Spearguns

What You Need to Know About Spearguns

Spearguns are sports equipment but you must not forget they are also potentially dangerous weapons.  You need to make sure you know how to use spearguns safely and effectively to get the most out of this sport.

If you are nervous about using spearguns then you should look around and see if your local dive centres are offering any spearfishing courses.  This can be a good introduction to the sport and the use of spearguns.   Here are some essential tips to get you started in using spearguns for hunting:

- When your speargun is not in use keep it in a locked cabinet just as you would any other type of firearm.  Don’t just store these potentially dangerous weapons with your other diving equipment.

-The number one rule in spearfishing is to wait to load your speargun until you are in the water.  Under no circumstances should you carry or store a loaded speargun out of the water. This is incredibly dangerous for both you and others.

-Never fire a speargun from the side of a boat into the water.  The distortions mean you cannot be sure there are no other divers or marine creatures under the surface and in the firing line.  Also avoid firing at prey that is above you as you could risk injuring water users on the surface.

As well as being used for hunting spearguns can also be a defensive weapon when you are diving in high risk waters. Understanding marine predators can help you to avoid having to use your speargun against creatures that are not your prey. However if you do encounter aggressive predators such as sharks then you can defend yourself as a last resort with your speargun.

-There are a number of important restrictions imposed on speargun fishing.  You must make sure you have checked this before you get in the water.  For example many countries have Marine Protected Areas where speargun fishing is prohibited.  Other areas may have bag limits and specifically protected species.  If you are caught violating these rules you could get into a lot of trouble.

-There are two main types of spearguns available.  Multi-band wooden guns are the most common and are used for everyday spearfishing.  If you are hunting larger prey in open waters then you can also get power pneumatic spearguns as well.

-Consider attaching a float to your speargun when you are in the water. This will make it much easier to retrieve it if it gets dropped.