People can very easily turn their nose up at surface hunting, however all spearos have successfully caught fish this way, and if done correctly can produce a feast fit for kings, so it definitely deserves a mention!
So, you want to be fairly shallow between about 0 and 5 metres and go exploring the coastline. Primarily in the shallower water you will see infant fish and sand eels, however monsters can lurk in the shadows… Keep an eye out for sandy breaks/clearings between the shallow seaweed as thatβs where you just might find a fat bass sleeping off his latest meal. Aim to locate some Sargassum, Thongweed, or shallow boulders with clearings or caves; Bass seem to love this terrain. If you find one, it’s often a tricky downwards shoot. Aim with one hand not two; donβt take too much time and shoot. If you’re shallow enough, the fish may even present you with a broadside, which is desirable, as it’s a much larger target.
Bass come right into the shallows chasing sand eels, crabs and Sand Smelt – sometimes shoaling right past you. There is no sweeter sight than this! You can even hunt using the baitfish activity as a pre-warning. Direction of attack can even be determined, pre-empting your aim. Be quick and donβt mince around, itβs easy to get distracted trying to spot the biggest ones and then with a flash of silver, and the unmistakable audible ‘bass boom,’ they have all gone. You get left cursing yourself empty handed wishing you had just tagged that easy 2 pounder instead of getting greedy. If the shoal is dense then itβs not unheard of to grab a β2 for 1β meal deal and shoot 2 in 1 shot.
You may also find grey mullet zipping right on the top of surface moving across the bay so keep your head up! Mullet also tend to love areas with sandy clearings, to clean themselves (keep an eye out for distinct silver flashes as they turn sideways and rub against the sand), or to feed on varying detritus or plant matter. Again, be quick with your shot because they wonβt come back for a second look!
Smaller more maneuverable guns are best suited for this hunting technique (60-80cm); however, some spearos will use 90 guns for this style of hunting – there’s no rules!