Spearfishing, gear by gear.
Spearfishing is the most selective way to take a fish - you see exactly what you shoot - and it's also freediving, which makes safety the first skill, not an accessory. Here are 10 honest gear guides, from the humble pole spear to the roller gun, plus the float, knife and weighting decisions that matter more than any spear. Match the water with water types and know your quarry from the fish profiles.
⚠️ Read this first: shallow-water blackout kills experienced freedivers - never dive alone (one up, one down), never hyperventilate, and get formal freediving training. Tow a float with a diver-down flag (legally required in many waters). Load spearguns only in the water and never point one at anyone. Spearfishing is prohibited in fresh water and many marine areas, with species, size and season limits - check your local regulations before you dive. We describe gear for education only; we don't give legal or medical advice.
🎯 Spears & slings Pole spears and Hawaiian slings - the unpowered, close-range roots of the sport.
🔫 Spearguns Band, pneumatic and roller guns - power, range and the discipline that comes with them.
🚩 Safety gear Float & flag, knife, suit and weights - the equipment that's about coming home.
🤿 Freediving essentials Mask, snorkel, fins and line systems - the freediving base everything sits on.
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The spear is the smallest part
Watermanship decides everything here - read the conditions with water types and reading the water, know your species from the fish profiles, and if you also fish topside, the shellfish guide covers what else the shore offers.