It really doesn’t matter if you have the most expensive spearfishing gear, the most important thing is that you have the right gear. Having these with you underwater will ensure your safety and success.
What Do I Need to Start Spearfishing?
Before any hunting gear, you may want to secure a spearfishing license from the authorities of your chosen hunting spot. The laws and regulations of each spot vary, and if you decide to go forward without a license, repercussion may include something small like paying a fine to something huge like prison time.
Now on to the gears.
You can buy all the expensive gears that you want, but you must have the basic equipment including:
- Weapon for spearfishing (Hawaiian slings, pole spears, or speargun)
- Spearfishing wetsuits and rash guards
- Mask
- Snorkel
- Gloves
- Booties
- Freediving Fins
- Weigh Belt
- Spearfishing Knife
- Dive Computer or diving
- Reels, Floatlines, and Floats
What Do You Wear for Spearfishing?
Professional spearfisher (also referred to as spearo) spend their time below the surface usually clad in spearfishing wetsuit or rash guards. This is one of the most vital items to own as this will protect you from the hazards underwater.
In choosing the right spearfishing attire, you should keep these tips in mind:
- Consider the temperature of the water and the kind of underwater activity it has.
- The thickness of your wetsuit should depend on the climate of your dive site. If you’re diving in warmer temperatures it is advisable to purchase a wetsuit that is no thicker than 1.5 millimeters.
- If you will not stay in the water for long periods, you can opt for a rash guard.
- Whether you choose to wear a wetsuit or a rash guard, make sure that it has a camouflage print, or the color is not easily detectable.
- It should also include a chest padding or a loading pad.
What is the Best Wetsuit for Spearfishing?
If you’re on the hunt for the right wetsuit for you, here’s a short list of the top-rated suits in the market:
- Cressi Tracina Hunter: Made from open-cell neoprene, this hooded two-piece has three variations of thickness (3.5 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm). This is best used in mild to cool water and is recognized as the best suit in the market.
- Seac Body Fit: This one-piece suit is made from double-lined, closed-cell neoprene and has a thickness of 1.5 mm. It boasts anatomically pre-angled arms and legs and has a thinner chest pad as compared to other models. This is best used for tropical water dives.
- Riffe Digi-Tek: Made from Yamamoto open-cell neoprene, this is also a hooded two-piece suit with a thickness of 3.5 mm. It has a great camouflage print which makes you undetectable underwater.
Do You Need a Weight Belt for Spearfishing?
It’s advisable to strap a weight belt around your waist to ensure that you don’t float back up while spearfishing. Since wetsuits are naturally buoyant, these durable belts will keep you down and swimming.
The belt will also allow you to get to your desired depth and distance.
How Much Weight Do You Need for Spearfishing?
Since we all have different body compositions, the weight that you need should especially be tailored to your body composition. The weight is also influenced by several factors including the thickness of your wetsuit and the temperature and condition of the water.
A rough guideline in measurinh the right amount of weight is to take the thickness of your wetsuit then add 2.
For example, if you have a wetsuit which is 3 mm thick then the computation would be:
3 mm + 2 = 5 kg of weight
Of course, this is not always the case and may not be suitable for other instances. Through trial and error, you may be able to accurately determine how much weight you need.
How Do You Travel With Spearfishing Gear?
Traveling in itself can be difficult but traveling with your complete spearfishing gear can be a whole lot arduous.
You can follow these tips to make it a little bit easier for you:
- You can wrap your speargun in bubble wrap before stashing it in a PVC or ABS pipe.
- Wrap your fins with your wetsuit for extra cushion.
- Keep your fins in your bag, thin side down, and add extra padding using your masks and other smaller gears.
- Check-in your gears as fishing equipment at the airport counter.
Traveling with your gears may be a hassle but at the end of the day, it will be worth it because you are already used to them and you have laid them out in your own special set up.
