Guide to Safe Spearfishing

Spear fishing is a method of fishing that has been used for centuries. In ancient times, hunters did not have a whole lot of weapon choices, and would often use a sharp stick to spear fish. In more recent times, advanced tools for spear fishing such as spear guns have been developed and used by spear fishers everywhere. Spear fishing can be done if the spear fisher is scuba-diving, free-diving, snorkeling, and in shallow water without any diving. Because of the possible dangers involved in spear fishing, it is important to learn safe spear fishing techniques.

One of the most important safety tips for anyone who wants to go spear fishing is to bring a partner with you. An extra set of eyes and ears can help a dive be more successful and provides a much safer environment. With a partner, a spear fisher can concentrate on his fishing while the other person keeps an eye out for any dangerous situation that may arise. Of course, any spear fisher should be aware of their surroundings at all times. However, with a partner to help keep a look out, the spear fisher can relax and enjoy his fishing experience.

Fishing at Night

Any fishing adventure has a chance to be spectacular, and fishing at night is no exception. In fact, the world record Brown Trout, and the world record Yellowfin Tuna, were both caught at night, and both were hooked using live bait. This is not to say that every night fishing trip will produce a trophy fish, or that lures don’t work in the dark. However, if you haven’t yet experienced the special excitement that goes along with landing a nice fish at night, or by the light of a full moon, you’re in for a treat.

But, before you and the crew race out and hop in the boat, there are a few things you need to be aware of. The first is personal safety, and the extra measures that have to be taken when fishing at night. Life preservers, a flare kit and running lights are standard equipment on a boat, no matter what the time of day. However, at night it’s essential to have a high powered light for maneuvering in and out of coves, or when docking. In addition, a couple of small work lights are a must for things like baiting a hook, or tying off an anchor line.

Fishing in Thick Weed Beds

Fishing in thick weed beds is one of the angler’s most challenging and yet rewarding experiences. Tangled line and lost lures are the bane of the fishing experience and a lot of fishermen call it a day out of sheer frustration. Deep beds of coontail, long pondweed stalks, grass beds, lily pads, and emergent shoreline vegetation all have one thing in common for the unprepared angler. That’s spending more time peeling weeds off the hook than fishing.

Fish end up in the weeds for several reasons. Predators like northern pike, muskies, and bass spend much of their time lying in thick weeds as concealment. This cover provides great ambush points from which to dart out and grab a preyfish that wanders by too carelessly. Fish head for cover during periods of changing atmospheric and water conditions. Recreational boating and angling pressure can send fish deep into the aquatic jungle. Sometimes a lake or river just gets so weed-choked that even open-water loving species find themselves surrounded by green as well.

Casting for Gators – Fishing for Gators

When people think of tranquil fishing trips out in a quiet lagoon, the prey they have in mind is most likely not an alligator. However, for fishermen who like to inject some excitement into their routine, alligator fishing is an adrenaline rush like few others. Over the years, those who have been brave enough to try it have used a variety of methods to lure in these creatures and put them out of commission.

The most rugged of outdoorsmen may decide to take the approach of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, whose knowledge of crocodiles was so extensive that he was able to sneak up on them and capture them in a fierce grip with his own bare hands. Of course, Irwin’s aim was conservation, and he never killed the crocodiles he captured. Nonetheless, a similar tactic can be taken with alligators, and there are legends surrounding larger than life figures who have done just that. However, this is an extremely dangerous method, and it is certainly not recommended for the general public.

Carp Fishing Tackle – Determine the Correct Hook Size

For most anglers, hook sizes aren’t taken very seriously. They feel that they either need a big or a small hook, and that is about as much as they think about the issue. The fact of the matter is, most anglers completely miss out on the purpose of using the right hook size and type.

Luck is not the only factor that causes some fishers to catch more than others. The hook that you choose can have a surprising effect on how many fish you pull out of the water. If you are going after small fish or fish with small mouths or thin lips, a thick forged hook will not get the job done. A better choice would be a thinner Aberdeen wire hook that penetrates much more rapidly, although better still would be a hook with enough strength that it still holds its shape.