Speargun Hunting Tips

Speargun hunting features the use of a gun that mechanically shoots a spear, allowing the shooter to catch a fish and reel it in. Spearguns are used to hunt sport fish, and using a speargun can provide the hunter with a more active role than a rod and reel. While speargun hunting is challenging, knowing the right tips can streamline the process.

  1. Choose Good Lures

    • Chum, which are cut up chunks of oily fish scattered on the water's surface, are ideal lures in spearfishing. Chum has a smell that attracts fish and an oily shimmer that is visually attractive. Squid, sardines and salmon are good chum.

      Flashers, which use reflective tape, plastic or polished metal to catch the light are also effective. Using a fake squid lure with a set of flashers avoids attracting sharks, which can be the case with chum, since there is no blood or oil in the water.

    Allow the Fish to Eat

    • When a fish is attracted to the bait, allow it to have a few bites of food before deploying the speargun. A fish that has only sighted the bait is more wary than a fish that is eating. The fish's concentration should be focused on the bait, which will make it easier for the speargun hunter to line up the shot.

    Play the Fish Out

    • Once a fish has been speared, allow it to swim away but keep enough pressure on the line so the fish must fight for every foot of space it puts between you. As the fish exhausts itself, pull the line in and dispatch the fish with a kill knife as soon as you have a secure grip on the neck area.

    Check the Moon's Phase

    • Speargun fishing relies on good water conditions. Fast tides and muddy water can spoil an excursion by lowering visibility and forcing you to fight to stay in one place in the water. According to Big Bend Florida Sportsman Guide, the tide runs faster and the water is going to be muddier around the full moon and the new moon. Trips planned around these dates can be more successful.

    Wear a Weight Belt

    • A weight belt can help offset the body's natural buoyancy, allowing you to stay steady in the water, which is essential in spearfishing. It allows you to rise when you want to. Staying steady in the water allows you to take deliberate and accurate aim.