Spearfishing History
Spearfishing is quite popular, and has been for centuries. As a means of catching food, early civilizations were quite familiar with the custom of spearing fish out of streams and rivers using sharpened sticks. In the 1960s, Ralph Davies and Michael Crenshaw led a campaign to have spearfishing distinguished as an Olympic sport. Despite their hard work and dedication, this never came to be. However, a long list of World Records for the largest catch by species carries on to the present day. There are a few organizations, including the International Underwater Spearfishing Association and International Bluewater Spearfishing Records Committee that have set up and offered a complete set of rules to ensure that any world record setting fish is caught under fair conditions. This is considered a type of sport by some dedicated spearfishers. Modern-time spearfishing started in the 1930s, on the French Riviera. At first, divers used only watertight swimming goggles, but it led to modern-day scuba divers’ mask and swimfims and snorkel. Some Italian fishers began using rebreathers, or a breathing set that provides a breathing gas containing oxygen. It also expels carbon dioxide.
Spearfishing
People spearfish for sport, or to sell the fish, or even just to eat. In some tropical seas, tribe members spearfish for a living. They often use a homemade spearfishing kit. Modern-day spearfishing utilize up to date tools made of elastic or pneumatic- powered spearguns. As well as spearguns, pole spears and Hawaiian slings are employed. The fishers use wet suits, often specifically designed for spearfishing, and weight belts or vests, often to compensate for wet suits. Fins, knives, and kill spikes are used to spear the fish. Fins and knives are used in fast ascent. Kill spikes are greatly favored; they fill the fish much more quickly and humanely. This tool also minimizes shark interest by stopping the fish from thrashing. There are three main types of spearfishing. They are shore diving, perhaps the most common form of spearfishing. This involves diving from shore, and hunting around the architecture. Fishers usually hunt around reef, rocks, kelp, or sand. Boat diving uses boats around reefs or shallow waters. Blue Water diving is the area of interest to most spearfishers. It involved entering deeper waters, and hunting bigger fish.
Spearfishing Tips
Take advantage of the fish’s curiosity. Once in sight of the fish, hunter should remain completely still. It is a good idea to bring shells, or coral, rubbing them together when the fish is reluctant to enter the hunting zone, because this attracts the fish. Experienced fishers hang around an area heavily populated with fish prey, seaweed, mussles, etc.
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