What do beginners need for spearfishing?

August 29, 2018
Hunting
Natali Michaelis

Spearfishing is not only a popular entertainment or an exciting hobby, but also a sport that gives its participant incredible drive and excitement. Finding prey under the water, tracking it, and then shooting accurately is quite difficult. The hunter's movements should be smooth and silent. Read our article about what you need for spearfishing.

What is spearfishing?

This sport gained popularity relatively recently. The essence of the hobby is that a hunter, armed with a special underwater pneumatic gun, as well as other devices, tries to find large fish under the water, which often hides at the very bottom. During the entire time spent at depth, the athlete is forced to work while holding his breath.

In most countries of the world, the use of scuba gear during spearfishing is prohibited. Moreover, such actions may be regarded as poaching, which means they may face criminal or administrative penalties.

Underwater hunting is carried out exclusively in the coastal zone, at a depth of no more than 30 meters. Holding your breath (static apnea) can last more than five minutes for some hunters. Of course, only the lower limbs are used for swimming, so the athlete must have good endurance and strength. In addition, you need to be able to make a well-aimed shot in a timely manner in rather difficult conditions. Also, the hunter must have excellent knowledge of the habits of fish in various conditions, as well as methods of catching them, because the amount of catch directly depends on this knowledge.

In some countries, this hobby is so popular that the government annually holds world or European championships. The only difference with our country is that in Russia spearfishing is most widespread in rivers and lakes, while in other countries sea hunting takes a larger share.

In European countries it is prohibited to hunt in inland waters, but Russia’s rich natural resources make it possible to catch various types of fish in fresh water. What documents are needed for spearfishing? To do this, a hunter's license from a local legal center will be sufficient. However, this paper is not at all mandatory.

How to choose a suit for spearfishing

The concept of warm clothing is also relevant for spearfishing, because our climate is far from hot and we are not diving in a pool. It is known that the coefficient of thermal conductivity of water is 25 times higher than that of air, and its heat capacity is approximately 4 times greater. This leads to the fact that a heated body in water cools very quickly. It’s hard to believe, but for this reason a person can become hypothermic, even if the water temperature reaches +27-30 C. It has been proven that when a person gets into cold water, the body’s adaptive mechanisms are activated, increasing heat production and reducing temperature. And yet, given that underwater hunters climb into water at virtually any temperature and spend many hours in it, no adaptive mechanisms will help; special clothing is needed . Wetsuits are such clothing for fish hunters.

There is another reason that forces us to protect our body from the aquatic environment . To find fish in a river or lake, a hunter has to swim and climb into the strongest places. This is where almost all freshwater fish hide. But besides them, we are met there by sharp branches and snags, algae and underwater plants, which were even given appropriate names - telores, for example. They can injure a person, and as you know, the pain threshold in water is much lower than in air. In water, a naked person's skin pain and tactile sensitivity is impaired . Dulling of pain sensitivity is very dangerous for any submariner: he may not notice the injury under water and lose a lot of blood. Here is another reason that forces underwater hunters to wear wetsuits even in the warmest water.

Equipment requirements

Both professionals and fans of extreme sports need to place high demands on the quality of their equipment, because the success of spearfishing may depend on it.

The wetsuit, socks and gloves must match your size. Clothes should fit tightly to the body and not squeeze it. The wetsuit must maintain a comfortable temperature for the human body and at the same time be waterproof.
The size of the mask is selected individually. Under no circumstances should it allow water to pass through, as this may cause eye irritation. The materials used to make equipment must be of high quality.
Fins are selected to fit your feet, just like socks. If this requirement is not met, the hunter may be injured or become entangled in the grass underwater.

Weapons (hunting knife, crossbow or rifle) are purchased exclusively according to individual requirements. When buying a rifle and crossbow, you should take into account the flight range, power, as well as the features of the reservoir where the hunt will take place.

Mask

No hunt will work if you don't have a clear view of your target. To do this, you will need to purchase a good mask that will not let water into your eyes. A high-quality mask always fits tightly on the face, but does not squeeze the head. If a hunter chooses this piece of equipment incorrectly, he may experience a severe headache in the future due to compression.

What does a beginner need to know about spearfishing? First, learn to recognize quality gear. For example, to check the quality of a mask, you need to place it on your face and try to suck in air through your nose. The mask should immediately adhere tightly to the skin and remain in this state for some time. The view of the mask should be as large as possible. It is also necessary to choose equipment exclusively in black, since the sun reflects the least from it, and accordingly, the fish will not see glare under water.

Spearfishing mask

Without going into details of the differences between various masks for spearfishing, the size of the under-mask space, etc., for a beginner, we can recommend choosing a mask based on financial capabilities. The middle option is to choose a double-glass mask with a black silicone fastener. Among the majority of underwater hunters, it is recognized as a practical “all-rounder.”

A tube

What does a beginner need to know about spearfishing? The fact that the use of scuba gear for this sport is strictly prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation. Accordingly, you must be able to hold your breath for a long time or use a special breathing tube.

At first, some inexpensive model will be enough for a beginner. You should not buy tubes with silicone corrugation, as they will make a lot of noise, which will scare the prey away from you. A good solution would be a flexible and corrugated tube with a smooth surface on the inside.

A smooth surface will allow water to flow out unhindered, which means the hunter will make less noise. The corrugation will provide good flexibility, preventing the risk of injury to the oral cavity from the mouthpiece to almost zero. Options with a top valve are also welcome, which will allow you to close the tube if necessary.

Flippers

What do you need for spearfishing for beginners? Of course, high-quality fins that will serve as a “motor” for the swimmer. Moving with the help of the hind limbs with a weapon in your hands is quite inconvenient, but flippers will allow you to move quite quickly and almost silently. The choice of this equipment is determined solely by the hunting location. It is worth taking into account the depth of the dive, as well as the pollution of the reservoir. Most fins differ in the material that was used in the manufacturing process and, of course, in size.

The galosh should be made of plastic, plastic, and best of all, rubber. Fins also vary in degree of stiffness. For a beginner, medium hardness is considered optimal, which will allow you to perform various maneuvers in the water, including penetrating plant thickets. Fins that are too long will make it difficult to move through shallow water, and there is also a risk of damaging your legs by getting caught on something.

If you plan to hunt in open space and at great depths, then you can purchase fairly stiff long fins. They will give the athlete extra speed during a deep-sea dive. This option is also preferred by most experienced hunters.

You can also purchase special fins with replaceable blades. This is a good option for those who decide to get serious about spearfishing, since the blades can wear out over time, and it would be foolish to buy new fins because of this. Clipless fins may be a good option. The convenient thing is that they can fit any foot of sock thickness.

Hunting suit for spearfishing

Hunting wetsuits are made from microporous neoprene rubber . Air microbubbles inside the rubber layer create a barrier to the outflow of heat outside the suit and the spread of cold in the opposite direction. The thicker the neoprene layer, the more of these microbubbles and, accordingly, the warmer the wetsuit. In our country they are used with a thickness of 2 to 10 mm. They hunt in 2-3 mm ones in the summer when the water temperature in the reservoir is +20 ° C and above, in wetsuits 8-10 mm thick - usually in late autumn and winter.

The most popular one, which allows you to hunt quite comfortably in our fresh water bodies for the maximum time of the year, is a 7 mm thick wetsuit . Of course, one should take into account the susceptibility to cold and the hardiness of a particular hunter.

For example, I am a freezing person, and in the fall, when another hunter swims for 3-4 hours in a 7 mm suit without any problems, in my “nine” I begin to freeze within a couple of hours. In addition to the thickness of the wetsuit, the quality of the neoprene and the quality of the fit of the suit to the body influence the duration of heat retention under it . The suit should fit your entire figure tightly. This prevents the formation of voids between the body and the neoprene through which water can flow. A tight fit and adhesion of the wetsuit to the body is achieved by matching its cut to your figure, choosing the correct size and the absence of a fabric covering on the inner surface of the suit. Such suits for spearfishing are called “open-pore” . True, because of this you have to pull them on yourself using shampoo, but this inconvenience is fully compensated by a significant increase in the time of comfortable stay in the water.

Gun

Have you ever thought about whether you need a license for a spearfishing gun? Current legislation does not provide for any restrictions on the purchase of pneumatic weapons, which are spear guns. As an alternative, you can purchase an underwater crossbow, but the choice between it and a pneumatic one should depend on the location in which the hunt will take place.

For example, in the sea you will not have the opportunity to swim close enough to the prey, so for a long shot it is better to use a crossbow. Pneumatic weapons will be indispensable in fresh water, in thickets of reeds or algae.

Fins for spearfishing

The best fin option for a beginner would be medium-length fins, i.e. 70-85cm. Before purchasing and trying them on, it is advisable to decide which socks the underwater hunter plans to use with fins.

As a universal option for a beginner, you can specify fins that have galoshes with the so-called “closed heel.” Trying on fins with a 7mm thick neoprene sock is mandatory.

Costume

Why do you need a wetsuit for spearfishing? In most cases, it provides the hunter with additional camouflage and also performs protective functions. This is especially true in cold water, since the body can cool down in it in just a few minutes.

There are many options for a comfortable dive. For beginners, it is recommended to choose a suit that involves wearing separate overalls and jackets. These items may be sold separately because often the pants and jacket are not the same size.

Dry or wet suit for spearfishing

Each of these types of wetsuits has its own pros and cons.

It is much more comfortable to swim in a wet one, it compresses the body less and you get less tired in it, it allows the hunter to dive to extreme depths. In addition, you don’t worry about its possible puncture or rupture, like with a dry one.
The main advantage of a dry wetsuit is the ability to swim almost any time in icy water and in the harsh Russian winter. To comfortably change into a dry suit in sub-zero temperatures, wind, etc., neither heated tents nor a fire are required. Personally, I was forced to hunt all year round for almost twenty years only in such a suit, as I had problems with my ears. In the summer, of course, it was torture.

Dry wetsuits for spearfishing are not currently produced commercially in our country. In specialized stores there are imported dry wetsuits, they cost from 700 to 1500 dollars and more, but they are still not suitable for hunting. Wetsuits “Tegur” (Riga) and “Sadko” (Kiev) have not been produced for many years. Only in Yaroslavl were they made a small batch of GKL-1 wetsuits (a prototype of the military UGK), but they were not without serious shortcomings. Craftsmen glue dry wetsuits themselves from sheet rubber 0.7–1 mm thick. This is partly why a very limited number of hunters hunt in such costumes and only in winter.

Without a wetsuit, like without a gun, spearfishing is impossible. This means that this part of the equipment should be taken seriously so that the process of hunting fish always brings only joy and pleasure.

Summer and warm suits

What does a beginner need for spearfishing? You must be able to understand wetsuits. For summer hunting, a wetsuit with 5 mm neoprene is perfect. Warmer options (7 and 9 mm) are used for immersion in water in spring and autumn. It is worth noting that at this time of year the water transparency is much greater compared to summer, and accordingly, spearfishing will be much more exciting. Choose a suit according to the weather conditions of your region or have several sets in stock at once.

The size of a suit is considered to be suitable if it does not hang on the hunter or does not compress the body too much. Most stores will offer the opportunity for the customer to try on a wetsuit on site or allow the customer to return the item within a few weeks of trying it on at home. Don't hesitate to return something that doesn't fit properly, as an incorrectly fitted wetsuit can lead to hypothermia in the water.

The most comfortable thickness of neoprene socks is considered to be 7 and 9 millimeters. The gloves are offered in two versions: three-fingered and five-fingered. For a beginner, it is recommended to use a five-fingered specimen, since hands in cold water can cool down quite quickly.

How to select cargo?

How much cargo do you need for spearfishing? It is worth noting that the weight belt should be selected in accordance with the thickness of the wetsuit and body weight. Under no circumstances should it sag, but rather merge tightly with the body. The number of loads can be easily adjusted. To prevent the water from pushing out a swimmer weighing 100 kilograms, it is necessary to weigh him down with a load of 10 to 12 kg. Using this analogy, you can determine how much weight you will need. However, it is worth considering that such calculations are relevant for neoprene with a thickness of no more than 7 millimeters.

Knife

One of the important pieces of equipment for any hunter is a sharp knife. If you forgot it at home, you will have to cancel the dive, since the knife is a guarantee of your safety under the water. The main characteristics when purchasing are:

comfortable handle;
sharp blade;
reliable alloy.

It is best to mount the weapon on the hip, since in case of danger you will need to quickly reach it. You should consider a convenient mount that would fit your wetsuit. It should not cling to anything or interfere with movements in any way, and the knife itself should be easily removed from the sheath.

Of course, this part of the equipment is optional in fresh water bodies, where there is no danger of attack by underwater predators. The sizes and models of the knife can also be selected individually to suit the requirements of each hunter. The main thing he must be able to do is cut well.

Do I need permission?

Do you need a permit for spearfishing? It will be enough to purchase a hunter's license, however, this procedure is not at all mandatory. In accordance with the law of the Russian Federation, every citizen has the right to use water resources in reasonable quantities. That is, if you are not engaged in scuba poaching, then you should not have problems with the law. However, professionals still recommend purchasing a universal hunter’s license, since not all representatives of the law are fully versed in our legislation. And such an impressive document will give confidence to any law enforcement officer.

Choosing a suit for spearfishing

Most wetsuits in our stores have a similar design and are sewn on the same machines from almost the same neoprene. The magic words “anatomical cut” from advertising, by and large, mean little, since it is impossible to verify this, and, most importantly, we ourselves are cut by Nature in different ways. Therefore, let’s try to highlight the criteria by which you should choose a suit, the criteria by which you can really evaluate it.

We believe that you don’t need your scuba suit to last forever , that is, after 3-4 years you will be ready to change it to a new one. Then look for the softest one that is offered to you. Feel and compare suits of the same thickness. Keep in mind that softness may depend not only on the quality of the neoprene, but also on the top fabric layer: a Lycra suit will be softer and more comfortable, but this will not affect its service life and thermal insulation properties.
Today, any self-respecting specialty store has a fitting room. When a spearfishing suit, you should try it on and understand the main thing - how it fits on you. Doesn't it compress too much, are there any voids underneath? Both are unacceptable for future comfortable hunting.
It is advisable to have waterstops at the ends of the pants and sleeves - several centimeters of neoprene not with an open pore inside, but with a smooth, polished surface. These are the places where the suit will meet the gloves and socks, and the quality of this joint will determine how much water will get under the suit and whether it will circulate.
Pay attention to the cutouts of the pants under the arms and head (the option with short pants is not considered). If you are buying a suit with a thickness of 3 or 5 mm, then large cutouts should not bother you. But it’s really bad if a suit with a thickness of 9 mm has large cutouts. A large cutout on the back is especially harmful: there will be a large cavity between the shoulder blades, naturally filled with water.
You should not attach great importance to the color and design of a spearfishing suit . A camouflage top has a certain significance when hunting in very clear bodies of water - in the seas and oceans. Freshwater fish, living in rather turbid waters, are more oriented not by vision, but by other senses (the same lateral line). Therefore, by saving a little on the price and taking a black rather than camouflage suit, you will not lose anything in terms of hunting success. Vitaly Vinogradov, photo by the author.

Previously on the topic Spearfishing:

Spearfishing: Safety rules for spearfishers
Spearfishing Equipment: Tips for the Beginner Spearfisher
Which speargun to choose: Classification of spearguns for spearfishing
Knife for spearfishing: Review of knives for spearfishing, how to choose an underwater knife
Underwater hunter's diving technique: How to dive and surface correctly while spearfishing
Diet for an underwater hunter, what and when to eat - advice from a professional
Night Spearfishing: Pros and Cons of Spearfishing at Night
Spearfishing in the spring: Seize the moment for spearfishing in early spring
Spearfishing - Respecting the Fish: The Philosophy of an Underwater Hunter

Hunting places

To practice underwater sports, it is recommended to find a body of water with fairly clear water. It is worth examining more than one section of this area from the shore in order to verify this.

It is worth choosing places where it is quite quiet and calm, since in a strong wind the water can become very turbid, passing through underwater vegetation or lifting silt from the bottom. In most cases, the water is cleaner in areas with reeds than in open areas.

Some hunters prefer to engage in underwater sports at night. A waterproof flashlight should give you a good view even in murky water, and some fish are actually easier to shoot at night.