Spearfishing sport is exciting and among the most liked fishing activities among scuba divers and free divers. If the sport has spiked your interest, you must be ready to learn the ropes and adjust to a thrilling learning curve.
Below are practical tips to help you improve your spearfishing prowess and make the most out of your time out there in the waters:
1. Dress In The Right Gear
First things first, safety is vital. One thing that can significantly improve your spearfishing sports experience is dressing right. Remember, there’s usually a lot of lurking danger in the ocean. For instance, you might be bitten by eels or hit by a boat.
Worse still, the tides can be so overwhelming that you end up drowning. Wearing the right gear can help you prepare for untoward scenarios. On this note, ensure you have the following essential diving gear:
Wetsuit:
It’s essential to choose the right wetsuit. It helps you stay warm underwater, which makes your experience more comfortable. There are several brands, designs, and sizes in the market, each with unique pros and cons.
One criterion you may want to consider is the material thickness to facilitate heat retention. However, it shouldn’t be so thick that it restricts your movement. You can find more here for more details on spearfishing sport wetsuit designs and selection tips.
Freediving fins:
These help you move faster in water and ensure you spend less energy swimming.
Weight Belt:
Typically, the human body tends to stick at around 5 meters underwater due to buoyancy, and it becomes challenging to dive deeper.
Weight belts add to your body mass, allowing you to reach deeper levels without struggle. This way, you find deep sea fishing more manageable, and you can catch fish resting at deeper levels.
Gloves:
While underwater, you must protect your hands from cuts as you knowingly or subconsciously grab fish, lobsters, or corals. Wear protective gloves to keep your hands safe.
Speargun:
This is what you’ll use to fire a spear at fish. Most of them are powered by natural latex rubber bands, but you can still use pneumatically powered models. Just have it in mind that the latter is less powerful.
You’d want to carry out regular maintenance on the speargun by cleaning and changing the rubber. A speargun that’s in great shape increases your chances of having a perfect shot while underwater.
Equipping yourself with the correct gear and wearing appropriate outfits sets you up for a seamless fishing experience.
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2. Know The Laws
Although it’s a popular sport, spearfishing sport isn’t allowed in all countries, states, or provinces. Some jurisdictions prohibit it, while others accept it under strict regulations. Additionally, you must have a special license to own a speargun.
On this note, other techniques, such as powerheads and bangsticks, may also not be allowed in your area of residence. You’ll also find that you can’t travel with some spearfishing gear across some countries.
For these reasons, knowing the spearfishing laws in your locality helps avoid inconveniences like getting arrested. Furthermore, with several fish species becoming extinct, there are regulations on what kind of fish you can hunt. While restrictions vary from region to region.
Here’s a list of species commonly prohibited for harvesting by spearing in several areas:
- Billfish
- Manta Ray
- Borne fish
- Sharks
- Stone crab
- Triple tail
- Tarpon
Check the local laws before choosing a given vacation spot for spearfishing sport.
3. Carry A Knife
The spearfishing adventure is full of twists and turns. You can spot your catch only to realize it’s caught up in the rope. The knife comes in handy in such an instance.
Additionally, you can use the knife to disentangle yourself if you get obstructed while underwater. Remember that plants and other objects could make the dive difficult.
A knife can help you avert the situation faster. You might also come across fish that’s stuck and needs rescuing. You can use the knife to free it.
4. Get The Techniques Right
Spearfishing sport can become a lot easier with the proper technique. As such, it’s essential to master the art of spearfishing before diving into the water. Below are some crucial methods you ought to learn:
Breathing:
You’ll be primarily underwater while spearfishing, sometimes for up to three or more minutes. Thus, knowing how to hold your breath for extended periods is critical.
It’s also wise to avoid noisy gulps for air to prevent scaring your target. You’ll have to practice hard for this one. But once you get the skill right, you’ll find spearfishing a breeze.
Diving:
It’d help to master basic and advanced swimming skills to avoid potential underwater dangers. It could mean taking swimming lessons to perfect the art.
The classes also offer incredible insights into how to use breathing equipment. Moreover, you’ll be able to tell how long you can take underwater, making the hunt more effective.
Camouflage:
As you go for the catch, you’d want to camouflage enough, so you don’t scare the fish away. Thus, making yourself as small as possible can help you secure the catch faster.
Wearing outfits that perfectly blend with the marine environment will also help to make you inconspicuous.
Streamlining:
You should also know how to position your head and body under the water to increase your glide while minimizing drag. Also, tucking your elbows on your body significantly reduces pain.
Right Spot:
Another factor determining how your spearfishing sports experience turns out is where you fish. First, observe how the fish behaves before diving into the water.
Search the areas likely to harbour fish, such as caves, vegetation, and rocks. It’s common to find fish in such places. You may avoid shallow places as fish rarely rest around such areas.
5. Fish On A Good Day
Weather plays a vital role in spearfishing activities. Note that most fish are active when the light is low. Thus, you’d want to plan your hunt around dusk or dawn.
They also move with the tide; experts recommend fishing about two hours before low tide for a bountiful catch.
Guides for Spearfishing sport
Spearfishing is an ancient form of fishing used for centuries to catch fish for food. In recent years, spearfishing has become popular, with people competing to see who can catch the most and largest fish.
If you’re interested in trying spearfishing, there are a few things you need to know before you get started. Here’s a quick guide to spearfishing for beginners:
1. Get the right gear. You’ll need a spearfishing gun, a wetsuit, and fins. You can find all of this gear at your local sporting goods store or online.
2. Learn the basics. Before you go out and start spearfishing, it’s important to learn the basics. This includes how to identify fish, shoot your gun, and properly handle a fish once you’ve caught it.
3. Get a license. In most states, you need a fishing license to go spearfishing. You can get a license at your local Department of Natural Resources office or online.
4. Find a good spot. Once you have all of your gear and a license, it’s time to find a good spot to go spearfishing. Look for areas with clear water and plenty of fish.
5. Be safe. Spearfishing can be dangerous if you’re not careful. Always follow the safety rules and use common sense when you’re out on the water.
With these tips in mind, you’re ready to go spearfishing! Just remember to have fun and be safe, and you’ll be sure to catch plenty of fish.
best things to carry on Spearfishing trips
Conclusion
Spearfishing sport can get more interesting if you master the basics and play by the rules. For this reason, it’s best to have the right gear and practice the appropriate techniques before getting into the ocean.
Other than that, you can also make the experience more thrilling by fishing in the company of some friends. After all, the more, the merrier. And it’s also a safety precaution, given that the seas are unpredictable.
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