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Essential Spearfishing Equipment

Getting the right equipment is crucial for a successful and safe spearfishing experience. Here’s a breakdown of the essential gear you’ll need:

Speargun or Pole Spear

The primary tool for spearfishing is the speargun or pole spear. There are different types of spearguns:

  • Band-powered Spearguns: Use rubber bands to launch the spear. They are easy to use and maintain, making them ideal for beginners.
  • Pneumatic Spearguns: Use compressed air to fire the spear. They are more powerful but require more maintenance.
  • Pole Spears: Simple and effective, they are perfect for shallow waters and smaller fish.
Speargun 90 with double flopper
Start Point Labrax 90 Speargun with double flopper

Spearfishing Wetsuit

A wetsuit is essential for maintaining body temperature and providing protection from marine life and sharp objects. Look for:

  • Thickness: Typically, a 5mm wetsuit is suitable for UK waters, providing warmth and flexibility.
  • Fit: A well-fitting wetsuit ensures comfort and mobility.
  • Protection: Sternal support (loading pad) and knee protection.
  • Camo or black: Does having a camouflage suit help?  Really, it comes down to personal preference and experience!  
  • Be aware: Spearfishing wetsuits are ‘open cell’ meaning they require ‘lubing’ the inside to put them on.

Watch Joe PK’s video which includes some great information on spearfishing wetsuits…

start point aspetto wetsuit jacket
Start Point Aspetto wetsuit jacket

Fins

Fins help you move efficiently through the water. Choose fins that are:

  • Long and flexible: These provide better propulsion and efficiency.
  • Comfortable: Ensure the foot pockets fit well to avoid blisters and discomfort.  Always try fins on in a shop with neoprene socks to ensure the best fit.
spearfishing fins
Fins

Mask and Snorkel

A good mask and snorkel are essential for visibility and breathing while on the surface. Look for:

  • Low Volume Mask: Easier to equalize and provides a wider field of view.
  • Low volume flexible Snorkel: Low volume and flexible snorkels are essential for freediving and spearfishing, in contrast to a large bulky snorkel purely designed for snorkelling on the surface.  

Weight Belt

A stretchy weight belt helps you maintain neutral buoyancy, allowing you to dive and stay underwater more easily. Make sure to:

  • Adjust Weight: Depending on your body weight and wetsuit thickness.  As a rule of thumb, use the same number of kilograms as the thickness of your suit.  Ie, with a 7mm wetsuit, start with 7Kg.
  • Quick Release: Ensure the belt has a quick-release mechanism for safety.  All belts sold at Start Point Spearfishing are quick release.
Seac Quick Release Rubber Weight Belt - Plastic Buckle

Dive Knife

A dive knife is a vital safety tool, used for:

  • Cutting Lines: If you get entangled in fishing lines or kelp.
  • Dispatching Fish: Quickly and humanely.

Float and Flag

A float and flag system is crucial for marking your position in the water and alerting boaters. Look for:

  • Durability: Ensure it can withstand rough conditions.
  • Visibility: A bright colour and a clear flag are essential for safety.
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Spearfishing For Beginners

Start Point wetsuit underwater

Spearfishing is an exhilarating underwater sport that combines the thrill of hunting with the serene beauty of the ocean. As a beginner, you’ll find spearfishing to be a challenging yet rewarding experience, offering a unique way to connect with nature and enjoy the marine environment. Unlike traditional fishing, spearfishing involves the use of a speargun or pole spear to catch fish, requiring both physical prowess and mental focus. This spearfishing for beginners guide will take you through the basics of spearfishing, from understanding what it entails to the best locations in the UK, and the essential equipment you’ll need to get started.


What is Spearfishing?

Spearfishing is the practice of hunting fish underwater using a speargun. This method of fishing has been around for thousands of years, dating back to ancient civilizations who relied on it for sustenance. Today, it has evolved into a popular sport and recreational activity, attracting enthusiasts who seek both adventure and sustainability in their fishing practices.

Unlike angling, where you use a rod and bait to lure fish, spearfishing requires you to be in the water, holding your breath and diving to hunt your prey. This makes it a more immersive experience, as you become part of the marine ecosystem. It also necessitates a deep understanding of fish behaviour, marine environments, and safety protocols.


The Basics of Spearfishing

Safety First

Before diving into spearfishing, safety should be your top priority. Here are some fundamental safety tips:

  1. Always Dive with a Buddy: Never go spearfishing alone. Having a partner can provide assistance in case of an emergency.  Practising the one up, one down rule in spearfishing is crucial.
  2. Know Your Limits: Don’t push yourself beyond your comfort zone, especially when it comes to breath-holding and diving depths.  Increasing your depth and breathold should be a gradual process of development.  Plus, often the best fish are in the shallowest water!
  3. Check Local Regulations: Ensure you are aware of local fishing regulations and protected species.  Search google for your local IFCA (Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority) to check rules and regulations regarding licences, protected species and minimum sizes. 
  4. Use a Float and Flag: This alerts boaters to your presence in the water, reducing the risk of accidents.  Still, avoid areas which may be busy with boat traffic such as harbours or estuary mouths as some boat drivers may miss your dive flag.  
  5. Stay Hydrated and Rested: Physical fitness and hydration are crucial for safe and effective diving.  
Spearfishing for beginners

Understanding the Marine Environment

Successful spearfishing requires knowledge of the underwater environment and the behaviour of your target species. Spend time studying:

  • Fish Species: Learn to identify different fish species, their habits, and habitats.  Good resources to help learn this are: Ian Donald’s book ‘Underwater Foraging’ or ‘The Collins Guide to British Coastal Wildlife’.  Ultimately, covering ground and observing what is going on in the sea will be the most revealing!
    LOOK AT OUR FISH SPECIES GUIDE
  • Tides and Currents: Understanding these can help you predict fish movements and ensure safer dives.  Websites such as tides4fishing.com or apps such as navionics or i-boating can be extremely helpful in understanding the state of tide and currents.  Researching tidal streams and examining tidal atlases can also be extremely helpful.  Bear in mind that during spring tides, currents and movement on the bottom will be significant while on neap tides, currents will be lesser. 
  • Weather Conditions: Good visibility and calm seas make for better spearfishing conditions.  Understanding what the wind and waves are doing is crucial. Check out sites or apps like windy.com or surfline.com to predict the sea state before you go to the coast. 
Underwater

Spearfishing for Beginners Techniques and Tips

Practice Breath-Holding

Spearfishing requires you to hold your breath while diving. Practice breath-holding techniques such as:

  • Static Apnea: Holding your breath while lying still.
  • Dynamic Apnea: Holding your breath while swimming or walking.

Warning: Never do breath hold practice alone in case of blackout!!

Improve Your Swimming Skills

Strong swimming skills are essential for spearfishing. Work on:

  • Freediving Techniques: Learn proper freediving techniques to dive efficiently and safely.  A freediving or spearfishing course can be a great help to establish correct finning and duck dive technique, for example.  
  • Stamina and Endurance: Build your stamina to stay underwater longer. Running and cycling are both fantastic exercises to build up stamina.

Learn to Read the Water

Understanding the underwater environment and fish behaviour is crucial. Spend time:

  • Checking the wind, wave and swell forecast:  Learn how this impacts the conditions at sea, and never go to sea in strong winds which make conditions dangerous!
  • Observing Fish: Learn their habits and preferred hiding spots.
  • Studying Tides and Currents: Predict fish movements and find the best spots to dive.

Ethical and Sustainable Spearfishing

Spearfishing is a thrilling and immersive sport that offers a unique way to connect with the ocean.  It is probably the most responsible fishing method resulting in no bycatch, no litter, no damage to the seabed, and being completely selective.

As a spearfisher, it’s important to practice ethical and sustainable fishing. This includes:

  • Respecting Size and Bag Limits: Never take more than you need.  Follow local regulations to avoid overfishing.  You can check the minimum sizes of fish species off the Devon coast here.
  • Avoiding Protected Species: Be aware of and avoid hunting endangered or protected species.  For example, endangered fish such as skate, or protected species such as bluefin tuna.  Also never take a berried lobster, which is a female lobster with eggs.  
  • Minimizing Environmental Impact: Avoid damaging reefs and marine habitats.  Always pick up rubbish on your dives, but take extreme care with fishing line and hooks.  
coral reef

Embark on your spearfishing journey in some of the UK’s best locations, from Cornwall’s clear waters to Scotland’s rugged coastlines. Remember to practice ethical and sustainable fishing to preserve the marine environment for future generations. Happy spearfishing!

References and Further Reading

For more detailed information on spearfishing techniques, regulations, and equipment, consider these resources: