Whether you’re looking for the best speargun for beginners or you’re a veteran in the underwater field, one important fact remains constant: you need to choose the right spearfishing equipment for the job. Specifically, you need to choose the right speargun.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide to help you do just that, our spearfishing experts have shared some of their tips. Keep reading to learn what it takes to select the right speargun for your personal spearfishing needs.

Types of Spearguns

Before we get into selection criteria, it’s crucial to get the basics down so you can be sure you choose the right speargun. Basic number one: there are three types of spearguns leading the market today. Those two types of spearguns are pneumatic and band powered. Let’s take a quick look at some of the key identifiers of each type of speargun.

• Pneumatic Spearguns – These spearguns were popular during the 1960s and 1970s, but are only used in a few parts of the world today. Many divers preferred these guns originally because they fired with minimal recoil and allowed divers to make longer-range shots with more accuracy. The power of this model is limited to the strength of the diver using it. These spearguns also require regular maintenance in order to maintain maximum performance.
• Traditional Band Powered Spearguns – One advantage of operating a band powered speargun is its nearly complete silence when firing. Considering how easy it is to both maintain and use this piece of spearfishing equipment, it’s no wonder most underwater hunters prefer it to old school pneumatic spearguns.
• Roller Spearguns – Roller spearguns have been around since the beginning of spearfishing, though new improvements in materials and designs have fueled a return in their popularity. While also powered by large rubber bands, roller spearguns pull the rubber and shaft over rollers mounted at the front of the gun.  The advantage here is that the bands apply steady and consistent energy to the shaft allowing for a longer stroke than traditional spearguns.  Another advantage is that these guns have relatively no recoil, as the rubber and shaft’s energy cancel each other out.

Components to Consider

Of course, there are still a few considerations to make after you’ve decided which type of speargun you’ll be using.  Like all spearfishing gear there is no universal speargun solution for everyone. It comes down to a matter of personal preference and abilities.  There are moving parts when it comes to your speargun. Let’s dive in!

• Speargun Length – The length of your speargun will rely on several factors. Most importantly it will rely on the type and size of fish you’re hunting. If you’re hunting in cramped spaces like caves or poor visibility, you’ll want a speargun in the 70cm to 90cm range.  If you’re hunting for big game in open water, you’ll probably prefer a 150cm to 165cm speargun, for additional range to hit the fish.
• Shaft Tip – Of course, one of the most important aspects of a speargun is the spear itself. The most important part of the shaft is the tip. There are two commonly found spear tips, the Flopper and the Slip Tip.  The flopper shaft uses a hinged barb that deploys after the shaft passes through the fish.  A slip-tip detaches from the shat after penetrating the fish yet remains attached to the shaft with either spectra or wire leader.  For reef fish floppers are predominately preferred where as for blue water fish and more delicate fish, slip-tips are preferred.
• Speargun Bands – When selecting your speargun bands, the two most important factors to consider are stretch and diameter. Shorter bands require more strength to load, but they also provide more power when shooting.

Ultimately, there’s a near endless amount of customization when it comes to selecting the perfect speargun. We haven’t even discussed our homemade speargun equipment yet. These essential pieces of spearfishing equipment could make or break your experience, so make sure you’re choosing wisely.

If you’re a beginner, you want to go with equipment that is easy to use and maintain. For more information and a wide range of spearfishing gear for beginners and experts alike, contact Neptonics today.

Spearfishing is one of the most dangerous sports an adventurer can pursue.  The following will help you safely navigate the pursuit of underwater hunting.

1. Notify a responsible person of your dive plans just in case you don’t return on time so they know when to call for search and recovery and where to tell them to search. Remember to let them know you have safely returned.
2. ALWAYS DIVE WITH A BUDDY. There are a host of spearfishing dangers that everyone should be aware of. First and most important is to always dive with a buddy, never alone.
3. Activate the quick release in your weight belt if yo have an emergency.
4. Speargun Safety – Always treat your speargun like it is a loaded gun! When talking to your partner on the surface, don’t put your gun under your arm or between your legs because you are now pointing a loaded gun at him – not a good thing. Don’t bring a loaded gun onto the boat, even if you are just quickly hoping spots.  It just isn’t worth the risk.
5. Make positive identification on the fish, and what is behind the fish, before you pull the trigger.  It may save your thumb, your gun, your life, or your dive buddy’s life.
6. Take a Freediving Class to learn about the principals of freediving and how to save your dive buddy.
7. Get yourself and your dive buddy trained in CPR and First Aide.
8. Be aware of  the topography of the location you are diving. Understand that the more water that is being restricted, the stronger the current.  That is why there is more current near pinnacles, underwater walls, islands and points.
9. Know the tide tables for the day and expect the current to be stronger when the slope of the tide is highest.  Also watch for the current to change directions when the tide changes but sometimes it will just get stronger with a tide change
10. Work out for diving.  It is a sport and you need to be an athlete.  Train like your life depends on it … because it does.
11. If you are a beginner, don’t plan a full 5-6 hour competitive dive tournament.  Plan to do half the dive.  Work up to longer dive days.
12. Make sure that you are properly weighted for your spearfishing wetsuit and dive conditions.
13. Beware of the other ocean predators in the environment you are diving in, not just sharks. Seals, barracuda, and even large groupers are capable of taking your fish and could potentially get entangled in your gear.
14. Stay hydrated. Proper hydration is critical for proper equalization.
15. Divers can be in danger from inattentive boaters, especially in heavy boat traffic areas. A float with a flag and a floatline helps keep boaters aware of divers in the water.

Freediving and Spearfishing Gear Basics 

Gear Basics

As with any hobby there is a wide range of free diving and spearfishing gear options available on the market. In regard to free diving and spearfishing there are a few basic pieces of equipment you will need to do this sport effectively.  

Masks & Snorkels

In order to see underwater you will need a mask. Freediving masks tend to be low volume. As you dive underwater you need to exhale into your mask to keep it from squeezing against your face.  The lower the volume the mask the less you need to exhale into it as you dive. Other than the volume consideration you just need to find a mask that seals and is comfortable on your face.  

Snorkels are needed to comfortable breath at the surface while keeping our face in the water.  Freediving snorkels come in two varieties.  The J snorkel is simple as it gets.  They are just silicone rubber tubes that allow you to breath, but they don’t have purges. They can just as easily be straws as snorkels in rough seas.  Higher quality snorkels like the Riffe Stable Snorkel are more comfortable, help prevent water from entering the snorkel, and have built in purest to drain any water that does go in the snorkel.

Fins & Booties

Freediving fins come in three broad categories and each have their own benefits.  Plastic fins are durable and cost effective.  Composite fiberglass fins are more efficient in the water, but tend to cost more.  Carbon fiber fins are most efficient, but most costly. All free dive fins are longer than snorkeling or scuba fins. Freediving fins usually have a foot pocket that encloses the heal and requires a neoprene sock, often called a bootie. They differ from scuba fins that have an open heel with a strap that takes a neoprene boot.

Wetsuits, Weight Belts, and Knives

Freediving wetsuits tend to come in two parts, usually sold together. Most freediving wetsuits are open-cell wetsuits, which help keep the diver warmer than closed-cell wetsuits, but can be more difficult to put on without proper preparation. Freediving suits just need to be wet or lubricated to get into them easily.  Wetsuits help keep divers warm, but they are also helpful in keeping divers buoyant and prevent abrasion from the natural environment.

To counter the buoyancy of the wetsuit you will beed to use a weight belt and weights. You still need to be able to float at the surface.  That being said, you want to be able to rest on the bottom, or whatever depth you are hunting, without constantly kicking down.  You will need to adjust the amount of weight on your belt to your diving style. 

All divers need to carry a dive knife with them.  There are countless entanglement hazards underwater and you need a knife to effectively deal with these hazards.  Most divers need these knives on their belt or on straps on their arms or legs.

Spectra VS Cable Slip-tip

Slip-tips are essential for successful bluewater spearfishing.  The question is when to use cable or spectra tips.  Although, both have their better applications. The species being targeted determines which type of slip-tip works best.

Cable Slip-Tip

Cable slip-tips are best for fish with tough skin. Billfish and tuna have tough skin. If the spear shaft penetrates the fish the cable will hold well in these species.  The biggest challenge that you run into with cable tips is ensuring they are in proper working condition.  Once a cable tip is kinked, rusted, frayed, or corroded the cable needs to be replaced.  Given the strength of the fish tips are typically used for, your gear needs to be in its best working condition.  Any points of failure will be tested over the course of hours and anything that has a weak point will likely break under these conditions.  

Spectra Slip-Tip

Spectra slip-tips are better for fish with softer flesh.  These work better on Wahoos, Mahi Mahi, Rainbow Runners, and other species because spectra is more malleable.  These fish are so strong and fast that the tip cable or spectra soft can cut into their skin enough that a hole is produced in the fish.  If the hole gets large enough the slip-tip will pull back through the fish. Spectra reduces the likelihood of this happening.  The biggest challenge with spectra slip-tips is the increased risks of cuts damaging the spectra. Gills and gill plates on fish are very sharp and can damage the spectra on a slip-tip. As the fish continues to fight the spectra can cut more and result in the loss of the fish.

Both types of tips should be inspected regularly before any trips to ensure your equipment performs optimally when the opportunity presents itself.  Remember that luck occurs when preparation meets opportunity.