Spearfishing Essential Kit March 16, 2016 by lukesheppard

Here at Simply Scuba we’ve put together a spearfishing kit guide to help beginner and novice spearos on the equipment you’ll need and features to look for…

WHY SPEARFISHING?

Spearfishing is the most economically friendly way to catch and eat fish and is growing in popularity over commercial fishing. There is virtually zero bycatch and no ghost gear is left behind afterwards unlike commercial fishing practices. Spearfishing takes skill, patience and specialist equipment to do it properly so it’s best to take a course first.  

1. SPEARGUN – KEY FEATURES

Grip: Your grip needs to fit in your hand comfortably as it needs to line up with your outstretched arm to line up your shot. 

Length: Short barrels are good for cramped places and surf but they lack the accuracy of a longer barrel. Long barrels are for accurate open water long shots but take longer to move to aim. 

Muzzle: Open muzzles are easier to load and have a better view down the shaft to aim. Closed muzzles hold the end of your shaft on the rail so it doesn’t bounce out in turbulence. 

Sling or Pneumatic: Slings use a pair of rubber bungees to propel your shaft. Pneumatic use compressed air to propel your shaft.  

2. FLOATLINE

Attaches either to your gun or your spear for easier retrieval if your shaft gets stuck and you need to surface without it.  

3. MASK

Your mask needs to be low volume with a wide FOV so you don’t need to equalise when descending and you can see the whole environment when you are fishing.  

4. WETSUIT

Different from a scuba or surfing wetsuit, the spearfishing wetsuit is a 2-part suit with a sticky open cell lining to trap water and keep you warmer in the water but are much harder to get into.  

5. SHAFT

Tahitian shafts have a single retracting barb either on the top (superior) or bottom (inferior) and a pointed tip. Threaded tips can have different heads fitted onto a single shaft depending on your needs.  

6. GLOVES

Thin gloves maintain dexterity while keeping your hands warm in the water.

 

7. STRINGER

A simple line to attach to your float with a threading bar on one end to hold your catch and transport it back to the shore.  

8. WEIGHT BELT

Webbing or rubber weight belts hold you lead around your waist with a quick release mechanism to ditch quickly if necessary.  

9. FLOAT

A surface marker buoy to let others know where you are in the water and to attach your equipment to prevent loss.  

10. KNIFE

A short pointed knife to cut lines and dispatch your catch as quickly as possible if your shot doesn’t kill your catch outright.  

11. FINS

Long fins transfer energy more efficiently and are made from one of three different materials. Polymer blades are tough but fibreglass and carbon fibre blades are more efficient at moving you through the water.  

12. BOOTS & SOCKS

Freediving fins have full foot pockets that are made to be used with neoprene socks to keep your feet warm instead of hard soled boots.   Have you ever been spearfishing?