At Freedive Ireland we don't teach spearfishing but freediving is a big part of spearfishing so a lot of our customers are spearos. The reason I don't spear on a regular basis is I am not a big eater of fish I hunt with the camera when I can. Spearfishing is probably the most ecological way of fishing possible when done correctly.
Spearfishing has changed a lot over the decades. In the seventies competitions were held to catch the biggest and most amount of fish, many of these fish were never eaten and their meat wasted. Todays spearo is a lot more conservative. They practice release and catch rather than the other way round. While under water they can pre-select the size, species and sometimes the sex of the animal before they take it or spear it. The modern spearo is usually concerned only with getting food for their dinner and not showing off a large catch.
While they are relatively unknown there are some rules to be obeyed. Spearfishing with a rubber speargun is allowed but a pneumatic gun needs a firearm licence. Spearfishing is not allowed in freshwater. You can collect shellfish as well as lobsters, crayfish etc as long as its not in a designated area. No spearing of Salmon is allowed in the Sea. On Bass there is a closed season, a two per day limit and a minimum catch size. If you are interested in spearfishing find out all the rules and how they apply to you.
From a safety point of view the Spearo has another few variables thrown into the mix. It's easier to overstay your dive as you shoot a fish possibly just before you should have surfaced or you stay down longer as you have just seen the fish you want approach. You now have to hold on to your gun or spear and fight this fish on your ascent leading to a higher possibility of blackout. There are ways of using a float for your gun or reel to avoid this. Your buddy should be watching your dive from the surface not hunting himself a few hundred metres away.
Because you may have seen or speared your fish on your last dive and have surfaced, in the excitement you may not give yourself enough time to recover from the dive.
It's a great feeling to have caught something yourself and there is no way of getting fresher fish on your plate just please be careful while doing it.
