The Comprehensive Underwater Fishing Guide For Beginners

Are you new to underwater fishing? This guide contains a ton of valuable tips on how to get started with the sport. First, we’ll go over the essential tools you’ll need and then talk about some of the rules you should follow.

The tools you’ll need

The tools of the trade can mean the difference between a professional and an amateur. Even though excellent tools don’t make you a great fisherman, they can get you a long way.

Here are common tools used by spearfishers. If it’s a hobby for you, consider going for low-budget gear. They can give you enough support and performance that you enjoy yourself. But if you’re spearfishing competitively, consider investing in high-end tools.

Mask

There isn’t much to say about a mask except fit and visibility. You want to make sure that the mask fits snugly on your face, and doesn’t jiggle from side to side. It’s also important that you have great visibility while wearing it. 

A low-profile mask will allow less air inside, making it easier to deal with the pressure shift once you’re submerged. 

Finally, when choosing between clear and colored lenses, it helps to keep their function in mind. Clear lenses are built for visibility in clear water while colored waters give you sharp visual contrast in murky water.

Fishing weapon

There are many options in this category. You have spearguns and pole spears. If you’re new to spearfishing, it helps to try out different tools to see which ones appeal to you the most.

Pole spears are handheld, and they require a bit more precision. You also need to develop some dexterity with the handling because you have to pull away from the butt of the spear while creating tension, and without breaking it.

Spearguns are simpler – you simply aim and shoot. But they have nuances too. For example, you’ll need to load the gun underwater, which requires focus. 

Whatever weapon you choose, you’re bound to find a great one at neptonics, one of the most reliable spearfishing stores online.

Fins

Fins can make spearfishing so much easier for you. They improve your swimming efficiency and make it easy to conserve energy underwater. Bigger fins are better than smaller ones and are less likely to make your feet swell.

Most people recommend fiberglass and carbon fins because they are very efficient. However, They also tend to be steeply-priced. If you’re on a budget, opt for plastic fins. They are durable and affordable. 

Wetsuit

There are a ton of spearfishing wetsuits to choose from. To help you avoid analysis paralysis, here are some tips to keep in mind. Firstly, look out for the suit’s thickness. The colder the water, the thicker you want your suit to be. Secondly, pick one with a camouflage factor so you’re harder to spot by fishes.

Float

A spearfishing float can save your life. It is brightly colored and equipped with a flag so it’s very easy to spot. The float also helps you resurface without needing to drag your spear or prey with you.

Additional rules

Now that you know the instruments you’ll need, let’s talk about some additional rules in underwater/spearfishing. If you’re a pro, understanding these rules can help you stay on the straight and narrow and avoid getting banned or fined.

If you’re a beginner, the odds are that your guide will go over some of these rules with you. But knowing them in advance helps you save time, and maybe even prove that you know a thing or two.

Rule 1: You’ll be freediving

As the name suggests you’ll be diving without any gear or apparatus, including oxygen tanks. This aspect is part of what makes spearfishing such an engaging sport.

Because you’ll be freediving, it’s crucial to learn how to hold your breath. The longer you can stay underwater, the better you’ll be at the sport. 

The good news is that you don’t have to be down there for long. Most people dive, get their bearings, maybe spot and catch a fish, and come up to the surface for air, then dive again.

There are many ways to learn how to hold your breath. It may also be worth it to build up your endurance with some traditional cardio like running or cycling. This helps your body become more efficient with using oxygen.

Rule 2: Follow your guide’s instructions at all times

This may sound like an obvious tip, but it bears repeating. As we’ve already established, you’ll be holding your breath while freediving. And even though you’ll probably be trained for it, accidents happen and you may find yourself struggling underwater.

Even pro freedivers have lost their bearing or blacked out underwater. Their team’s presence made the difference between a laughable event and a tragedy. In situations like these, it helps to know that your guide is nearby and that she knows exactly where you are. 

Freediving guides will also give crucial advice like how to handle your speargun or pole spear, and what to do if you have a malfunction. Equipment trouble is quite common, and it helps to have a list of instructions to follow already in your head when they crop up.

Rule 3: You can’t sell your catch

In most areas, it’s illegal to sell the fish you catch while spearfishing. This is one of the rules that can get you suspended or banned from a particular area.

The good news is that you can actually eat the fish you catch. This is great because, in today’s world of processed foods, it helps to have a clean meal on your table. We say clean because the fish was freshly caught by your own hands, and there’s going to be a sense of pride attached.

Eating what you catch while spearfishing also helps you bond with your buddies. If you’re like most people who enjoy spearfishing with some company, you’ll have a ton of people to share your catch with. Depending on your taste, you can cook, roast, or grill the fish and enjoy a hearty meal.

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