Whether you are just beginning your spearfishing journey or you have been doing this activity for the years, it is always good to check for tips and tricks to get the most out of your fishing experience. This is a guide for beginners, experts, and everyone in between on the fascinating and exhilarating sport that is spearfishing.
Spearfishing Tips and Tricks to Try
Before you go spearfishing on your own, it is always beneficial to do some research so that you are the most prepared you can be. Learn about the history of spearfishing along with the different kinds of techniques right here.
Top Spearfishing Tips
- Spearfishing for Beginners
- Spearfishing Equipment and Gear
- Safety Tips
- Start Small
- Free Dive Spearfishing
- Scuba Spearfishing
- Best Spearfishing Locations
Spearfishing for Beginners
When beginning your spearfishing journey, you want to make sure you know the basics before you “dive” right in.
First things first, before you head out into the water with your speargun, know what the laws in your state are on spearfishing. Know what bodies of water and what kind of fish are within your legal limits before you try to catch anything. Once you have done your research on what you can and cannot do, you are one step closer to beginning your spearfishing journey.
Another important factor to keep in mind when spearfishing is to be respectful of the ecosystem you are entering when fishing. Spearfishing involves a closer and more personal interaction with your prey, so you want to make sure you are not encroaching more than you should be. Make sure to respect the waters and only take as much as you need, all within limits.
Lastly, never be afraid to ask for help. Whether it be in person or online, there is always a community ready to help you out when it comes to spearfishing. Make sure you feel confident and have all your questions answered before you head out into the water.
Safety Tips
- Always stay calm. With a calm mind and body you can put all your attention towards spearfishing. Staying relaxed is always important when diving or swimming, and with dangerous gear on you as well it’s even more important.
- Go with a friend. This is a basic rule of thumb in the spearfishing community. There is a certain level of uncertainty as to what can happen when you get into the water on any given day. With the comfort of having a friend close by, you will be more confident in your endeavors. If something were to happen or an injury were to occur, you’d have someone to help you and call for help.
- Do your research. Talk to experienced spearos or even go to your local fishing shop and see what they have to say about local spots to go spearfishing. Look up what the risks are and figure out if this is something you are definitely willing to put your time and effort into.
- Check water conditions. Be aware if the water is rough before going in. You do not want the water to be pushing you around, so make sure to check the water before going spearfishing.
Start Small
It is recommended to always start small in the beginning. Even if you aren’t a beginner, you should start small because you do not always know what to expect from the water or the fish in it. It is good to be cautious when going in, because that eliminates unnecessary risks from occurring.
When you first start out, you shouldn’t go in water deeper than 20 feet. You want to start in more shallow water and build up to deeper water so that you feel confident in your surroundings.
In the beginning, make sure you are in the water at least once or twice a week. You want to get comfortable with the water and consistently going will help with that, even if you don’t actually catch anything. When you finally enter the water, you want to start by aiming for small fish.
To minimize your chances of error in the beginning, aim for fish from behind or at their gills. The equipment you use is also very important – you want to make sure that you start with the most minimalistic equipment so that you do not make it too complicated for yourself or hurt yourself.
Spearfishing Equipment and Gear
When it comes to equipment for spearfishing, you want to make sure you do your research before investing in some pretty costly, but worthwhile, equipment. You want to make sure you don’t get anything that will weigh you down while out in water, but you also want to ensure that you are not missing anything down there either.
When it comes to spearfishing gear, you want to make sure you invest in good quality masks, gloves, and fins. Also consider getting a wetsuit if you know you will be spending a lot of time in cold waters so you can protect yourself. You will be in the water for several hours while spearfishing, so make sure you are fully prepared before getting in.
More often than not, a good spear gun, some buoyancy tools, and an appropriate knife are all you need when getting started with spearfishing.
Finding the right speargun for you might be a time consuming process. There are many different sizes and models of guns, but with a little research and help from experienced fishers, you should be able to find the perfect one.
Since humans are naturally buoyant, going in deep to dive and hunt might be difficult and exhausting if you struggle to stay down in the water. Before going down, you should do thorough research into understanding buoyancy and how a weight belt could help. Wearing a weight belt will make it easier to stay at the water level you want to be at without exerting too much bodily effort.
A knife really comes in handy in two main scenarios. The first is if you ever get tangled in something and need to get loose. You should keep the knife in a place you can easily access it to cut yourself free. The second scenario is if you do not hit your target in the correct spot. If you see the fish is badly injured, but still alive from your hit you want to be able to do the humane thing and use your knife to finish the job.
Free Dive Spearfishing
Out of the different styles of spearfishing, free diving can be one of the most dangerous. You have little to no equipment and are diving deep into the water. For this type of fishing especially, you have to build your endurance.
For a long period of time you will be underwater,patiently waiting for your prey with a heavy spear gun, so you want to constantly be aware of how you are feeling and know when it is time to go back up for air. You should also be aware of what the rules are in the location you are spearfishing about free diving. Make sure that it is allowed and that you follow any of their rules and regulations to ensure your safety.
When free diving, you can use snorkeling equipment as well. Experts recommend that when choosing a snorkel you should go for a darker color. This is because you want to be able to blend in into the water and not scare away the fish when you start getting close.
Scuba Spearfishing
To go scuba spearfishing, you must first become a certified scuba diver. After that, you can begin your scuba spearfishing experience. Spearfishing with scuba equipment is much different from free diving, and is also a lot safer. You have more time underwater, thus allowing you to be more selective when hunting for your fish.
Opposite to the snorkeling gear you have when free diving, you want your snorkel to be simple and have bright colors when scuba spearfishing. This is so that you remain visible to the boat on the surface. The snorkel should also be more flexible so that in case you want to, you can just fold it up and keep it in a jacket pocket.
Best Spearfishing Locations
Some of the best spearfishing locations are right here in America. People often take vacations to these places just to stay at the beach and get in the water, but your beach vacation can also be a spearfishing vacation. From Rhode Island to Hawaii, these places have some of the finest locations to catch the best fish you can imagine. Before spearfishing in a different location, make sure you are always aware of the state and local fishing laws.
As soon as spring weather hits, Florida is the place to be because it is the peak time to catch the big mahi-mahi, and the water is full of life with other fish as well. Florida is the right place to be for any diver at any stage of experience because there are so many options. There are many shallow spots for beginners to explore, along with deep waters where experienced divers can show off.
With eight different islands making up Hawaii, you have infinite spots to explore spearfishing possibilities. There is a lot of history and tradition when it comes to spearfishing in Hawaii, and the sport is still very much alive there today. Some of the best seafood can be found here, so you do not want to miss the opportunity to catch your own.
On the coast of California you can live out your wildest dreams as a spearo. The size of the fish that live in these parts of the water can be intimidating, but they will make for unbelievable stories when you go back home.
Although Rhode Island might not be the first place you think of when you think of spearfishing, it should be a the top of your list. Here you will find the most abundant amounts of striped sea bass. The Block Island is located about 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island and has ample amounts of your favorite catches such as black sea bass, bluefish and triggerfish.
If you’re willing to travel to visit the best spearfishing destinations in the world, there are some amazing locations known for perfect conditions and abundant fish.
Stay Safe While Spearfishing
Always remember that your safety is the most important thing when spearfishing. Especially if you are new to the sport or you’re simply trying a different spot than your usual one, you want to be extra careful. In case something goes wrong, you should make sure that you always have a knife on you in case you get tangled and need to break free.
It is very important to have a tow line to not only show other neighboring boats that you are in the water, but also as something you can hold onto if you ever need a break. Holding your breath for so long under water can be very dangerous, so you never want to stay under for longer than you know you are able.
Just like any other sport, play hard, have fun, but most importantly, stay safe out there.
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