Spearfishing Basics

Spearfishing is a popular activity in many parts of the world, and is used for a variety of purposes. Some spearfish for sport, others for food. Spearfishing has been around for centuries, dating way back to early civilization, back then sharpened sticks were used to spear, whereas now there are elastic and high powered spearguns available. Spearfishing typically involves going under water for the catch, and certain short-term…

read more... ]]> 2007-10-10T19:33:00-05:00 http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/mask_buyers_guide/ http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/mask_buyers_guide/#When:01:53:00Z Masks

A mask is the single most important piece of equipment you will purchase when building the perfect spear fishing kit. There are many items to consider when researching masks, and of course there are dozens of brands and hundreds of different designs to choose from. The selection can be extremely overwhelming. The good news is that selecting the perfect mask really isn’t very difficult at all! The number one factor that you should be concerned with while selecting your new spear fishing mask is simply the FIT. If a mask fits poorly, you will have to contend with leaking,…

read more... ]]> 2007-10-10T01:53:00-05:00 http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/snorkel_buyers_guide/ http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/snorkel_buyers_guide/#When:01:54:00Z Snorkels

The most important feature to consider when choosing a snorkel is the material of the mouthpiece. You definitely want the mouthpiece to be made of silicon to provide the most comfort. Rubber mouth pieces will cause blisters, gum bleeding, and other discomfort after extended use.

Flexible “standard” snorkels (click picture for details)

There are three main categories of snorkels to choose from. Standard snorkels, semi-dry snorkels, and dry snorkels.

…

read more... ]]> 2007-10-09T01:54:00-05:00 http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/wetsuit_buyers_guide/ http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/wetsuit_buyers_guide/#When:01:55:00Z Wetsuits

Although wetsuits are not a necessity in all environments, they are a very important addition to your equipment kit. They provide warmth if necessary, and more importantly provide overall environmental protection. Protection from jelly fish stings, man-o-war, fire coral, etc… as well as abrasion protection from reefs, wrecks, and your catch. They also provide protection from the sun on your back if you are free diving, as you will be spending a considerable amount of time at the surface sighting the reefs below. And last but not least, if you are using euro style “Band” guns, most wetsuits have…

read more... ]]> 2007-10-08T01:55:00-05:00 http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/sock_buyers_guide/ http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/sock_buyers_guide/#When:16:21:00Z Neoprene Socks

When diving with closed heeled fins you will want to wear a pair of neoprene socks. Although socks do provide added thermal protection, they are more important in the comfort department. Socks provide a soft cushion between the stiffer rubber foot pocket of a fin and your foot. This neoprene layer absorbs impact from the fin as well as improving the secure fit of the fin. Without the use of socks, divers will often end up with blisters and cuts on their feet due to the softening of the skin with extended exposure to water.

Like…

read more... ]]> 2007-10-06T16:21:00-05:00 http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/glove_buyers_guide/ http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/glove_buyers_guide/#When:01:57:00Z Gloves

Gloves not only provide thermal protection, they provide essential environmental protection for your hands. Protection from reefs, corals, fish, wrecks, as well as your own knife while you are dispatching your catch.




• Open cell neoprene gloves are very comfortable, but they are impractical for spear fishing. They do not provide enough protection and are easily damaged.


• The less expensive closed cell neoprene gloves with Armara (a leather-like material) inserts on the palm and finger are much more durable, offer great protection, and provide greater sensitivity. The increased sensitivity allows for a better…
  
  read more... ]]> 2007-10-06T01:57:00-05:00 http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/weight_belt_buyers_guide/ http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/weight_belt_buyers_guide/#When:01:57:01Z Weight Belts

  A weight belt is an essential piece of equipment as well. A common misconception is that a weight belt is only worn by SCUBA divers, but they are very important to free divers as well. The different sizes and types of wetsuits, as well the ever varying body types that go in them, all have various impacts on the buoyancy of the diver. It is ideal for a diver to be neutral when submersed, but neutral buoyancy (will not float up or sink deeper) usually cannot be achieved without the addition of weight. The most common method of…
  
  read more... ]]> 2007-10-05T01:57:01-05:00 http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/knife_buyers_guide/ http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/knife_buyers_guide/#When:01:58:00Z Knives

  A knife is a very useful spear fishing tool which serves two main functions. One, the knife will be used to dispatch a catch as quickly and humanely as possible. Two, a knife will be used to free a diver from entanglements such as netting, monofilament lines, ropes, etc. When choosing a knife look for a sharp pointed, dagger-like, blade with a serrated edge and/or a line cutter on one side. A smaller blade of approximately 4” (10cm) is preferable over the larger and bulkier options out there. The smoother and more streamlined a knife is, the less drag…
  
  read more... ]]> 2007-10-04T01:58:00-05:00 http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/fin_buyers_guide/ http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/fin_buyers_guide/#When:16:25:00Z Fins

  There are two major types of fins on the market today; open heeled and close heeled. Open heeled are more common among SCUBA divers, but there are a few free diving specific versions of open heeled fins available on the market today. The advantages of open heeled would be the ease of donning and the ability to wear hard soled dive boots with them. This is useful when diving in an area where access to the sea is restricted by rocks and rough terrain as the boots will protect the diver’s feet and the fins can easily be donned…
  
  read more... ]]> 2007-10-02T16:25:00-05:00 http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/stringer_buyers_guide/ http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/stringer_buyers_guide/#When:19:39:01Z Stringers

  Stringers are necessary to carry your catch if you are not diving from a live boat (boat w/ driver following). If you are diving from a live boat the diver would just signal the boat to come pick up the catch each time a fish is speared. When diving from the beach / coast, a stringer would usually be hung from the divers float, or can be hung from a weight belt. Weight belt attached stringers are not recommended in areas where sharks, barracudas or other aggressive fish are present.

  There are two main types of stringers.…
  
  read more... ]]> 2007-10-01T19:39:01-05:00 http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/float_buyers_guide/ http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/float_buyers_guide/#When:06:30:00Z Floats

  The float is an essential piece of equipment in spear fishing safety as well as a welcomed workhorse to the spearo. There are two major categories of floats; inflatable and foam filled.
  

  
  
  • Inflatable floats are less expensive and easier to store and transport. The downside is that they generally provide less floatation and being air filled opens up several points of failure. One obvious point is that an air leak can leave you stranded without a float at all. The less obvious point is that air compresses at depth. With the decreased floatation power,…
    
    read more... ]]> 2007-10-01T06:30:00-05:00 http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/pneumatic_vs_band_guns/ http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/pneumatic_vs_band_guns/#When:06:20:00Z
    

    One of the most common questions from a diver buying their first spear gun is:  Should I get a pneumatic or band powered spear gun?  Well, there are pros and cons about each.
    
    

    Pneumatic
    Most pneumatics in the market today use a 5/16” (8mm) shaft, with the exception of the Mares Cyrano which uses a thinner 9/32” (7mm) shaft.  These thick shafts are difficult to bend and deliver a good impact making them good weapons for larger fish that require higher penetration.
    
    

    …
    
    read more... ]]> 2007-10-01T06:20:00-05:00 http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/band_gun_buyers_guide/ http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/band_gun_buyers_guide/#When:06:10:00Z Band Spearguns

    Edited and translated from an original article by spearfishing champion Marco Bardi

    
    The definition of Ballistics in the dictionary is the study of the movements and forces involved in the propulsion of objects. Spearguns seem to follow trends in the market tied to materials, aesthetics and ballistics.  Divers need to discern the real differences among new products in order to avoid a mistake in a purchase. The basis on which he or she makes their choice for a speargun depends upon the preferences of the diver, the places where they dive, and…
    
    read more... ]]> 2007-10-01T06:10:00-05:00 http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/general_gear_maintenance/ http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/general_gear_maintenance/#When:22:41:00Z General Gear Maintenance

    The number one rule of thumb with all gear is to rinse after use.  Even if you are diving in fresh water it is a good idea to make sure that any sand or other contaminants are rinsed out of and off of your gear after use.  You should make sure that you flush out your trigger mechanisms and reels carefully as well.

    
    Band guns
    The most important item to check after each use is the trueness of your shaft.  A minimal bend in a shaft can result in great…
    
    read more... ]]> 2008-04-04T22:41:00-05:00 http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/polespear_buyers_guide/ http://xtremespearfishing.com/members/guides/entry/polespear_buyers_guide/#When:21:45:01Z Polespears

    Polespears are versatile and inexpensive, and can be highly effective spearfishing tools in the right hands.  While polespears are usually used for small reef fish, people have landed large lingcod, striped bass, ulua (giant trevally), halibut, amberjack, sheephead and other medium to large fish with a polespear.  One thing for sure is the fact that polespears make the hunt quite challenging.

    
    Shaft Materials
    Commercial polespears are made of basically three types of material: fiberglass, aluminum, and carbon fiber.

    Fiberglass
    Fiberglass pole spears are the heavier of the three materials…
    
    read more... ]]> 2008-04-04T21:45:01-05:00