Spearfishing equipment beginner’s guide

If you’re starting out in the sport or seeking that upgraded, premium edge you’ve come to the right place. The brands and kit we stock here at Spearfishing UK are wholly specialised for the contemporary Spearfisherman and largely (but not entirely) angled toward the UK’s diver’s specific requirements.

When beginning your spearfishing journey, one of the first considerations is the kit you’re going to need. Many new Spearos will start the same: dusting off some old short snorkelling fins and mask set from the garage, whipping out the tattered surf suit, strapping on some chunky 2kg Scuba weights and diving (with some apprehension) to catch dinner with dad’s old hand-me-down speargun from the 80’s. Although the boiled down basics will work (to the seasoned veterans envy it’s not uncommon to see beginner Spearos in the most basic kit pulling out 5lbs Gilthead Bream on their first session), we provide specialist kit allowing you to step up your game and make the activity that much more comfortable!

What will I need? What are the bare essentials?

Provided you already have a mask, fins and perhaps even a 5mm wetsuit, the first two pieces of specialist Spearfishing kit you must consider is the safety equipment; this being the dive knife and the float. The Float attaches to the handle of your speargun via a float line and is used to mark your whereabouts to marine traffic, mitigating the risk of a collision. If, in a rare instance, you run into trouble at sea, the highly visible float will help mark your whereabouts and can save your life! The float should never be attached to yourself as this can become a hazard. The floats’ secondary function is to act as a packhorse whereby stringers, catch bags (for storage for fish and shellfish) and even water bottles can be attached. The floats we stock have varying levels of available storage/clips to suit specific needs and requirements. Our range of floats can be found here.

The diver’s knife also helps reduce the risk of injury or something more serious. The knife allows you to cut line if you ever become tangled as well as being a useful tool for braining, scaling, gutting and bleeding fish. It’s fairly common that you’ll end up diving in known shore angling spots where discarded lines are strewn over the kelp like a spiders’ web, or you may even find some ghost fishing gear — it’s a good idea to have your whits about in these frequented areas. A small, pointed knife should be considered however knives with serrated edges and line cutters are also very popular as they are much more effective for cutting through line if the need ever arises. They can be worn on the leg, forearms or below the shoulder, or on the belt – wherever you feel would be the easiest access. Our knives can be found following this link. 

Of course, you can’t Spearfish without the Speargun. Choosing the correct gun is based on many factors – budget, the visibility of the areas you’re going to be hunting in, the species you’re targeting, and ground/terrain you’re hoping to hunt them in, and your hunting style – that’s a lot of considerations! Put simply, Aluminum or Carbon guns between 70 and 90cm with a railed barrel and a single 16 or twin 14mm bands are the most popular for UK Spearos. This shorter size (comparatively to other spearguns favored abroad), is primarily selected due to the often-unfavorable visibility in the UK which will see fish sitting considerably closer than their Hawaiian cousins. These Spearguns won’t often be required for long shots, and they are a lot more maneuverable and ‘pokey’ due to minimized hydrodynamic drag – perfect for our waters and our species! If uncertain, we suggest a middle ground of 75-80cm as this size is well suited to most styles, species and terrain. All of our Spearguns can be viewed here.