Changing Rigging and Tackle in Spearfishing

One of the key elements to landing big fish is to make sure your equipment is in pristine condition, and that means changing rigging and hardware. That does not mean you need to change every piece of gear you own for every single dive trip. It does mean you should keep track of the condition of your dive gear and replace it well before it breaks. It is not the two pound snapper that is going to test your dive gear, but the big fish of a lifetime that will put so much pressure on it that weak points will break.

 

Changing Rigging and Hardware

There are pieces of equipment that need to be replaced periodically. Any metal that is exposed to salt water should be given careful consideration for this replacement, especially before big trips. The idea of spending thousands of dollars to travel to a foreign country, in addition to thousands of dollars on spearguns, shafts, slip tips, floats, floatlines, and bungees, and then having a trip ruined because you didn’t want to spend the money to replace a rusty tuna clip, shackle, or swivel is terrifying. It is worth the 10 minutes and a few dollars to change rigging and hardware out on your float, floatline, or to replace your floatline adapter.

 

Shooting Line

Shooting line can be a very sore subject for many divers. If you dive a lot in your home town, your shooting line probably looks terrible. All divers have a tendency to become complacent with their shooting line, but it is one of the most important elements to landing your catch. Old shooting line is often worn, which reduces its strength. If you use monofilament, the crimps corrode over time once exposed to water. This also reduces the strength of the line’s ability to hold tension. Stainless steel cable rusts. If you are diving several times a week, this will be a gradual reduction that you don’t notice. The problem comes in when a big, strong fish, tests your equipment. That is when the shooting line breaks. Save yourself the trouble and change rigging and hardware, like your shooting line and crimps.

 

Tuning Floppers

Most experienced divers share the opinion that it is important to tune your flopper shafts because a properly tuned flopper shaft helps land fish. If you are unfamiliar with what the term ‘tuning a flopper shaft’ means, we mean tightening the flopper on the spear. This is done to the point that once the flopper is flipped open, it remains open until pushed down manually. Tuning a flopper is somewhat delicate and precise. If you over tighten the flopper, it will not deploy on the other side of the fish. If the flopper is too loose, the fish can struggle and the flopper will close and pull out of the fish. The best way to do this is to use a small ball hammer. Put the shaft and flopper on a hard surface and make small adjustments until it is just right.