Want to get better at spearfishing? Find someone who knows how to do it!
Don’t be like me and just buy gear and try to figure it out on your own.
That’s a bad idea.
I was not only putting myself in danger, but I also risked my dive buddy. I should have known more before jumping into the ocean with a speargun.
I’m lucky I didn’t get hurt or hurt anyone else. I promised myself I would learn the right way. So, I found some experienced spearfishers who were happy to teach me.
You can find these helpful people in dive clubs near you. Look for groups like OC Spearos, LA Fathomiers, Long Beach Neptunes, San Diego Freedivers, and others. See when they have meetings.
Peter Yee (@spearwithx) is one of the best teachers I know. He knows a lot and is a great diver.
I asked Peter to share his top ten tips for new spearfishers. These are things he wishes everyone knew when starting out.
Here are Peter’s tips, with some of my own thoughts:
1. Know Your Fish Rules!
Before you shoot any fish, know what kind it is and if it’s big enough to keep! Don’t shoot first and ask questions later.
You can learn the rules where you live at: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Regulations. This website shows you the size, number, and place rules for each fish.
It also helps to look up the fish name on Google Images. This helps you see what the fish looks like from different ways and in different light.
2. Mark Fish Sizes on Your Speargun
Mark the legal fish sizes on your speargun or pole spear. If you are not sure if a fish is big enough, don’t shoot it!
Fish look bigger underwater. Before you go diving, put some things on the ground that are the size of different fish. Walk away and look at them from far away to get used to seeing those sizes.
When you see a fish, you should think, “Wow, that’s a big one!” Not, “Hmm, is that big enough?”
Having fish sizes marked on your speargun helps you check the size underwater. This can save you from getting a ticket later.
3. Don’t Take Too Many Fish
Don’t take more fish than you can eat. Just because you can shoot a lot of fish doesn’t mean you should. Some fish are important for the ocean.
It’s okay to catch the legal limit, but it’s better not to. Think about how much fish you really need and will eat before it goes bad.
Some fish, like sheephead, are easy to catch after a while. They eat sea urchins, which are bad for kelp forests. Kelp forests are homes for many fish. If we don’t take too many sheephead, the kelp forests will be healthier, and we’ll have more fish in the long run.
4. Be Careful with Your Speargun!
Always be super careful when you have your speargun, in or out of the water. Pretend it’s always shooting a laser beam. Never point it at your friends, even if it’s not loaded.
Bad habits can hurt you or your friends. A speargun is still a gun. Treat it like one.
Only load your speargun in the water. Don’t point it at people, especially when you are not paying attention. Always know what’s around you.
5. GoPro Tip: No Head Straps!
Don’t use a head strap for your GoPro camera, unless you put the strap under your hood. You will lose it if you don’t! If you use a head strap, tie it to your mask strap too.
For a long time, I didn’t believe this. I liked my GoPro strap over my hood. I thought it was safe because my mask strap was over the GoPro strap.
Then, one day, I wasn’t watching the waves on a shore dive. A big wave crashed over me. I lost my mask and GoPro! All I had left was my snorkel in my mouth. I never saw my GoPro or mask again.
6. Use a Bright Float Line
Use a float line that is a bright color (not black) on your speargun. If you drop your gun, a bright color is easy to see and find. It’s also easy to pull through kelp.
I used a black float line for a long time. It’s the worst color! My dive buddies can’t see it when I dive down. I’m getting a white one now.
Even if you use a reel on your gun, a float line helps your buddy see where you are underwater, especially if the water is murky.
7. Watch the Waves!
Pay attention to the waves so you can get out of the water safely. If you don’t watch the waves or time it wrong, waves can hit you hard and you can lose your gear.
It helps to check the wave reports before you go diving. See if the waves are going to get bigger while you are in the water. Waves can be small when you go in, but big when you need to get out.
This can be dangerous depending on where you are diving. Plan ahead and know what the waves will do.
8. Night Diving Tips
Night diving? Always have a light on your snorkel (glow stick or beacon). Always talk to your buddies about the dive plan before you get in the water. Never get out of the water without telling your buddy first, so they don’t worry and look for you.
Night diving is special here in Southern California. Most people think you are crazy to go in the ocean at night with just a flashlight to catch lobsters.
It’s a little scary at first, but you might find out it’s one of your favorite ways to dive. Be easy to see so you and your buddy can stay together. White or red flashlights are good. A glow stick on your snorkel helps too.
Dive bags on your body can be dangerous at night. If you can, put your bag on a float with a glow stick. Put your legal lobsters in there.
9. Start with a Pole Spear
Start learning with a pole spear in shallow water or with a small speargun. Practice hunting small fish on the reef first. This helps you learn skills before you go after big fish in deep water. Reef diving is easy to get to and cheaper than boat trips.
Pole spears are not as popular here as they are on the East Coast. That’s too bad. They are fun to use and help you learn how to get close to fish.
Later, you can even hunt bigger fish like yellowtail with a pole spear!
10. Slow Down and Be Smooth
Slow down your movements in the water. Be smooth. You will be able to stay underwater longer, enjoy your dive more, and not scare fish away.
I can tell how stressed I am by how my dives go. If I’m worried about things at home or didn’t sleep well, my dive will show me right away. It tells me to relax and focus on myself.
When you are calm in your mind, you will be calm in the water. You will also be better at catching fish.
Action Steps
Want to try spearfishing? Go to a dive club meeting near you. Meet some people and ask for help.
You can also message me (@castandspear) or Peter (@spearkwithx). We can help you get started.
Watch videos on YouTube to see what a dive is like.
And remember, start slow and never dive alone. Dive safe and have fun!
