Spearfishing
Spearfishing is one of the oldest and most challenging forms of fishing, combining diving skills, patience, and precision. Instead of using rods and reels, anglers enter the water and hunt fish directly with a speargun or pole spear while free diving, snorkeling, or scuba diving, depending on local regulations.
This technique requires a stealthy approach, as fish are often wary of divers. Spearfishers carefully observe their surroundings, identify suitable targets, and wait for the perfect opportunity before taking a shot. Success depends on factors such as water visibility, fish behavior, breath-holding ability, and local knowledge of reefs, wrecks, and underwater structures.
Equipment required for Spearfishing
Spearfishing is highly selective, allowing anglers to target specific species and sizes while avoiding unwanted bycatch. Popular targets include snapper, grouper, amberjack, seabass, tuna, and many reef fish species, depending on the destination.
Whether you're exploring shallow coastal reefs or bluewater environments offshore, spearfishing offers a unique connection to the underwater world and an exciting challenge for adventurous anglers. It is a physically demanding and rewarding fishing method that combines sport, skill, and respect for the marine environment.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Best For: Reef fish, pelagic species, and selective harvesting
Equipment: Speargun or pole spear, mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, weight belt, and safety gear
Experience: Active, immersive, and highly rewarding for those who enjoy both fishing and diving.
Species to target when Spearfishing
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The Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) is probably the most wanted fish in the sport fishing world. The magnificent fighter usually feeds during day time on fish, octopuses and squids. Blue Marlin is mainly caught trolling with artificial lures or with dead bait (bonito, mackerel...).
MORE INFO >Blue Marlin
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The Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is a pelagic fish that can grow up to 500kg (1000lb). The biggest Bluefin Tuna ever caught was 780kg (1496lb). These great fighters can be caught trolling, jigging, casting or drifting; mainly off-shore.
MORE INFO >Bluefin Tuna
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The cubera snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus) is a sought-after gamefish that inhabits the Atlantic coastal waters from Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. This species can reach a length of 160 cm and weigh up to 50kg. Not to be confused with the Pacific Cubera Snapper.
MORE INFO >Cubera Snapper
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The dentex (Dentex dentex) is a common saltwater fish in the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and sometimes they appear in the Canary Islands, Morocco and Senegal. They have very strong teeth to feed on fish, squid and mollusca. Dentex are a great species for sportfishing and are targetted mainly trolling or jigging. The larger fish are 1m long and can weigh up to 15 kg (35 lb).
MORE INFO >Dentex
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Mahi Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) are also commonly referred to as dorado, dolphin or dolphinfish. They are recognizable by their bluntly shaped heads, long dorsal fin and their bright colouring, dark blue and green on their dorsal side and yellow on their sides and underside.
MORE INFO >Dorado
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Gilt-head Bream (Sparus aurata) is a common species in the Mediterranean Sea and also in the Atlantic Ocean from Britain to Cape Verde. Popular in the Mediterranean cuisine, the fish is easily recognized by the gold bar marking between its eyes. The largest gilt-head bream are 1 metre long and can weigh up to 7kg (15lb).
MORE INFO >Gilt-head Bream
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Grouper is common name for all the bass-looking-fish from the Epinephelinae Family. This family also includes sea bass by the way. Grouper are colorful predators who like to live in rocky areas, reefs, wrecks where they can hide.
MORE INFO >Grouper
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The pink dentex (Dentex gibbosus) is a saltwater fish distributed from Portugal to Angola, Canary Islands and the warmer areas of the Mediterranean Sea such as southern Spain and the Gibraltar Strait area, Morocco, southern Italy, Tunisia and Algeria. The larger fish are 1,2 m long and can weigh up to 18 kg (40 lb).
MORE INFO >Pink Dentex
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The northern red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) is a popular fish often caught reef fishing in the Atlantic waters of Florida, Gulf of Mexico and also the Caribbean. This sought-after game fish can reach 1 m and weight up to 50lb.
MORE INFO >Red Snapper
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The sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is for many sport fishermen a trophy fish because of the nice fight they offer but also because they're an excellent eating fish. Sea bass, also known as European bass, are found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, from northern Norway to Senegal, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. They can grow up to 1 metre and weigh up to 12kg.
MORE INFO >Sea bass