Spearfishing
Spearfishing

What is Spearfishing?

Spearfishing, also known as underwater hunting or harpooning, is a traditional method of catching fish. Although spearfishing is banned in Switzerland, it has a long tradition in many cultures, especially in the Mediterranean region of Europe. Popular destinations for spearfishing include Italy, France, and Croatia.

Pros and Cons of Spearfishing

Spearfishing is controversial. The seas are considered overfished, and like hunting, some people condemn the killing of animals for sport. On the other hand, fish is a valuable food source, and spearfishing is the most eco-friendly and sustainable method of catching fish. There is no unwanted bycatch, and ecosystems are not excessively strained, unlike commercial fishing with trawl nets. Because the prey is selected before the shot, no undersized animals are harmed.

How Difficult is Spearfishing?

Many people, especially SCUBA divers, underestimate the difficulty of spearfishing. While fish generally show little fear of divers and approach out of curiosity, marine creatures behave completely differently towards spearfishers. Fish are constantly surrounded by predators and have learned through evolution to distinguish between peaceful fish and predators. They can also sense whether a predator is approaching with hostile intent or behaving passively.

Spearfishing Equipment

Before embarking on your spearfishing adventure and hunting for a substantial sarago or bass, it is important to have the right equipment. You will need one or preferably two spearguns: a longer speargun about 100-120 cm in length for hunting in open areas, and a shorter speargun of 70-90 cm for shooting fish in caves and rock crevices. A knife is necessary to quickly and painlessly kill the fish after the shot, as the shot is rarely immediately fatal. A fish stringer is used to attach your catch to your weight belt. A flashlight helps to spot fish in dark caves.

You can also use an old, worn-out freediving open-cell wetsuit for spearfishing. However, hiding behind rocks and lying on the seabed puts a lot of strain on the material, and your old suit will soon have holes and tears. It is worth getting a special spearfishing suit in camouflage colors, with a chest pad and possibly a urine relief system (a neoprene tube for urinating during long spearfishing sessions).

The rest of the equipment

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      CHF220.00
      Viper Pro DS SpeargunMares Viper Pro DS Speargun
          CHF220.00Price
          Viper Pro DS SpeargunMares Viper Pro DS Speargun
              With the Mares Viper Pro DS speargun, no fish will slip away: you can shoot safely and precisely even at greater distances.
              CHF220.00Price
              Mixed items
              Viper Pro DS SpeargunMares Viper Pro DS Speargun
                  With the Mares Viper Pro DS speargun, no fish will slip away: you can shoot safely and precisely even at greater distances.
                  Mixed items
                  CHF220.00Price
                      CHF100.00
                      Sniper PS SpeargunMares Sniper PS Speargun
                          CHF100.00Price
                          Sniper PS SpeargunMares Sniper PS Speargun
                              With the Mares Sniper PS speargun, you are perfectly equipped for your next spearfishing adventure!
                              CHF100.00Price
                              Mixed items
                              Sniper PS SpeargunMares Sniper PS Speargun
                                  With the Mares Sniper PS speargun, you are perfectly equipped for your next spearfishing adventure!
                                  Mixed items
                                  CHF100.00Price
                                      CHF271.00
                                      Mares Pneumatic Gun FORCEMares Pneumatic Gun FORCE
                                          CHF271.00Price
                                          Mares Pneumatic Gun FORCEMares Pneumatic Gun FORCE
                                              Are you looking for the perfect pneumatic speargun? Your search is over; here is the Mares Pneumatic Gun FORCE!
                                              CHF271.00Price
                                              Mixed items
                                              Mares Pneumatic Gun FORCEMares Pneumatic Gun FORCE
                                                  Are you looking for the perfect pneumatic speargun? Your search is over; here is the Mares Pneumatic Gun FORCE!
                                                  Mixed items
                                                  CHF271.00Price
                                                      CHF85.00
                                                      Acent Dry Guns Bag
                                                          CHF85.00Price
                                                          Acent Dry Guns Bag
                                                              Mares Ascent Dry Guns Bag: Reliably protects up to 6 spearguns. Practical bag for secure transport and easy handling.
                                                              CHF85.00Price
                                                              1 items
                                                              Acent Dry Guns Bag
                                                                  Mares Ascent Dry Guns Bag: Reliably protects up to 6 spearguns. Practical bag for secure transport and easy handling.
                                                                  1 items
                                                                  CHF85.00Price
                                                                      CHF58.00
                                                                      Diving Torch
                                                                          CHF58.00Price
                                                                          Diving Torch
                                                                              Clear view underwater with this Diving Torch. Durable, powerful, and waterproof – perfect for your next adventure in the Big Blue.
                                                                              CHF58.00Price
                                                                              3 items
                                                                              Diving Torch
                                                                                  Clear view underwater with this Diving Torch. Durable, powerful, and waterproof – perfect for your next adventure in the Big Blue.
                                                                                  3 items
                                                                                  CHF58.00Price
                                                                                      CHF28.00
                                                                                      Fish Stringer Kit
                                                                                          CHF28.00Price
                                                                                          Fish Stringer Kit
                                                                                              Spearfishing
                                                                                              With the Mares Fish Stringer Kit, you securely attach your catch to the weight belt.
                                                                                              CHF28.00Price
                                                                                              1 items
                                                                                              Fish Stringer Kit
                                                                                                  Spearfishing
                                                                                                  With the Mares Fish Stringer Kit, you securely attach your catch to the weight belt.
                                                                                                  1 items
                                                                                                  CHF28.00Price
                                                                                                      CHF12.00
                                                                                                      O-Ring Bar KeeperMares O-Ring Barb Keeper
                                                                                                          CHF12.00Price
                                                                                                          O-Ring Bar KeeperMares O-Ring Barb Keeper
                                                                                                              Secure the barb of your spears with the Mares O-ring Barb Keeper to prevent unwanted deployment before the shot.
                                                                                                              CHF12.00Price
                                                                                                              1 items
                                                                                                              O-Ring Bar KeeperMares O-Ring Barb Keeper
                                                                                                                  Secure the barb of your spears with the Mares O-ring Barb Keeper to prevent unwanted deployment before the shot.
                                                                                                                  1 items
                                                                                                                  CHF12.00Price
                                                                                                                      CHF14.00
                                                                                                                      Sleeves Kit
                                                                                                                          CHF14.00Price
                                                                                                                          Sleeves Kit
                                                                                                                              Spearfishing
                                                                                                                              With the Mares Sleeves Kit in your toolbox, you’re ready for your next spearfishing adventure.
                                                                                                                              CHF14.00Price
                                                                                                                              2 items
                                                                                                                              Sleeves Kit
                                                                                                                                  Spearfishing
                                                                                                                                  With the Mares Sleeves Kit in your toolbox, you’re ready for your next spearfishing adventure.
                                                                                                                                  2 items
                                                                                                                                  CHF14.00Price
                                                                                                                                      CHF37.00
                                                                                                                                      Sleeves Plier
                                                                                                                                          CHF37.00Price
                                                                                                                                          Sleeves Plier
                                                                                                                                              The Mares sleeve pliers are an essential tool for every underwater hunter: they allow you to quickly get your speargun back in action!
                                                                                                                                              CHF37.00Price
                                                                                                                                              1 items
                                                                                                                                              Sleeves Plier
                                                                                                                                                  The Mares sleeve pliers are an essential tool for every underwater hunter: they allow you to quickly get your speargun back in action!
                                                                                                                                                  1 items
                                                                                                                                                  CHF37.00Price
                                                                                                                                                      Mares Mono Line Black 1.5mm fishing line
                                                                                                                                                          CHF16.00Price
                                                                                                                                                          Mares Mono Line Black 1.5mm fishing line
                                                                                                                                                              Mares Mono Line Black 1.5mm fishing line for secure connection of the shaft to the speargun: no fish will escape you.
                                                                                                                                                              CHF16.00Price
                                                                                                                                                              1 items
                                                                                                                                                              Mares Mono Line Black 1.5mm fishing line
                                                                                                                                                                  Mares Mono Line Black 1.5mm fishing line for secure connection of the shaft to the speargun: no fish will escape you.
                                                                                                                                                                  1 items
                                                                                                                                                                  CHF16.00Price
                                                                                                                                                                      CHF59.00
                                                                                                                                                                      Line Diamond 1.5mm Dyneema
                                                                                                                                                                          CHF59.00Price
                                                                                                                                                                          Line Diamond 1.5mm Dyneema
                                                                                                                                                                              Spool with 100m of Mares Line Diamond 1.5mm Dyneema with superior flexibility and strength for demanding spearfishers who know what matters.
                                                                                                                                                                              CHF59.00Price
                                                                                                                                                                              1 items
                                                                                                                                                                              Line Diamond 1.5mm Dyneema
                                                                                                                                                                                  Spool with 100m of Mares Line Diamond 1.5mm Dyneema with superior flexibility and strength for demanding spearfishers who know what matters.
                                                                                                                                                                                  1 items
                                                                                                                                                                                  CHF59.00Price
                                                                                                                                                                                      CHF5.20
                                                                                                                                                                                      Swivel Coupler
                                                                                                                                                                                          CHF5.20Price
                                                                                                                                                                                          Swivel Coupler
                                                                                                                                                                                              Spearfishing
                                                                                                                                                                                              With the Swivel Coupler, you connect a piece of Dyneema to a piece of monofilament, creating a strong but easily detachable connection.
                                                                                                                                                                                              CHF5.20Price
                                                                                                                                                                                              Mixed items
                                                                                                                                                                                              Swivel Coupler
                                                                                                                                                                                                  Spearfishing
                                                                                                                                                                                                  With the Swivel Coupler, you connect a piece of Dyneema to a piece of monofilament, creating a strong but easily detachable connection.
                                                                                                                                                                                                  Mixed items
                                                                                                                                                                                                  CHF5.20Price