By Sean Ward, ontrackfishing.com
Spearfishing is a great way to spend your free time, and while a day spent spearfishing is sure to be an adventure, it unfortunately is not the easiest sport to learn.
You’re going to have to invest in some proper gear and spend some time learning the ropes.
These tips should help you get started on your spearfishing journey – even if you’re a total newbie. It’s sustainable, it’s affordable – oh, and it’s a ton of fun, too.
Safety first
When you’re spearfishing (or doing anything out on the water, for that matter), safety should be of the utmost priority.
Spearfishing brings with it all kinds of dangers, from eels to sharks and even getting caught in stray fishing nets. The biggest threat, though, is that of drowning.
To that end, always spearfish with a buddy and familiarize yourself with the area in which you plan to fish.
Shallow water blackouts can result from a lack of oxygen to the brain — and you’ll only have about two minutes to act, which is why it’s so essential to dive with a buddy.
Find a mentor
Another benefit of diving with a buddy? You can find a mentor to learn from.
If you’re lucky enough to have a friend who likes to spearfish, hold onto them and learn everything possible to help you become the best spearfisher you can.
Start small
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of spearfishing and want to fish for the largest game fish you can find.
However, you really should start with something a bit smaller.
Of course, you’ll want to go after fish that are still legal and large enough to eat, but starting with smaller, easier to catch fish is a good way to build your confidence (and your skills) before you attempt to go after the big boys.
Think small, too
“Small” is really the name of the game when it comes to all things spearfishing. Fish don’t have great eyesight — so make yourself small.
They’ll only see your silhouette, so the larger you look, the easier they will be to spook.
When you aim for the fish, pick a small target. Usually, you’ll want to shoot just behind and toward the top of the gill. If you aim small, your likelihood of error will likely be small, too.
Invest in the right gear
You don’t need to spend a fortune when you first start spearfishing, but you should be willing to drop a little bit of cash on the right equipment. You’ll want the right pair of gloves, fins and good masks, too. And if you plan on diving in cold water, don’t forget a wetsuit!
Use a pole spear
Start by fishing with a pole spear – this will help you learn the art of spearfishing when you’re first getting started.
Bonus tip: have funSick of reading spearfishing advice yet? If not, be sure to head over to ontrackfishing.com and check out this additional list of tips on how to spearfish. Remember, the more you know, the better-equipped you’ll be for an enjoyable day of spearfishing.
