Neptonics

  • MY CART
    No products in cart.
MENUMENU
  • PRODUCTS
    • Spearguns & Polespears
      • Wooden Spearguns
      • Euro Spearguns
      • Roller Spearguns
      • Polespears & Slings
    • Wetsuits
      • Wetsuit Glue & Cleaner
      • Riffe Wetsuits
      • Neptonics Wetsuits
      • Waihana
      • Salvimar Wetsuits
    • Essential Gear
      • Dive Watches
      • Freediving Fins
      • Spearfishing Masks
      • Snorkels
      • Dive Knives
      • Gloves
      • Booties
      • Power Heads
      • Bubba Blade Products
      • Flashlights
      • Anti-Fog Gel
      • Spearshaft Protector
    • Accessories
      • Flashlights
      • GoPro Accessories
      • Bags & Travel Cases
      • Certified Scales
      • Shark Shield
      • Flashers
    • Rigging, Rubber, Shafts
      • Mori Shaft
      • Rob Allen Shafts
      • Neptonics Shafts
      • Custom Shafts
      • Speargun Rubbers
      • Slip-Tips
      • Euro Shafts
      • American Shafts
      • Shooting Line
      • Crimping Kits
      • Muzzle Bungees
      • Tuna Clips, Swivels, Tackle
    • Apparel
      • T-Shirts
      • Hats
      • Spearfishing Stickers
    • Floats, Floatlines, Reels
      • Floatlines
      • Tuna Bungees
      • Floats
      • Reels & Accessories
    • Weight Belts
      • Weight Belts
      • Lead Weights
      • Weight Belt Accessories
      • Carter Floats
    • Speargun Builder
      • Speargun Triggers
      • Speargun Handles
      • Enclosed Speargun Tracks
      • Roller Gun Parts
      • Speargun Components
      • Speargun Building Tools
    • Lobster Gear
      • Lobster Gauges
      • Lobster Bags
      • Pry Bar
      • Lobster Snare
  • ACADEMY
  • ABOUT
    • LOCATIONS
    • CONTACT
  • ACCOUNT

Spearfishing Hunting Techniques – Stalking Strategies

by Mark Platau / Monday, 14 June 2021 / Published in Spearfishing 101, Spearfishing Techniques
Stalk

Spearfishing Hunting Techniques – Stalking Strategies

As you develop as a spearo it becomes evident that there are some valuable spearfishing techniques that help improve your experience. There are no guarantees in spearfishing, and situations and conditions change day to day. That is why having as many tools in your tool belt as possible helps. It should be noted that improving your diving is one of the best benefits you can give yourself, because more time underwater is the first step to becoming a better free dive spearo. 

Spearfishing Techniques for the Bottom

Most reef species can be found on or near the bottom. This means we need to have a few strategies to allow us to find or bring the fish to us. There are a couple methods of trying to bring in reef fish, or getting a better vantage to close the distance. 

Dusting and Scratching

Dusting and Scratching are both good strategies for bringing fish in, if you have the bottom time to make that work. Many fish species are initially wary of divers, but their curiosity can defiantly help you harvest them. Dusting is the act of throwing sand up into the water column. Scratching involves taking a rock from the bottom and scraping it against another rock or piece of structure. The commotion of either of these activities can bring fish in to see if there is a feeding opportunity. 

Hovering Above the Bottom

Many spearos swear up and down this is the best method for hunting on reef-like structure. The basic concept is to dive down and level out 10-15 feet (3-5 meters) above the bottom. From there you have a great vantage point to hunt the reef. If you see a fish worth targeting you can then dive deeper to get to that specific fish. Hovering also allows you to not dive as deep all day and lets you conserve some energy. This strategy is particularly helpful in visibility where you cannot see the fish you are targeting from the surface. 

Calling

“Grouper Calling” is the process of making a grunting noise with your throat. It works on a similar principle to scratching the bottom. The noise mimics the sound that some grouper and other reef fish and brings other reef fish in to check out the noise. This works well with snapper and grouper.


Spearfishing Techniques for the Surface

Spearfishing from the surface certainly has its own challenges. When a fish approaches on the surface you frequently don’t have enough time to dive properly to get to the fish. Other than learning how to make quick dives we have a few strategies for bringing in fish closer to the surface while diving in deeper water. 

“Cone of Death” – Spearfishing Technique

The “Cone of Death” strategy was developed by Jerry Guerra to increase his success on deep dives. The basic concept is to determine the range your speargun is effective. From there you can do a partial dive to identify the fish you want. If the fish can’t be within range on that dive abort your dive and move on the surface to be ready to have that fish within range on the next dive. The cone comes down to making a direct line to getting within range of the fish between downward or horizontal range of your speargun. The process may require multiple dives. It also means you need to learn fish behavior and learn when to turn your dive to set yourself up for success on the next dive. It is described in detail by Jerry himself in this Noob Spear Podcast Episode.

Pelagic Species

Many pelagic species tend to be on the move. Targeting them is a challenge and often comes down to presenting them with food or something that looks like an opportunity to eat. That means deploying flashers or chum. It also means being ready to make a quick drop as a targeted fish moves through. Pelagic species may come back by, but sometimes they are just passing through and you have to take the opportunities as they come. That means you have to get good at “surprise dives” and quick shots on some species. The best way to be ready for a surprise dive is to always be working through your breath up and being ready to do a dive.

Strumming Your Bands 

Strumming your bands is another spearfishing techniques that is based on making noise with your equipment. There are a couple ways divers do this. The simplest is to strum on your loaded speargun bands similar to a guitar. This is a simple method that doesn’t take much effort, but also doesn’t make much noise. The other method is to brace the speargun with your leg and arm and with your other hand pull a band away from the speargun, like pulling back a bow string, and releasing. This makes a rod noise hitting the speargun and can get some attention from nearby fish. It should be noted this can also get the attention of nearby sharks as well. 

  • Tweet
Tagged under: blog, neptonics

About Mark Platau

What you can read next

Speargun
The Ultimate Guide to Selecting Your Perfect Speargun
Guns
How to Pick the Right Speargun Length For You
A5 Flyer
Properly Loading Your Speargun – Factors Involved

Recent Posts

  • Speargun

    The Ultimate Guide to Selecting Your Perfect Speargun

    Spearfishing has been a popular activity for mu...
  • Guns

    How to Pick the Right Speargun Length For You

    How to Pick the Right Speargun Length For You T...
  • A5 Flyer

    Properly Loading Your Speargun – Factors Involved

    Properly Loading Your Speargun – Band Siz...
  • Olympus Digital Camera

    The Secret to Landing Big Fish Spearfishing!

    The Secret to Landing Big Fish Spearfishing! Wh...
  • Mentor

    Mentoring Mentoring New Freedivers – Why Its Important to Bring New People Into The Sport

    Mentoring New Freedivers – Why Its Import...

Categories

  • Gear Maintenance
  • Gunbuilder Tips
  • Neptonics Videos
  • Product Reviews
  • Spearfishing 101
  • Spearfishing Techniques
  • Travel
Shipping
Return Policy
Privacy Statement

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Unlock $10 Off

  • GET SOCIAL
Neptonics

© 2023 All rights reserved. Spearfishing Solutions, LLC

  • situs nonton online gratis
  • ggslot777
  • pucuk88
  • midas777
  • slot online
  • kkvslot88
  • toto88jp
  • bucin777
  • menangjp88
  • New Online Casinos in Mexico - Explore the Exciting Options
  • Pin-Up Casino in Canada
Neptonics

  • PRODUCTS
    • Spearguns & Polespears
      • Wooden Spearguns
      • Euro Spearguns
      • Roller Spearguns
      • Polespears & Slings
    • Wetsuits
      • Wetsuit Glue & Cleaner
      • Riffe Wetsuits
      • Neptonics Wetsuits
      • Waihana
      • Salvimar Wetsuits
    • Essential Gear
      • Dive Watches
      • Freediving Fins
      • Spearfishing Masks
      • Snorkels
      • Dive Knives
      • Gloves
      • Booties
      • Power Heads
      • Bubba Blade Products
      • Flashlights
      • Anti-Fog Gel
      • Spearshaft Protector
    • Accessories
      • Flashlights
      • GoPro Accessories
      • Bags & Travel Cases
      • Certified Scales
      • Shark Shield
      • Flashers
    • Rigging, Rubber, Shafts
      • Mori Shaft
      • Rob Allen Shafts
      • Neptonics Shafts
      • Custom Shafts
      • Speargun Rubbers
      • Slip-Tips
      • Euro Shafts
      • American Shafts
      • Shooting Line
      • Crimping Kits
      • Muzzle Bungees
      • Tuna Clips, Swivels, Tackle
    • Apparel
      • T-Shirts
      • Hats
      • Spearfishing Stickers
    • Floats, Floatlines, Reels
      • Floatlines
      • Tuna Bungees
      • Floats
      • Reels & Accessories
    • Weight Belts
      • Weight Belts
      • Lead Weights
      • Weight Belt Accessories
      • Carter Floats
    • Speargun Builder
      • Speargun Triggers
      • Speargun Handles
      • Enclosed Speargun Tracks
      • Roller Gun Parts
      • Speargun Components
      • Speargun Building Tools
    • Lobster Gear
      • Lobster Gauges
      • Lobster Bags
      • Pry Bar
      • Lobster Snare
  • ACADEMY
  • ABOUT
    • LOCATIONS
    • CONTACT
  • ACCOUNT
There are no products
×
Item Added to your Cart!
There are no products
Subtotal: : $0.00

View Cart Checkout

Continue Shopping
Search
Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in excerpt
Filter by Product Categories
Spearfishing Accessories
Spearfishing Apparel
Dive Watches
Spearfishing Essentials
Spearfishing Floats, Floatlines & Reels
Lobster Diving Gear | High-Quality Lobster Diving Equipment
Spearfishing Slip Tips, Shafts, Lines, Wishbones & Bands
Spearfishing Rubber & Powerbands
Speargun Parts
Spearguns and Polespears
Spearfishing Weight Belts, Dive Lights & Knives