Speargun Fishing Equipment for Beginners

Spear fishing is a fun and thrilling fishing activity that is why more and more people are enjoying it. But beginners often do not have an idea on what are the necessary equipment they should have to get into the game. Here is the list of speargun fishing equipment needed to get started.

1. Speargun
2. Diving Mask
3. Snorkel or Breathing Tube
4. Diving Wetsuit
5. Diving Fins
6. Diving Socks
7. Spearfishing Gloves
8. Diving Knife
9. Diving Weight Belt
10. Diving Float or Buoy

Speargun

The first thing needed to venture into speargun fishing is the speargun itself. The speargun is the weapon of the spearfisher in catching fish.

For a beginner, it more advisable to use and averaged power speargun usually in around 45 cm to 75 cm in length.  

This average length is easier to handle underwater making it more beginner-friendly.

Aside from a speargun, a pole spear can also be used in spearfishing.

Diving Mask

Diving mask is an important gear in all underwater sports and activities.

Being able to see clearly underwater and being aware of the surroundings is really the key to hunting fish in the bottom.

A good diving or snorkel mask is enough to get you started in speargun fishing. If within budget, it is more advisable to have an anti-fog diving mask.

But if the only available mask is a regular one, there are a lot of ways to prevent diving mask from fogging up.

Snorkel or Breathing Tube

Any kind of snorkel or breathing tube is enough to start spear fishing.

This tube is attached to the diving mask that will enable the spear fisher to breath in the surface while face underwater.

It also allows streamlining the air outflow so that bubbles will not interfere with the vision of the diver.

Diving Wetsuit

For casual and not so deep dive, a rush guard is enough to get started in speargun fishing. It will provide some level of skin protection.

But for more serious and deeper dive, a wetsuit is a must. When diving deeper, the temperature of the water can drop drastically and it will get colder.

By wearing a wetsuit the diver can last longer and withstand the cold. Also, wetsuit protects the skin from sharp corals and rocks at the bottom and also from stingy creatures there.

A wetsuit with at least 1.5 cm thickness is more advisable to excellently do this job.

Diving Fins

Diving fins are designed to give the ability to thread underwater more effectively with using minimal strength.

It’s literally like having a fish tail. Diving fins are necessary to swim faster and as to avoid fatigue in diving.

Professional spear fisher uses long fins but as a beginner a short fin is just as good.

Read this article to know how to choose the best spearfishing fins as a beginner.

Diving Socks

This is necessary to avoid bruises in the feet while wearing diving fins.

Diving socks give additional fitting between the feet and the diving fins making it easier to thread underwater.

Diving socks also acts the same way as the wetsuit giving protection to cold and a barrier to the skin.

Spearfishing Gloves

Everything underwater seems sharp from the corals, rocks, to bony fish.

It can easily get cut from this thing that is why a diving or spearfishing gloves is important. It enables the diver to hold to any surface safely.

Diving gloves makes it easier to hold a fish even with sharp teeth and spiky body.

Diving Knife

One of the essential speargun fishing equipment is the diving knife. It is a secondary weapon in hunting fish. Usually diver finishes off the fish using a diving knife after shooting it with a speargun.

Diving knife is also a survival tool.

There are so many dangers underwater one of which is being entangled to rope or ghost net posing the risk of drowning to the diver. By having a diving knife the diver will able to get free by cutting the rope or ghost net.

A sharp and pointed diving knife is recommended for speargun fishing.

A blunt diving knife is usually used in scuba diving and not applicable to spearfishing.

Diving Weight Belt

Weight belts make it faster to sink down the bottom and save strength.

It also gives stability underwater by preventing the diver to float naturally to the surface while spearfishing.

It is important that the weight belt is not too heavy to not interfere with underwater movement and also it should be a quick release belt that can be taken off the body instantly during emergency.

This is to avoid weight belt to cause drowning.

The ideal weight of a weight belt is between 1 to 2 kilogram depending on the size and strength of the diver.

Diving Float or Buoy

It is very critical to have a diving float or diving buoy while spear fishing.

It serves as a marker and locator so that other people, a buddy, or a passing boat will know that someone is underwater.

If without a diving buoy or a flag, passing boats will have no way of knowing someone is underwater and may collide with the diver near the surface.

A diving buoy is also where the diver attaches his gears and stuff and also his catch.

Conclusion

This list of speargun fishing equipment is what a beginner spear fisher need. There are a lot of brands and store to where these equipment can be purchase.

For starters, basic and cheap equipment are enough. But if budget is not a concern, it is recommended to buy good equipment from trusted and known spearfishing stores.

As a beginner and even at a professional level, it is a must to always have a fishing buddy.

By having a fishing buddy, accidents and mishaps can be avoided and if ever did happen there is someone the diver can seek help.

The rule for a fishing buddy system is “one down, one up” rule, meaning the dives should be made alternately.

The one on the surface will serve as a watcher or guard who is always ready to aid his buddy if something happen.

Aside from training, practice and necessary speargun fishing equipment, a fishing license may be required depending on the location of the dive.

Do not go fishing without a license; it is advisable to check first with the local area if a fishing license is needed prior to fishing.

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