide a more significant impact and penetration on larger fish. The only real downside is that these guns make noise, meaning it can scare away fish in the vicinity.
Band-Powered Spearguns
Band-powered spearguns are prevalent amongst both new and experienced fishers. They are virtually silent when shot, accurate, and only require one pullback of a high-powered band to load. From there, the hunter just needs to aim and fire. When done, retrieving the rope and spear is an easy process since everything is attached.
Types of Freediving Techniques
Jumping into the types of freediving, there are three main spearfishing techniques that you can partake in surface hunting, mid-water level hunting, and deep-water hunting.
Surface Spearfishing Techniques
The majority of your time spearfishing is going to be spent hunting on the surface of the water, or in the shallows. Yes, you may be tempted to dive deeper, but understand that diving burns a lot of energy. In the end, you will be surprised at how much you can see from cruising along at the surface while looking down.
Mid-Water Level Spearfishing Techniques
Mid-water spearfishing tends to be around 10-20 feet in depth, and you will only be able to dive for as long as you can hold your breath. In summary, this technique is commonly used where there is limited visibility, like a Kelp Forest, for example. Since this one can burn energy quickly, it is essential to recover at the surface in-between dives. In addition, never dive alone and keep an eye on your buddy to ensure that they are safe and conserving energy, with the trust they are monitoring the same for you.
Deep Water Spearfishing Techniques
Depending on the maximum depth of where you are diving, this can be a very challenging technique. In general, fish on the bottom are more easily spooked than on the surface or mid-level. So, you will need to have high lung capacity and learn how to be super stealthy in order to be successful. For some pointers, try to blend into your surroundings as much as possible and stay still to avoid spooking the fish. Along with this, never dive alone, and make sure that you and your diving buddy are resting in between dives in order to conserve your energy.
Conditions to Avoid
In poor visibility conditions, fish are more easily spooked than in clear water. Furthermore, not only is it difficult to see what you are diving towards, but it also is not easy to catch a fish since your movements will scare them off. With the addition of murky waters, you will not be able to see where they went. This is why we recommend you stick to clear water conditions whenever possible.
Another condition to avoid is rough waters. Even at the surface, water can splash into your snorkel, which can be exhausting to continuously clear out. This, in conjunction with the massive toll it will have pushing your body around, can make you burn through your energy quickly. Overall, this is not an ideal environment to spearfish in, and one you should avoid.
Conclusion - Prepare, Dive, and Enjoy
As you can see, there is a lot that goes into the art of spearfishing. From the gear you choose, the depths you hunt in, all the way down to how long you can hold your breath play a significant factor in how successful you will be in the end. But one thing for sure is the more prepared you are right from the start, the better off you will be.
In summary, knowing the right pre-fishing steps to take, such as obtaining a spearfishing license, and understanding the features of each type of spear is what will set you up on the right foot as you go tapping into one of the oldest fishing methods of all time. When you feel confident that you are fully prepared and ready to begin, go ahead and make the dive. Soak in that unmatched aquatic experience, and enjoy every thrilling moment of the underwater hunt. Because after all, there is truly nothing quite like it.
