In the old days, spearfishing was done by fishermen carrying hand-made spears or long sticks with sharpened ends. They stood on the shallow part of the water and with excellent hand and eye coordination, speared their catches of the day. It is a method that has been used for millennia and up to this day, you will still see a few using this time-honored method.
However, most modern spearos use elastic-powered or compressed gas pneumatic-powered spear guns to catch elusive game fish. Spearguns are just one of the specialized techniques and equipment that was invented specifically to adapt to varying aquatic conditions and target fish. Spearguns are chosen based on the size and style spearos are comfortable with so that they can easily control it under water.
As mentioned there are two most-used types of speargun and these are the elastic-powered and pneumatic-powered spear guns. Elastic-powered spear guns are operated by placing the spear on a track and pulled back against elastic or rubber bands, stretched until they are locked in place. Pulling the trigger releases the rubber bands and fires the spear.
A pneumatic-powered spear gun on the other hand, makes use of compressed air that is kept in the gun after firing, sort of like a low-end air rifle. Among these two types, the elastic-powered gun is recommended for beginners to use. Other lesser known types and least used spearguns are the gas-powered spear guns that use CO2 canisters to fire the spear and gas is released after the gun is fired and the explosive charge spear gun which uses small explosives to fire the spear.
The speargun is set up to work in different ways. The speed rig set up involves the gun being connected to a buoy using a float rope which is fired by the spearo and connects with the fish by the gills. The fish gets slid onto the rope and travels up the line as the diver swims and comes to rest underneath the buoy. Another type of set up is the breakaway rig, which is similar to the speed rig except that the float rope is allowed to detach from the gun after it is fired so the spearo could hold on to the gun.
The reel-on-the-gun setup is very much like a fishing rod because the gun has a reel that is attached to the spear, allowing the spearo to work the fish and also use it in waters where towing the buoy isn't possible. And last but not the least, there's the free-shaft which is the most difficult among all the types of set-ups because the spear is not connected to the gun or to a buoy and can only be used in clear waters where the spearo can track the fish.
The first step in learning how to use a spear gun is to make sure the safety features are engaged. The only time you can release the safety catch is just before you shoot. Until then, keep your fingers away from the trigger. Loading your spear gun depends on the type of spear gun you have. For pneumatic spearguns, you should place the butt of the gun against your waist and then fit the butt end of the spear shaft into the barrel of the gun then cover the spear tip with the plastic hand loader.
Next, you pull the shaft back into the muzzle with the hand loader rotating it as you to reduce bending. You may feel a significant resistance as you work against the air bladder until the catch on the spear shaft engages the trigger. Lastly, remove the hand loader and engage the gun's safety catch. For elastic-powered guns, you slide the spear shaft butt first down the guide track and into the receiver or trigger assembly. Listen for the click on the catch as the spear shaft engages the trigger mechanism then engage the safety catch. When loading your spear gun, make sure you do it under water or point it away from other divers.
Before shooting look past the fish and your surroundings to make sure no one or nothing else is within firing range and make sure you breathe in when you pull the trigger. Go for the kill shot on the prey's head or spinal cord to disable it quickly. Never shoot large fish that you can't handle as they can drag you around or turn on you to attack. If the fish is struggling, ascend to shallow water and take deep, calming breaths then discharge the gun in a safe place.
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