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 needed 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 caught with Spearfishing
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The Blue Marlin(Makaira nigricans) is probably the most iconic species for sport Anglers. This fantastic fighter feeds mainly on fish, octopus and squid. It is usually caught trolling offshore, using artificial lures or natural bait (bonito, mackerel...).
MORE INFO >Blue Marlin
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The bluefin tuna(Thunnus thynnus) is a pelagic fish that can weigh up to 500kg. The largest bluefin tuna, in fact, weighed 780kg. These large predators can be fished offshore by trolling, jigging, spinning or baiting.
MORE INFO >Bluefin Tuna
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The cubera snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus) is a highly sought-after game fish that inhabits 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 50 kg. Not to be confused with the Pacific Cubera Snapper also called black snapper.
MORE INFO >Cubera Snapper
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The dentex (Dentex dentex) is a saltwater species common in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and also occurs in the Canary Islands, Morocco and Senegal. It gets its name from its pronounced teeth with which it catches mollusks, squid, cuttlefish and fish. The dentex is caught trolling and jigging. It can reach a length of more than 1 meter and weigh up to 15 kg.
MORE INFO >Dentex
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Sea bream(Sparus aurata) is a common species in the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean between the British Isles and Cape Verde. Very present in Mediterranean cuisine, it owes its name to the yellow spot between its eyes. The largest specimens can reach up to 1 m in length and can weigh up to 7 kg.
MORE INFO >Dorada
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Also known as llampuga(Coryphaena hippurus), the dorado has its very peculiar shape with its flattened head, a long dorsal fin and its vivid colors ranging from dark blue and green on the top and yellow on the sides.
MORE INFO >Dorado
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Grouper is the common name for different species of fish from the Epinephelinae family. By the way, sea bass also belong to this family. The preferred territory of the grouper is rocky areas, wrecks and reefs where it can hide.
MORE INFO >Grouper
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The red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) is a popular species caught bottom fishing on reefs and around wrecks in the Atlantic off Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and also in the Caribbean. It can reach up to 1 meter in length and weigh up to 20 kg.
MORE INFO >Red Snapper
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The sama (Dentex gibbosus) is a saltwater species distributed from Angola to Portugal, the Canary Islands and the warmer areas of the Mediterranean (southern Spain, Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco, southern Italy, Tunisia and Algeria). The largest specimens reach up to 1.2m and can weigh up to 18kg.
MORE INFO >Sama
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Largemouth Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is for many Anglers a trophy, not only because of the good fight it offers, but also because it is a very good fish. This species is found in the eastern Atlantic from Norway to Senegal, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. They can grow up to 1 meter long and weigh up to 12 kg.
MORE INFO >Sea bass
