When I lived in San Diego, I had many diving friends who regularly hunted with a spear gun. I thought the practice was abhorrent. I wouldn’t even sell a spear gun to a customer. Push the time advance button and here I am in Key West where it seemed like one out of two locals shoot fish. I quickly learned spear fishing guns and supplies were big business in this town. I finally met a local commercial hunter who actually made his living shooting fish. Several amazing stories later, it occurred to me that the majority of people who spear fish are very discerning, only choosing to shoot the biggest, best fish without the horrific waste of bi-catch. Of course, spear fishing is the logical choice if one is trying to feed the family; the cost of store-bought fish can be prohibitive for a growing bunch of kids.

That said, I am surprised at the variety of equipment available for this sport. The basic pole spear is a great way to start. Our dive shop just got in a new variety of pole spear. The band can be moved up and down the spear shaft. It has some unusual spear tips with it. I’ll be interested to see what other hunters think.

I’ve heard a lot of lively conversations on wood versus metal guns, tip styles and different manufacturers. Once agreed that wood wins out, the discussion moves on to wood type (teak, mahogany, padouk, purple heart) and another hour passes. All this ongoing communication has resulted in the formation of a web site (spearboard.com), a club and a tournament hosted by Norman Vogel from the Rooftop Café, held in the spring (usually April or May) in Key West. California has tons of spear fishing contests and I have greaty respect their cold-water sport.

A lot of locals have their own boats, but many utilize dive shops. Most shops will put a trip together for four hunters. Many times staff will set up a trip and let locals know. Local recreational hunters are scarce during the winter months. The water is too cold for their taste. It is rare to find a local diver on board in January and February.  I must admit that I’m shivering in a 6mm wetsuit in 75 degree Florida water and wondering how I ever survived California’s 55 degree water.

Pole spears, band guns, pneumatic guns, Hawaiian slings, rock points, chisel cuts, ½ inch bands, 5/8 inch bands, the possibilities are endless and can be very confusing for the beginner.

Winter is a great time to take a spear fishing class and tune up the gear for the coming spring. . Stop in any of the dive shops to schedule a class, check out your equipment and pick up some new spear bands and tips. Diving is always continuing education and a class or a refresher makes you a better, safer diver.

Safety tip: Never leave your boat unattended. One diver should always be on board to render assistance. It’s no fun surfacing behind the boat in current, drifting away and there is no one to notice.