Spearfishing

Spearfishing is an adventure sport which I have only just started doing. Spearfishing is an addition to snorkeling, and is great fun. Spearfishing involves using a gun underwater, and shooting fish. Spearfishing guns are either air powered, or rubber powered. In each case, spearfishing guns can be extremely dangerous, so it’s highly important to learn how to use them before attempting to enjoy the sport.

Spearfishing laws are different in various areas of the world, in terms of what you can shoot, sizes, and areas that you are allowed to go spearfishing in. It is highly important to ensure that you are obeying the law; there are massive fines if you do the wrong thing in regards to spearfishing.  Many fish are protected, and there are areas known as marine zones where you may not be allowed to spear fish in at all.

I first started spearfishing with a gidgee. I paid 35 AUD.  A gidgee is an aluminum or fiberglass pole with a spearhead at the end, and a rubber at the other end. You loop the rubber through a finger, and pull the rubber up the pole. As the rubber becomes tight and you see a fish within your reach (that is legal size) you take a shot. The spear heads are either multiple prongs, or a single prong. The idea of these spearfishing poles is to go through the fish, and stop them from moving off.

I then began to use a spear gun that my brother owned, being the most basic gun on the market. You can pick one of these up for under 50 UD, and they are quite fun to play around with, and to let you know whether you enjoy spearfishing or not. When buying these spearfishing guns however, be aware that you are probably going to get what you have paid for. They don’t tend to fire very far, and they aren’t always access, but they are great fun to play around with.

Just today, I purchased a new spearfishing gun; an orca. This is made in South Africa, and I paid 410 AUD. I used it for the first time today. It is only middle of the range in spearfishing guns, but I am very happy with it. The spear is much longer, and the rubber allows for the spear to fire much further. It is also accurate; so now I have more chance of hitting a fish!

Different spearfishing guns have various ways of loading the spear. Some require just using the hips, but others are loaded in the centre of the chest. Many spearfishing wetsuits that you purchase have a loading pad located in the centre of the chest; your sternum. Loading a spearfishing gun takes some technique; you would be surprised at how little strength you really need to load a gun.

When spearfishing, it is important to try and kill the fish in one go. This means hitting the fish in the head, as close as you can to the brain. If the fish does not die straight away, you simply pull it in, and put a knife through the back of the eyes. It sounds cruel, but it’s the most humane way.

Spearfishing equipment can be as basic as a spear gun, mask and fins, however a knife, wetsuit and float line or reel are ideal. A float line is just a line attached to an inflatable float or non inflatable float.  The idea behind this is that you put any fish that have been shot at the end of the line, near the float. If a shark is to attack, it’s most likely to attack the fish. Sharks are more interested in fish than humans, so be sure to keep the fish as far away from you as possible. In spearfishing, a reel allows the spear to ‘wind out’ as long as the line is. This is ideal when going spearfishing for large fish, because you can let them run, and then wind them back in. With a float, you just let the spearfishing gun go (its attached to the float line) and the fish will swim until it is tired. Another technique used by spearfishing professionals is to remove the fish from the water; either in a towed container or in a boat.

Spearfishing can be done by using SCUBA, or simply free diving. Free diving is cheaper, because you need less gear, and you don’t have to pay for the air! Learning to hold your breath for a long time underwater is challenging, but highly possible. Many good spearfishing professionals can hold their breath underwater for over 3 minutes!

Spearfishing equipment can be expensive, but once it is purchased you are set for a long time. Rubbers may need to be replaced every now and again, but most of the gear is non perishable. Spearfishing is a sport which I am starting to get into now, and thoroughly enjoying it. If you want to try something challenging, fun and exhilarating, try spearfishing.