SPEARFISHING TECHNIQUES IN THE ADRIATIC
PREFACE
The book Spearfishing Techniques in the Adriatic follows the sold out editions Spearfishing
in the Adriatic from the 2004, and a revised edition of the same book published in two parts in
2007. This book is intended for all spearfishing enthusiasts. Beginners will find useful
guidelines for advancing in the spearfishing technique, whereas experienced spearfishers will
find a wealth of practical advice on how to improve hunting techniques and achieve better
catches.
The focus in this book is on the spearfishing techniques recommended for the Adriatic Sea.
Without improving spearfishing techniques and tactics the catch will be modest and often
absent. Techniques and tactics are an important part of the reading material for beginners as
well as for experienced spearfishers. The ensuing chapters contain a multitude of tips that will
allow you to catch for the first time the fish species that still successfully elude beginners or
remain outside the range of spearguns.
The book was started thanks to author's personal friendship and good connections with a
number of well-known and lesser-known spearfishers who, over the last decade, successfully
catch fish with different techniques in the waters of the eastern Adriatic. The book is a
practical guide on how to easily achieve a satisfying catch in spearfishing.
The book contains many true stories from the lives of beginners and experienced spearfishers
who have achieved many trophy hunts. In order to catch a trophy pieces spearfisher does not
have to dive deeper than 20 or 30 meters. He needs to know where and when, and with what
technique can he catch fish he wants to catch. Read tips and experiences written in these
pages, and every reader should them and re-read them from time to time.
The book also warns about the time that passes irrevocably due to uncontrolled hunting with
professional fishing tools reduces the fish community. The book is a modest token of
appreciation to all spearfishers whose recounted experiences became part of the legend about
spearfishing in the Adriatic.
Friends and colleagues who gave rise to this book are many experienced spearfishers and
Adriatic seabed enthusiasts. I wish to thank them all.
1. INTRODUCTION ON SPEARFISHING TECHNIQUES IN THE ADRIATIC
Spearfishing in the eastern Adriatic is frequently practiced during the summer months.
The sea temperature is pleasant then, and it is also a period when underwater life
flourishes in the coastal waters on depths accessible to the hunter. Therefore, the
spearfishing techniques and tactics presented in this book are primarily intended for
hunting fish species that are most common during the summer. Also, favorable conditions
of navigation in summer make the majority of fishing positions in the eastern Adriatic
accessible.
Improving spearfishing techniques and tactics will insure the catch for all spearfishers
who for various, health and other reasons are avoiding greater depths. Adopting practical
advices of experienced underwater hunters, it is possible even for beginners to achieve a
trophy catch in shallower water, without unnecessary risk of deep dives into the blue. The
book also presents techniques that involve deeper dives. They are intended for
experienced spearfishers. With the advices given in this book even the spearfishers who
go hunting less frequently, and therefore gain experience more slowly, will improve their
catch. The book will be especially useful for the ones who fish in areas where the number
of underwater hunters is increasing on daily basis.
Spearfisher should combine different techniques and tactics when hunting, and learn to
find different types of fish in underwater. The acquired knowledge from the book will
simplify a good selection of areas in which to hunt and enable choosing the right time to
catch a particular species of fish.
1.1.Planning underwater hunting - a catch prerequisite
The hunting area should be planned in advance. It is necessary to inform about the
characteristics of the coast, type of of the seabed and experiences of the spearfishers who
have already hunted there. Based on this information, the equipment is selected. The
possibility of encounters with the fish for which the characteristics of used equipment will
not be appropriate (swimming suits pattern, fins, length, speed and power of the speargun,
etc.) should be avoided. The required information will simplify selection of equipment
mainly to avoid the possibility of encounter with a gun inappropriate for underwater
hunting, and other unadjusted equipment. Experienced spearfishers often say that the good
hunting location makes the hunt, but knowing many techniques, along with information
about the behavior of different species of fish when encountering with the hunter will
almost always provide a catch. For the most underwater hunters that is enough to justify
the time spent reading and adopting advices from this book.
Knowing spearfishing techniques and tactics is an assumption for the trophy catch, not
necessarily achieved at greater depths. Even experienced hunters do not often hunt at
greater depths. Greater importance is given to perfecting the techniques and tactics of
underwater hunting. Even at depths of up to ten meters in the eastern Adriatic,
, a multitude of trophies were caught - groupers, dog’s teeth, amber jack, bigtoothed
pampano, barracuda and other large Adriatic predators. What makes series of catches of
such trophies in shallower waters similar is the knowledge of the behavior of the fish in
the encounter with spearfisher. Although an increasing number of spearfishers at
organized diving courses increases hunting depth, it should be remembered that at the
greater depth is still necessary to know the techniques of hunting. Greater hunting depth
does not necessarily guarantee the catch. The probability and frequency of encounters
with the fish at greater depths increases, but the wrong approach to the spotted fish will
disable the catch.
By upgrading and improving spearfishing technique, hunting instinct is perfected as well.
Developed hunting instinct allows making the right decisions on:
• Where and when to dive;
• Where to look for the certain type of fish;
• Which techniques and tactics practice at what kind of field.
Thus closes the vicious circle of spearfisher's desire and dream, through spearfishing
techniques to actual catch. Reminding on the advices within the pages of this book and
enriching their own experiences, spearfishers achieve better and better catches every time.
1.2.Tip: adapt the technique and tactics of the hunt to yourself and the specifics of
the underwater
Custom spearfishing technique enables more efficient outsmarting the fish. Deficient and
non-adopted hunting techniques and tactics will narrow the selection of desired prey. That
way, certain species of fish will only remain a dream. Properly adopted, and adapted to
the hunter and the hunting area, spearfishing techniques will allow catching fish even in
the shallow waters, sometimes even catching the trophy as evidenced by a series of private
photos in the book, published for the first time. Spearfishers in these photographs over the
years have perfected the techniques and tactics of hunting. Their experiences are
contained in the chapters of this book. Although in many coastal areas in the eastern
Adriatic fish constantly does not retain, in certain periods of the day the fish that inhabit
the greater depths, comes there searching for food. At the appearance of the spearfisher,
before he notices the fish, it quickly flees hiding at greater depth. Can a hunter surprise the
fish before it feels threatened? Many experienced hunters, presented on the photographs in
this book are proof that this is possible. Even today, it is possible to encounter and catch a
trophy fish at depths of up to ten meters, but with a well-established spearfishing
technique and tactics. Hunters who successfully practice different techniques and tactics
catch only selected (higher quality) fish species. Appropriately adopted hunting
techniques are the only way to catch a higher quality fish, and the catch will be achieved
even at the areas where it is considered that the fish is gone.
Properly adopted and adapted spearfishing technique is more useful than swimming
several kilometers across the hunting area with the hope of finding the fish. Techniques
allow awaiting the fish, rather than seeking it. To prevent the fish that is passing through
from escaping toward depth before the inexperienced hunter spots it, spearfishing
techniques should be applied when searching the area.
Every major stone, crack, or underwater cave is a potential hiding place. Will the hidden
fish stay in its hiding place and allow the hunter to approach at speargun range depends on
the methods of approach. That is one of the spearfishing techniques. The development of
hunting instinct is based on perfecting the tactics and techniques of hunting. Spearfisher's
developed hunter instinct will facilitate the identification of sites in the hunting zone
where the fish is more frequent. Usually, the underwater crevices of attractive appearance
less frequently hide fish, except in areas where the underwater fishers are rarity. White
bream in the waters of the eastern Adriatic, by rule, is located in shallow and dark cracks
which inexperienced hunter will miss if they are disguised by underwater vegetation. The
brown mearge and grouper are getting harder to spot at the bottom of the underwater
maze. Instinct will 'signal' to the hunter where to retain the look. Instinct develops by
training hunting techniques. Inadequate approach and search in such position will result in
fish hiding at the inaccessible part of the underwater labyrinth, and disappointed hunter
will not even be aware that the catch was at his gun range. In similar underwater
labyrinths grooper will be well-disguised by adjusting body color. It will not be spotted
with insufficiently focused examination of crevices. And there it was, often just before the
spearfisher ...
In the areas where the fish is not noticed, it does not mean that it is gone, but the hunt
failure is a consequence of hunter's unprofessional approach to the area with hidden fish.
Good concentration, following the hunting plan and training techniques on certain fish
will provide with catch, regardless of the depth. At the way the fishing equipment
manufacturers have adapted certain products to different types of seabed, spearfisher must
also adapt movement and approach to the hunting area, potential hiding places and to the
fish in them.
1.3.How not to scare away the fish from the hunting area
Each area has a specific seabed relief and underwater flora. On the sandy bottom,
attention should be taken that the fish is not disrupted at the environment. In this case, it
will flee to the depths. Fish reveals its presence by raising sand clouds while looking for
food. If the hunter warns the fish about the danger with some movements and noises when
swimming, sand clouds will disappear. Therefore, the hunter is not familiar with the basic
techniques of spearfishing in sandy areas. With adopting spearfishing techniques at this
area, catching some fish (gilthead seabream, white bream, sea-bass) can be more
successful than at rocky bottom. The attention of the fish searching for food in the sand
should be learnt to use. On the sandy bottom same species of fish behave differently than
on rocky or densely covered bottom. Striped mullet and boatfish are easier to approach
than striped bream or base. Access to the spotted gilthead seabream requires special skill.
However, it is common to all of these species that the hunter should adapt the
environment when sneaking.
1.4.Spearfishing equipment – a part of the used technique's success
Spearfishing equipment will only be briefly mentioned on these pages. Besides the
thermal protection, swimming suit protects against injuries on sharp cliffs, sea urchins
spines, etc. Therefore, choosing the thickness and types of swimming suits depends on the
hunting areas. Diving suit that is not selected this way might be the cause of poor catches.
Nowadays swimming suits are not expensive, so it is recommended to all spearfishing
enthusiasts to own at least two or three different. Thicker than 5 millimeters (for colder
sea water), one of five millimeters and one of 3 millimeters for summer. The thickness of
swimming suits determines the necessary lead weight on the belt. Lead weight limits
comfort, and is therefore rational to own several diving suits for the possibility of
selection depending on the water temperature and the area of the hunt. The technique of
sneaking along the coast involves a proper arrangement of lead weights on the body.
Arrangement should allow silent dive and sneaking up to the recognized fish along the
seabed. To make the movements more appropriate, in this technique, is good to use a
vest with lead weights, and additional lead weights on feet. Optimal balance of the lead
weights is an assumption of inaudibility of spearfisher's movements. With such
movements spearfisher will sneak up on the spotted fish before it flees into the depths.
Today there is a multitude of excellent diving masks too. They should be selected from
the established spearfishing equipment manufacturers. Models they offer are based on
extensive experiences of world's greatest spearsishers. Size of the diving mask affects the
movement of the head. Fish react to such stimuli, whether the hunter is lying on the
bottom or moving through the sea. Wide visual field is important for easier spotting the
fish, but the diving mask should have smaller inner volume. With this mask is easier to
perform the decompression when diving. Diving masks with larger volume will boost
some fish to escape. Smaller diving mask is more simple when sneaking, when the head
should be bent towards the bottom. It is recommended to have several diving masks for
different hunting techniques. For deeper dives masks with the smallest volume should
always be used. Caution is required when choosing a snorkel. There is a multitude of
questionable quality snorkels on the market, some of which are produced from the
insufficiently tested materials. Considering that snorkel is kept in mouth, this should be
kept in mind. The safest choice is eminent manufacturer of diving equipment. When part
of the mouthpiece is damaged (with teeth) it is recommended for the oral health to get a
new snorkel.
Each spearfishing technique is specific for different physical exertion. Reducing the
overall exertion, beside possibilities of choice between several diving suits and diving
masks, owning multiple spearfishing guns also contributes. Each speargun model in the
range of eminent equipment manufacturer has some specifics. There is a reason why a
certain model is in offer. Eminent manufacturers care about the education of sales
personnel. And among sellers in spearfishing equipment stores there are many of those
who often hunt, so they can give you useful advice when choosing a new gun. Basically
every spearfisher should possess a smaller compressed air speargun (for octopus and small
fish at the cracks, 30 - 40 cm), one medium size compressed air speargun (70-90 cm) with
the ability to control the power when ejecting arrows, a larger strong compressed air
speargun (100-130 cm), and at least three guns with elastic springs (60 - 75 cm, 90-100
cm and 110 cm and more).
It is practical for every gun with elastic springs to be equipped with two elastic, and the
largest one with three or even more elastic. With such an arsenal spearfisher is equipped
for hunt in each hunting zone of the eastern Adriatic. Selected techniques and zones
determine spearfishing gun, diameter and length of the the arrow, diameter and number of
elastic springs. Exaggeration will result in ruined arrows, destroyed harpoons, or arrows
stuck in the cracks.
1.5.Combining spearfishing techniques
For the catch, beside spearfishing equipment, wise selection of weather conditions and
hunting areas, and luck, experience is necessary as well. Contribution of experience will
be greater if the hunter is
trained to combine different spearfishing techniques.
Inexperienced spearfisher due to faulty technique and careless movements will scare most
of the fish in the hunting area. Fish will flee before he sees it. Knowing different
spearfishing techniques will enable proper choice of when and which techniques to
combine.
Sometimes, while spearfisher is at the sea bottom expecting rapprochement of the
observed fish, it is necessary to start sneaking up. What to do in a situation when a hunter
is motionless at the shooting stands on steeply seabed in a gap at the edge of the range
ahead of brown mearge, or even striped grouper, and in his hands is speargun with
insufficient range to the target distance? How to treat the spotted fish in the well-known
underwater shallows in different periods of the year (spring - summer - autumn)? The
same kind of fish does not behave the same way, which is a sign that even the spearfisher
should not behave in the same way. If he wants to achieve a catch.
There are many underwater shallows in the waters of the eastern Adriatic, some of which
even today are not misled on nautical maps. Some shallows have similar bottom relief, but
some others are completely different. How to adapt the spearfishing technique to specifics
of relief? By combining the spearfishing techniques.
Combining spearfishing techniques serves for adapting the hunt to biological communities
in the area of hunting. In some areas exist specially designed sea currents. And in such
circumstances would be useful to combine different spearfishing techniques. Combining
the techniques simplifies the hunt in all more difficult hydro meteorological conditions at
the sea. Combining spearfishing techniques in difficult hunting conditions and specific
hunting areas will sometimes provide a better catch to less experienced hunter than the
catch that would achieve an experienced hunter. An experienced hunter, who is sure in his
own experience and the depth to which he can dive, will practice persistently just one
technique to catch a particular type of fish.
1.6.Spearfisher's self-discipline - a guarantee of safety and success in the hunt
Acquired knowledge about the spearfishing techniques leads to a good catch in the waters
of the eastern Adriatic. But spearfisher's self-discipline is also important, mainly for his
own safety. Spearfisher must find the strength to decide at which depth to terminate the
pursuit after fish. He must be wise enough to know when to terminate lying in ambush at
the bottom and move to the surface. Lack of self-discipline and acceptance of excessive
risks are causes of many spearfishing accidents in the waters of the eastern Adriatic.
Spearfishers get hurt here even today. And not just beginners. The largest number of
fatally injured spearfishers over the previous decades were experienced spearfishers. It is
significant number of those who competed at the state championships in spearfishing.
Self-discipline with all of them was not at the required level.
Apart from the risk of drowning because of excessive depth or prolonging the stay on the
bottom, more dense maritime traffic is risk as well . Especially boats for sport and leisure.
When practicing some spearfishing techniques diving safety buoy presents a problem.
However, with practical solutions and with a companion, it will not be a nuisance, but aid.
The other spearfisher will often bypass the marked zone, and on the buoy can be kept a
spare speargun, spare arrows, underwater flashlight, water bottle and other parts of the
basic and auxiliary equipment. Using diving safety buoys is a legal provision. Additional
equipment, hung on diving safety buoy is often a prerequisite for combining different
spearfishing techniques. Broader opportunities often contribute to higher spearfisher's
self-discipline.
Self discipline is especially important when encountering the trophy fish. Some of these
encounters in the eastern Adriatic, due to exposure to excessive risk, ended with fatal
consequences. Some other encounters with happy endings are described in this book. In the
book you will find how applied knowledge of spearfishing techniques and required selfdiscipline enabled trophy hunts such as 40 kilos yellow tail, 36 kilos striped grouper, 20 kilos
shark, 12 kilos leerfish, 10 kilos sea-bass, 9 kilos dog’s teeth, 8 kilos moray and other.
1.6 Spearfishers discipline - a guarantee of security and success in the hunting
Obtained knowledge about techniques of underwater fishing is precondition of good catch in
eastern Adriatic aquatory. Self-discipline is also important feature of spearfisher – mostly for
his own safety. Spearfisher has to be able to estimate depth where he has to stop chasing his
catch. Spearfisher has to be wise enough to estimate when is time to leave sea depths and go
back at surface. Lack of self-discipline and accepting excessive risks are main causes of
accidents that spearfishers experience in east Adriatic. Spearfishers are doing same mistakes
even today – and not only beginners in spearfishing. Highest number of spearfishers that died
in sea, were experienced spearfishers. Among spearfishers who died is significant number of
those who competed at the state championships in spearfishing.
Risk of drowning is high, not only because of spearfishing in deep waters or for staying in sea
for too long, also increasing of maritime transport presents risk for spearfishers. The biggest
threats are boats for sport and leisure. While doing some techniques of spearfishing, diving
safety buoy can be a problem. However, diving safety buoy can also represent an accessory
tool that spearfishers need. In other case, spearfishers can avoid marked zone for fishing, and
keep speargun, underwater arrow, underwater flashlight , water bottle and other parts of basic
and additional equipment. Using diving safety buoy is regulated by law. Extra equipment
attached to diving safety buoy is precondition for combining different techniques in
spearfishing. Wider options often contribute to higher self-discipline of spearfishers.
Self-discipline is extremely important in moments where spearfishers meet with trophy fish
specimens. Some of those meetings were fatal for spearfishers in east Adriatic. Other
meetings with happy ending are described in this book. Also, book will offer examples of
knowledge’s, techniques and self-discipline needed in catching trophy fish specimens like
amber jack that weighs 40 kilos, grouper that weighs 36 kilos, shark that weighs 20 kilos,
leerfish of 12 kilos, sea-bass of 10 kilos, dog's teeth of 9 kilos, moray of 8 kilos and so on.
2.
THE TECHNIQUES AND TACTICS OF SPEARFISHING
50 years ago, all that was necessary for catching fish was diving in with speargun. Only a
few of spearfishers had right weapon strong enough for killing big grouper. Groupers, back
then, were swimming near their hiding places, staring interestingly in spearfishers. With old
spearguns was very hard to catch big dog's teeth or amber jack that were swimming near
spearfisher. That was then, what's situation today? Meeting big trophy pieces of fishes is also
possible today, but today they are on bigger depths. Often happens that trophy pieces of fishes
are observing spearfishers from safe distance. Modern spearguns have possibility to shoot in
wider range. Manufacturers of fishing equipment are constantly improving their products. But
fishes also change their behavior, so equipment, strength, desire and physical condition are
not enough for good catch. Techniques and tactics are fundamental for good catch.
What is difference between technique and tactic in spearfishing? Techniques are principal
strategy of behavior in spearfishers, suited to specific zones where they are hunting. . The
effectiveness of some techniques significantly dependent on physical predispositions, fitness
and technical possibilities of spearfishers. Besides, effectiveness of each technique also
depends on the equipment and tools that spearfishers are using. Techniques in spearfishing
can also be described as way of adjusting spearfishers and his equipment to prey he's chasing.
Experiences show that some techniques are more effective for some types of fishes. Catch
also depends about luck, but also about fish behavior. In different fishing zones in east
Adriatic, fishes behave differently. Learning right techniques is only right way how to be
successful in spearfishing.
Tactics in spearfishing are ways of behavior of spearfishers in sea while searching for fishes.
Constant learning and improving tactics are fundamental for safe spearfishing. Techniques
and tactics in spearfishing need to be adjusted to fish and fishing zone – that is reason why
constant learning and improving tactics are fundamental.
Experience leads to adjusting
techniques and tactics to different fishes and different spearfishing zones. Today, fish is not
waiting for spearfisher, spearfisher has to recognize fish, come close enough and try to
surprise fish.
Ways of combining
techniques and tactics in spearfishing is big challenge for every
spearfisher. What combination will lead to catching fish? With something, though, needs to
be started. Looking in that way, this book is also guide for learning basic techniques and
tactics in spearfishing. Experiences of other grate spearfishers, told in this book, can help
other spearfishers in finding their own spearfishing solutions. It's possible to effectively
combine different techniques and tactics in spearfishing and learn how to adjust to the
environment in the undersea. In past, talent for free diving was enough for catching fish.
Since that time, decades have passed, and fishes changed their behavior completely. Good
catch depends on spearfishers psychological and physical preparedness, modern equipment,
and ability to combine different techniques and tactics. Otherwise, the catch will depend
exclusively on luck. Fundamental techniques of spearfishing that are now practiced in
Adriatic sea are:
1.
Digging spearfishing
2.
Indian hunting technique;
3.
Hunting in movement;
4.
Free falling technique
5.
Ambush hunting technique
6.
Combined techniques.
Fundamental tactics of spearfishing that are practiced in the Adriatic sea, these days, are:
1. Hunting in shallow waters;
2. Indian hunting technique in capes;
3. Indian hunting technique in up to reefs;
4. Hunting on medium depths;
5. Hunting in deep waters
6. Indian hunting technique in while swimming on surface of the sea;
7. Indian hunting technique on the sea bottom;
8. Free falling technique down the underwater cliff faces
9. Free falling technique
10. Ambush hunting technique at surface;
11. Ambush hunting technique in shallow waters;
12. Ambush hunting technique in deep waters;
13. Ambush hunting technique and some special tactics.
Experienced spearfishers, besides
combining
“everyday” techniques and tactics in
spearfishing, use rare techniques and tactics that cannot be applied everywhere. Lots of those
unusual techniques and tactics leave impression on people, like French representatives left
on people on Mali Lošinj in 1960's and presented to public ambush hunting technique.
Perfecting existing techniques and tactics and combining new techniques and tactics depend
on imagination of spearfisher. Every
technique and tactic is specific, so is highly
recommended to adjust equipment for hunting to techniques and tactics that are practiced.
There are also some specific ways of doing spearfishing which cannot be classified as
technique or tactic. For example – hunting in sunset, hunting in sunrise, winter hunting,
hunting in shallow waters and so on... Experience of spearfishers doing this new ways of
hunting are priceless. Every spearfisher has to adjust way of hunting to himself – that's way
how to lower risks of injuries. Besides, as soon as spearfisher goes under surface, all sounds
and vibrations has to be minimized.
Spearfishers have to learn how to recognize possible shelters in sea. Moving in sea has to be
adjusted to those possible shelters. Playing low profile and staying hidden in sea, prevent fish
to see danger. Long time ago, when spearfishers were rare guests in sea and when there was
plenty of fish in sea, spearfisher movements were not important as they are today. Fishes are
used to seeing spearfishers and they learned they have to escape spearfishers in moment they
see them. Sea, to man, was and is unknown ambience. Adjusting to ambience means constant
experimenting with techniques and tactics in spearfishing.
In available time, spearfisher has to dive underwater, come closer to observe fish, target and
shot fish, take fish and go back on surface. Techniques of spearfishing that imply slower
approach to spotted fish or setting ambush on sea bottom, leads to faster passing of time.
Spearfisher has to be wise and know when to give up and go back on surface. Staying in sea
for too long leads to higher risk of accident. Carbon dioxide in the blood, and also risk of
unconscious are increasing. Fishes are using their good hearing, they can feel changes in
pressure in surroundings (vibrations they can feel with sideline of body),they are also using
sent of smell and taste. They take lots of signals for sign of danger and they escape back in
depth. Approaching to some fishes without adjusting technique and tactic will not result with
catching fish. It happens often that spearfisher alert fish on his presence even before he sees
fish. That leads to wrong conclusion that there is no fish, in that day and in that zone – and
reality can be completely different. It's not strange that in same day, in same zone, two
different spearfishers have completely different catch. Experienced spearfisher use several
techniques and tactics in spearfishing – and are constantly improving them.
Learning about fishes behavior, on some area, leads to recognizing possible positions where
fish can be seen. Knowing fishes habits, like feeding time of day, it is possible to assume it’s
behavior towards to spearfisher. Spearfisher learn his entire life. He tracks all changes in
fishes behavior – all that leads to adjusting new techniques and tactics in spearfishing, also to
new equipment. Now days, color of swimming suit, masking foils that glue spearguns, special
foils for lenses on mask, color of fins are recognized like important part of spearfishing.
3. Digging spearfishing
Most of spearfishers beginners uses this technique. Beginners gather knowledge about fishes
behavior on cracks. Some fishes, when spot spearfisher, go deeper in crack and some fishes
run away out of crack. Some fishes are hidden most part of day and night in cracks. It's
important to learn how to attract them out of their safe environment. With exploring cracks is
possible to learn about fishes behavior in certain hunting zone. Thanks to exploring, is
possible to adjust techniques of hunting and approaching to cracks to catch the fish.
Spearfisher has to learn how to coordinate movements while swimming towards surface,
while coming closer to cracks, has to learn how to be more quite, how to breath and evenness
of breathing. Spearfisher has to completely adjust to sea and sneak quietly to cracks in order
to surprise fish. When spearfisher beginner learns and other techniques of spearfishing, he
will gladly practice digging spearfishing – even this technique is not efficient like some other
techniques, it provides unique experience.
Mystery, game of light and shadows in sea lead to meeting with many kinds of fishes, like
brown wrasse, brown mearge, white bream, grouper, moray, european conger and many
others. While searching the cracks, hours pass by so fast. Spending too much time on same
position leads to hiding fishes even more deep in cracks. Spearfisher has to change their
positions and return back. Persistence always lead to success while digging spearfishing.
Digging spearfishing stays in memory of spearfisher forever, especially if catches some
trophy piece of fish.
Digging spearfishing in deeper waters is extremely physically demanding. Going down,
exploring cracks, returning back on surface leads to exhaustion. Sometimes exhaustion leads
to fainting. Even early stages of exhaustion need to be recognized in order to stop with
hunting. Also, one of the risks of digging spearfishing is hooking rope from diving safety
buoy on stones or to stuck fins or some parts of body of spearfisher in cracks.
While digging spearfishing in east Adriatic is possible to catch lot of different kind of fishes,
like: grouper, european conger, brown wrasse, red scorpionfish, sea scorpion, brown mearge,
white bream, forkbeard, two-banded bream, gilthead seabream and many other. Sometimes,
spearfishers leave fish in front of crack, so while approaching fish, they use rocks and stones
as cover. If fish is not in front of crack it is possible that is just hiding deeper inside crack –
than spearfisher need underwater flashlight.
Digging spearfishing begin with exploring hunting zone from sea surface – this is obligatory
specially when catching in zone for the first time. If spearfisher is hunting in familiar zone,
than should first check cracks where he had success in catching fish before. In zones where
spearfishers are hunting for the first time, is highly recommended to watch fish in cracks from
surface – thanks to that spearfisher will understand fishes behavior. In now days, fish is
usually hiding in small and narrow cracks full of sea grass. Cracks that are bigger and wider
don't provide security to fishes. That is reason why searching big cracks in aquatory in east
Adriatic doesn't lead to catching some attractive trophy fishes. Also, sometimes is not
possible to see cracks from surface. It is possible to see them only when going down, under
surface. Fishes of east Adriatic choose cracks where is dark most time of the day...
If opening part of crack is covered in sea grass, than is possible to surprise some hidden fish.
Fishes feel much safer in those kinds of crack. When spearfisher see that kind of crack, should
go back and observe it for ten seconds from safe distance. Nonmoving silhouette of
spearfisher will draw attention of fish in crack. Usually, fishes carefully show head out of
crack, hidden in sea grass, than backs up in crack again. In that game spearfisher needs to
choose right moment for shooting. If fish is not showing, spearfisher needs to move sea grass,
and that will allow him to see wider angle. Without using underwater flashlight needs to
observe inside the crack. If spearfisher sees fishes silhouette needs to shoot and fast get fish
out of crack. After first catch should research crack without underwater flashlight, only if
can't see any more fish silhouettes than should use underwater flashlight.
Shooting fish in crack will disturb all other hidden fishes – than they go even deeper in crack.
As deeper crack is, fish goes slower inside crack. When fish shows up on crack spearfisher
has to shoot fast, because after satisfying curiosity fish becomes nervous and cautious. When
fish, that got scared, gets back in crack, it warns all other fishes and they all go more deep in
dark crack. This behavior is specially obvious in cracks where fishes of same species live. If
crack is full of fishes of different species, than fishes should be haunted by criteria of timidity
and probability of catch. For example, if in crack is white bream, red scorpionfish and brown
wrasse, most efficient is to shoot first white bream, than brown wrasse, and after that red
scorpionfish. European conger is always the best to leave for last. Grouper should be first one
to shoot. Brown mearge will cover itself better than white bream, so if spearfisher has to
choose between those two fishes – is always better to choose brown mearge.
3.1 How to come closer to crack
Spearfisher has to be careful while approaching to the crack so wouldn’t scare small fishes
that are holding in front of cracks. If spearfisher scares small fishes, that will be signal to all
fishes in cracks. While looking over crack spearfisher has to stay in position where his head is
above crack and legs toward surface. When spearfisher finds crack with fish, has to try
wheedle fish out of crack. After few times that spearfisher got close to crack, should make
short brake in order to calm fish down. So fish will think that danger has passed. Advice is
also to check other small cracks, near main and the biggest crack, because that's where is
possible to find eve bigger fishes.
Is important to learn how to come closer to crack with fishes. First, fish has to be seen without
using underwater flashlight. While doing first look, spearfisher shouldn't put head or speagun
inside crack – in that way fish won't be disturbed, and movements of fish will be slower.
When fish silhouette is seen, spearfisher should shoot right away. In some cases, fish can also
go towards spearfisher for curiosity. If on first dive, fish is not seen, spearfisher should go
back. In next dive should observe crack from other angle and get little bit more closer to
crack. At this point is still not good to use underwater flashlight. By shooting first fish, fish
should be taken out of crack fast – so wouldn't disturb other fish in crack. Underwater
flashlight is good to use only in cases when is not possible to see anything on daylight. When
using underwater flashlight, light should be held on central part of crack. It is possible to see
fish silhouette in edges of crack. Aiming should be towards to silhouette without moving light
towards fish itself. When is not possible to see any more silhouettes, spearfisher can put head
(and body) inside the crack so can lighten deeper parts of crack even better. Should be very
careful while going inside crack so any part of body or equipment wouldn't stuck inside crack.
(snorkel, fins and so on). It's recommended to remove snorkel before going inside crack.
Going inside cracks should be practiced in shallow waters. If spearfisher gets stuck in crack in
deeper waters, they start panicking, which leads to drawing. Psychological preparation is very
important. Specially in hunting zones that are locations of many legends, where spearfishers
sow or caught big groupers, brown mearges, white breams. Going deep inside crack is risk
because it is possible to drawn.
When using underwater flashlight, fish should never be directly exposed to light. On direct
light fish gets upset and speeds up movements. Spearfisher should move light around corners
of crack until is possible to see fish silhouette. If fish is seen hidden behind rock in crack,
spearfishers should move light. In that way fish will feel safe. Spearfisher should aim in part
of fish silhouette that is not hidden with rock. If fish, that is being aimed, is grouper and is big
enough to stuck between rocks, spearfisher should take time. Is god to dive few times and find
the best angle for shooting. Sometimes is also possible to touch groupers tale with hand and
not be safe to shoot fish. In situations like that, the best advice is not to shoot. Advice is to
come back later or even next day. Than will be possible to shoot grouper. More than tenth of
spearfishers that lost life in Adriatic sea, were trying to shoot grouper. Attention! Besides
arrow, also rope from arrow can stuck in cracks. In that way priceless seconds are passing by
and is possible to faint before coming back on surface.
If red scorpionfish or sea scorpion is inside crack good advice is not to shoot them first.
Before that, should be seen if there are some other fishes in crack. Grouper, white bream or
brown mearge should be shoot before red scorpionfish. Red scorpionfish and sea scorpion
don't get upset and scared easily like grouper, white bream or brown mearge, and is easier to
catch them. If fish is in crack and with body is touching stone it is easy possible for arrow to
go through fish and stop in stone. Wounded fish will upset all other fishes in crack. After
catching (grouper, white bream or brown mearge) fish, should look for red scorpionfish or
sea scorpion. They often be on other position but in same crack. After catching
red
scorpionfish or sea scorpion it is possible to see european conger in deepest part of crack.
3.2. How to recognize crack with fish?
In some hunting zones is possible to find lot of cracks. Where are sea landslides and walls,
spearfisher should decide what cracks should check first – especially if those cracks are in
depth more than 15 meters. Diving to random cracks usually end with failure. Experienced
spearfishers, that are hunting whole life, can recognize signs that are showing traces of fishes
in cracks. Shapes of cracks, where spearfisher already caught fish, should remember for
future. In cracks that look similar or in some hunting zones is possible to catch fish. Fish
doesn't stay in cracks for long. There are periods of day when fish is leaving cracks. There are
no rules. Those rules are regulated by ocean stream, temperature of sea on depth of sea and so
on. In the middle of the day, when sun is high in sky, fishes that usually stay in cracks are
leaving them. But during late summer and in autumn in cracks is also possible to find gilthead
seabream – usually in early morning or in the middle of the day. All experiences should be
remembered. In hunting zones with lots of cracks, spearfishers have to first calm down their
emotions. Excitement and fast dives on cracks have to be avoided. While resting on surface,
advice is to search wisely for cracks. Advice is also to observe behavior of small fishes in
front of cracks. If small fishes are staying in front of cracks and they don't try to hide inside, is
easy possible that bigger fish is inside crack.
Sometimes, in front of crack with big fish, there are small white breams that will run away
from spearfisher. Also, brown mearge is sign that indicates that in some cracks are bigger
fishes. Smaller fishes that are avoiding going inside cracks can indicate that red scorpionfish
or european conger are inside cracks. When spearfisher sees smaller white bream, good
advice is to follow it. First cracks where white bream tries to hide is usually without bigger
fishes. When white bream goes in cracks good thing is to stay on surface and just observe.
Smaller white bream will probably get out crack after some time and continue to run. It will
do it few times. When white bream find crack in which stays for longer period of time – is
sign that there could be more white breams inside. That is real crack. If spearfisher is
following bigger white breamer, advice is to stay on longer distance. Should be more patient
and wait for maybe 10 minutes until white bream goes in real crack.
While catching in cracks advice is to keep calm rhythm of diving in and out. In that way
spearfishers are wasting less oxygen and are able to search more cracks. Diving on blind
surely won't lead to crack with fish, especially if spearfisher is on unknown area. In
conditions like that, spearfisher should check cracks that reminds him of cracks where he
caught fish before.
Spearfisher should be careful when hunting in cracks where are big and strong waves and
strong sea streams. In that conditions, spearfishers should be extra careful in not losing
energy. Diving in should be rarely and in shallow waters, and resting on surface should be
longer. In shallow waters, when there are lot of waves, visibility in cracks is reduced.
Sometimes, even a underwater flashlight can't help. In conditions like that, spearfisher should
wait for fish in front of cracks without going inside of crack.
Digging spearfishing is extremely exhausting. After few hours of hunting, spearfishers start to
feel tired. In that time they should slow down rhythm of diving in and expend time they are
spending on surface. Before diving in on real cracks, spearfishers should do few smaller
diving ins – so called partial diving ins. Partial diving ins should be done in case to choose
more rationally cracks where they will go in search for fish.
3.3 Fish behavior on cracks
Looking in past, there were much more fishes in Adriatic sea, in cracks, than there is now
days. That's reason why hunting back than was much more successful than it is now. Even in
depth of 10 meters, spearfisher was able to find big groupers, white breams, big red
scorpiofshes and so on. In some periods of year, in cracks and in front of them was able to
find even gilthead seabream or dog's teeth. Today is possible to see gilthead seabream or dog's
teeth in cracks only by pure luck – but spearfishers usually don't have enough time to take any
action when meet with these fishes.
Before, fish in cracks acted predictable. When group of white breams or groupers would spot
spearfisher, they would hide in cracks and wait for spearfisher there. If fish refused to go in
crack, spearfishers would just clap their hands on surface of sea, and fishes would instantly
hide in cracks. Fishes would stay calm in cracks and on same position so sperafisher was able
to catch few fishes at same time. There are even photographs showing catches of several
fishes with one shoot. Since late 80's those photographs are rare.
Fish is much more careful today, so main rule is not to disturb fish, nor in front of crack or
inside crack. When crack with fish is spotted, spearfishers move on safe distance where they
won't disturb fishes. From safe distance they follow fish behavior in cracks and then they
decide what’s the best technique for catching fish. Spearfishers should use all available
shelters near cracks. After one or more shoots on fish in front of crack, fish goes deeper
inside. Than approaching to cracks should be as was described earlier in book.
Fish behavior in cracks has changed completely. Fishes are more careful and everything is
signal for danger. And they react very quick. First view on spearfisher fishes hide. That's
reason why cracks should be observed from longer distance. Sun should be behind
spearfishers back. While diving towards crack, speargun should be near body and legs and
arms close to each other. Spearfishers silhouette should be hard to spot. Speed should be
adjusted to fishes behavior in front and inside cracks.
Today is also possible to find cracks with lot of fish inside. They can be seen in unpopulated
parts of islands. There's lot of shallow parts of sea in depths of 15 and 30 meters that are not
drown in nautical maps. When spearfisher finds crack where no one hunted for long, should
be patient. Those places are easy to recognize by calm behavior of fishes. In cracks like that,
the biggest fish is separated from other fishes and is usually hidden in separated part. From
there is watching spearfisher in front of crack and is easy to catch it.
If fishes in crack are same or similar size, spearfisher should wait with first shoot. Perfect
timing for shoot when those fishes overlap. After first shoot, fish goes deeper in crack. If can't
go any deeper than fish runs away from crack. In that moment spearfisher should go back on
surface to observe where will fish find new shelter.
Fish behaving in cracks changes all the time. Spearfisher should rely on experience and
hunting instinct.
3.4 Unusual cracks – when is possible to find fish in them?
Unusual cracks attracts spearfishers attention. Unusual, narrow cracks that spreads in
labyrinths are kind of cracks where is possible to find big fishes. But, it is also possible not to
find any fish. Spearfishers usually don't believe in stories about catching big groupers,white
breams or brown mearges of other spearfishers in those cracks. Is there truth in those stories?
Why crack was empty today? Experiences indicate that is possible to catch fish in those kind
of cracks but not always. Interesting, when fish is seen in one of those cracks, same day, fish
can be seen in other cracks same appearance. That's usually case for outer coast of Cres, Vis,
Mljet and many other islands on east Adriatic. When spearfisher starts thinking that has
recognized all signs (sea temperature, sea streams, weather conditions, time of day) that
indicates that fish is in crack, can stay disappointed. Keeping tracks about fishes, in last
decade, in east Adriatic, are showing that fish can be seen in this kind of cracks usually during
cyclone season. In days when south wind is getting strong. White breams stay inside cracks in
morning hours, after that is possible to see grouper. Sunset attracts brown mearges and white
breams in cracks. Groupers are near cracks, in that period of day.
Diversity of underwater world in east Adriatic attracts spearfishers. The undersea landslides
shape the unusual piles. Where landslides are ending is possible to find unusual cracks. Those
cracks are spreading in labyrinths where fishes can find shelter. This dark corridors stimulate
spearfishers imagination. Going inside this corridors is dangerous and risk is not justified.
Fish goes through this corridors without retention. Fish can feel spearfishers and change
directions and run away. That's main reason why spearfishers should wait for fish near this
cracks without going inside.
Cracks on sea bottom that are ending with sand bottom are something different. They are less
dangerous and fish is static inside of them. Fish stays inside those cracks during first part of
morning and in the late afternoon. Are usually empty in middle of the day.
Deep vertical cracks are also interesting. They can be found in all underwater walls.
Underwater walls can be found in nautical maps. Real position can be seen on eho sonder
screen. In lower parts of this cracks is possible to find grouper – mostly small groupers. That's
not groupers hiding place, but it's place for hunting. In case grouper is not hiding in lower part
of this crack it is possible to find white bream. This vertical cracks on some positions in
Adriatic sea are 15 and ore meters high. Most attractive cracks are placed near south-east
coast of island Sušac and on eastern part of island Jabuka. Their inside is like labyrinth. It
should be very careful while going inside. In some parts of labyrinth is possible to find large
flocks of two-banded bream. In cracks on positions outside of island is possible to see dog's
teeth. Dog's teeth is usually chasing flocks of two-banded bream inside those cracks. In case
two-branded bream is in crack, on first look at spearfisher it will start speeding up. Twobanded bream starts running from one part to another. It is possible to trigger curiosity in twobanded bream, on way that spearfisher goes under edge of crack. Two-banded bream may
come closer to opening of crack to satisfy curiosity. That's moment when spearfisher should
shoot two-banded bream. After seeing bigger fish getting shoot, smaller fishes will hide on
the bottom. In situations like that, the best thing to do is to continue spearfishing on other
position and return on this position after one hour. By that time fish will calm.
When spearfisher gets inside crack has to aim and shoot fish fast, and even more fast get fish,
that has caught, out of crack. After few shoots, fish that has remain will go deep inside crack
and it would become impossible to spot it, even if spearfisher is using underwater flashlight.
Ideal solution for this is to come back on cracks after few hours. If spearfisher is not able to
spot fish in upper parts of crack, it is possible that in deeper parts of crack is hidden big fish.
Spearfisher shouldn't give up hunting near crack before examine it carefully using underwater
flashlight. In case spearfisher don't see any white bream under flashlight, it is highly possible
that brown mearge is deeper inside crack. This research of crack should be conducted in
phases, taking longer brakes on surface. Flashlight, darkness,
flashlight, darkness...
stimulates curiosity in fishes. In periods of darkness, fish goes toward upper parts of crack.
Brakes shouldn't last less than 5 minutes. Even today is possible to catch brown mearge using
this technique. This technique can also draw groupers attention.
In case brown mearge is hidden in crack, advice is to change positions while going inside,
every time. When it comes to other fishes, advice is to draw their attention using all kinds of
ways. Going deep inside crack should be avoided at any time. Shooting arrow deep inside
crack is also not smart idea. If arrow gets stuck in crack, fish will go in unreachable parts of
crack. Common inhabitant of the upper parts of crack is moray. If moray is in upper parts of
crack, it is highly possible that in deeper parts of crack won't be any bigger fishes.
Experience of spearfishers in east Adriatic shows that in days of lower temperature ( than
average) of sea, in depths deeper than 20 meters, will result with lack of fish in cracks. In
colder period of year, when worm sea streams are expressed, situation changes... This rule
specially confirms in areas where sea bottom is milder placed. Exception are sea areas with
unusual thermo climate. Other rules can be applied in these areas. Spearfishers should
remember sea temperature shown on diving watch, that day when crack were full of fish.
Unusual cracks in shallow waters (15 – 20 meters), in areas of colder thermo climate, allow
more frequent catching of of white breams, red scorpionfishes, brown mearges and during
autumn even groupers. Fishes are more calm during encounter with spearfisher. Specially in
spring. Cracks in deeper waters (+20 meters) that are placed in colder thermo climate zones,
are often empty, in spring, summer and autumn. Cracks in warmer thermo climate zones in
deeper waters, often hide fish during whole day – even in periods when there is no fish on
other positions. In conditions of warmer thermo climate in cracks in deeper waters fish
movements are faster. They react very quickly on spearfishers appearance even on positions
where spearfishing is not common. This experiences should be used for creating own tactics
of spearfishing on cracks at this positions.
On undersea landslides positions, white breams rarely remain under the rocks. They move
near rocks, well known to them. Brown mearges retain in front of cracks that are using as
shelters. On first sign of danger they escape towards deeper parts of cracks. Groupers are
using cracks, on same areas, like shelter. Going in cracks after groupers is pointless. Groupers
needs to be shoot in moment after spotting it. In cracks like that, white breams, gold lines,
sheepshead breams and two-banded breams are easily catchable. Eel can also be spotted, but
usually in late afternoon hours. During day it stays in deep shelters. Eels shelters are deep on
bottom of cracks, where is sea bottom and Mediterranean tapeweed.
In cracks, on meters of depth, during autumn is possible to spot group of mullets. They
always select cracks that are looking similar. Among mullets, sheepshead breams and gold
lines can be also seen on this areas. After spotting them, spearfisher needs to be quick in
shooting because they escape very fast. 20 years before, on cracks like this, was possible to
catch even a sea basses. Today that's very rare. It's possible in areas where there are no lot of
boats.
Sometimes, fish occasionally hides in narrow horizontal cracks along the sand sea bottom.
This cracks don't attract spearfishers very often. White breams and gilthead breams hide in
this cracks in the lying position. This cracks are shelters for fish while they are hiding from
bigger predators (amber jack, dog's teeth). If fish predator is spotted in hunting zones is
recommended to search around cracks near predator. In summer, when more spearfishers are
hunting in these cracks, it is possible to find brown wrasse and smaller examples of
sheepshead breams and white breams. In afternoon hours morays also hide in cracks.
These days, fishes prefer cracks with narrow gaps that are hidden in smaller gaps. Sometimes,
these cracks are hidden with sea grass. In cracks like these, fish usually stays in shallow
waters – usually few meters of depth. These kind of positions are all over south coast of
peninsula Pelješac. In September and October, red scorpionfish is often hiding in these
cracks. It's also possible to find small sheepshead bream and small white bream, but they will
try to escape in direction of coast. Sheepshead bream and small white bream, in shallow
waters, don't hide in cracks, so the best technique for catching them is by indian hunting
technique and ambush hunting technique.
When shooting fish in cracks, cracks should be shaped in way that is possible to shot and get
fish out of cracks. While examining cracks, before first shoot, is useful to check for fish near
bottom opening of crack. In south Adriatic, is very much likely to meet with dusky grouper.
Dusky groupers are hunting their prey in these positions. After seeing spearfisher, dusky
groupers hide in cracks. In next diving ins, it will be very hard for spearfisher to find dusky
grouper again. Dusky grouper hide in these cracks near opening of crack, right near rocks
itself. Sometimes even with upper part of body towards opening of crack. Usually it stays
there, and may mislead spearfisher. It will stay immovable, so is good to do more diving ins...
Dusky groupers position disables for spearfisher to spot it easily. So, the best advice is to
change positions. After catching first dusky grouper, every next catch will be easier. .. In
lower part of cracks it is possible to find red scorpiofish. If there are no any red scorpiofish,
it's very much likely that big eel or moray are near.
INSERT IN THE CHAPTER ON PAGE:
UNPLEASANT SURPRISES ARE POSSIBLE IN CRACKS
Surprises while diving near cracks in Adriatic sea are common. Few years ago, while I was
diving in crack, on 13 meters of depth, I sow big dog's teeth. It happened accidentally. I was
guest at my friend’s house, on south coast of island Hvar. One morning we went together to
catch few fishes for lunch. On position near my friend’s house, we went in sea. On that
position, it's very hard to catch any higher quality fish. Our plan was to catch few smaller
fishes for soup. While searching for fish I stopped near big horizontal crack, on depth of 15
meters. I used underwater flashlight to see better inside of crack. I didn't believe my eyes
when I spot body of big fish. On red body of fish I could clearly see blue dots. Dog's teeth!
Unfortunately, I had only short speargun on compressed air with harpoons. Fish was moving
deeper towards bottom of crack. With speargun I had in hands – I could only wound fish. I
was trying to find good angle to shoot fish in the head – but crack was just too deep. I decided
to return on boat and grab more strong weapon. After returning I dived in to locate fish
again. Dog's teeth was in upper part at bottom of crack, so I was able to see only it's tale. It's
body was completely covered. I was going down few times, approaching to crack from all
angles. I was hoping to find some opening in crack so I could aim it. After 30 minutes I had to
give up. Fish was not moving, and only thing I could see was its tale.
I continued hunting smaller fishes as was planned. Before returning in friend’s house I went
to check crack once again. Fish was still there in same position. After lunch we return on
same position, I checked again for fish – but it was gone.
Sometimes is possible to spot big fish in cracks where is hard to believe that will be some
bigger fish. It is smart to have underwater flashlight and speargun near yourself at any time –
and that's how you can make sure you will catch big fish.
3.5 Cracks covered with sea grass - Mediterranean tapeweed
Cracks hidden with Mediterranean tapeweed in Adriatic, often are hiding also pleasant
surprises. These areas in Adriatic are very good positions for hunting with indian and
ambushing spearfishing techniques.In positions like this, in cracks covered with
Mediterranean tapeweed is possible to find bigger fish in shallow waters. Sometimes, fish
goes inside this crack while lying down. This is specially case with gilthead seabream – and
it gets very easy to catch it in this cracks. Salemas and sheepshead breams are going inside
cracks on same way. After spotting this cracks, before moving grass in order to see better, is
good to observe crack from more different angles. If is possible to spot fish inside crack, is
always good to aim bigger fish first. Bigger fish is usually hidden in back side of crack.
Hunting on this cracks, in shallow waters, is less physically demanding. If spearfisher knows
area good, is possible for him to catch lot more fish than on the rocky bottom. Also, attractive
appearance of the rocky bottom can fool spearfisher.
Fish that is hidden in cracks covered with Mediterranean tapeweed feels safer and doesn't run
away after seeing spearfisher.
Problem is to find this kind of cracks. In cracks like this, on depth more than 20 meters, it is
possible to catch big white breams, brown mearges, red scorpionfish and the the biggest
examples of brown wrasses (from kilo, and heavier).
In shallow waters, in autumn, it is possible to see gilthead seabreams. If gilthead seabreams
are smaller, they often stay behind each other, so with one shoot is not uncommon to shoot
even 2 or few of them. Bigger gilthead seabreams stay in opposite parts of cracks. Red
scorpiofishes are harder to spot, because they usually hide under sea grass. It's always good to
hide and observe moving of grass in front of crack – in some point, when grass moves and
view is clear, than is the best moment for spearfisher to aim and shoot fish. In case that red
scorpiofish is in front of crack on Mediterranean tapeweed, usually that means that cracks
should have more fish inside.
In late summer and early autumn, in positions like this, when southern winds are strong and
sea is full of waves and temperature is evenly, near cracks under Mediterranean tapeweed,
barracudas and bigger dog's teeth’s are possible to find. These fish predators hunt smaller
fishes near cracks under Mediterranean tapeweed. While predators are occupied with catching
their food, spearfisher can shoot them.
INSERT IN THE CHAPTER ON PAGE:
During afternoon, wind was getting strong. Huge waves were reason why I gave up from plan
to abandon lighthouse and sail to hunting position far away. My new plan was to search for
cracks near lighthouse. In that zone, sea bottom is full of Mediterranean tapeweed, and
under are lot of small cracks. Thanks to sea streams that were moving Mediterranean
tapeweed I was able to spot few of red scorpionfishes and one scared two-branded bream. On
position, known to me from before, bush of
Mediterranean tapeweed was not moving
completely. In central part of bush I spotted red scorpiofish. Fast dive in and red scorpiofish
from half kilos was caught. While I was diving I spotted edge of crack that was hidden by
Mediterranean tapeweed, and I was sure I sow body of some fish. In next diving in I spotted
gilthead seabream. It was lying still. It's side was near rock, so I grabbed speargun with
harpoons from my diving safety buoy. I shoot gilthead seabream. While I was trying to get it
out from crack on surface, I was surprised to see 2 gilthead seabreams on harpoons. At same
time, I sow third gilthead seabream running away from crack. In next dive, I found third
gilthead seabream. Three gilthead seabreams were lying next to each other in same crack!
In some other occasion, on same position, I found one bigger brown wrasse, three white
breams, red scorpionfish and two big striped mullets. It's interesting that after shooting one
fish, other fish would just change position in crack and didn't run away.
3.6 Equipment for spearfishing in cracks
For hunting in narrow and smaller cracks, the best thing is to use shorter spearguns with
elastic springs and shorter spearguns on compressed air. Is good to use lighter rubber springs
smaller dimensions and smaller spears lighter construction. In deep (especially vertical)
cracks, where fish hides further from openings is good to use spearguns with elastic springs,
that are narrow and also with rubber of small diameter. Thinner rubbers characterize weaker
shoot, so it doesn't happen often that arrow stuck in cracks. Much better is to use harpoons.
Most efficient are spearguns with elastic springs, length 60 – 70 centimeters and with rubber
diameter of15 – 18 millimeters with arrows diameter of 6 millimeters or with harpoons with
4 narrow prongs. If spearfisher is using speargun on compresses air, harpoon is very practical,
or even spears.
In cracks, fish is usually in range of smaller spearguns., but sometimes fishes head and body
can be hidden by rock. Fish that is caught with spears shouldn't give problems while trying to
get fish out of crack. When spearfisher hits fish with bigger harpoon it's possible that fish
releases from harpoon and unfortunately hides deep in crack where dies. This happens
because arrow hits fishes body, but also hits rock and then slips out of fishes body. Even if
arrow doesn't slip from fishes body, it is possible that small flops on arrow won’t open and
while trying to get fish out of crack – fish will slip. Relief and average depth of cracks in
different parts of Adriatic are different. So, that is main reason why is hard to talk about
universal kind of spears for
practicing digging spearfishing. Eminent equipment
manufacturers for spearfishing are perfecting their spears for decades. In their assortment is
possible to find several models of spears, costumed for zones where spearfishers are hunting
more often. Spears shouldn't be more massive than is necessary. Needs are depending on type
of catch. Choice of polymer plastic bases of spears is very important. Spears are highly
recommended for hunting in cracks where is possible to find more fishes. Fish caught with
arrow on spears is easier to get out – because of strength of hit. Calmer the fish is on arrow
better is for not disturbing other fish in crack.
While practicing digging spearfishing, pulley is always drawback. Advice is to remove pulley
before practicing digging spearfishing. Hunting will be more simpler and efficient.
Exception for this rule is when hunting is in deeper waters. Is harder to loose arrow when
using pulley for loosing rope. After is easy to find arrow thanks to rope. Leaving speargun on
sea bottom is always risk. Risk is even higher in areas where sea bottom is covered in
Mediterranean tapeweed. Good thing is to tape speargun with some light color tape. Sticky
foil for taping tube of speargun are also helpful. Good thing is to use also special coverings
for speargun handle that Omer has in its offer. Even pulley is practical for this reasons, is
drawback while hunting.
In some cases, while hunting in deeper cracks, it is recommended to leave speargun near
opening of crack. After spearfisher goes on surface and observes crack for next 5-10 minutes.
Leaving unknown object to fishes triggers their attention and they are coming closer to object
to see it better.
While practicing digging spearfishing, the best thing to do is to use two different spearguns.
One short (on compressed air) equipped with spears wider diameter and with arrow larger
diameter, and other (with elastic springs) equipped with spears narrower diameter. This is all
equipment needed for digging spearfishing under Mediterranean tapeweed.
While hunting on areas with deep vertical cracks, the best speargun is on compressed air, 90
centimeters large with firm spears and longer speargun with elastic springs with arrow and
one wing spear tip for spear, equipped with pulley and 2 rubbers.
In Adriatic sea are several special areas with vertical cracks. It is possible to find them in
wider aquatorium of Palagruža archipelago and near island Jabuka. Sometimes, for shoot
spotted grouper, range longer than 4 meters is necessary. In this hunting positions, pulley is
obligatory addition of equipment.
Fins should be chosen depending by the depth where spearfisher is planning to hunt. While
hunting and diving near cracks in deeper waters, spearfisher has to have fast reactions. That's
reason why fins with longest carbon blades are highly recommended. While hunting in
shallow waters, 10 meters depths, the most practical fins are the one with shorter blades from
firm PVC and supported on rubber edges. Fins often touches rocks while hunting near cracks.
While hunting and going inside cracks, the best fins are narrow and shorter fins with firm
PVC blades. Fins that are used for going inside deep cracks should fit perfectly on
spearfishers foot. If fins get stuck in cracks it can lead to deadly situation for spearfisher.
Chosen fins should
be comfortable and length of blade should depend on physical
preparedness of spearfisher and depth.
Amount, layout and total weight of lead weights should be adjusted by physical preparedness
of spearfisher and depth. In shallow waters (10 meters) negative buoyancy will be, despite the
risk of drawing, more practical solution. Mild negative buoyancy of the spearfisher can be
practiced only when spearfisher is in good physical shape and when is hunting in two. While
spearfishing in deeper waters, safeness is based on positive buoyancy in area of 10-15 meters
under the surface. It's practical to allocate ballast by using higher number of lead weights.
This layout of lead weights allows better coordination in front of cracks and while going
inside the cracks.
While searching around cracks on edges of sand areas, weight of lead weights on spearfishers
weight belt should ensure the negative buoyancy in the bottom. In that way spearfishers body
won't be able to move towards surface. Weight belts with lead weights should be attached to
diving safety buoy. In that way risk of losing belt (while removing it in moments of diving
outs) is minimized.
While going inside larger cracks, highly recommended is to use two weight belts, and at
entrance in crack spearfisher should remove one (the one that is attached on diving safety
buoy). It can be very dangerous to go inside deeper cracks while having rope from diving
safety buoy attached on spearfisher. With every dive in, spearfisher is exposed to risk.
Spearfishing in Adriatic, without diving safety buoy is violation of rules, and is also life
threatening to spearfish without diving safety buoy. Most of spearfishers that lost their life's in
Adriatic didn't use diving safety buoy.
Another good advice is to attach stringer (where is possible to hock already caught fish) for
diving safety buoy. Stringer left on spearfishers weigh belt is dangerous and can get stuck
between rocks. Is especially dangerous while going in and out of the cracks. While hunting in
shallow waters where bottom is covered in Mediterranean tapeweed, the best thing to do is
mark area with 2 diving safety buoys. On positions like this is better to leave stringer with fish
on spearfishers weight belt, because speed is very important in these areas and in that way
stringer is closer.
Diving mask and snorkel should be adjusted to head. Advantage while choosing mask should
give to the masks with smaller volumes. For digging spearfishing, more practical are shorter,
anatomically curved snorkels. Depending on type of snorkel that is used while practicing
digging spearfishing, good thing to do is remove snorkel from head and attach it to weight
belt. That's removing risk of getting snorkel stuck between rocks. If spearfisher is not used to
remove snorkel while diving in, than should use special rubber belt connecting snorkel with
mask. Spearfisher should never keep snorkel under mask belt. In that case snorkel can't
remove mask from spearfishers head.
Underwater flashlight, that is used for digging spearfishing, should be taped with neoprene or
some other soft material. In that way sounds of hitting flashlight or snorkel on rocks will be
low sounded, almost muted. In that way fish won’t get scared and won’t escape deeper in
cracks.
Type of underwater flashlight, considering type and strength of light beam, should be adjusted
to area, depth, size of crack and type of fish. It's practical to keep stronger flashlight on diving
safety buoy and keep one smaller near. Those smaller flashlights are size of palm and are very
practical for narrow cracks in shallow waters. For hunting on deeper positions, flashlight
should be chosen depending on relief of crack. For deep cracks, the best flashlights are
practical longer flashlights with long, strong and narrow light beam. Sometimes, flashlight is
key for catching fish. And serious spearfishers are aware of that fact, so they always keep
spare flashlights (with different characteristics) on diving safety buoy or boat.
When spearfisher is hunting near multiple cracks, good thing is to use flashlights with strong
and wider light beam. Thanks to this flashlights, it's possible to spot camouflaged fish in some
of cracks. Flashlights with led light bulbs are much better because of their light strength and
battery capacity cartridges. Successful hunting depends on quality and ad justness of light
beam to terrain. When buying new flashlights, is highly recommended to buy one with led
light bulbs, but considering the fact that is always good to have few flashlights near (while
hunting), old ones will still serve good.
For practicing digging spearfishing in Adriatic, is recommended to use monofoderato
swimming suit. Liscio swimming suits won’t last long if spearfisher is hunting often near
sharp stones. For hunting in deeper waters with bigger cracks, highly recommended are
swimming suits with camouflage markings. Shades of
camouflage markings should be
adjusted to surroundings. Adjusted shades of swimming suits are precondition for catching
gruopers. In case spearfisher is hunting often in cracks where is Mediterranean tapeweed, is
recommended to owe suit suited for that area too. According to experience of spearfishers in
Adriatic, in shallow waters, fish gets upset after seeing spearfisher wearing bottom and upper
part of swimming suit in different shades. For hunting near cracks is recommended to have, at
least one shade of swimming suit matching to surroundings. Significant part of spearfishers
expenses is boat and fuel, so buying spare swimming suit that is adjusted to surroundings
where is spearfisher hunting – is just extra expense. It will pay off eventually, because catch
won’t miss.
3.7 Concluding remarks about digging spearfishing technique
Digging spearfishing, in Adriatic, is practiced by older and more experienced spearfishers.
They often go back on well know positions and cracks. With help of flashlight and speargun
(that is adjusted with dimensions to depth and width of crack) they always catch fish. This
hunting technique is especially attractive. How to outwit fish that is hiding? When will fish
appear again?
Positions for hunting in cracks, in Adriatic, are countless. Every experience is priceless for
next hunting. Every crack position, where fish was once caught, should be remembered.
Attractive sea relief with cracks is amazing adventure for every spearfisher. Even if they don't
catch fish on some cracks, they are in their the best memories. Who once dive in beautiful
area of volcanic island Brusnik, it will stay in his head for rest of his life. Numerous
experienced spearfishers improve their hunting techniques in cracks. Most of these techniques
are described and explained in this chapter. Fishes has changed their behavior since past.
Good catch in cracks depends on adjusting tactics to relief and fishes that retain there.
Experience helps spearfisher in recognizing cracks where fish is hiding. Experienced hunter
doesn't waste energy in searching all cracks in area. With years spearfisher learns how to
recognize cracks with fish.
There are no general rules, but all experience written in this chapter should surely help in
hunting. In middle of the day, when sun is high on sky, is harder to catch fish in cracks. But,
of course, there are exceptions. In warmer part of year it's possible to find fish that is hiding in
rocks in deeper waters On some positions, where early in morning is hard to find fish, in
afternoon situation can be completely different. Than is possible to catch hidden sea bream, or
white bream...In some deeper cracks, where during middle of the day is possible to find only
forkbeard or brown wrasse, in afternoon is possible to find red scorpionfish and in the
evening even two-banded bream. In early morning is possible to find one or even more
gilthead seabreams. All written is only small part of many experiences from spearfishers in
Adriatic. Under big stone blocks, 30 years ago, was possible to find flock of white breams,
today is possible to find only saddled breams. But every crack should be examine thoroughly,
it can happen that behind saddled bream may be hidden some white bream... In middle of the
day is possible to see even gilthead seabream...
Hunting in deeper areas, in dark vertical cracks, on edges of shallow waters areas is especially
attractive. One of those locations is near island Jabuka. That and similar positions are
extremely demanding, and excellent physical and mental preparedness of spearfisher is
obligatory. Near Jabuka, at one position is deep vertical crack going twenty meters into the
blueness. But till upper part of crack is still 20 meters more... Outside of that position, where
is possible to catch big dog's teeth, in 2003, in fisherman's net was caught white shark that
weighed 2 tons.
On north side of Croatian islands, in early afternoon hours, fish behaves differently. Than
areas with cracks on 20 meters of depths come alive. On those positions, during afternoon
hours is easier to catch gilthead seabream then white bream or sheepshead bream. Every of
those fishes, in different surroundings, behave differently after meeting spearfisher. Changes
in fishes behavior is specially seen in different parts of year. Bigger two-banded breams are
easier to catch in winter period. In autumn period in same cracks is easier to find bigger
salemas.
Useful is to keep personal notes about hunting in specific areas and times of day. Hunting in
cracks for longer period of time can practice only physically well prepared spearfishers.
Successful practitioners of these technique, are learning faster and other, more complicated
techniques of spearfishing. Skilled spearfisher will hunt some fish on any competition.
Although, this technique is very
simple, must constantly improve. Spearfishers gather
experience whole their life's. Luck, unlike experience, will change, because fish is constantly
changing their behavior. Spearfisher becomes expert when when learn to notice and
understand fishes behavior. Patience and will are important as much as is equipment for
spearfisher. Without good, quality and adjusted technique is very hard to catch a fish. When
experienced practitioner
of spearfishing decides to catch fish for lunch, mostly always
succeed in that. Especially if is hunting on well-known positions. When it comes to
equipment, is important to choose speargun (adjusted with length to area), swimming suit
with adjusted shadows, fins and flashlight. Often, fish is in deep corner of crack. Question is
how to encourage fish to show itself?
4. AMBUSH HUNTING TECHNIQUE
Spearfishing with ambush hunting technique is often a prerequisite for catching some kinds of
fishes in Adriatic. It's important to mention this, because some types of fishes is possible to
catch with other techniques, but that depend purely on luck. Combining ambush hunting
technique with some other techniques can ensure catching specially worth types of fishes in
most of areas in Adriatic. Ambush hunting technique implies patience and good physical
preparation of spearfisher. When practicing this technique, spearfisher needs to stay under sea
surface for longer period of time. Approaching to unknown object, fish perform in phases.
Some 30 years ago, spearfisher didn't even need cover, fish would approach to him. Today,
situation is different. Spearfisher needs to find good cover. While making quite noises can
attract attention of curious dog's teeth, sea bass, leerfish, amber jack, striped grouper,or some
other fish noticed during the dive. Even if is not possible to spot bigger fish, by behavior of
smaller fishes in flocks, is possible to know if bigger fish is in position nearby.
On positions where lot of spearfishers are hunting, some types of fishes don't even come close
any more. On positions like that, ambush hunting technique needs to be combined with indian
hunting technique. That requires longer staying under surface. Waiting extra 10, 20 or 30
seconds more, for dog's teeth to come near, can lead to fainting. From fainting to drawing is
small step... There is lot of details while practicing ambush hunting technique. If spearfisher
forgets any of them, risk of drowning is growing.
Huge number of spearfishers who died in Adriatic sea, were practicing ambush hunting
technique. That's main reason why all advices about ambush hunting technique should be
taken seriously. Lot of spearfishers, who died, were self-confident, experienced and with 20
or more years of experience. What was reason of misjudgment? Exceeding limits of own
physical capabilities leads to fatal endings. While practicing ambush hunting technique,
spearfisher should pay attention on many details. Details like hydro meteorological conditions
at sea and choosing quality fishing equipment.
4.1 History of ambush hunting technique
This technique was made after noticing different behavior in fishes after spotting spearfisher.
Ambush hunting technique was answer on question how to get bigger fishes that couldn't be
found in cracks. While trying to answer, new behavior of spearfishers were created. Goal was
to come closer to spotted fish. Spearfisher was trying to get attention of bigger fishes passing
by. Some fishes swim really fast, and attracting their attention while spearfisher is practicing
ambush hunting technique, results in fishes stopping. How to attract fish to come closer to
spearfisher practicing ambush hunting technique?
Chroniclers of New Year Cups in spearfishing, in Mali Lošinj, noticed for the first time
ambush hunting technique at Italian and Spanish representatives, in 1970's. This competition
is taking place in December, in Mali Lošinj. Winter conditions of hunting in wavy sea,
practicing ambush hunting technique can ensure catch. 1970's were full of surprises when
competitors brought their big sea basses and gilthead seabream at the weighing. Some written
sources state that ambush hunting technique was invented by French. They were practicing
ambush hunting technique on coasts of Normandy. It was noticed that fishes were coming
closer to spearfisher if was lying peacefully on sea bottom. Ambush hunting technique was
kept in secret by many years. Ambush hunting technique was practiced on the exterior parts
of city breakwaters. Spearfisher would hide between rocks of breakwaters and would wait for
salemas, sea basses, leerfishes and so on. On positions like that, in Adriatic, is possible to
catch striped bream, gilthead seabream, sheepshead bream,white bream, all kinds of mullets
and many other fishes. According to this sources, French competitors in spearfishing started
practicing new technique on international competitions. On one competition, on first day, they
caught few big sea basses, gilthead seabreams and dog's teeth. On next day of competition,
Italian competitors did same technique. After Spanish competitors. Since than, story about
new spearfishing technique started spreading around the world. Spearfishers in Adriatic didn't
pay much attention on new spearfishing technique. But, at beginning of 1980's, spearfishers
started catching dog's teethes using ambush hunting technique.
Ambush hunting technique was soon recognized as marketing product. Lot of expencive
courses teaching spearfishers
ambush hunting technique were organized. They were
promising to spearfishers to teach them how to catch lot of fishes. That was possible back
then. I myself have witnessed how experienced spearfishers caught 3 bigger pieces of dog's
teeth, weighting more than 10 kilos in less than 2-3 hours. Some of those positions, even
today, are hiding dog's teeth. But dog's teeth got more careful. Those positions will be
mentioned in new book – Practical guide for spearfishing in Adriatic.
Older spearfishers still remember how was possible to catch dog's teeth and gilthead seabream
while practicing
ambush hunting technique in 1970's. Development of ambush hunting
technique has led to development of new specialized spearfishing equipment. At the
beginning, spearfishers used spearguns on compressed air. Ambush hunting technique was
reason why manufacturers were stimulated to develop new specialized products for
spearfishing. Besides standard length of spearguns on compressed air, models of 100, 105,
110, 115, 120 and 130 centimeters of length were made.
With time, spearguns with elastic springs showed some advantages in using them while
practicing ambush hunting technique. Many manufacturers started making and selling new
series of superguns on elastic springs. Diameters of these spearguns were even wider.
Considering the fact, that ambush hunting technique required from spearfisher to stay under
surface for longer period of time, manufacturers developed new fins that were enabling
spearfisher to swim faster.
First bigger catches, in Adriatic, while using ambush hunting technique were noticed in
1970's. At that time, in Yugoslavia, only few sellers were selling spearguns. That's reason
why first practitioners of ambush hunting technique were using their only spearguns, often
longer than 70 centimeters. At 1980's was possible to buy new spearguns from Italian and
French manufacturers.
As ambush hunting technique was developing, more and more spearfishers in east Adriatic
started practicing it. Today's equipment offer of many manufacturers for ambush hunting
techniques is reason why more and more people is trying this technique. Fact that more and
more people is practicing ambush hunting technique lead to changing fishes behavior.
Precondition for success while practicing ambush hunting technique is ability to hide, and
using spearguns with more elastic springs is precondition for catching bigger dog's teeth or
gilthead seabream.
Today, on certain positions in Adriatic, where past generations were hunting using ambush
hunting technique and had lot of success, situation is different. Even good hidden spearfisher
can stay without catch. Ambush hunting technique has bright future, for sure. That's reason
why this technique is thoroughly described in this book.
INSERT IN THE CHAPTER ON PAGE: Catching big sea bass while practicing
ambush hunting technique
From first days of practicing ambush hunting technique, he dreamed that while going in sea
in cold dawn, he will catch big sea bass. He lived in small town near sea, where river was
flowing into sea. Sea basses were common in that position. But for catching big sea basses,
something was always missing. Wrong timing in shooting, wrong hiding... He had lot of
experience, but would always, somehow, forget what older spearfishers were telling him. That
morning, he woke up at 4:30, had glass of water and went on his well know position. It was
cold spring morning. Around 5 am, he was searching for position. In his mind he already had
elaborated scenario how will catch his first big sea bass. Those early morning when he was
searching for position, used to be just conditional practice. That first search for position is
just to see fishes behavior. It doesn't happen that fish will come after first dive. Experience
taught him that.
First searching for positions in the morning, were reserved for relaxing and practicing
breathing. He would dive 6-7 meters in depth. Position was well protected with few bigger
rocks. In next moment 5-6 bigger sea basses passed by him. Every one of them weighted few
kilos. This encounter surprised him, but he remained calm. He decided to stay on that
position. Sea basses stopped near him, on his left. Out of range of his speargun were
swimming in circle. That was sign that bigger female sea bass is near . His was completely
still, and his speargun was motionless. He decided to shoot fish when comes near in his
speargun range. After moving speargun towards fish, they would run fast. He has never seen
such big sea basses before. They were moving away from coast, and were so close to his fins,
but his speargun was pointed in other direction. Seconds were passing by. He spotted 3, even
bigger, sea basses, swimming in his direction. His decision was to aim one of them when they
come closer. Than he noticed silhouette of even bigger sea bass behind those 3. He felt first
twitch of the diaphragm, and he knew time for diving out was near.
When sea bass came closer, he aimed in hope his hand won’t twitch. After shooting fish
quickly escaped and after releasing pulley he went on surface. Fast unrolling of rope from
pulley confirmed him that sea bass was caught, but because of fast reaction of sea bass, he
didn't notice that. By his estimation, sea bass was 15 meters away when rope stopped
unrolling.
His first thought was that sea bass escaped. He remained calm on surface. He felt twitches
again. After 5 minutes, when he couldn't feel twitches any more, he thought that rope maybe
stocked around some rock. He started swimming around surface in wish to see where is rope.
Twitches has become less and less strong. Suddenly he noticed motionless silhouette of fish
under arrow. Was lying perfectly still on sea bottom. Rope was around some rocks near fish.
He was lucky that fish was shoot perfectly and was lying on bottom. He could see blood cloud
from fishes body going up. He dived towards fish and he stabbed fishes head with a knife.
Than he realized how big this sea bass was. He never saw anything like that before. He left
fish on sea bottom and went to remove rope from stones.
Speargun he used was wooden, 100 centimeters long, with rubbers diameter of 2x13
milimeters and 6.5 milimeters arrow. After thinking about this catch, realized that arrow went
through fishes body. Fish remained on rope and was dragging arrow while unrolling rope.
He didn't expect catch like that. After coming home he weighted fish, and fish had 9.9 kilos
and was 94 centimeters long. This trophy piece of fish, he caught after only 3 years of
practicing. All thing he read before this helped him in catching this sea bass.
4.2 Ambush hunting technique in shallow and deep waters
While practicing ambush hunting technique, spearfisher should take advantage of fishes
curiosity. Fish can feel spearfishers movements, sounds and vibrations. Different fishes react
differently on unknown sounds and vibrations. Speed and way of approaching fish toward
spearfisher depend also on hydro meteorological conditions. When sea is wavy and sea
streams are strong, spearfishers movements, while practicing ambush hunting technique, will
attract fish with his movements. When sea is calm, every movement alarms signal for danger
to fish. Depending on time of year, sea temperature, relief of sea bottom and type of fish,
spearfisher practices
ambush hunting technique in shallow or deeper waters. Depth, on
which fish approaches to spearfisher, depends also on sea temperature. Experience of
spearfishers in Adriatic, shows that there are no general rules. It's good to experiment and
improvise. Making quite noises and small moves can attract fishes attention. Every experience
should be remembered. That can always be useful while hunting in future on same locations.
Ambush hunting technique in shallow waters, near or more far from coast is practiced to max
10 meters of depth. Shelters can be found even in depths on 2-3 meters. Is not depth that
determines successful hunting, but spearfishers camouflage and his patience. When sea is
wavy, good thing is to repeat sounds and movements that attracts fishes. Also, good advice is
to have sun behind spearfishers back. When sea is calm, without waves, spearfisher needs to
be motionless and quite. Ambush hunting technique, in past, was practiced whole year. Now
is better to practice it in late spring and autumn. Also positions are very important. In winter
period, more efficient is to practice it in north Adriatic, and in early spring on south Adriatic.
Practicing ambush hunting technique in shallow waters is possible to catch all kinds of
mullets, salema and sheepshead bream. Mullets can be caught during whole day, salema
during middle of the day and sheepshead bream during afternoon. In autumn, while practicing
ambush hunting technique is possible to catch, successfully, gilthead seabream, and during
whole summer salema.
In order to catch sea bass while practicing ambush hunting technique, spearfisher needs to
choose good position. Before, it was very much possible to catch sea bass with ambush
hunting technique. . Now is little bit harder. Fish changed behavior and area for swimming. In
order to catch sea bass, the best advice is to combine ambush hunting technique with hiding
technique. In some positions at south part of coast of islands, with ambush hunting technique
is possible to catch even dog's teeth. On other positions, where before was able to catch dog's
teeth with practicing ambush hunting technique in shallow waters, now is required to practice
ambush hunting technique in deeper waters. To make sure that ambush hunting technique in
shallow waters is practiced successfully, spearfishers needs to pay attention on details. First
criteria is to choose swimming suit with camouflage pattern adjusted to area where ambush
hunting technique is performed. Spearfishers silhouette in one colored swimming suit (black
or deep blue) in shallow waters is too much noticeable. While wearing swimming suit with
camouflage pattern, spearfisher is less noticeable and hunting will be more successful. It's
possible to use combination of swimming suits with different upper and down parts. While
fish is approaching, those 2 colors seem like 2 parts and can confuse it. Is good thing to put
green shadows on swimming mask and snorkel. Same thing should be done with fins. For
practicing ambush hunting technique is the best to have special fins. Also, speargun can be
colored with camouflage pattern. In case that spearfisher is using bigger speargun on
compressed air, is highly recommended to tape it completely with foil with camouflage
pattern. In that case fish won't notice speargun until come close to spearfisher. For ambush
hunting technique is not recommended to use shiny arrows because sun light can reflect on it.
That's reason why fish will stay away from spearfisher. The best choice are dark, black or
burnished arrow.
In order to perform ambush hunting technique in right way, is highly recommended for
spearfisher to adjust his lead ballast. Some spearfisher practice to put more weights but they
should be aware of risk, especially in winter period. In winter period, spearfishers use also
thicker swimming suits which require more lead ballast. Lead weights should be arranged
properly on spearfishers body. Vest with lead weights, lead panel for back, leg weights and
weights on belts. All this is possible to buy in stores specialized for spearfishing. In case
spearfisher is using 2 swimming vests with weights, one should be on hips and other high on
waist. Good combination of weights on body lead to better balance. Coordination of
movements is less disturbing fish in the area. On all this, spearfisher should pay attention,
specially while spearfishing in harder hydro meteorological conditions. Especially if waves
are big and strong. In that way spearfisher practicing ambush hunting technique can't move
freely. Without good amount of weights on spearfisher, uncoordinated moves are sign for
danger for fishes. On first sign of danger fish will run away from spearfisher. Spearfisher
shouldn't put too much weights, because even in depth smaller than 10 meters, spearfisher can
be in life danger.
Ambush hunting technique in deep waters, unlike ambush hunting technique in shallow
waters, is practiced mostly in summer months. There are rare positions in south Adriatic,
where is possible to practice this technique during whole year, because of specific thermo
climate. This positions are in very deep waters and spearfishing is not recommended there, for
most of the readers of this book. Extra risk is using thicker swimming suit during winter with
heavier weights. That depth is risky. Ambush hunting technique in deeper waters is hunting in
depth bigger than 10 meters. Max depth is limited by spearfishers physical predispositions.
Everyone can easily measure their own limit. Max depth can be easily calculated by:

average time of dive in to position where is ambush hunting technique practicing;

average time of setting-up on position

standing still for 60 seconds

average time for diving out;

5-10 seconds extra.
Practicing ambush hunting technique in deeper waters gives successful catches, and that's
main reason why is one of the most dangerous and risking techniques of spearfishing. In
positions suitable for practicing ambush hunting technique in deeper waters, fish is acting
unpredictable, and it's moves are unpredictable and is moving away from spearguns range.
Then comes back in range. All this is leading to temptation to stay more under surface. That is
leading to risking life's. While practicing ambush hunting technique, special attention should
be given to choice of swimming suit. Is recommended to have one special suit, adjusted with
pattern to area where is hunting. Lead ballast is determined with minimal needed limits. Every
additional kilogram of weights is risk in diving out.
In deeper waters fish is less distrustful to spearfisher. Color of swimming suit in deeper
waters is less important. Camouflage pattern is good also for this depths. While practicing
ambush hunting technique in deeper waters is possible to catch even grouper. Groupers pay
less attention on swimming suits with camouflage pattern. Swimming suits pattern is good to
adjust to area while practicing ambush hunting technique in deeper waters, and to practicing
it in shallow waters. In deeper waters is easier to predict movements of fishes. Longer
speargun, with good strength of arrow, in some cases, can lead to successful catch even in
longer distances. With good speargun, 5 and more meters of range, even while practicing
ambush hunting technique in deeper waters is possible to shoot grouper. Today, big groupers
are becoming rare trophy's in Adriatic. The best thing to do is to hunt groupers while
combining practicing ambush hunting technique in deeper waters with ambush hunting
technique in shallow waters. That is one of most demanding techniques in spearfishing. In
book this combination of techniques is also described. It can be practiced in mostly all
positions in open sea. It implies that practitioner has good physical condition, and only
experienced spearfishers are practicing this technique. For everyone else this technique can be
very risk and life threatening. Combining ambush hunting technique and hiding technique is
extremely dangerous.
When all other techniques fail in catching fish, than is recommended to practice ambush
hunting technique. Also good positions for applying this technique are zones where is
possible to catch mullets, salemas, sheepshead, and gilthead seabream. Is also recommended
in areas where is possible to meet sea basses, dog's teeth or leerfishes. Ambush hunting
technique should be also applied in areas where spearfisher is for the first time and during
first hour of hunting didn't spot any fish. That doesn't mean that there is no any fish, just
means that is maybe hidden.
4.3 Technical performance of ambush hunting technique
Ambush hunting technique is performed after peaceful diving in and finding shelter on sea
bottom. That's where spearfisher hides and waits for fish to come in range. While performing
this technique, fish is always approaching to spearfisher and spearfisher is not moving. This
rule should be always respected. Choosing shelter depends on spearfishers possibilities. Is not
necessary to choose bad shelter near fish. If fish is not reacting on spearfisher, is good to
attract fishes attention with peeping out of shelter, with sounds and so on. If fish is still not
seen, spearfisher should find new shelter or start combining different techniques (indian…).
Ambush hunting technique is more difficult technique than it seems. For perform successful
ambush hunting technique, spearfisher must answer on question: what's stimulating fish to
come closer to spearfisher. Curiosity? In some way, yes. That's reason why everyone should
find a way how to attract fish closer to speargun. Good spearfisher needs to recognize border
between fishes curiosity and fear that will result in escape. Are fishes coming closer to
spearfisher in order to show who's controlling that area? If yes, where is entrance to their
territory? How much noticeable can spearfisher be and not to scare fish?
With this technique is possible to catch also sea predators, bigger pieces of curious fishes that
are hunting their prey. Predators are curious, and they come closer when spearfisher is
completely motionless. It's good to have speargun aiming fish. Spearfisher needs to be calm
and patient. In sea, sounds and vibrations are moving fast. Fish is more sensitive to sounds
and vibrations than on visual stimulation. When fish feels unknown vibrations it reacts with
curiosity. Intensity of those stimulation's is questionable. If intensity is too high fish will
escape. Question is what intensity of stimulation's is wakening fishes curiosity and what
intensity is scaring it? Signal should be weaker intensity. That signal will stimulate fish to see
what did that sound or vibration. Fishes don't see very good on higher distances. That's reason
why fish is coming closer. In those moments, spearfisher can change position, by the time
when fish come closer and do return on position there were before, spearfisher has enough
time to aim and shoot fish.
All this dilemmas every spearfisher should analyze for himself. Rules are often changing and
are changing from area to area. Fish can learn how to identify sounds and vibrations that are
coming from spearfisher and learns that needs to escape fast. When fish loses curiosity to
visually identify what's making sounds and vibrations, spearfisher should change position or
technique.
4.4 How to practice ambush hunting technique?
All phases of ambush hunting technique should be perfected. Phases in this technique are:
1. swimming quietly and sneaking up on sea surface;
2. wise choice of shelter and doing dive in quietly;
3. diving in towards to shelter quietly;
4. hiding and camouflaging in shelter;
5. performing ambush hunting technique, aiming and shooting of arrow;
6. diving out quietly with fish.
Swimming and sneaking on surface should be performed with quiet motions. Fins are under
sea not on surface. All sudden motions should be avoided. Sea bottom needs to observed in
order to find good shelter. Shelter should be chosen depending on fish that is trying to catch.
For dog's teeth is better to camouflage good, for amber jack camouflage is not important.
Good positions are also one with bigger bushes of Mediterranean tapeweed next to bigger
rocks. Good positions are also horizontal cracks near sand areas. Good positions are also one
with smaller fishes in flocks that are nervously swimming – that can indicate that bigger fish
is near.
Different kinds of fishes that can be hunted with ambush hunting technique rarely share same
area. It's very hard to spot sea bass and leerfish on same area. Same thing is with palamid and
barracuda. Is noticed that where is barracuda there is hard to spot amber jack and so on. Is
possible to find amber jack and dog's teeth in same area. Flocks don't group together but they
can be on same position. They act differently on spearfisher, so is on spearfisher to decide
which one to hunt. Big pieces of amber jacks is possible to find alone or in pair. Is hard to
find amber jack on positions where is 5 or more kilos big dog's teeth.
Good positions for performing this technique can be recognized by strong sea streams. In
conditions like that is more sure that fish will approach to spearfisher more often than in other
positions. On this positions is possible to spot amber jack. Groupers can be caught with
combination of 2 techniques, ambush hunting technique and indian hunting technique. Good
positions are also south coasts of island.
After analyzing area for performing ambush hunting technique, spearfisher should choose
possible shelters. After finding shelter, spearfisher can start with diving in. Preparation is
performed on way to relax on surface, slowing rhythm of breathing in and out. Time of
preparation depends of time that needs to be spend under surface. Practicing hyperventilation
while doing ambush hunting technique is life dangerous. During last decade, practicing
hyperventilation was the most common cause of dyeing. Considering that young,
inexperienced spearfishers are creating their own techniques of preparing for diving in, in
wish to extend time under sea, is necessarily to write what should be avoided. Short and
speedy breathing ins on surface combined with fast breathing outs. That breathing rhythm is
fooling spearfisher while is under surface, because that preparation doesn't signal that air is
ending. After few minutes, while spearfishers are trying to dive out they breathe sea water –
than they start panicking, completely loose concentration and orientation. If spearfisher
doesn't have partner is very much likely he'll drawn.
In order to minimize this risk, preparation should be slow, breathing should be slow. After
few minutes of that rhythm, body is getting in state of calmness. Experienced spearfishers
learned also how to slow heart beat that is also saving air. While doing this preparation,
spearfisher is watching sea bottom from surface. While watching small fishes and their
behavior, spearfisher can assume where and is there any bigger fish. When visibility is
reduced, decision about shelter is made while diving in. In those conditions, good advice is to
perform dive in slowly – so is possible to choose the best shelter.
Diving ins should be performed after physical preparation, after heart beats slow down and
after spearfisher achieves satisfying concentration. Diving ins should be performed quietly,
also spearfisher should be careful with fins, because of sun, fins can make shadow on sea
bottom, what will alarm fish about danger.
Fishes can feel with side part of body all
vibrations and all other signals that can scare them. Spearfishers silhouette or spearguns
silhouette can make fish run away. While performing ambush hunting technique in shallow
waters, dive in should be made quickly and while swimming on sea bottom, spearfisher
should carefully find shelter. Before dive in, snorkel should be removed from belt that is
attached on mask and placed on belt. That's how spearfisher ensures that air bubbles from
snorkel won’t scare fish. There are more reasons why snorkel should be removed, for
example, snorkel can hit in the mask and make sound that scares fish, also can be seen behind
shelter which is also sign for danger.
While performing ambush hunting technique in deep waters, vertical dive in should be
performed so time of dive in would be shorter. In that way fish has also shorter period of time
to react and analyze vibrations made by spearfishers body. In case of lower visibility, diving
in should be slower so spearfisher has time to find shelter. Also good thing to do is observe
sea bottom without moving head. Perfect dive in is the one that doesn't give time fish to react
on vibrations, not only react, but also that it can't detect what's making those vibrations, so it
will become more curious. Speed of diving in is regulated by fins. Speargun should be
attached to body so silhouette is smaller as possible. Some fish predators by silhouette decide
if to come closer to it or not. In unwanted situations, that shark appears near spearfisher while
is doing dive in, spearfisher can just move hand with speargun, so his silhouette appears to be
bigger and predator goes away. This are experiences of several experienced spearfishers in
Adriatic that have experienced something like this.
If ambush hunting technique is performed in positions where sea streams are strong, is very
hard for spearfisher to keep his vertical position while is diving in. than dive in should be
toward sea stream. In this conditions is possible to use sea stream as extra pressure, and also
lowers sound that body makes with sea bottom – that should be quite. Especially careful
should be spearfishers in not making sound while touching rocks. Those sounds are like
warning echo in sea. On sandy bottom spearfisher should be careful and not make sandy
cloud which can be hard, especially because of lead weights. Performing dive in slowly won't
disturb flocks of small fishes that can signalize danger to big fishes. Dive in should be
performed from position farther from position where spearfisher is going to wait for his prey.
In next chapter is going to be written about shelter, shooting fish and diving out.
4.5 Choosing position for performing ambush hunting technique and choosing shelter
Shelter where spearfisher is going to wait for his prey should cover him completely from fish.
Should also cover any noises that spearfisher might make. Should be chosen in position where
spearfisher is expecting fish to pass by. Fish usually, after seeing first rocks decide not to pass
them, so, better camouflaged spearfisher is, fish will come closer to rocks. Despite curiosity
fish will rarely go between rocks, because they feel unsafe there. That's reason why in front of
first rock fish is turning on position it were before coming near rock. Knowing that, allows
spearfisher finding position where can see that turn fish is going to make. And make sure that
position is in spearguns range.
Size and characteristics of shelter are chosen by type of fish spearfisher is hunting, by position
of sun, by possibilities to go inside shelter. Sun should always be behind spearfishers back.
When spearfisher is using ambush hunting technique to catch dog's teeth and leerfish is
recommended complete camouflage in shelter. Fish will be attracted by sounds and vibrations
but it can't see spearfisher. In area where is possible to spot amber jack or sea bass,
spearfisher shouldn't be completely covered. Good thing is that fish can't see whole body. On
this should pay special attention when swimming suit is in one color. Head should be in one
color and direct eye contact with fish should be avoided. Moving sclera is signal for danger.
Fish should be observed with peripheral vision by the time fish gets in range. That's reason
why masks with wider visual field are good choice. When head is down is not possible for sun
to reflect in mask glass. Experienced spearfishers know to keep eyes half closed while waiting
for fish. Practical solution are also masks with antirefleks glasses. Glasses colored with
special color unable fish to see eyes and face of spearfisher. Is possible to buy masks with
glasses like mirrors. Amber jack gladly approaches it's reflection. Bigger examples of
predators, that are sure in their power, gladly are approaching close, so spearfisher shouldn't
shoot fast.
The best shelters while hunting with ambush technique are one that are covering body from
all sides. Specially practical are deep cracks and shallow caves in which is possible to hide
completely. Also Mediterranean tapeweed has advantages but it's recommended to adjust
swimming suit pattern to it. Speargun should be covered completely and held parallel with
spearfishers body. Experienced spearfishers don't move speargun but they aim from hand.
This shooting style should be practiced on artificial target in sea. There is no classical aiming
but spearfisher shots approximately near fish.
While performing ambush hunting technique, problem is how to place fins, that are very hard
for keeping still in deeper waters. Problem can be fixed with placing weights on bottom part
of foot. Controlling movements of fins is also possible with ballast placed on toe knuckles. It's
possible to buy practical weights made of lead that can be tied around toe knuckles.
All this advices should be taken seriously. This technique requires lot of practice in order to
make it perfect. Practice and recognizing fishes behavior on bottom of sea while waiting for
prey will make sure that spearfishers catches good prey.
Placing spearfisher on position depending on sea streams is thoroughly described in chapters
that are coming. Bigger sea predators should be hunted from shelters and their direction
depends on way how fish, that are hunting, is moving. Similar is with sea bream, that is
possible to catch in conditions of lower sea streams. Sun should always be at spearfishers
back. That's reducing risk of sun light reflecting on masks glass.
Ambush hunting technique is efficient technique of spearfishing, because hidden spearfisher
is attracting fishes in surroundings. That's reason why is possible to catch two-banded bream,
white sea bream, brown mearge and grouper. Sea predators like atlantic bonito, bullet tuna,
european barracuda, barracuda and some other types of predators are approaching spearfisher
like is potential prey in case spearfisher silhouette seems smaller than is. Regardless of good
spearfishers position, if fish fells threatened, it's escape is instant. Smaller types of fishes is
withdrawing if get scared by unusual sound or vibration.
Time of waiting under surface depend on psychophysical abilities of spearfisher. Waiting that
is lasting longer increases the chances of catching bigger fish. Fish approaches more easily to
completely hidden spearfisher. Ambush hunting technique in shallow waters, should be
performed more often and in irregular rhythm. One longer then few shorter ambush hunting
techniques should be made on one area. It's recommended to change positions of waiting until
fish starts coming closer. Ambush hunting technique in deeper waters is more exhausting,
spearfishers is wasting much more energy. Every ambush hunting technique in deeper waters
should be planed and prepared on surface. It's good to monitor on diving watch seconds on
waiting. Diving out should be calm and performed in planed rhythm . If staying on sea bottom
extends unexpectedly, spearfishers risk fainting during diving out.
4.6 Equipment needed for practicing ambush hunting technique
In spearfishing when performing ambush hunting technique, the best speargun to use are
spearguns with elastic springs because they're more quiet and their range is bigger. For some
kinds of fishes, specially bigger pieces, good choice are also extra long spearguns on
compressed air. These spearguns are equipped with many innovative solutions in order to
make them more quite. While performing ambush hunting technique in shallow waters fishes
are usually coming closer, but not always from expected direction. So, it's easier to use shorter
spearguns with elastic springs, lighter construction. That kind of speargun is more easy to turn
towards fish direction. In time of reduced visibility and wavy sea, especially with cloudy sky,
ambush hunting technique in shallow waters should be performed with practical arrows with
spears. Sea bass shows up sudden in this conditions, so fast reaction is required. For
practicing ambush hunting technique in shallow waters, spearguns on compressed air are not
practical.
While practicing ambush hunting technique, the strongest and the largest spearguns for
spearfishing are the best choice. On range of speargun depends size of fish that's hunting. One
of practical innovations is mechanism of releasing arrow. For hunting bigger dog's teeth,
spearfisher should use spreargun with 5 and more meters of range. Arrows for spearguns with
elastic springs are 6.5 millimeters of diameter and are good choice. In order to lower risk of
breaking arrow in most sensitive parts, the best advice is to use arrows with sealed hooks,
while catching bigger fishes. While practicing ambush hunting technique, is not
recommended to calculate equipment expenses.
Shooting big fish is just beginning of fight for inexperienced spearfisher. Often happens that
fish escapes or slips from arrow. Those risks can be taken away with spearguns on
compressed air. Spearfisher are using inox arrows, diameter of 8 or 9 millimeters and with
special harpoons that brake also fishes bones. For tying arrow in whole length of winding on
pulley is good to use special ties like spectra. Strong and long speargun on compressed air is
practical solution while performing ambush hunting technique on positions where is possible
to catch barracudas, groupers, amber jacks and many other bigger fishes. This ambush
hunting technique is performed while trying to catch just one fish. Often, there is only one
chance for shooting.
Big fish caught with arrow diameter of 6,5 millimeters tied with nylon and spectra, behaves
differently from fish caught with arrow 8-9 millimeters of diameter and spectra. Big, firmer
harpoons are more deadly. If fish is shoot in head with bigger harpoon on thicker and more
massive arrow, it's overcoming doesn't represent problem.
For all this obstacles, the best advice is to own few different spearguns for practicing this
technique. Experiences are showing that good camouflage and choosing good shelter is much
more important than extra meter of range on speargun. On some positions, like near volcanic
island Jabuka and near Palagruža archipelago, is highly recommended to use the the biggest
and the most deadly spearguns.
Pulley and neatness of the wrapped rope is very important, despite the fact if spearfishers is
practicing ambush hunting technique in shallow or deeper waters. Caught fish resists strongly,
and in case rope gets stuck in pulley, spearfisher is risking loosing speargun. If fish isn't shot
well, than arrow will tear fishes meat apart, and fish will set itself free. More rope releases
from pulley, fish gets tired more quickly and risk of tearing it's meat apart is reduced.
Weights should be placed on back, waist and lower leg while practicing ambush hunting
technique in shallow waters. Lot of weights on belt (20 and more kilos) can lead to back
injuries. While practicing ambush hunting technique in deeper waters is recommended to use
different combinations of ballast. Good thing to do is to use 2 belts with weights, where one
of them is tied on diving safety buoy (and can be released after 15 meters). This safety buoy is
hold in area outside of place where this technique is performed. Other belt, on spearfishers
waist should be tied with nylon on other safety buoy, and can be released while diving out,
and in case spearfisher feels tired or breathless or near fainting.
Stringer with caught fish is not recommended to hold on belt while performing ambush
hunting technique, because it can make vibrations while diving in. On positions where is
possible to see sea predators it's risking that predator see's stringer and it can bite spearfisher
too.
Aggressive types of sharks can wound spearfisher too. (case of Slovenian spearfisher few
years ago near Vis).
Diving mask should be chosen by need and style of practicing ambush hunting technique. For
ambush hunting technique, in shallow waters, spearfisher should choose bigger masks with
wider field of vision. For ambush hunting technique in deeper waters, spearfisher should
choose smaller masks for making diving in easier. Exception are positions where fish should
be observed with peripheral vision. Anti reflex masks are practical because fish can't see
moving of sclera. For ambush hunting technique good are masks with camouflage pattern,
also is possible to buy snorkels in that pattern. Snorkels should be made from light and
stretchy material that makes quite sound while touching rocks. Snorkels of bright colors are
not recommended. Transparent tape on top of snorkel can be removed, but on surface is
important to have it so boat drivers can see it.
Fins should be in camouflage pattern, primed with bottom side. For ambush hunting technique
in shallow waters fins should be easily controlled on bottom and easy for move in. For
ambush hunting technique in deep waters fins should be long and made of carbon fibers that
are shortening time of diving out.
Swimming suit should be comfortable without sharp edges and with minimal thickness
needed for time of year. There is no general rule. Swimming suit should be chosen by
personal preferences. Of course, hunting during winter requires thicker swimming suits.
Thickness depends also on time that spearfisher is spending in sea. Thinner swimming suit
and lower weights are the most comfortable, but if spearfisher feels cold in them, than his
concentration is ruined. Swimming suits color should attract fishes and should be adjusted to
area where is spearfisher hunting. Serious spearfishers own few suits for different positions
and different time of year.
4.7 Practical advices for practicing ambush hunting technique
This technique requires constant training and adjusting to area where spearfisher is hunting. It
should pay attention on fact that this technique is making fishes curious and that goal is to
attract fishes near shelter. On areas where this technique is practiced often, fishes are not that
much curious and are more cautious. That's why spearfisher should pay attention on sun and
risk of light from sun in swimming mask and inox arrow. Make sure that is not making any
uncoordinated moves and that his silhouette is mostly covered.
Spearfisher should practice this technique often and adjust equipment to areas. Even getting
better spearguns is good thing to do. Fish is getting more and more cautious so is very hard to
find good shelter. The best shelter is one that covers spearfisher completely.
What body position is the best for aiming fish while practicing ambush hunting technique?
Good position doesn't allow fish to see a spearfisher. Good position also allows setting
speargun in direction towards fish in way that fish can't see it. Way from surface to position
should be shortest as possible. Direct dive in from surface to shelter is not good. This is
possible only in conditions of lower visibility, or when there is flocks of smaller fishes near.
This dive in is also justified when other dive would scare potential prey. Is common that
spearfisher does dive in, in two phases, first to sea bottom and other to sneaking towards
shelter. This dive ins are longer, spearfisher is wasting more air, but is harder for fish to spot
spearfisher.
When fish is constantly approaching to spearfisher in shelter from opposite direction of
speargun, good thing to do is to dive out and find new position. Every rock, crack, bush of sea
grass is good position. Some shelters are more practical, and some of them fishes are
avoiding. All experiences should be remembered. Sometimes more diving ins are required in
order to find good spot. Spearfisher always can give up with excuse that fish is just not
approaching today. Is it really bad day? Did we try all other covers an shelters?
After choosing position where spearfisher is going to wait for fish, should observe fishes and
maybe change position after seeing fish on other positions. After shooting one dog's teeth is
good to go deeper into area. When fish in flocks stop coming closer is time for changing
position. After every caught fish, it should be dragged fast in order not to disturb other fish.
Vibration that caught fish is making are signals for danger to other fishes.
4.8 Fishes behavior when are near spearfisher who's practicing
technique
ambush hunting
Hunting using this technique should be adjusted to area. There are some rules regarded this
technique and prey. Those rules are more like practical advices. All this advices are result of
experience of many spearfishers in Adriatic.
4.8.1 Mullets
There is few types of mullets in Adriatic. Spearfishers find golden gray mullet, mullet sauteur
and thin-lipped grey mullet like the most interesting types. They can all be successfully
hunted with ambush hunting technique. In most cases they are waiting on sandy bottom,
closed bays, near places where river is going down into sea and near populated places. Good
position for practicing ambush hunting technique are cracks, bigger sea grass bushes, behind
rocks, near sunken boats and so on. Position can be chosen by direction of moving of mullets.
The best thing is to aim them in head.
Thin-lipped grey mullet can be found near edges of islands and in autumn. After spotting first
flocks, spearfisher shouldn't be fast with shooting. Flock will come closer and move away
from spearfisher for few times. Random shooting will scare them away. Patience is specially
required when mullets are bigger than 0.5 kilos. Missing or wounding mullet is going to result
with escape of all other mullets. Spearfisher needs to let mullet to come closer. If spearfishers
position is farther than range of speargun and mullet, good thing to do is to change position. If
flock is coming closer, advice is to wait for overlapping of two mullets. Caught mullets
should be picked fast so other mullets wouldn't get upset. After shooting one or two mullets,
flock will swim away, and spearfisher should start following them and find new position for
hiding.
Thin-lipped grey mullet is more common near north coast of islands in early and late autumn.
It can be recognized by its big head golden color. Thin-lipped grey mullet is the the biggest
type of mullet in Adriatic. It can weight even 6 kilos. It's silhouette can confuse spearfisher
after seeing it for the first time. Big pieces of thin-lipped grey mullet can be seen in passes
and straits. It's very careful. It will approach to spearfisher once and than continue swimming.
If spearfisher doesn't shoot in that moment can follow it and try to aim it in diving. Thinlipped grey mullets usually weight 2 kilos and are moving in small groups. The best thing is
to choose bigger rock and wait for group. Is not recommended to fasten up with shooting.
When first thin-lipped grey mullet shows, spearfisher should find crack for hiding. Thinlipped grey mullet will spin in near and keep coming near that crack. Is possible to catch thinlipped grey mullet using ambush hunting technique, in similar way that is used to hunt sea
bass (further in the book). Caught thin-lipped grey mullet should be dragged fast, killed and
placed in swimming suit. Fish on stringer is scaring thin-lipped grey mullets. Staying calm is
the best way to caught other thin-lipped grey mullets. When spearfisher is following group of
thin-lipped grey mullets should keep distance. In other way thin-lipped grey mullets will get
scared.
Unlike mullet sauteur and thin-lipped grey mullet, golden gray mullet can be caught during
warmer period of year. Bigger pieces can be caught at end of summer. Approaching to flocks
of golden gray mullets is simple. While approaching to flock spearfisher looks for shelter.
After catching first golden gray mullet, other will run away, but very soon will form flock
again. Near first position, spearfisher should look for the other position and continue with
hunting. Newly formed flock moves approximately 100 meters from first position. If golden
gray mullets are acting nervous in their flock, leerfish might be near. In that case, spearfisher
should wait for leerfish. But about hunting the learfish is going to be written in next chapters.
While performing ambush hunting technique on golden grey mullet, position of waiting
should be open freely towards flock. If flock is not approaching, spearfisher can try to attract
them with sound made by mouth. Sometimes, after spotting spearfisher, flock of mullets run
away. After running, they will return from 2 directions. While they are approaching,
spearfisher should choose flock where is going to aim and shoot. Hunting mullets is going to
be even more successful if there is no other fish near. If there is other fish, they can worn
mullets about spearfishers presence. Hunting positions should be changed like mullets are
changing their position. Position for perform ambush hunting technique on mullets is
performed in position of ebb and flow.
Mullet sauteur is simple to hunt like golden grey mullet, and is hunted with ambush hunting
technique in shallow waters. In autumn, flocks of mullet sauteur are moving from east to
west. Good positions for performing ambush hunting technique are river estuary's and near
piers. They are attracted by smell of organic waste. It can be recognized by flattened head and
bigger frontal part of body. It reacts instantly on spearfisher and is coming closer. If flock of
mullets is acting restless, is possible that flock of sea basses is behind them. In situation like
that is recommended to check first for sea basses.
Ambush hunting technique on mullets is made by speargun with elastic springs, light
construction and middle size. Arrows should be thinner and lighter. Arrows for shooting
golden grey mullet and grey mullet should be equipped with spears lighter construction.
Mullet can be caught easier when spearfishers position is contrary to sea streams.
4.8.2 Amber jack
Catching amber jack bigger than 10 kilos with ambush hunting technique is one of trophy's.
They are very rare in Adriatic these days. They were hunted too much, with techniques and
tools that are allowed and forbidden. They moved permanently from some positions. So,
decades of old amber jack's routes are changed. 20 kilos big amber jacks can be seen only on
positions were are no boats. In sea, amber jack acts superior, even toward spearfisher. Is
strong and big fish. They are approaching very close, and should be aimed in some vital parts
of body. Shooting it is just beginning of fight.
Amber jack can be caught with ambush hunting technique in edges of offshore and near rocky
coast of islands. Last years it can be hunted in closed canals. Most part of the day they retain
in blue waters. They are hunting smaller fish when sea is restless and waves are bigger. Good
positions for hunting are in upper parts of shallow waters where spearfisher is waiting
completely uncovered. It can approach to coast in early mornings and during late afternoons
when is hunting smaller fishes. It's position can be detected by behavior of smaller fishes.
When they are becoming nervous.
Amber jacks and dog's teeth are choosing same positions for hunting in dawn and early night.
They prefer hunting in strong sea streams. If spearfisher can see flocks of saddled breams,
blue damselfish, cacckarels, bogues and picarels is possible that amber jack and dog's teeth is
near.
For catching this big and strong fish, spearfisher needs good and adjusted equipment. It's
recommended to wear camouflage patter swimming suit, completely smooth from outside that
doesn't require lot of weights and speeds up spearfisher. For hunting should be used only the
biggest and the strongest spearguns, the biggest arrows, sharp harpoons and so on. Some
spearfishers prefer the biggest spearguns on compressed air longer than 110 centimeters.
Others prefer strong spearguns with elastic springs with maximal length. Is recommended to
use the best ropes (for example spectra). Arrow should be thicker because amber jack can
brake thinner arrow. If spearfisher is using thinner arrow, they should be with sealed hooks. Is
important to have double winged spear tip on arrow. There are dozens of cases where amber
jack escaped because of braking one wing spear tip on arrow. Spearguns on compressed air
are more practical because of bigger diameters of arrows (8 and 9 millimeters), equipped with
bigger harpoons with wider flopper. Those kind of harpoons are going through fishes body
more fast. Dark lenses on masks and strong fins are also recommended. Big amber jacks react
on moving of spearfishers sclera. When shooting, spearfisher should choose to shoot some of
vital parts of fishes body. If was not shoot in some of vital parts (head, brain, spine) it can rip
out speargun from spearfishers hand.
If amber jack is hunted in blue waters, is important to choose good position. Spearfisher needs
to choose position depending by sea streams and direction from where amber jack can come.
Big amber jacks can stay near flocks of dog's teeth, sometimes. The best positions are cracks
and rocks where spearfisher can hide completely, and then wait relaxed and still. Smaller
fishes can signalize amber jacks position. If small dog's teeth are near, in moment when they
start hiding is signal that amber jack is near. Spearfisher should hurry with shooting because it
should be shoot in vital part of body. Movements should be minimal and arrow should be
shoot an when amber jack is not far than 3 meters from spearfisher.
If spearfisher is
completely calm and is using dark lenses on mask, amber jack can come 1 meter from
spearfisher. Spearfisher should shoot in head or brain. In moment when fish is caught, rope
from pulley should be released. Reaction of amber jack is going to be very strong. Spearfisher
should be patient and start pulling rope when amber jack gets tired. If spearfisher is hunting
with partner, than partner should shoot it again.
Ambush hunting technique in blue waters is performed on positions outside coastal part of
islands. According to echo sounder spearfishers chooses position deep in sea. Usually, those
positions are on areas where sea bottom can't be seen from surface. Sometimes those depths
are more than 40 meters. Position for spearfisher is on 10 – 15 meters in depth. Spearfisher
stays in horizontal position in relation with surface. Hands with speargun are near body. If
amber jack or some other sea predator is near, is going to approach closer to see unknown
object. Good trick is to make few circles with boat, than turn it off and leave it near
spearfishers position in sea. This is going to be explained in next chapters.
Amber jacks usually move from open sea to shallow waters. If ambush hunting technique is
made in sea bottom, good positions are cracks and rocks. Speargun should be near body
aiming open sea. When amber jack comes closer to spearfisher it starts circulating near is
right moment for shooting. Safe shoot is in head, between eyes or in body. Shoot in body is
only safe if arrow is thinner diameter. Amber jack can easily brake arrow., especially if arrow
is in amber jacks body deep. If spearfisher is using speargun on compressed air is highly
possible that amber jack is going to die momently. When amber jack is approaching from
side, the best thing to do is to shoot it in side part of body. After shooting in that position
amber jack becomes paralyzed for few seconds that are precious for spearfisher who can
make preparation for further fight. If amber jack is not shoot in vital part of body, it starts
resisting strong immediately and runs towards deep waters. Is moving obliquely and if is
shoot in soft part of body it can release from arrow.
There is one more possible scenario. If caught amber jack is bigger than 20 kilos and rope got
stuck in pulley, there are 2 options:
-
loose fish;
-
risk life.
Big amber jack, if not shoot in vital part of body, can easily drag spearfisher of average body
weight.
Even amber jack feels superior it can react with escape too if silhouette of spearfisher is
bigger because of speargun. Fishes reaction can be also withdrawal from zone of encounter.
That's reason why spearfisher should hold speargun near body and down with sea streams.
Special camouflage is not necessary. Fish should be observed with peripheral vision. That's
why masks with wider vision field are the best.
Encounter with flock of smaller amber jacks is also attractive, but is recommended not to hunt
smaller pieces. Practical is also free falling technique. Spearfisher starts falling slowly
towards to sea bottom, standing still. Amber jacks are approaching in smaller circles. When
they come closer, is good to wait for their overlap. After shooting them other fishes will run
away and change position. Is possible that they will return day after. This scenarios are very
rare because smaller amber jacks are usually getting caught by fisherman's and their fishing
nets.
4.8.3. Grouper
Out of several species of groupers which inhabit the waters of the eastern Adriatic, when
using ambush hunting technique it is most likely to encounter the dusky grouper. It is also
possible to see the goldblotch grouper, which has already been discussed in the digging
chapter. In the areas inhabited by the dusky groupers, smaller specimens are likely to show
interest towards the ambush hunters. In order to catch a specimen with 5-10 kilos of weight
the ambush technique is combined with Indian hunting along the seabed. The specimens of
this size are shot at most distant range, since they rarely approach the spearfisher in ambush.
The goldblotch grouper’s response to spearfishers’ dives is to escape, even when the
spearfisher dives in other direction. When hunting the dusky grouper, the ambush is set in
front of its cave. As for the goldblotch grouper, the spearfisher should hide better, more far
away from the position where the fish was spotted for the first time. The goldblotch grouper
usually peeks from a crack with the top of its head and observes the ambush spearhunter. That
is the right moment for the shooting. The crack should not be approached. Unlike the dusky
grouper, the goldblotch grouper uses mimicry more efficiently and hides in an unusual
position in the narrow part of the hiding place. The goldblotch groupers which are hunted
with ambush technique rarely have more than 3 kilos of weight. They are found on the sites of
the southern Adriatic. They are recognisable by the elongated elegant body with longitudinal
stripes.
To catch the dusky grouper with the ambush technique, rocky bottoms in the southern part of
the Adriatic with the milder slope and a scattering of rocks are recommendable. Despite being
heavily built and having stout body, groupers feature agile movements, and a sudden escape
in front of a completely calm spearhunter in the ambush position. Sometimes it takes an
uncontrolled sclera movement to scare the fish away. If the grouper slipped into a deep crack,
it is recommendable to do a couple of ambushes a few meters away from the crack before
searching it. Even when the grouper is hit at the entrance to the crack there is a risk that it
slips away and gets stuck in the crack. To avoid that, the speared fish should be immediately
retreated from the crack. Reflexes play an important role in such situations. In case that the
located crack is a permanent habitat of the hidden grouper, the area around it should be
inspected in detail. Before approaching the accessible parts of the crack, several ambushes
should be performed in front of possible entrances. Very often the eyes of a grouper looking
at the hunter from darkness can be spotted. The shot should be precise, above the eyes,
straight to the brain. In such case there will be no troubles in pulling the fish.
A grouper which is not often disturbed by spearfishers moves uniformly. It should be
followed keeping the distance until it stops. Then the hunter sets the ambush using rocks as
cover. Hunting groupers using ambush technique is more successful in the afternoon hours,
after 4:00 p.m. In June groupers in the Adriatic are more active, and remain in deep, and
during July and August closed season is in force. A special attention should be paid to the
positions where a rock in the form of semicircle is spotted, with more entrances with the sand
in front. In such a surrounding, there are plenty of good ambush positions to catch a grouper.
When hunting a grouper by ambush technique, the shot should be performed using longest
spearguns, since very often the fish needs to be shot at distance of 4 meters or more. If the
grouper was spotted in a certain position, but that day it went too deep into the crack, the
position should be visited the next day. Maybe there will be more luck…
If the ambush is combined with sneaking to catch a grouper, the hunter dead-still
crawls on the seabed approaching the spotted fish at gun range. It is important that the snorkel
is not in the mouth, since the released air bulb can momentarily make the grouper escape…
In general, hunting the groupers by ambush is more successful in deeper waters. It
should be also taken into account that when performing ambush, the head should be held
stiffly, mildly leaned forward. The use of diving mask with wide field of view is
recommended. If the grouper is spotted during deeper sneaking, the hunter should act
disinterested, continuing on in the earlier direction while slowly pointing the spear towards
the fish. Afterwards, the hunter should try to find a shelter for the first, trial ambush. If the
grouper starts going towards the hunter at ambush, the hunter should peek from the shelter
and look for the suitable position to target the fish. At the position from which the fish will be
targeted, the speargun should be set along the seabed, sideways from the chosen shelter,
pointed towards the grouper. Aiming should be done from hand, without putting the gun
closer to the face for the aiming. Ambush for groupers is specific, but with this technique it is
easier to hunt than using hunting on cracks technique.
4.8.4. Leerfish
When sea basses and smaller mullets act nervously it is very useful to do a couple of
ambushes for the leerfish. Leerfish can grow up to 25 kilos of weight. It is recognizable by its
elongated body with a wide caudal fin and it is blue-green in colour. It has a silvery white
belly. It stays under the surface and then rapidly approaches the coast catching smaller fish.
An average specimen along the Adriatic coast weights 5 to 10 kilos. Ambush for leerfish is
performed parallel to the coastline, along the shallow capes. Good positions can be found at
the ends of the beaches where there is organic wastewater. The smell attracts leerfish.
Leerfish hunts mullets all the way to the coast. When it senses the presence of an underwater
hunter, it slows the motion and comes close to the hunter. It will observe the hunter in ambush
for couple of second and that is the moment when it should be targeted. The shot is performed
by overtaking if the leerfish is in motion. The reel is necessary, since leerfish is among the
strongest fish in Adriatic.
Bigtoothed pompano is smaller (weights up to 5 kilos), and it is hunted with ambush
technique in the shallow waters of open sea in late autumn. It acts different than leerfish, so
the ambush is performed like the one for an amberjack in the shallow waters of open sea.
Bigtoothed pompano swims in groups, and the leader fish is the one that should be aimed at.
The largest specimen of the group will be out in the back, but there is no need to wait for it
since it will not approach the hunter at gun range. If a group of bigtoothed pompanos swims
in circles outside the shallow waters of open sea, it should be approached slowly, holding the
speargun attached to the body. The process of approaching is performed on the surface, in
several stages. At the end of the shallow waters which is closest to the position of the
bigtoothed pompanos, a large protruding rock should be located. Ambush should be set there.
When the shoal of fish comes at gun range, the closest specimen should be aimed at the head,
since due to fast movements of the fish a shot at the side line will be a miss.
Pompano is even smaller and grows up to two kilos of weight. At the presence of a
hunter it will accelerate the motion. It will not return. The hunter should follow it keeping the
distance until the fish slows down. Pompano slows down the motion as soon as it spots shoals
of smaller fish. Then the hunter should hide behind the closest rock. In this situation pompano
comes to the hunter. It considers the hunter to be an intruder in its hunting area and wants to
observe the hunter better. Pompano will pass above the hunter in ambush position so that the
shot will be directed towards the surface. Pompano never gives a second opportunity. Chasing
pompano along the ends of the open sea is pointless, since in the end it always escapes into
the blue.
When using ambush technique to catch a leerfish, which is performed along the coast
and at the ends of beaches, it is recommended to take a 90 centimetre speargun equipped with
two stronger elastic springs and a reel. When the ambush is used to catch a bigtoothed
pompano the longest spearguns are necessary, equipped with three or more elastic springs,
reels and thicker diameter shafts with double a double notch. To catch a Pompano spearguns
not more than a meter long are used, because with the fish shifting direction while
approaching ambush hunter, it is necessary to instantly change the position of the speargun in
order to aim the fish.
Leerfish and bigtoothed pompanos inhabit the south parts of Adriatic. The best
hunting ground to catch a bigtoothed pompano is the north coast of peninsula Pelješac.
Leerfish is common on the opposite side of the coast, outside the estuary of Neretva river.
Leerfish is common near all estuaries of Adriatic watershed. In such locations it rushes into
muddy sandbars chasing Mullets. It is easiest to catch in autumn. Mullets acting nervously
indicate the presence of a leerfish…
Leerfish is one of the fastest and strongest Adriatic fish. Reel is necessary, regardless
of the speargun length. In areas along the coast where the sea is not clear, spearguns shorter
than 90 centimetres are practical. Leerfish appears suddenly, in immediate vicinity to the
hunter in ambush. Because of leerfish rapid movements, it should be followed by the
speargun before taking a shot. In late autumn in the same areas the water becomes clearer, so
leerfish can be spotted at greater distance. In such conditions, leerfish will not react at the
hunter in ambush. Then it is possible to combine ambush with Indian hunting. When making a
stop it is useful to tumble some stones on the seabed. Such behaviour attracts leerfish.
Leerfish then slows down the motion, and the hunter is given couple of seconds to approach
the fish at gun range. When approaching the fish, the hunter’s motion should be uniform,
without acceleration.
Despite many efforts leerfish and pompanos are difficult to shoot in the head because
of their rapid movements. Aiming the head with an overtaking often result in the shot in the
body of the fish. Speared leerfish struggles violently. The reel should be released and tire out
the speared fish. By struggling, leerfish can tear its own tissue up to one third of the lateral
fish width. The experiences of the hunters who caught trophy leerfish show that the good shot
in the middle of the lateral side of the big leerfish is just the beginning. The hardest part of the
struggle is only about to come…
4.8.5. Sea bass
Sea bass in the Adriatic is easily caught using ambush technique only where it does
not come in contact with spearfishers. It used to be very easy to catch a sea bass everywhere
in the Adriatic. In the last fifteen years, sea bass has significantly changed behaviour in the
Adriatic and rapidly swims away from the spearfisher. It is possible to surprise it in rough sea
and rain. In rough sea, after the rain when the visibility is worse, a lightweight construction
speargun should be used to catch it. During average visibility 90 – 100 centimetres spearguns
are used. The reel is mandatory, and the line should be released if the fish was pierced in the
body. When the sea currents are not that strong sea bass rarely makes an appearance. In rough
sea ambush is performed near shallow capes and along the edges of densely covered bottom.
Good ambush positions are also rocks that come out of the sea. On the rocky bottom best
ambush positions are along the capes. The hunter finds a position towards the cape where the
appearance of the fish is expected. The position is selected so that it is possible to hold on
with a free hand to the rocky protrusion on the bottom. The hunter at ambush for the sea bass
should be completely motionless. Every move is a sign of danger to the sea bass. On every
move of the hunter the sea bass accelerates the motion and tries to bypass the hunter. The
chase after the sea bass will be pointless.
When spotting a group of sea basses the hunter should approach to the selected fish,
and use ambush to attract its attention. A single fish should be distracted from the group and
caught outside the area where the group circles. The dive in and out of the ambush is
performed diagonally, away from the rest of the group of sea basses.
Sea bass is calmer on cloudy days. Its motion is then more predictable. In such
conditions the silhouette of the hunter at ambush is unclear, so the sea bass tends to approach
out of curiosity. On sunny days the hunter sets the ambush so that the sun is behind his back.
If the sun is against, sea bass will escape even before hunter can spot it. On a sandy bottom,
with bushes of Mediterranean tapeweed, the position for ambush is found at the ends of the
sandy zones. Sea basses swim in such boundary corridors, against the sea current. If ambush
is performed at up to two meter depth, especially during winter when thicker diving suit is
used, lead weight on legs and back should be added to the equipment. To catch a sea bass
using such ambush the buoyancy of the hunter should be neutral. In calm sea it is easier to
catch a sea bass with ambush in the morning, or in the evening. During high tide in areas
where sea bass usually station, larger specimens can be found than during low tide. With the
weakening of the sea currents even the Sea Bass swim away from the coast, so the ambush
positions are to be found at greater depths.
Sea bass is a cunning and intelligent fish. The greatest specimens grow up to 1 meter
in length and 14 kilos in weight. The body of the fish is firmly built, so even a good shot at
the body can secure the catch. Sea bass is characterised by a large radius of movement, as
well as curiosity. Sea bass can be spotted along the entire coast of Adriatic, in all types of
bottoms. It is most common around the river estuaries and in the areas of submarine springs of
fresh water. Ambush is most successful during the first and the final quarter of the month. In
these periods a larger number of sea bass specimens can be spotted in the same locations.
When the wind does not change for couple of days, and the sea is rough, sea bass tend to
station in the areas of sea foam. Then the ambush should be performed on the positions with a
lot of sea foam.
To catch a sea bass, the ambush is performed up to ten metres of depth. One of the
secrets of ambush when catching a sea bass in the Adriatic in rough sea is to wait for the fish
perpendicularly of the direction of the waves. In such a position it is easier to the hunter to be
motionless on the seabed. Sudden, accidental hand and leg movements of the hunter will be
minimized. During spawning periods sea bass aggressively attracts all the fish in the shallow
waters. Shoals of smaller fish can sense sea bass’s rapid movements even at greater distance.
That is how shoals of smaller fish signalize the hunter the presence of sea bass. Really good
sea bass hunting places for ambush in the Adriatic are the inner islands of the Zadar and
Šibenik archipelago, as well as the estuary of Neretva river. The best hunting season is from
the beginning of November until mid-December. There are good hunting places in the
northern Adriatic, the Novigrad sea in particular. Hunting season there begins at the end of
October. Sea bass groups into shoals even in spring, as soon as the sea begins to warm up and
reaches the temperature of 17 degrees Celsius. At that sea temperature sea bass is hunted
using ambush at the same positions as before the spawning season.
The speared sea bass in the group should be approached very quickly, and from that
position together with the fish head for the coast. Afterwards, the hunter crawls back to the
same position and sets a new ambush. It is possible that a new specimen appears right away.
The dive out with the caught sea bass above the place where ambush is set will warn other
specimens about the danger. They will not approach the hunter at that ambush position.
In summer months it is possible to spot a sea bass under some larger rocks at couple of
metres of depth. Such a shelter is what sea bass is looking for in the afternoon. A common
resting place for a sea bass is a large bare roundish rock with an indentation underneath. Sea
bass tends to spin slowly beneath such rock, so its reflection can be spotted at greater
distance. Approaching that position is performed slowly, uninterestedly examining the sea
bottom. Sea bass will curiously observe the upcoming hunter and remain in its shelter.
Ambush is performed couple of metres away from the rock where the sea bass is. Sea bass
will peek and observe the revealed hunter in ambush. The catch is sure. When the hunter finds
this type of a rock with a sea bass hiding underneath it, in the future it will be very easy to
immediately spot possible sea bass hiding places.
Larger sea bass specimens can be surprised by a deep ambush on positions where there
is submarine spring of fresh water. In such positions big sea bass lies still on the seabed. The
shot should be aimed at the head, since shots in the side line are not that precise considering
that at the arrival of the hunter in such positions sea bass begins to move unevenly.
Sea basses station even in the ports of the Adriatic. Spearfishing is not allowed there,
however, there are some good positions on the external side of the pier. Ambush is performed
there in the middle of larger rocks. Sea bass are more careful in these positions, so the ambush
is combined with Indian hunting. When a group of larger sea basses is spotted, the hunter
needs to hide better and crawl deep into the rocks of the pier. Single specimens will head
towards the hidden hunter. Speared fish needs to be drawn and killed quickly, and crawl back
into the hiding place again. Other specimens will come…
For how long will the period of grouping sea basses into shoals before the spawn last
depends on climatic conditions. When the sea temperature begins to drop, sea basses move
away from their positions. In the pre-spawning period sea basses follow shoals of golden
mullets. Ambushes are performed in continuity, observing the behaviour of the shoals of
golden mullets. When a silhouette of a sea bass is spotted, the decision on the level of
camouflage is made based on the sea bass behaviour in approaching the hunter. Sea bass will
go around a completely camouflaged hunter.
There are tricks today to draw the attention of a sea bass – occasional release of air
bulbs from the snorkel, light unequal bats with the body of the speargun against a rock,
throwing little rocks (over the surface – so that it splashes like smaller golden mullets) and
similar.
When a sea bass heads towards the hunter in ambush, the hunter needs to be
completely calm with the head pointed down towards the bottom. The approaching fish is
followed by the peripheral vision. Sea bass moves right below the surface of the sea, for the
better overview of the bottom. Ambush is performed against the sea current direction, in the
position parallel to coast. Sea bass always swims along the sea current. After several
ambushes more distant from the coast, the hunter comes closer to the coast and hides behind a
larger rock. Afterwards, the hunter looks once again for an ambush position at a greater
distance from the coast. If the underwater visibility is good, spearguns longer than a meter are
used, with smaller diameter elastic springs for the higher speed of the shaft. It is useful that
the barrel profile of the speargun is narrower, since quick movements of the speargun
following the changes in direction of sea basses are common. Diving suits with a camouflage
pattern adapted to the underwater are recommended. Combinations of different shades of top
and bottom part of the suit are practical. The lower blades of the spearfishing fins should be
coated in the shade of the underwater vegetation. Diving masks with dark lenses are better, so
that a sea bass is unable to spot sclera movements. When it notices sclera movements, it
immediately swims away.
4.8.6. Striped bream
Striped bream is an attractive ambush catch because the grown up specimens may
reach the weight of 2 kilos. Larger specimens approach to ambush hunter in the Adriatic,
those that weigh more than half a kilo. It has a prolonged body, and a big head is a practical
goal. They can be found in the areas around river estuaries and submarine springs of fresh
water. Along the river estuaries they are easier to catch by sneaking. A single specimen is
often occupied by digging in the sand. At the presence of a spearfisher, a striped beam lies on
the sand. In areas where spearfishers are common, striped beam swims away. In such areas
ambush is effective. Striped bream can be found in sandy areas, ends of beaches, and near
submarine springs of fresh water by swimming on the surface. Doing ambush to catch a
striped bream outside harbours, where it is also very common, is a completely different story.
In harbours it is hunted by sneaking. Ambush for a striped bream is successful even in the
larger sandy bays, if there are hiding places for the hunter. Nowadays in the Adriatic a striped
bream rarely approaches to revealed hunter.
In smaller sandy zones, where it usually seeks food and the sandy clouds give it away,
the striped bream does not feel safe. When it feels the presence of a spearfisher, it
immediately heads for the deep. In more spacious sandy areas, after the striped bream is
spotted, several ambushes should be performed out of the fish range, watching closely its
behaviour. The striped bream will then change the position in which it is digging into the sea
bottom, but it will remain in that area.
Test ambushes are performed from different directions, and when the fish changes the
position, a direction which disturbed the fish the less should be chosen. If there are shelters in
the surrounding, during the process of approaching the spotted fish short ambushes are
performed behind such shelter. With each ambush, the hunter comes closer to the striped
bream and attracts its attention. Finally, the striped bream will head towards the ambush
hunter. If there are no possible shelters, at each ambush the hunter softly digs the sand making
an artificial shelter. As the hunter approaches the striped bream, every next whirling sandy
cloud should be smaller. When a group of striped breams is spotted, ambushes along with
making larger sandy clouds and drawing by pulling backwards are performed out of range.
The action is repeated until one of the striped breams heads towards the hunter. A striped
bream approaches ambush hunter in consistent swimming rhythm. The fish is aimed at before
the sandy cloud that camouflages the hunter completely settles.
4.8.7. Salema
A grown up specimen may reach the weight of 3 kilos, and length of 50 centimetres. It
has a prolonged and oval body shape with a disproportionately small head, so the shots in the
body are more common. The tissue of a salema is soft, so that the shaft can be easily pulled
out if the central part of the body is not pierced. After that, the shoal will be more careful with
the spearfisher. Salema can be found everywhere in the Adriatic, from shallow waters to the
depths of twenty metres and more. Ambush is easiest to perform at 10 metres of depth.
Positions where thre is salema are searched on rocky, algae covered bottom, in bays and
harbours. Larger shoals station near shallow waters and along southern coasts of islands in the
open sea, where even the greatest single specimens can be caught. Recommendable hunting
season, when the shoals are the largest in number, begins in late spring and ends in autumn.
On northern coasts of the middle Dalmatian islands shoals with smaller specimens are
common by autumn. Shoals with greater specimens station on the southern coasts.
Salema is not an appreciated fish, so many experienced spearfishers do not show
interest in hunting it with ambush technique. Salerma is easily caught using ambush.
Especially if hunted in the waters of north and south-east coast of Mljet, in the waters of the
Lastovo island, or some open sea destinations it is a shame to miss the opportunity for a
delicious lunch. The taste of salema meat depends on its nutrition, which depends on the
undersea flora in the area where the shoal stations. Salema can be found in the covered areas
of the seabed. First reaction at a presence of a spearfisher is to escape. Spotted shoal should be
followed at safe distance. After several false ambushes outside the range, the shoal will get
accustomed to the hunter. It is then necessary to combine Indian hunting with short false
ambushes. The main ambush is set behind a larger shelter. Several specimens from the shoal
will curiously approach the completely covered hunter. The first approaching from the group
should be aimed at. Speared fish should be immediately drawn with the shaft to the shelter.
After that, the hunter draws in the opposite direction and dives out. If none of the fish
responds to a hidden hunter in ambush, the rest of the shoal probably did not sense the hunter.
In such situation, by gradually peeking out of the shelter with a part of the head, also taking
into account that there should no air bulbs released from the snorkel, the attention of the fish
should be attracted. Once the group of salemas heads toward the hunter, the hunter should
completely crawl back into the shelter and aim the first one that shows itself sideways. After
each speared salema hunter should retreat from the shoal. Only when it is evident from
distance that the shoal is calm again, the hunter can continue with the procedure. With this
technique a large number of specimens from a shoal can be caught. salema is most easily
caught with the shallow sneaking technique. Such a hunt will be more successful after the
ambush technique is mastered for this fish.
4.8.8. Sheepshead bream, Two-banded bream, White bream
From these three species of fish, ambush technique is most suited for sheepshead
bream. A sheepshead bream is a common fish that can be equally found in closed channels as
well as on protruding edges of the islands. Greater specimens may reach the length of 50
centimetres and weight no more than 2 kilos, at least nowadays it is not that common. Along
the coasts of deserted islands it is possible to find specimens that weigh a kilo. Big
sheepshead bream station mostly around the undersea of shallow waters in inner channels.
They can be located even along mildly set capes, and they are common outside river estuaries
where there are strong water currents. A larger sheepshead bream that weighs half a kilo or
more will easily thrash itself free and escape if it is not speared in the head, or the central part
of the body.
Larger specimens of the sheepshead bream are hunted using ambush in the afternoon
near all unregulated beaches where they are attracted to the food waste discarded by the
swimmers. Good ambush positions for the larger specimens are protruding rocks in the
shallow waters. Ambushes are performed continually. The hunter takes a position in the open
sea direction towards the selected rock. Where larger single specimens of sheepshead bream
are spotted, a good hiding place should be searched for. The hunter takes a position in the
hiding place in a way that fish could notice that. The hunter should be completely covered in
the hiding place and sheepshead bream will come closer. Peeking out of the hiding place
should only be performed sideways, along the sea bottom. Once sheepshead bream comes
close enough, the shot should be done quickly. If there are several sheepshead bream at the
position, performing this kind of ambush several pieces of fish can be caught. A sheepshead
bream tends to approach to a completely covered hunter even in shallower waters. Therefore,
for a sheepshead bream the cover of the hunter is more important for than the depth on which
ambush is performed,
Two-banded bream is an easier prey to hunt than a sheepshead bream using ambush. It
will approach even to a revealed hunter in ambush Smaller specimens are found in shoals all
around the Adriatic. In spring and early summer along the undersea walls shoals usually
station in the shadows of larger undersea reefs. In autumn two-banded breams more
commonly swim in the areas of rocky-sandy bottoms. All types of seabed are suitable for a
two-banded breams. It may reach the length of 45 centimetres and weight of 1.5 kilos. It is
useful to follow two-banded breams along the undersea walls as it will serve as a guide
towards the greater depths where there are brown meagres, white breams and groupers. On
sandy bottoms, at fifteen metres of depth, smaller specimens of two-banded breams can
sometimes lead the hunter to the larger specimens of red mullets.
Outwitting is necessary only with larger specimens. Such encounter is possible in the
waters of offshore islands. They appear occasionally together with black breams in the blue.
At the presence of the hunter, they change their position. Shoals of large two-banded breams
in the Adriatic are rare nowadays, however, several larger specimens can be found near
scattered shoals of black breams. A large two-banded bream in such positions, unlike black
bream, tends to stay close to the sea bottom. To perform an ambush, the hunter should make a
dive away from the fish position, and then crawl along the bottom to the shelter. The hunter
should peek from the shelter until the fish comes at gun range. Sometimes it is necessary to do
a couple of ambushes. To catch a two-banded bream that weighs a kilo is a really special
memory. In the waters of Jabuka it is possible to catch largest specimens in the Adriatic.
If a group of large two-banded breams swims away when the hunter dives down, and
hides under a larger rock at depth of 20 metres of more, ambush is not performed. A direct
dive toward the temporary shelter is performed. It is better not to aim at a single specimen
which has not yet escaped, but to aim at a fish in the hiding place. At the next dive toward the
same position there will be no fish under the rock. The dive in this situation should be
performed immediately and if possible aim at two specimens which are one behind the other.
White bream may reach the length of 47 centimetres and weight of 2.5 kilos.
Numerous shoals of large white breams used to inhabit the Adriatic. Due to overfishing using
nets the fish became exhausted. The remaining white breams in the Adriatic retain in all types
sea bottoms. They adapt their behaviour to the environment, so that they will not always
approach to ambush. Dense white bream habitats are nowadays located along the north and
south coasts of Mljet, in the waters outside of the Lastovo and Kornati archipelago. White
bream is spawning in spring. After spawning, larger specimens station in shallow waters. In
such positions it is possible to hunt with either ambush or sneaking technique. If white bream
does not respond to ambush, and swims away from the hunter, it should be followed to the
hiding place. When a white bream hiding place is spotted, ambushes are performed in
continuity. It is best to hunt a white bream when the sea is clear, in light wind from third and
fourth quadrant. Stronger sea current along the sea bottom and greater temperature differences
between the bottom and the surface do not promise a good white bream catch. In such
conditions, when the temperature at the bottom is significantly lower, white breams swim in
higher, warmer layers of the sea. White breams swim freely there and do not show interest to
approach ambush. There are several locations in the Adriatic where white breams can be
caught with ambush even in blurry sea. These are most commonly capes on north parts of
middle Adriatic islands in narrow coastal channels. In such positions hunter should aim at
white breams at a greater distance, right at the blurry silhouette. Larger specimens can also be
located.
A white bream can be caught successfully with ambush even after the bad weather,
when south winds make strong waves for several days. Larger specimens then seek the food
along the coast and retain there until the weather calms down, and then go back into the deep.
When performing ambush, only smaller specimens of white breams approach at first.
Larger specimens are more careful and stay at a safe distance. False ambushes are performed
with smaller specimens in order for the larger white breams to get accustomed to the presence
of the hunter. If smaller specimens are short, larger ones will immediately escape from that
position. False ambushes are performed at a greater distance from the position of the larger
specimens. With every next ambush the hunter approaches to the position of larger specimens.
Ambush is performed in a way that the hunter is completely covered behind the larger rocks.
A larger white bream approaches to the hunter linearly, and heads back after a performed
semicircle. That specimen most likely will not approach again to the hunter in the same
position. That is why the hunter does another ambush behind other shelter for a larger white
bream that has already approached to the hunter. Approaching white bream should be shot in
the moment when it begins to turn sideways.
4.8.9. Dentex
A dentex in the Adriatic may reach the length of 1 meter and weight of 16 kilos. It has
a prolonged, string body and it is firmly built. Using strong fins it can reach a high speed and
pressure. To catch a dentex with ambush, spearguns with several thin elastic springs should be
used to achieve maximum speed of the spear. A dentex skilfully avoids the incoming spear in
a split second. Ambush for dentexes in the Adriatic has the highest number of missed shots. In
the Adriatic it can be found on the rocky bottoms of coastal areas and in the waters of all
offshore islands and rocks. It is very common in the shallow waters, where it seeks the food.
It is rare in the areas where the sea blends with fresh water. It avoids muddy bottoms, as well
as blurry sea area. Most successful ambushes for dentex are performed in the waters of outer
islands and rocks of Šibenik and Zadar archipelago, in wider waters around the islands of Vis,
Lastovo, Mljet, Palagruža, in wider waters of islands in front of Rovinj, and along the south
coasts of Cres. From late spring, after the closed season, till autumn it is possible to catch it
with ambush at 5 to 30 metres of depth. Nowadays in the Adriatic there is a rule: greater depth
– greater the possibility to catch a larger specimen. An ambush for dentex is one of the most
common causes of fatal accidents of spearfishers in the Adriatic. Almost every year some
spearfisher gets hurt while performing an ambush for dentex. There were years when the
number of hurt experienced spearfishers was 5 to 6. The casualties are more common at
greater depths, while performing deep ambush. Nowadays, during the fishing season, shoals
of larger dentexes retain at depths of 25 metres and more due to temperature changes. This
has even increased the risk of spearfishing accidents.
Ambush for a dentex in the Adriatic is performed in a unique way. Dentexes do not
approach the ambush hunter immediately. Because of that ambush demands from a hunter to
spend a longer period under the water. If the fish is shot, it struggles aggressively so the
hunter can forget how much time is left before it is necessary to come up to the surface. All
the movements during the dive, stay at the bottom, and in the course of coming up to the
surface should be steady and quiet. In such way, the shoal of dentexes will not be disturbed.
An ambush for dentex is performed in a way that the hunter should be completely covered.
All the details, from the choice of equipment to the choice of the hiding place should be taken
care of. Badly speared dentex will free itself. After such an event, for the next couple of days,
weeks and sometimes even months, dentexes will not approach the ambush hunter at that
position. Diving mask with a wide field of view, but low volume for the pressure is
recommended, since this ambush is most commonly performed at greater depths. The lens
should be dark, or have anti-reflective coating. Snorkel should be taken off and put under the
belt in the course of the dive. The dentex responds even at sudden air bulb from the snorkel by
swimming away. Lead weight should ensure the neutral buoyancy on 10 meter depths. It is
practical to get rid of the additional belt hooked to signal buoy which marks aspetto zone.
Carbone blade fins are recommended. It is useful to put an elastic camouflage coating for
carbon on the blades of the fins. Coated blades of the fins are less damaged in contact with the
rocks, and the sounds that scare dentex away are muffled.
Ambush position for a dentex is selected according to the sea currents and the sea
temperature. In summer, dentexes tend to swim in warmer sea, with temperatures from 22 to
26 degrees Celsius. In the places where the sea temperature oscillates in different layers,
ambush technique will not be successful. If at the bottom the sea temperature is lower than 20
degrees, dentex will retain in higher, warmer layers. If the warm sea layer is high, dentex will
not descent below. A dentex swims against the sea current so that it can control more
efficiently the distance from the prey – a fish it is chasing. For a hunter, it is very problematic
when in certain positions opposite sea currents appear – one along the sea bottom, and the
other one in higher layers of the sea. In such position sea temperature is different in different
layers of the sea. Sea current reduces transparency, and it is more difficult for the hunter to
take a position in the hiding place. Shoal of dentexes in such positions will respond by
approaching to the ambush hunter in the period of the day when upper and lower sea currents
are not in the opposite directions. Dentexes do not like strong sea currents, but then they come
closer to the ambush hunter. In the positions with stronger sea currents the catch of a dentex is
possible even from a hiding place where a hunter is not completely covered.
Dentexes often approach to the ambush hunter from different directions. The most
favourable ambush hunting conditions are days with no wind or waves. The dentexes are then
calmer and slowly approach to the hunter from all directions. In rough sea the shoal is
scattered, and they approach to the hunter unevenly and from different directions. Their
motion is more nervous, and they are harder to catch.
Successful days for catching a dentex with ambush are those when the weather
changes. However, when the thunder starts and rain begins to fall, dentexes head deeper. A
favourable transparency to catch dentex with ambush is at fifteen meters of depth. In periods
of high transparency aspetto should be combined with sneaking. When the transparency is
low, dentexes approach suddenly and quickly head away from the ambush hunter. When
ambush is performed in seagrass, the hunter needs to take into account that by moving sea
grass his position is not revealed. Dentexes are disturbed by that so they will not approach to
the hunter.
The spear aimed at a dentex is shot at the moment when the fish begins to rotate. The
hunter needs to quickly draw the speared fish to the hiding place and then come out on the
surface in the opposite direction from the position where all other fish are.
When the sea current along the sea bottom is strong, thin rubber springs on a speargun
should be avoids because they create vibrations and a sound that scares the fish, so they do
not approach.
By the movements of pectoral fins it is possible to determine whether the fish will
approach to the ambush hunter or not. When the movements of a dentex pectoral fins are
uneven and accelerated, the dentex will not approach. Dentex will not approach when there
are fish with dark wide horizontal stripes on their body in the middle of the shoal. These and
some other signs are a signal that the ambush for dentex is pointless.
4.9. Blue water hunting
Blue water hunting has been practiced in the Adriatic for the last fifteen years, so that
the fish has not got accustomed yet to this method, and there is no catch. Considering that the
catch has become more modest using standard techniques, there is an increasing number of
spearfishers who practice this particular technique. Blue water hunting is an adrenaline
challenge since it is not very pleasant to float in the blue, or at ten metres of more of depth
under the surface of the sea, while there is still fifty metres or more of blue water underneath
the hunter. The method in the Adriatic is practised high above sea reefs which can by located
by a sea gauge. However, not even this method will ensure a catch. If a fish approaches, it is
always a larger specimen.
Sometimes the catch will be made with the help of a sea gauge that can locate the fish
at these positions. However, it is not the rule that the fish that was spottet on the sea gauge
will always swim up to the position where blue water hunting is performed. Regardless of the
general impression, this method is not as risky as deep blue water hunting, or deep Indian
hunting. There are some risks, but there were no accidents in the Adriatic when this method
was practiced. A companion on the boat nearby is the best safety guarantee. It is possible to
encounter a shark (blue shark, thresher shark), but it is most likely that the shark will
immediately turn and swim away from the hunter. Great sharks in the Adriatic are a protected
species, therefore they should not be hunted. The efficiency of blue water hunting in the
Adriatic was demonstrated at some official competitions. Frane Zanki, a longtime
representative won first place at the Croatian national championship in 1995 by practising
exclusively this method and catching several large Atlantic bonitos.
4.9.1. How to perform blue water hunting
Positions for blue water hunting can be found in the waters of offshore islands, as well
as in all channels between the islands along the entire Adriatic. Sea gauge is used to search
the seabed and where there are some elevations on the bottom, luck can be tested. At a
selected location a spearfisher dives into the sea at depth of 10 – 20 metres below the surface
taking a horizontal position. Distance from the bottom for the blue water hunting position is
selected at the minimum proportion 1:2, or even on some positions 1:3. The hunter should be
completely still, in horizontal position, expecting a possible arrival of prey. In stable weather
conditions, when the sea is not particularly rough, there are some other indicators of a good
position, especially in autumn. In that period large predators often chase shoals of blue fish.
In the areas where some smaller fish jumping out of the water are spotted, it is likely that
there are Atlantic bonitos, amberjacks, European barracudas, barracudas and others. Blue
water hunting for Atlantic bonitos is a unique challenge, because very often, there is another,
larger fish in the background.
If there are no surface signals about the possible presence of a larger fish, the position
is selected entirely based on the relief of the seabed, using sea gauge. The positions in which
it is possible to attract a larger fish are most commonly found in deeper undersea shallow
waters, in the places where the underwater cliff faces descend steeply into the blue. The catch
is also possible in all places where there are protruding capes, where the seabed steeply
plunges the underwater cliff faces. Some good positions can be located on the outer ends of
larger bays and gulfs, in the waters of forty and more metres of depth. More good positions
can be found in the sea channels, couple of miles of distance from the south coasts of island.
When performing blue water hunting it is recommended that there is a boat with a
companion nearby. It is also recommended that the blue water hunting is performed in pair.
While one hunter is at down at the bottom, the other one is on the surface. Blue water hunting
should be performed by turns. The risk of panic attack is diminished since the hunter is aware
that the companion is nearby. The hunter is calmer, the oxygen is consumed more slowly, the
concentration is better, so the dives are longer. The attention of several fish species can be
drawn in a way that the companion makes a couple of circles with the boat around the hunter
in sea. This can attract amberjacks, but Atlantic bonitos, European barracudas and barracudas
normally swim away.
INSERT TO A PARAGHRAPH ON THE PAGE
When it was still legal to hunt around Lastovo (nowadays it a Nature park Lastovo
archipelago), I used to try my luck in autumn with blue water hunting. I was attracted by the
locations outside Lastovnjaci and Vrhovnjaci, groups of small islands and reefs east of
Lastovo. There is a lot of shallow waters there. Shallow waters over the larger underwater
boulders are a good choice for blue water hunting. These waters used to be rich in white
breams, dentexes, red scorpionfish and other fish. After the declaration of Nature park,
fishing licence was given only to the local residents who put fishing nets all around the area
so that fish swims in the open sea nowadays.
That afternoon, in autumn of 2009, because of many fishing nets in the sea at positions
near reefs and smaller island I encountered occasionally a two-banded bream, a sheepshead
bream or moray eel. After the hopeless search of well-known underwater cracks I decided to
do blue water hunting, I practice that technique when I cannot find fish along the coast.
Regardless of the hunting outcome, I am attracted to the adrenaline and excitement while
drifting in the blue. There is always a chance of encountering a larger fish. Recalling
legendary Frane Zanki, who gave me some advice on how to do this method, I reminded
myself of the most important details. I anchored dinghy near a reef, and swam two hundred
metres below an underwater cliff. I performed blue water hunting at equal time intervals. I
rested on the surface in intervals of 5 minutes. My dive lasted for 2 minutes, ten metres under
the surface. I set my body at 45 degree angle to the sea current direction. The time passed by,
but there were no fish in the blue…
After approximately ten performed ambushes I changed my position by swimming two
hundred metres more towards the open sea. Once more I dived to the ambush, descending
couple of metres deeper since the sea bottom there was at much greater depth. First minute
was passing by, when I instinctively turned. I was upset by that feeling, because a month
earlier when I had that feeling while I was blue water hunting around the reef of Jabuka, I
saw a shark silhouette. It was swimming away from me. After such an encounter you lose a
desire to continue with the hunt. But this time I saw a large amberjack right in front of me
which was carefully approaching from the blue a few metres below me. A recognizable large
head and a high dorsal fin are an experience you never forget. I became completely still and
drew speargun with three circular rubber springs to my body so that my silhouette would be
as small as possible. Amberjack kept approaching, but not linearly. It moved away, like it
wanted to observe the unknown object better. I slowly turned in a direction in which I could
aim at the approaching fish. Right in the moment when I speared I estimated that the
amberjack could be at metres length from me. I aimed at the head, the brain, right behind the
eyes of the fish. Seven millimetre diameter spear pierced the target accurately. In that moment
I was surprised how the spear did not pierce through the whole head of the big fish. Three
elastic springs had the diameter of 18 millimetres.
After releasing the line out of reel I headed for the surface. While I was going up I
observed the speared fish. The speared fish inclined its big head down towards the bottom. I
hoped that the shot in the brain had paralyzed it. When I came up to the surface, a strong
twitch of the fish woke me up from that thought. It was much heavier than I thought.
Amberjack scooted out pulling the reel line. It headed towards the open sea. I came up to the
surface near the buoy and I hooked the speargun to a firm nylon rope and slowly tightened
the reel. Now the amberjack felt a greater resistance in pulling the reel line. I slowly loosened
the nylon rope which held the speargun hooked to the buoy. I started swimming backwards
toward the closest reef. It seemed so far away. I was watching the whole time the struggle of
the fish which was trying to free itself from the spear. It was now fifty metres away from me.
The amberjack was swimming a few metres below the surface towards the bottom, and then
again towards the surface. Minutes were passing slowly as I was swimming toward the reef.
When I would feel that the amberjack was pulling I would loosen the line, when the amberjack
was loosening, I would pull the line. I was pulling the fish towards me with controlled
movements, without twitches. As I was observing the large fish I was thinking about what
would happen if it managed to free itself. Broken spear, broken notches… nylon rig, metal
sleeves… Swimming and struggling with the fish lasted for almost half an hour. Finally I
crawled to the nearest reef. I was exhausted, but the amberjack was tired too. I drew it
towards the shallow waters near the reef. I embraced it with my arm and stuck the knife in the
top of its head, right above the eyes. After I hit the knife handle, it completely pierced into its
head. The amberjack was finally calm. I continued to swim until I reached the dinghy. When I
climbed on the dinghy I pulled the fish out on the small platform next to the engine. The
amberjack was heavier than twenty kilos. I was completely exhausted. When I returned on
Lastovo, weigh scale showed 39.7 kilos. Out in the blue I completely misjudged the distance
from the fish, which seemed smaller to me, so that in the moment of the hit, the amberjack was
at a distance of a few meters more than I thought. That is why the spear did not completely
pierced the head of the fish…
4.9.2. Practical advice for blue water hunting
With blue water hunting there is an opportunity to catch larger fish that weigh even more than
ten kilos. Because of that opportunity it is important to take care of the security aspects and
suitability of the equipment in use. The use of signal diving buoy creates not only a sense of
security, but also a positive psychological effect on the spearfisher and on the companion on
dinghy. This technique is performed at 5 to 15 metres depths below the surface so that a
thicker nylon should be used for the buoy rig, instead of regular line. The fish may take the
line as a warning and danger, so it will not come close enough. Lead weight should ensure the
hunter to maintain the balance at a chosen depth without any additional motion. Because of
this, it is recommended to perform blue water hunting at the same depth. A fundamental
requirement for the fish to appear an approach is that the hunter performs the blue water
hunting completely motionless. A practical solution is to use positive buoyancy of the signal
buoy. The length of thy nylon rig is adjusted to the depth of the performed blue water hunting.
Performing this type of blue water hunting (using positive buoyancy of the buoy) is not
recommended on sunny days. In cloudy weather the fish will not be able to spot the stretched
nylon.
It is practical to use lead weight on ankles, so that while doing aspetto in blue water
the legs would not lift toward the surface. Diving suits with blue shade camouflage pattern are
recommended. Diving suits with different top and bottom colours are also practical. When
performing blue water hunting it is recommended to combine colours and shades which will
break the unity of the spearfisher figure. In blue water hunting fish comes closer to a
fragmented figure of a spearfisher. A compact monochrome silhouette of the hunter with its
size warns the fish to be careful. A hunter in a uniform diving suit at blue water hunting in the
Adriatic is rarely approached by a European barracuda and Atlantic bonito at the same
distance as a large amberjack and barracuda approach. The distance at which the fish will
approach to the hunter depends on its sense of supremacy towards an unknown subject.
When blue water hunting, the largest and strongest spearguns are used. The catch will
depend on the power of spear ejection and the power of piercing through the body of the fish.
Either the largest strong compressed air guns or long spearguns with more elastic springs with
a smaller diameter are used. The elastic springs with a smaller diameter enable greater
acceleration of the spear, which is important since in the Adriatic it is most common to
encounter an Atlantic bonito. When using multiple elastic springs with a smaller diameter the
position of the hunter in regards to sea current should be taken into account in order to reduce
the sound vibrations of the springs. Spears used for this method should be those with a
maximum recommended diameter for the chosen speargun model. A larger diameter harpoon
with solid double notches is useful. Out in the blue, there is no orientation point, so the
distance to the fish can often deceive. Because of that, missed shot is very common for the
unexperienced spearfishers. The fish is in the range when its body stripes are clearly visible
and different shades on its body are recognisable. A special attention should be dedicated to
the selection of the reel.
Special reels with re-enforced aluminium along with a minimum of fifty metres of
special sturdy line of high tolerance of stretching under tension are recommended. The reel
should be additionally secured by metal clamps along the barrel tube. Even the spare reel
attached to the belt could serve. When a larger fish is shot, weighing tens of kilos, the
speargun is hooked to this reel, and the belt attached to buoy is taken off. Then the companion
in dinghy begins to chase the speared fish (by following the buoy).
Masks with wide field of view are practical because the hunter at blue water hunting
should observe a wider area. Anti-reflecting lens will prevent that sclera movements warn the
fish . Large predators in the Adriatic can recognise the level of self-confidence by sclera
movements of the hunter. A self-confident hunter is perceived as a possible threat to fish
which is why it will not approach.
When performing blue water hunting, only the fins with carbon blades are
recommended. In some situations only with the help of the pressure power of such fins the
hunter can reach the fish that has already slipped away at gun range. Very often the prey is
aimed at the distance larger than 4 metres. With blue water hunting amberjacks, Atlantic
bonitos, bullet tunas, common dolphinfish, European barracudas, barracudas and other large
sea predators are hunted. Depending on the size of the approaching fish, following risks
should be taken into consideration:
1. Broken spear (use top quality spears – not a notched shaft);
2. Ripped rig (use sturdy lines and high quality sleeves);
3. Breaking or tearing the reel off of the speargun (use high quality reels with additional
security clamps);
4. Line stuck in the reel (it is necessary to always spool neatly the reel with a line before
spearfishing);
5. Speargun ripped out of the spearfisher’s hand (safety reel of a speargun is to be tied to the
belt, and belt to the bouy);
6. Spearfisher drowning (it is not a tragedy if a fish or a speargun is lost, but it is a tragedy of
the spearfisher allows the fish to pull him too deep…).
There are some other unwanted scenarios after a larger fish is shot which can
indirectly result in one of the stated accidents (line tangling around legs and arms of a
spearhunter and similar). A large fish, after it has been shot, pulls with a great strength and
can sometimes drag the hunter below surface. There is a risk of physical colliding with a
speared fish with a sharp spear tip peeking out of its body. The force of the impact may result
in rib injury, shock, fainting and other consequences. Because of all these risks at blue water
hunting the hunter should be prepared for losing the prey and equipment.
Endurance of all spear and speargun rigs should be adapted to the strength of the fish
weighing more than thirty kilos. Each time before going blue water hunting, the hunter should
unwind the reel line, and neatly wind it back on to the reel. Reel drag is set in the position that
allows gradual unwinding of the line. Fast line unwinding often results in tangling. If that
occurs, it is possible that the fish rips the speargun out of the hunter’s hand. With a quick
reaction of the speared fish the line is soon untangled. It is important that the hunter has
enough time to safely come out to the surface, while the line is being untangled. On the
surface, the hunter should utilize safety reel (if it is being used) and buoy. Unwinding the line
from the reel should be controlled (releasing) to reduce the risk of tangling.
It is very dangerous to struggle with a fish in the sea. As soon as the fish is speared,
the hunter should head towards the surface and continue the struggle there. As a cause of
physical strains of the hunter, the air in the lungs is consumed rapidly, so the risks of passing
and drowning are a reality. There were cases where the large speared fish dragged the hunter
on and below surface with a tangled line of the reel. In rare cases the fish was overcome, the
loss of fish and parts of equipment was more common. While struggling with a fish, the
hunter should be prepared for sudden twitches of the speared fish that can rip the speargun out
of the hand.
4.10. Conclusions on blue water hunting
In order for blue water hunting to be successful, some ground rules should be
followed, regardless of the type of fish:

Spear tip should be sharpened, and the thickness and the rig of the spear are to be
secured so that the speared fish does not free itself;

Dives should be done calmly, along sea current, and speargun should be held close to
the body while diving in;

Hiding place is selected based on the type of the fish that is being hunted;

If several fish from a shoal approach to the hunter, the closest one should be shot first;

A pressure equalization for the deep blue water hunting is performed in a constant
rhythm while descending;

If a spotted fish does not approach to the hunter at ambush, above mentioned tricks to
attract the attention of the fish are used;

Fins and the lower part of the body should be tucked into a hiding place. If the fins are
not in the crack, they should be firmly placed at the bottom, without lifting;

The last phase of heading toward the hiding place is performed by dead-still
descending, and the contact with the sea bottom should be muffled;

Legs are kept together during the dive and at the sea bottom, not spread;

Blue water hunting position is selected depending on the possible hiding place and the
vicinity of a spotted fish;

Spear is released at the moment when the approaching fish begins to turn;

If the fish is moving quickly while approaching, it is aimed at along with overtaking;

The hunter in ambush heads for the surface opposite to the position where the spotted
fish station;

Good blue water hunting periods in the Adriatic are at dawn and in the afternoon;

Blue water hunting position is selected depending on the direction of the arrival of the
spotted fish;

Blue water hunting is performed at a distance where hunter does not disturb the
spotted fish;

In the hunting areas all the positions where the hunting resulted in a catch, with blue
water hunting the hunter should always look up those positions once more;

New blue water hunting positions should primarily be sought in areas where the
spearfishing is not common, where there are no boats, and where the fish is not
expected to be found by the cause of relief of the sea bottom (larger areas covered in
Mediterranean tapeweed and similar);

Not give up and change the position if the fish does not appear during the first couple
of blue water huntings;

When blue water hunting the head is leaned forward, in the direction of the bottom,
and the approaching fish is followed by peripheral vision- fish is not to be looked in
the eyes while approaching.
5. FREE FALLING SPEARFISHING
5.1. General notes on free falling spearfishing
This is one of the oldest spearfishing techniques in the east Adriatic. Larger fish
specimens used to be caught using this technique. It is practical to use along steep underwater
cliff faces, where the fish does not hide in the cracks, or does not approach to the ambush. In
the waters of east Adriatic it is recommended in the areas with rare boat traffic. These dives
last longer, coming out on the surface is not linear, and there is always a risk of boating
accident, despite the signal buoy. In the Adriatic this technique was developed in reef areas
where the fish stationed deeper. In the middle of 20th century along the underwater cliff faces
in the Adriatic groupers swam there, as well as shoals of large white breams and two-banded
breams. By the beginning of the ‘80s fish in these areas slowly started to stay away from the
silhouette of a diver. However, the catch was not simple with the equipment back then.
Successful spearfishers were those who could dive deeper and stay longer under water.
Nowadays, the fish in the Adriatic acts differently, it is more difficult to spot, and
quickly escapes at the silhouette of a diving hunter. The dives are performed more cautiously
and thedescend is slower until the fish comes at range. The fish should be shot at extreme
range of a speargun, so for this technique longest spearguns (longer than 100 cm) should be
used. Positions for free falling spearfishing are found outside island boarders, where the fish
is not disturbed. For a spearfisher beginner this technique is practical while swimming over
the deeper hunting zones, when the fish is spotted along the edges of underwater cliff faces.
The spear is shot at the fish at depth where the fish slows down its motion toward the bottom.
At that depth the fish does not feel the immediate danger, and its motion is calmer and linear.
Depending on the depth of the hunting position and the type of fish, a beginner can try his
luck even at ten metres of depth. Attention should always be paid to the depth, so that while
trying to get the fish at gun range, the spearfisher does not dive too deep. Tracking the depth
at free falling is one of the basic security rules.
In areas with larger boulders and cracks free falling spearfishing along with ambush
and Indian hunting is practiced successfully. A proper free falling spearfishing is performed at
greater depths, and depth limits are determined by psychophysical abilities of a spearfisher.
The extreme tactics of this spearfishing technique is free falling at the shallow waters
boarders. This tactics is practised by a small number of physically good prepared spearfishers,
mostly at the outer positions of the mid and south Adriatic. At some positions, the catch is
made at forty metres of depth, which is most commonly a larger grouper or red scorpionfish.
Combinations of free falling spearfishing with deep Indian hunting, or deep ambush are
effective. These combinations are to be used only by a few exceptionally physically prepared
individuals. Combining free falling and digging spearfishing is also interesting. Combining
mentioned techniques with free falling presupposes a long-time successful performance of
these techniques separately.
5.2. How to successfully catch a fish by free falling?
The technique is practiced in the positions where the fish rapidly escapes from the
silhouette of a spearfisher. If one or more eagle rays are spotted at the hunting position, the
fish will be very disturbed and hard to get at gun range. A successful free falling spearfishing
prerequisite is a crystal clear sea. Free falling in the conditions of reduced visibility (blurry
sea due to algal blossoms) is not successful because the fish is spotted too late and it becomes
difficult to follow. In blurry sea the fish senses the vibrations of a free falling spearfisher
before it can see him. The unknown vibrations scare it away.
When the sea visibility is good, the fish can see the source of the vibrations. The
curiousness of the fish allows the hunter to approach at gun range.
By free falling in the Adriatic at the locations with diverse underwater flora it is
possible to hunt different types of fish. Using this technique in the Adriatic it is possible to
catch a black bream, sheepshead bream, brown meagre, brown wrasse, white bream, and in
the open sea a grouper, red scorpionfish, two-banded bream, and larger specimens of red
mullets, and sea predators. In rare occasions it is possible to catch dentex and European
seabass, and rarely gilthead bream. Combining free falling and blue water hunting is practiced
when trying to catch amberjack, and rarely Atlantic bonito and European barracuda when they
do not approach at gun range to the ambush.
Spearfisher’s motion while free falling should be coordinated and slow. The dive
should be performed quietly. With such a dive the fish will not get nervous. If the beginning
of the dive is performed without fish acting nervously, it will probably be possible to
approach it at gun range. If the spotted fish made a reaction at the beginning of the dive, free
falling should be accelerated as coming closer to the fish heading for the blue. If the distance
between the hunter and the fish increases, it is recommended to direct attention to some other
spotted fish in the vicinity.
It is very useful to determine typical reactions of the hunted fish. The speed of free
increases during the dive, but the hunter still needs to keep track of coordination of body
movements and extremities. The diver should be focused on the power of the pressure using
fins. It is practical to do a dead-still free fall, if the free falling is done with heavier lead
weight. The dives with a greater lead weight (extremely negative buoyancy at 5 metres of
depth) in dead-still free falls will enable the hunter to approach the fish at gun range more
quickly. Greater acceleration than normal will often take the hunter deeper than planned.
Because of that this type of free falling is very risky. If performed, the rule is that when
reaching the negative buoyancy zone body movements are to be reduced to a minimum and
that the hunter constantly keeps track of the depth. Slowing down the free falling is done by
gradually opening of the legs during which the fin blades are set in the position parallel to the
sea bottom. Fins set in such position create additional resistance and slow down the speed of
free falling. If the use of heavier lead weight is necessary (for the faster free falling when the
fish is more nervous) it is recommended to take off the lead weight belt tied to signal buoy at
depth of approximately twenty metres. This modification of the free falling technique in areas
where there is boat traffic is risky, because the hunter comes out on the surface further away
from the buoy tied to the lead weight belt.
During the free falling all the movements are done with the whole body, not just
extremities. The neck holds the head tight. If the lenses on a diving mask are not covered with
a protective layer, it is recommended to partially close eye lids. Sclera movements can upset
the fish. During free falling speargun is held close to the body, and slowly directed in front, to
aim at the fleeing fish.
Occasionally, depending on the temperature of the layers of the sea in the Adriatic, the
fish will retain more in the upper layers of the sea. Independent of the depth of the fish, free
falling should always be performed linearly above the fish. It is not recommended to approach
it sideways. In the first phase of free falling while the hunter is chasing the fish very often the
fish will remain completely turned showing only its tail up the fifteen metres of depth. When
making a shot the underwater principles of gravity should be taken into consideration. Target
point should be placed in the central dorsal area of the fish. So that the possible movements of
the fish to the approaching spear are compensated with the effect of the force of gravity. If the
speargun is equipped with a heavier and longer spear, the rule is to aim at the centre of the
visible surface of the fish. Not following this rule very often results in overshooting the target.
The force of gravity additionally increases the penetrability of the spear and the extreme gun
range. Spear tip used in free falling spearfishing always has to be maximally sharpened. By
sharpening the tip, it is reduced to a fraction of a millimetre. A spear sharpened in this way is
not recommended for other spearfishing techniques, because the tip distorts even at a milder
contact with the rocks. However, in free falling the collision of a spear and a rock is very rare.
If the spear tip is not maximally sharp, very often the spear will slide along the body of
the fish. This is common with all the fish with hard skin, like black bream, which is most
hunted in the Adriatic by free falling. Different fish act differently toward the free falling
spearhunter.
White bream which is calm at the beginning suddenly starts moving nervously,
changing the direction of the escape. Changes in the motion will be preceded by nervous
movements of the fish and visible fin shifts. In this moment the shot should be made,
regardless of how the fish is turned in relation to the hunter. Already in the next moment
catching that white bream will depend on pure luck. Black bream escapes linearly, and the
moment when to trigger the gun should be left when the fish is found at depth of fifteen
metres or more. At that depth it allows the hunter to approach at smaller distance. A large
two-banded bream acts similarly, but its motion is faster, and the depth where it allows the
hunter to approach closer is greater. A brown mearge is very slow and because of that an easy
prey at depth of fifteen metres. When free falling on a gilthead bream which it the Adriatic
generally escapes parallel to the sea bottom it is necessary to aim at it while overtaking. If a
grouper is spotted above the bottom, the probability to reach it at gun range is higher if free
falling is not done linearly. A grouper should make an impression that the hunter is focused
on something else on the sea bottom. The hunter should know when to make a sudden
movement to speed up the progression toward the grouper, which has already headed for the
deep. In conditions of restricted visibility, as well as in the second phase of free falling at
greater depths, it is useful to make soft body rotations as to ensure a wider view of the
environment. While doing such movements, a safer angle for successfully aiming at the
fleeing fish can be ensured. If during free falling it is possible to cut in the direction of the
movement of the fish, the hunter should take advantage of that. Especially when gilthead
bream is involved, and in some rare situations where a dentex can be surprised and reached at
gun range when free falling. By cutting in the direction of movement of the fish, the target
will sometimes position itself laterally, so that with overtaking along the direction of
movement of the fish, and adjusted speed, the shot is more likely to be successful.
Presijecanjem pravca kretanja ribe cilj će se ponekad postaviti i bokom, pa je uz
pretjecanje po pravcu kretanja ribe, prilagođeno brzini, i pogodak izgledniji.
5.3. The performance of free falling spearfishing
By free falling it is easier to reach greater hunting depths than by other techniques. In
the locations convenient for free falling – along cliff faces and boarders of shallow waters and
similar the catch is larger. However, that does not mean that the fish is easily caught by free
falling. To successfully master this technique, it is necessary to perfect spearfisher’s motion
on the surface, practice peripheral observation of the seabed, as well as activities of the dive –
slowing down, making a stop, aiming and coming out on the surface. Spearfisher’s motion on
the surface is performed with minimal movements. Arm and speargun are held close to body,
and movements on the surface are made by short shifts of upper leg. Legs are held closed,
without spreading in the knee area. While swimming, a slow relaxing breathing rhythm is
kept. Fin blades are to be kept constantly under the sea surface. When the hunter spots a
potential prey underneath, a stop is made without body spasms. All the movements cease and
the hunter gives himself up to inertia, until the body stops… When the hunter is calm on the
surface, by softly turning the hips the dive down is performed. If the spotted fish is deeper
than 8 metres, experiences of spearfishers in the Adriatic propound a linear dive toward the
selected target. There are exceptions, grouper, for example. Free falling on a grouper in the
first phase is performed by deviating from the linear direction. When free falling on gilthead
bream, the dive is performed by deviating in order to overtake current position of the fish.
In the second phase of free falling the speed of the motion is higher. The power of
pressure is determined based on choice of keeping or taking off the lead weigh belt. If the
acceleration disturbs the aiming, fin blades are momentarily set in a position horizontal to the
sea surface. Leg spasms slow the speed of moving ahead so that the hunter could calmly aim
at the selected fish. As soon as the spear is shot, coming out on the surface should be done,
especially if the hunter is already at depth of twenty metres or more. If the fish was not hit
well (central part of the body – spine), the hunter should slowly come out on the surface,
pulling the speared fish. If the sot was good and there is no danger of fish freeing itself from
the spear, the hunter should come out on the surface linearly. Only on the surface, after calmly
breathing in some air, is when the speared prey should be pulled.
During free falling it is important to harmonize all movements and actions. Like in
ambush, where the spear is shot only when the fish starts to turn sideways, in free falling the
spear is shot when the fish is at acceptable range for a clear shot. This rule is not applied when
the fish is acting nervously (lifting the fins), because it is assumed that the fish will accelerate
motion. The exact warning sign that it is the final time for the shot is when flickering of pelvic
fins and uneven motion is noticed.
A special tactics of the free falling technique is so-called lift dive. It is recommended
to use when diving along the borders of shallow waters. It is performed in pair. Hunter partner
holds hunter diver by his ankles. Hunter partner pushes the body of hunter diver down to the
depth of approximately twenty metres. Hunter diver is completely relaxed in the first phase of
the dive. The diver is now to the partner who pushes him into the deep. The diver slows the
heart rate down and consumes minimum oxygen. At depth of approximately twenty metres
the partner strongly pushes the diver one more time into the deep. At that depth the negative
buoyancy is reached, so the body of the diver descends toward the bottom. In that way diver
reaches the selected position at the sea bottom with minimal air consumption. The hunter
diver seeks for the possible target, shoots the spear at it, takes the lead weight belt off which is
tied to the buoy and begins to come out on the surface. The natural pressure without the lead
ballast lifts the body up to the surface, so the air consumption while going up is lowered. This
tactics enables dives up the forty or more metres of depth to the psychophysically well
prepared spearfishers. However, regardless of how well are the spearfishers prepared, this is
still a very deep dive, and therefore very risky. Before doing the lift dive, the equipment
should be adjusted as optimally as possible. Reel and all rigs are to be checked. Because of
the depth of the dive, every second counts. For safety reasons, the speared fish is always
pulled out after the spearfisher comes out on the surface and breathes in some air.
5.4. Free falling spearfishing equipment
Choice and adequacy of the equipment of free falling equipment determines the
outcome of the performance of the technique. When free falling sudden accelerations and
decelerations are common. The target is shot at extreme gun range. The equipment should
enable the use of all gravity forces, so that these would not become obstacles. The choice of
the speargun is of crucial importance. Emphasized gravity effect when shooting a spear
toward the bottom should be taken into account. The longest massive spearguns are used (for
reduced twitch), as well as spears with a larger diameter and greater weight. A heavier spear
will have a longer range due to inertia and gravity force (shot toward the bottom). The risk of
shortfall of the aimed target is a lot lower in comparison when the spear is shot parallel to the
sea bottom. Range, precision, speed and force of the speargun shot are very important.
Aiming and triggering the spear is often done in the blue. Since there are no other objects in
the vicinity, the range is often very difficult to determine. The target is in general further than
estimated. The longest, powerful spearguns (compressed air guns or those with several elastic
springs) will additionally increase the range, and heavier spears will have a milder deviations
from the target line. A reel with more than 30 metres of sturdy line is mandatory. If there is a
possibility of catching larger fish (10 kilos and more), 50 metres of line is recommended.
Thickness and barrel profile of a speargun are less important since the shot is aimed in
the direction of free falling. Speargun weight is important because of better amortisation when
triggering the gun. A maximum length speargun is selected, taking into account hunter’s
handling skills (depending on the strength and arm span of the individual). Free falling is
performed at greater depths, so it is recommended to use special diving suit with colours
adapted to the environment (blue shades camouflage pattern). Smooth diving suits are more
practical. They require less lead weight, and it is easier to achieve a greater speed while
diving down and up due to a lower surface resistance of the neoprene. Neoprene, out of which
the suit is made, should be of a higher grade. With such a diving suit at greater depths
shrinking of the neoporine does not occur, which makes it difficult to have a contron of the
speed in the final phase of descending. The thickness of the diving suit is adjusted to the
hunting depth and the sea temperature.
For free falling fins with cheaper PVC blades may be used, however the most solid
profile should be chosen. For the safety reasons, in free falling it is recommended to use only
top quality carbon blade fins of a maximum length. High propulsion fins are important for the
faster dive up to the surface, especially when the dive was a few metres deeper than planned.
When accelerating while descending the pressure increases, so it is recommended to use low
volume diving masks. Silicone skirt should be medium solid, with lighter frames. Colour
tinted lenses are recommended, so that the fish is not disturbed by sclera movements of the
approaching hunter. The snorkel should be shorter and stiffer. Such a snorkel creates fewer
vibrations during the dive. It is practical to use two diving lead weight belts, so that the hunter
could always take one off in the second phase of the dive. Pulling out the total lead weight
using a line that ties the belt to the buoy after each dive is very tiring for the spearfisher. That
is why it is recommended to dive in pair, so that the companion can pull out the belt tied to
the buoy.
5.5. Best areas and periods for practicing free falling spearfishing
In the waters of east Adriatic there are locations where it is possible to make a catch by
free falling throughout the whole year. Different species of fish may be found there.
Nevertheless, it is recommended to use this technique in the Adriatic in June, end of August,
September and October. In this period there will be a larger quantity and more diverse species
of fish. Especially attractive locations are those along shallow waters stretching from Sveti
Andija near Dubrovnik, south coasts of Mljet, outer boarders of Lastovo and Palagruža
archipelago, through areas outside offshore island of Brusnik. Svetac, Jabuka all the way to
Blitvenici islands. Some attractive locations may be found in northern parts of the Adriatic, on
north and south-east parts of Prvić island in Senjska vrata passage, along south coasts of
Preumd island and north coasts of Rab island or elsewhere. However, there are a lot of other
free falling locations which may be found by diving along the coasts.
In finding free falling locations an echo sounder is very useful. Sea bottom
configuration is visible on the screen, and fish may also be located. Positions where the sea
bottom plunges steeply into depth are practical for perfecting free falling technique. Beginners
are trained with dives up to ten metres, by performing free falling on sheepshead breams,
smaller specimens of white breams and guilt-head breams. After the training, a spearfisher is
ready to do first free fallings along the cliff faces, and crags near shallow waters. When in
such positions tens of large black breams are spotted in the blue, such experiences are
unforgettable. The best psychophysically prepared spearfishers when doing free falling will
head for the deeper underwater reefs, where it is possible to catch a grouper or a larger red
scorpionfish. In such positions the catch will probably be made because it will be the first
time that a large fish encounters a spearfisher…
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Hunting fish in the seabed of offshore island in the Adriatic in the last thirty years has
provided me with all sorts of experiences. It is very common that a spearfisher, after several
decades of hunting, concludes that he has probably caught all the large fish the sea assigned
him to catch. And then the god of sea plays with him and with a new experience and a catch
leaves the hunter breathless. What is the likeliness of catching a really large fish by
spearfishing in the Adriatic nowadays? Although the sea is impoverished due to overfishing
done by the fleets of fishing boats and trawlers, and even the offshore islands are girded with
kilometres of nets, surprises are possible. They occur to individuals each year.
In 2009, I spent the last week of July on Lastovo. At night dozens of big fishing boats
would use powerful lights to attract the fish around the island. Each boat was equipped by
several dozens of powerful spotlights which could lighten up a football field. Watching that
same scene every night from the window of Strug lighthouse on Lastovo I asked myself if I
would see any fish in the next couple of days.
Those days I would go on spearfishing during afternoon hours. Most of the time alone,
because the disappointed friend, having nothing to shoot at, preferred staying on beach. But
the attractive relief of Lastovo archipelago inside me were always more powerful than the
hunting logistics. Every afternoon I would try my luck on the seabed. The catch was modest.
While I was searching the cracks I would combine different techniques, like ambush,
Indian hunting and digging and would catch only few smaller fish a day. Once common on
the Lastovo seabed, groupers completely retracted from reefs girded with nets of local
fishermen into greater depths. Local fishermen put the nets back into the sea immediately
after pulling them out. Climatic changes increasingly cause flowering of sea, so that the
visibility is low in several moths per year. I would remember with melancholy earlier dives on
Lastovo seabed. an encounter with a fish is becoming less common there. If a lager grouper is
spotted, it flees immediately into the blue.
In the June of 2009, I did not notice any larger groupers. Until Wednesday 24th. That
afternoon at my well-known position of a cliff face I tried my luck by free falling. The top of
the cliff face extends parallel to a steep coast at depth of approximately 15 metres, about 30
metres from the coast. After several futile dives I spotted a grouper silhouette. When it felt my
presence, the grouper headed down the underwater step, about 10 metres deeper. I was
thinking if made sense to chase the silhouette that was slowly getting lost in the blue.
Groupers have changed their behaviour too. Once common position where a grouper was
facing the approaching spearfisher provided an opportunity to make a successful hit while
free falling down the cliff faces. Nowadays a grouper flees instantly, as soon as it seems like
the hunter will have it at gun range.
I decided to chase the grouper and check the efficiency of free falling. Camouflage
pattern of Omer diving suit is adapted to that terrain. I assessed that I could sneak in the gun
range zone. I had the Omer monolithic speargun in my hand, the one with a wooden barrel of
120 centimetres equipped with 3 elastic springs of 18 mm diameter and 7 mm diameter spear.
Three nylon winds may enable this speargun to have a 5 metre range.
My estimation was that the grouper weighted more than 5 kilos. I decided to shoot it at
extreme gun range, so that it would not pull me too deep. It was already too deep. I inhaled
some air and after calmly diving into the sea I was accelerating the pressure at free falling. I
used the camouflage of vertical rock shades. I continued free falling down a steep underwater
cliff face. I noticed that the fish was nervous by motion of its fins. It was about 10 metres
away. I deviated from the linear line along which I was free falling. I stopped by a crack, and
pretended to look for something there. The grouper remained and started to observe me. I
dived toward the next underwater step. The watch was showing 21 metres of depth. Instead of
free falling any further, I started Indian hunting along the edge of the underwater step. The
grouper was underneath the step, maybe 7-8 metres away. I used scattered rocks as hiding
places. Seconds were passing by while I was estimating the distance from the grouper. I did
not peek below the step. If the grouper descended to a deeper step I would not have the
opportunity to shoot. The grouper moved away from the cliff face and positioned itself
parallel to it above the blue. It was hesitant about what to do. By its lifted fins I predicted a
fast escape down the underwater cliff face. With a sudden thrust of the fins I reached it at
extreme gun range, maximally stretched my arm and shot a spear in the direction of the fish.
The spear pierced its back toward the head, coming out below its lower lip. The grouper
violently pulled the spear and then I realised that it weighted more than I originally
estimated. It nearly pulled the speargun out of my hand. I released the reel line and headed
for the surface.
I observed the speared fish trying to crawl into the cracks of steep cliff face. However,
its attempts were impeded by the spear which shot it. When I finally come out on the surface, I
hooked the speargun to the buoy and slowly started pulling the fish. When I pulled it to the
surface, I grabbed it by the eyes and killed it with a knife. I swam to the boat holding the fish.
Scale showed 11 kilos.
5.6. Conclusions on free falling
Free falling is a particular technique because of a different behaviour of fish toward
the spearfisher. Successfully adopted technique will enable even the beginners to make a
greater catch. By sticking to the rules, the hunter will approach a larger fish easier than by
using other techniques. Free falling is performed at greater depths, so it is important to take
care of the security aspects. It is especially recommended to use high quality equipment. By
mastering the specificities of the dive in order to approach the chased fish as close as possible,
the hunter will have the possibility of catching a larger fish. Because of that free falling is a
particular challenge for the new spearfishers. In comparison with other spearfishing
techniques in the Adriatic, this one can ensure a better cath. It is a unique feeling when a large
red scorpionfish, or even two specimens, one next to the other, is spotted on the top of a deep
reef, so the hunter needs to pick a right angle to shoot, to spear even both specimens by one
shot..
The experience when free falling outside an underwater reef at an open sea position,
the dark silhouettes become silvery shapes of tens of large black beams heading for the deep
in the presence of a free falling spearfisher ends with a simple decision: to dive at which
depth? DEPTH MEASURING DEVICE is one of the safety requirements in free falling,
especially in the conditions of a clear view. By practicing this technique, a hunter may reach
extreme depths, when the pressure of the diving mask will alert the spearfisher. Free falling
must be monitored on a depth measurement device: how deep am I at the moment?
Free falling is a useful technique when there is no fish in the cracks, when the fish
does not approach an ambush, when due to thermo climate shoals of two-banded breams and
white breams swim between the bottom and the surface. Many sperfishers in the waters of
east Adriatic by making a random decision to do free falling, when all the other techniques
gave no results, made an unexpected catch.
In the practical application several tactics are used. The selection and combination of
tactics should be adjusted to individual’s psychophysical possibilities. The psychological
stability is important. If the spearfisher does not feel comfortable in the environment of
protruding positions of offshore islands and diving in the blue above underwater reefs where
this technique is commonly practiced, the lack of concentration will cause missed shots. Free
falling should be practiced at areas well-known to the spearfisher, and only after that try luck
in unknown zones. Considering that the larger part of the dive is performed by inertia, there is
a less consumption of accumulated oxygen in lungs. Because of that the final reach of the dive
is better. It is a challenge, but also a risk, because any excitement in the blue results in faster
consumption of oxygen in lungs, and the diver also needs to come out on the surface…
Taking off lead weight is a recommendation in free falling. Only in the last couple of decades,
in the waters of Dalmatia there were recorded four fatal accidents of spearfishers while they
were performing free falling technique.
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By doing lift free falling once I caught a spiny dogfish. I was spearfishing with two
friends along the south coast of Korčula island. It was late autumn in 2001. The sea bottom at
that location was slightly inclined. It was sporadically covered by the bushes of
Mediterranean seaweed, and there were a lot of scattered rocks at the bottom. An attractive
landscape always stimulates spearfisher’s imagination to encounter a larger fish. The
position where I was hunting was about 30 metres away from the coast. The depth was
approximately 30 metres. The visibility about fifteen metres, so we had to dive randomly. At
one point, while I was coming out on the surface I spotted whitish outlines of a larger fish that
was circling on the sea bottom. The sea vas blurry, so I could not tell which fish it was. For a
spotted dog fish (considering how it was swimming), it was too large. When I came out on the
surface, I breathed in some air, and made one more dive.
The blurry sea was a problem when trying to orientate on sea bottom. One of my
friends that were diving with me came up to help me, so for the next couple of dives I used lift
technique. Calmer dive and relaxedness, because of my friend pushing me down at about 15
metres of depth by holding my ankles, enabled me a longer stay at the bottom where I was
looking for that fish. After a few dives I spotted it. I calmly approached the bottom, using
rocks as hiding places. I made two powerful thrusts with my fins toward the fish and took of
lead weight belt. Then I saw it had been a smaller shark, with an elegant body and smaller
head. I met this type of shark for the first time. The shark circled above a smaller bush of
Mediterranean seaweed. I approached it sideways and aimed at its head, above the eyes. The
fish was swimming nervously, so I took the shot at 3 metre distance. Spear pierced through it
head peeking out only about 20 centimetres. I released the reel and headed for the surface.
When I came out, I immediately hooked the speargun to the signal buoy. The third member of
our spearfishing crew approached with a boat. We climbed into the boat and took the catch
out. It was a 170 cm long spiny dogfish that weighted about 20 kilos. In the conditions of a
blurry sea, at this depth, without the help of my friends and the use of lift free falling, I would
have probably given up after so many futile dives…
6. INDIAN HUNTING
6.1. Introduction to Indian hunting technique
Indian hunting technique was developed when some changes in the behaviour of the
fish in the Adriatic were noticed. Digging and spearfishing along marine landslides give less
and less results. The fish fled into the deep just at the appearance of a spearfisher. First
spearfishers that practiced Indian hunting regularly made their catches. The only rule was that
sperfisher’s sneaking route along the coast had not already been used by another spearfisher
for at least couple of hours. By Indian hunting, several species of the fish may be caught.
Nowadays, using Indian hunting brown wrasse, red scorpionfish, sea scorpion, brown meagre
and a smaller white bream have become preys, and in the same hunting zone it will also be
possible to catch a golden mullet, salema, seabass, gilthead seabream, sheepshead bream and
even smaller specimens of white bream which are rarely found in the cracks. It is an
interesting fact that the catch is most commonly made just under the coast. But the
precondition is that there were no other spearfishers in that hunting zone on that day, and most
importantly, that spearfisher spots the fish before it sees him.
To make Indian hunting more efficient, the spearfisher progresses slowly. All the
sounds and vibrations should be minimized. The hunter stops behind each rock and observes
the environment from his hiding place. The goal is to make the fish that comes to the shore
seeking for food not feel the presence of a spearfisher until it approaches at gun range. By
perfecting the technique, the spearfisher will be able to reach all kinds of larger fish at gun
range. When the spearfisher comes out of sea, nearby observers will sometimes be stunned by
the size of the caught specimen, and caught right next to the shore. Based on personal
experiences, each spearfisher develops his own little secrets and tricks. The style of sneaking
below the shore of some spearfishers cannot be called swimming. The goal is one: to spot the
fish while feeding before it is aware of the presence of the hunter. Then there is enough time
to make a safe shot.
6.2. Experiences of Indian hunting practitioners in the Adriatic
In the last fifteen years, Indian hunting technique in the Adriatic has become more
commonly practiced. It is the time when changes in the behaviour of fish when seeing a
spearfisher have been noticed. Even in the hunting zones where the fish can be spotted more
commonly it does not want to approach the ambush, instead it flees into cracks, into deep.
Besides that, the fish cannot be caught easily even at greater depths, and the number of diving
accidents is increasing. Searching for the methods to make a catch without excessive risks,
Indian hunting technique has been developed.
This is the only technique which is possible to practice if due to hypothermia the
hunter has difficulties with air compensation. Indian hunting is possible to practice in the
shallow water, along the shore, so the physical preparation of the hunter is not a prerequisite.
Days and months of experience in Indian hunting will enable an encounter with a larger fish.
First experiences of the practitioners show that the movements should be reduced to
minimum, so that the fish would not escape before the hunter can spot it. It was efficient to
crawl span by span, making constant stops and observing the environment from a hiding
place. The efficiency of this technique was demonstrated even on some national Croatian
spearfishing championships by several top practitioners. In general, they would choose some
locations on extreme boarders of the zone, where there was no noise from the boats, or other
spearfishers.
Older generations of more conservative spearfishers consider that by using this
technique at official competitions, that no greater results can be achieved because there is a
high number of spearfishers in the same waters, so the fish is more fearsome and will not
remain along the shore. Boarder areas of the hunting zone should be chosen, or areas which
do not allow the use of any other technique due to sea bottom configuration. There will be a
catch, however the size of it will depend on the number of larger specimens which came to
the shore looking for the food. One more positive side of this technique is that it is possible to
make a catch without previous examination of the hunting zone.
One of the most successful spearfishers on the islan of Korčula started practicing this
technique because of his age and problems with air pressure compensation in the dives. He
completely gave up on other techniques and tactics deeper than 10 metres. He regularly
returns with a stringer of salema, golden mullets, sheepshead breams, and occasional gilthead
seabream and seabass. According to his description he performs Indian hunting by following
natural lines of the rocks at sea bottom. He dives under the shore and by following certain
orientation marks of the rocks he moves by making deviations. His dive normally lasts for 3
minutes.
Another successful practitioner, whose hunting experiences have also been analysed,
based on Indian hunting he developed his own hunting philosophy. He keeps many of his
observations to himself, and does not want to discuss them, however, it is interesting how he
catches even a dentex, and sometimes a grouper right in front of the shore. Brown meagres,
white breams, seabasses, gilthead seabreams, sheepshead breams, two-banded breams and
other fish are his regular catch. He hunts only at deserted parts of offshore islands. He
perfected his underwater motion so that fish, while eating, can rarely sense his approaching.
Before mastering this technique, he successfully practiced deep digging and deep ambush. He
would return with even three specimens of dentex, but always completely exhausted due to
deep and long ambushes that were often very risky. Looking for a simpler and safer approach
to the fish, he switched his focus only on Indian hunting about 10 years ago.
Most of the Indian hunting practitioners in the Adriatic opt for movements right under
the shore by pulling in the direction of moving forward using the free arm.
What is common to all of the successful practitioners of this technique, regardless of
the age, is the frequency of visiting the seabed throughout the whole year. Indian hunting is
acquired by the persistence in perfecting the technique. How much you swim is less important
for making a catch. The efficiency of this technique depends on the reached level of
adjustment to the environment and the inaudibility of the hunter. The hunter should record his
observations and changes in the behaviour of the encountered fish. Where there is boat traffic
nearby, Indian hunting will not be successful there. However, the observations of a good catch
on the beaches in the early morning are interesting. The fish has developed a habit of
approaching drown by food leftovers. The fact that in certain areas of some beaches the fish
remain there even during the day is very unusual. It is necessary to be aware of the fact that
during tourist season spearfishing in some swimming areas is forbidden. Before and after the
main tourist season it is very useful to try luck on such positions.
6.3. How to choose a location for Indian hunting? Which weather conditions are
favourable for Indian hunting?
Indian hunting, in spite of everything, is a very complex technique to use in order to
make a catch. Underwater motion while the hunter is approaching the spotted prey needs to be
constantly perfected. It is a prerequisite for the hunter to spot the fish before it senses his
presence, or some warning vibrations. Concentration of the hunter, adjusted spearfishing
equipment, camouflage and silent motion are criteria of success in Indian hunting. Different
fish act differently. The hunter need to adapt this technique to a particular species of the fish.
With experience the hunter recognizes good positions for Indian hunting technique,
and what types of fish he can expect there. Indian hunting may be performed in different
underwater surroundings. Fish may be found along shallow gravel beaches, on shallow reef
seabed, and along steep cliffs that delve into the deep. Indian hunting is successfully practiced
on the outer sides of piers. It is important to adjust the trajectory and the motion to the
environment to the waviness of the sea. All available natural shelters should be maximally
used. The hunter should learn how to use even the sounds of nature (the sound of the wind
and the waves) for a cover-up while approaching the spotted fish.
Adverse weather conditions facilitate the approach to the spotted fish. Wavy and blurry
sea along the coast enables even additional cover-up of the silhouette of a spearfisher while
Indian hunting. Noise of the waves breaking on the seashore can sometimes completely cover
all the noises of hunter’s movements. The speed of approaching is adjusted with the wave
movements. Indian hunting is most efficient in wavy and rainy weather. It is successful in the
early morning, and a little less successful in late afternoon. Direction of the spearfisher’s
movement should be adjusted to the position of the sun. Shades of steep coastal rocks should
be used. It is recommended to plan the route right in the shaded parts.
A particularly good catch is made by Indian hunting in the period when the cyclone is
replaced by an anticyclone field. There is more fish under the shore in bad weather, when
cyclone is coming. Concerning tides, in the Adriatic it is more efficient to hunt at high tide. In
periods of low tide, smaller specimens of fish may be found in the same area.
If weather conditions are changeable, so that during the hunt sunny periods are
expected, the course of movement is selected so that the sun is always in the back. The sun in
the back of the hunter in blurry and wavy sea makes his silhouette unclear, which can
sometimes stimulate curiosity of the fish, even when it spots the hunter in a hiding place.
When the sea is extremely rough, in general there is more fish under the shore. The fish
comes seeking for the food.
Optimal visibility for performing Indian hunting successfully is 5 to 10 metres within
radius of spearfisher’s movement. When the visibility is low, reactions of a spearfisher will be
delayed. When the visibility is high, more experience is needed to approach the spotted fish at
gun range.
1.4.
Approaching the fish
When the weather is bad it is possible make a catch by Indian hunting throughout the
whole day. A gilthead seabream, sheepshead bream, white bream, seabass, golden mullet,
salema, striped bream, leerfish, red mullet, brown wrasse, and even some other sorts of fish
may be found.
Some species of fish may be individually encountered in similar rime
intervals. This is confrimed as a rule in the zones where sheepshead bream and gitlhead
seabream retain. In areas where the hunter finds two specimens at similar distance, it is useful
to prepare for the later encounters.
The rule is different with golden mullets, salemas and striped bream. They are usually
encountered at the positions where sea currents are weaker. If a group is spotted, or a shoal of
fish, it should be followed at safe distance. With short stops in the hiding places the curiosity
of some specimens is stimulated. Then they separate from the group and head toward the
hidden hunter. After the fish is shot, the hunter crawls at the bottom in the opposite direction
of the rest of the shoal. After coming out on the surface and putting fish on the string, the
hunter continues to follow the shoal at safe distance. With this tactics it is possible to catch a
dozen of fish from the same shoal.
When performing Indian hunting it is recommended to use all available natural
shelters. Artificial shelters (anchored boats, objects in the maritime domain and similar) are
useful as well. With a free hand the hunter pulls himself along the coast, or at bottom, using
reefs as shelters from the fish. When the fish is spotted, the hunter immediately stops and
hides behind the closest hiding place. Then he carefully peeks and predicts further fish
movements. The advantage of Indian hunting is that the snorkel is very often above the
surface, so the time for sneaking is not limited. If the motion of the fish is directed toward the
hunter, he should hide better in the shelter and act as doing ambush. If the fish remains in the
same position, or moves away, after a shorter pause a route for following the fish should be
selected. The direction is selected depending on available shelters, behind whish short
ambushes are performed. If there is a danger of fish sensing the approaching hunter, the
hunter should stop immediately. The hunter crawls back in the opposite direction of the fish
position. After a short pause in a good hiding place, the hunter continues sneaking after the
fish, until it spots it again.
While approaching to the fish, the moves are made in the moments when it is occupied
by seeking the food. While the fish is moving with lifted fins, the hunter should stop and
completely calm the motion. The approach is performed without fin movements. With the free
hand the hunter crawls along the bottom, and the body drags dead-still. It is recommended to
put some fabric over lead weight on the belt, which will muffle the sounds of accidental
hitting against the rocks.
Basic rules of Indian hunting that should be practiced are following:
1. Good psychophysical preparedness of the hunter which is maintained by combining
shallow ambush;
2. The body is dragged along the sea bottom by a free hand;
3. The buoyancy of the hunter should be negative;
4. It is necessary to properly balance the lead weight by combining a sneaking vest and lead
weight on belt and ankles;
5. Motion of extremities and head reduce to minimum, making sure that fins do not touch
each other, and their contact with the rocks reduce to minimum;
6. Adjust Indian hunting equipment to the hunting zone (selection of suit pattern, the colour
of fin blades).
Indian hunting is performed directly by the sea bottom, by approaching the spotted
fish. In practice, several tactics are combined. The hunter choses tactics depending on the
hunting zone.
Indian hunting right next to the sea bottom, which is steeply raked, is more complex
tactics because the dives last longer. Such a technique implies a better dive preparation, good
concentration and covering up.
Tactics of Indian hunting on the surface is also practiced, which is practical especially
for the beginners.
1.5.
Tactics of Indian hunting
6.5.1. Indian hunting on the surface
This is the simplest tactics of Indian hunting. The direction of the hunter’s motion is
selected so that the sun is at the back, and a free arm next to the coast. Hunter uses left arm to
pull along the tips of the rocks under the shore and hold a prepared speargun in the right hand.
The speargun is positioned in a way that half of its length is pushed in front of the hunter.
That is the general rule, however, the hunter decides if he will stick to it, and how much of the
length will be in front depending on the shades of nearby rocks (and the period of the day),
and hiding places. Some practitioners of this tactics suggest that the speargun should be held
in the hand next to the coast when hunting more careful fish. Spearguns with smaller barrel
diameter are recommended, so that the crawling along the rocks is done by index finger. The
truth is that a fish’s reaction is slower if it does not notice the speargun in hunter’s hands.
However, this kind of Indian hunting demands practice, so that while crawling with an index
finger, the hunter would not hit against the rocks.
By Indian hunting on the sea surface the fish can be expected behind each larger rock,
and each smaller cape. Because of that in such locations the approaching should be
additionally decelerated. It is practical if the zone is well-known to the hunter, because the
fish will be in positions where it usually hides. Behind these rocks and in similar positions
around capes. It is useful to know the behaviour of different types of fish that can be
encountered.
The catch by Indian hunting may be more successful in periods of fishing dark (no
moonlight), and when the sea is warmer and more rough. In conditions of cold surface sea
current, this tactics is useless. There will be few fish under the shore, and it will retain at sea
bottom. If the sea is warm, the fish will often come into shallow waters after the period of low
tide, at the beginning of the high tide. There are exceptions to this rule, depending on the
relief of the shore. If the shore is steep, regardless of the hunting conditions this tactics is note
efficient. But on a lower coast, tide changes result in flooding of a narrow zone. In such
conditions migrations of tiny sea organisms occur. Waves roll the rocks in the shallow waters
and parts of sea flora come off. Coastal sea belt in these conditions is saturated with oxygen.
These are ideal conditions for increasing the number of planktons. The establish food chain
makes smaller fish careless while feeding with planktons. Carless small fish attracts larger
fish, which also becomes careless and does not immediately see the approaching hunter.
There conditions are ideal for Indian hunting because the fish is focused on the bottom, not
surface, from where the hunter is approaching.
Even though the waves are desirable, stronger wind and big waves are reasons against
practicing Indian hunting. In such conditions, it is difficult for the hunter to coordinate his
moves.
Especially recommended positions for Indian hunting are protruding capes, rocks and
reefs near coasts and islands, outer landslides which extends into the seabed, banks and piers.
In the Adriatic the most favourable period for surface Indian hunting is autumn.
Common prey then is golden mullet, salema, sheepshead bream, white bream, seabass and
gilthead seabream. It is possible to catch a leerfish, and sometimes a smaller amberjack. In
extreme situations, if the hunter is completely silent, it is possible to encounter a dentex or a
grouper, in the positions of outer coasts of offshore islands.
When Indian hunting, the hunter should pay attention to the shells, and urchin
leftovers. These are the signs of presence of larger specimens of fish. When such signs are
spotted the approaching should be additionally slowed down. The hunter remains in his
shelter longer, occasionally peeking out, until a fish approaching is spotted. Sometimes the
hunter will notice the back of the fish together with the dorsal fin, the back part of sheepshead
bream, white bream or gilthead seabream. These are excellent opportunities to make a catch
by Indian hunting.
The tactics is most efficient in the combination with shallow ambush, but also with
free falling at the positions under the shore that steeply plunges into the sea continuing along
underwater cliff faces.
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A trick with snorkel recommended for Indian hunting and ambush
Experienced practitioners have their own different little tricks. The goal of some of the tricks
is to stimulate curiosity of the fish in the environment. Other tricks have the goal to not
disturb the fish in the environment, so that the hunter could approach at gun range. On of
such tricks is performed with a snorkel. The trick is useful even in ambush, but it is better with
Indian hunting. The trick is performed in a way that when preparing the dive, after the last
breath in at surface, the squeeze of the lower jaw to the snorkel is released. Then the oral
cavity is filled with sea. After it is filled, the hunter should bite the snorkel and release the sea
from the cavity into the snorkel. The snorkel in that way is filled to top with sea. Only then the
dive should be made. At such dive there is no risk of releasing air bulbs from the snorkel. An
air bulb is a sign of warning especially for lager which immediately escape. It is common that
the fish escape because of the air bulb eve before the hunter can spot them, because they are
outside the field of view. But they respond to air bulbs. When this procedure is practiced, it is
performed simply and quickly, in an instant. Practice shows that those who use this trick in
Indian hunting and ambush spot a fish at gun range, which they did not even notice during the
preparation of the dive. Very often such fish is caught. When the trick is practised in ambush
the fish, according to the experiences of spearfishers, come closer to the hidden hunter.
6.5.2. Indian hunting in shallow waters
Indian hunting in shallow waters, unlike hunting on the surface, demands a better
psychophysical preparedness and longer dives. This tactics is acquired after acquired surface
hunting. The tactics is performed in a way that the hunter constantly sticks to the bottom,
unless coming out on the surface to breathe some air. It is performed in shallow waters, so
that the period of remaining underwater is prolonged. Despite performing in shallow waters
this is a complex tactics. The catch usually depends on the little secrets gained through
practice in the same hunting zone. Each zone and each fish is specific for Indian hunting in
shallow waters. The tactics should be adjusted to the hunter and perfected constantly. It is
important to prolong the period of staying underwater, because chasing fish is performed at
the bottom. Without coming out on the surface, the hunter aims and shoots the fish, and
retracts from the hunting zone. To approach the fish the hunter choses routes most adequate to
the shelters. It is a mistake to choose the shortest route. Because of that the hunter needs to be
in shape because the dives last longer.
When practising this tactics many rules of Indian hunting on surface apply. Special
attention is dedicated to coordination of extremities movements. Uncoordinated moves scare
the fish away and the hunter will not be able to reach the fish at gun range. The approach
route to the fish at sea bottom is sometimes impressively long, so the hunter should take care
of the distribution of lead weight on the back, and on the ankles for better balance. If fin
blades make a contact to a rock, it will be a warning for the fish. It is recommended to keep
more than 50% of total lead weight on the belt and back, for the safety reasons. The ratio of
lead weight on ankles and on the back is adjusted to the bottom configuration of the hunting
zone. If there are more protrusions and the terrain is uneven, the lead weight on ankles should
be smaller. It is easier to amortize fins so that they do not touch the rocks. The approach to the
fish is performed in phases, with shorter pauses, without coming out on the surface, since that
would also be a warning for the fish which would flee away.
With this tactics the process of approaching the hunting zone is quicker. Sometimes a
spotted fish can be surprised by a short-term acceleration of motion. This is especially
recommended for catching a larger specimen of gilthead seabream. A longer stay at the
bottom and a good hiding place are a prerequisite for catching larger number of specimens of
one shoal (salema, two-banded bream, white bream, sheepshead bream, brown meagre).
The sun should always be at the back of the hunter. One of the little secrets is to move
opposite of the sea current along the bottom. This rule applies also when a larger specimen of
gilthead seabream is spotted. Tricks like this one, should not be taken as general rules, they
ought to be tested. In some zones they will help.t
Using this tactics European barracuda, conger eel, moray eel, red scorpionfish, and
some other unexpected fish, considering the depth, may be found. These species of fish, like
spearfisher, lurk shoals passing by. If a specimen of these species of fish is spotted, the hunter
should wait until the shoal passes. Then it is possible to catch spotted conger eel, moray eel or
red scorpionfish. Afterwards, the hunter should continue to follow the spotted shoal. European
barracuda is caught while it is focused on the shoal that is passing by.
The presence of a larger fish in a broad area can be noticed by smaller fish groupings
into dense shoals. Such behaviour often signalises the presence of a seabass or a leerfish.
Similar behaviour of shoal of saddled bream along protruded rocky underwater capes that
plunge into the blue indicates the presence of an amberjack. Indian hunting along cape edges
can sometimes be more efficient than an ambush. Additional confirmation of a presence of an
amberjack in such locations is when shoals of saddled breams are hiding under the rocks and
cape cracks. They are not fleeing away from the hunter, not even when he uses their shelter
for an ambush.
If there are no other spearfishers in the hunting zone, and there are remains of black
clouds released by cuttlefish or poulp, it is a sign of presence of a larger fish. When seeing
such signs, Indian hunting along sea bottom and a random choice of a route may lead the
hunter to a larger fish.
6.5.3. Deep Indian hunting
Deep Indian hunting technique, along with deep ambush, is the most complex, the
most difficult and the riskiest spearfishing technique. Before practicing this tactics, the hunter
needs to estimate for how long it could be practiced. In the waters of east Adriatic, there are
not so many places which are practical for this technique. On a nautical map places suitable
for this technique are marked as kor.
Even though this tactics can be tested in all kinds of terrains, in some areas, despite the
effort and the hunting depth, there will be no catch. In areas where the food chain is not
connected deep Indian hunting does not ensure expected catch.
Hunters begin to practice this tactics once they acquired most of the other tactics.
Several years of successful spearfishing couple of month a year are assumed. Otherwise, the
hunter exposes himself to fatal risk.
The tactics is performed at depths at extreme range of the hunter. It is recommended to
practice this tactics in pair. The route at the bottom is defined, and the duration of each dive.
The dives are performed one after another. One hunter is always on the surface, and keeps
track duration of partner’s dive. If the partner diver does not come out at the scheduled time,
the partner on the surface dives toward him. When the partners switch in scheduled time
frames, not randomly, it is practical to use two signal buoys. One signal buoy is tied to a
heavier lead weight which can simply be taken off the belt when the diver reaches the depth
of about 10 metres. This additional lead weight is tied with a thicker line. It is easier to pull
the diver this way. After taking off that additional lead weight the partner on the surface pulls
the diver out and puts the lead weight belt on. A belt with a few lighter lead weights which is
at the bottom is tied to the other signal buoy with a sturdy nylon line. Nylon is practically
invisible at grater depths. In a case that the hunting partner does not some out as agreed, the
partner puts a security ring onto a nylon line and dives down holding it. When diving
randomly, after one hunter comes out on the surface, the other one hooks strings that are tied
to both buoys to his belt. Risk of fatal accidents is smaller in such pair spearfishing, and lines
are less likely to be tangled with the buoy, when each hunter uses his own. Law requirements
are also met because both spearfishers are marked with a buoy.
Deep Indian hunting is a tactics that was developed from spearfishing in offshore
shallow waters. It was practiced by rare spearfishers in the Adriatic while the fish was still
easily caught in cracks along the coast. In areas of offshore shallow waters, the fish is in
constant movement, it does not retain in cracks. With time it was confirmed that the secret to
a successful catch in these locations is a hunting tactics, later called deep Indian hunting. In
locations of offshore shallow waters if a hunter is not well prepared he is commonly left with
nothing but an experience. The fish there moves along the borders of shallow waters and
heads the deep. In such positions, when the fish cannot spotted, the hunter should dive along
the border of shallow waters and slowly approach the bottom parts. That is how deep Indian
hunting technique was developed.
Locations for this tactic are selected according to the sea bottom configuration. Muddy
seabed, with a lowland relief, found in most parts of middle and north Adriatic at depth of
more than 30 metres is not recommended for this tactics. Energy should not be wasted on the
positions with endless meadows of Mediterranean tapeweed. Good deep Indian hunting
positions are found outside offshore islands where the sea bottom rises from greater depth.
The positions can be easily found by examining the sea bottom using echo sounder. The best
positions are those with extremely rocky bottom where echo sounder can recognize some
boulders and cairns partially covered with Mediterranean tapeweed.
Deep Indian hunting is performed in phases. First phase includes selecting a place
where to dive, and relaxed breathing on the surface. The hunter should breathe in a slow
rhythm, trying to slow the heart rate down before the dive. Immediately before the dive,
hunter makes a long breath in. Abdominal cavity is first filled with air, then come the lungs,
and finally diving mask. In the last phase the dive is made. It is recommended to dive in pair,
and to practice already mentioned lift dive (in the free falling chapter).
If a tactics is practised without a partner, at depth where dive inertia is accelerated, the
hunter should take off the lead weight belt (tied to the signal buoy).
The next phase is approaching to the sea bottom. It is done calmly and slowly. The
hunter descends into the shelter already chosen while approaching the sea bottom. After
taking a position in shelter, the hunter slowly peeks out in all direction until the fish is spotted.
It is useful to stay covered for couple of more seconds, because there is always a chance that a
curious fish approaches the shelter. In such situation tactics of deep Indian hunting becomes
deep ambush. If no fish is approaching, the hunter begins Indian hunting to the next shelter in
sight. The procedure is repeated, so the advancement is continued. Up to the point when the
diver needs to come out on the surface according to the shape and the passed time.
When changing shelters, the hunter should observe larger rocks in the surrounding,
especially those along Mediterranean tapeweed. In such positions white breams and brown
meagres can be spotted.
Considering that the hunter dives at greater depth (25 metres and deeper) it is not
recommended to search larger cracks in detail. The hunter should return to those cracks in the
next dive.
When a larger fish is spotted the hunter needs to slow down when approaching and
look for a good shelter nearby. The fish will often remain in the same position. After shooting
the fish, if a lot of time is wasted, the hunter heads for the surface and releases the reel. After
a couple of metres a positive pressure from the diving suit without lead weight belt will take
the hunter to the surface due to inertia. In that final phase of the dive, the hunter should be
completely relaxed and breathe in the last air reserve in the diving mask. Immediately below
the surface the water from the snorkel is blown out. This procedure equalizes the mask
pressure. When coming out on the surface without panic fresh air is breathed in calmly and
slowly. In the conditions of a calm sea, the blowing out of the water from the snorkel is not
necessary. In such conditions the first inhalation is done from the mouth.
6.6. Equipment for Indian hunting
Complexity of the Indian hunting techniques assumes equipment selection for the tactics
practiced. Considering the hunters calm movement when underwater it's important special
attention be given to the quality of the diving suit. For Indian hunting the choice of diving suit
must be the finest, most elastic neoprene. It is also important that the face piece diving mask
are gently goggled on face. The field masks vision chosice depends on the depth at which the
hunt will be. The masks used for deep Indian hunting have less capacity due to the pressure.
And it is more useful if the glasses are tinted. But in the practice of deep Indian hunting
reflecting glasses have also been proven as good. At greater depths close encounters of hunter
and fish are rare so the environment reflectng in the glass of the mask attracts the fish, before
they escape. Face piece mask and snorkel can be coated with a special camouflage paint. It is
more practical to use short snorkels with wider diameters, slightly curved. These kind of
snorkels are more comfortable and sticks less out from the silhouette of the hunter. Snorkel
made of high quality materials and a mouthpiece that is pleasant in the mouth is of course
recognized and priced. A good quality equipment has its price and is worth every euro
invested. The leaves of the flippers are chosen in accordance to the tactic that is most often
used in Indian hunting. It is important to use the highest quality of carbon with the highest
thrust. In some situations, the force of the thrust and the speed of the ascent will save the
hunters life. The leaves of flippers is also useful to paint in camouflage colors. Flippers with
sensitive materials should be avoided. Flippers with carbon leaves for deep Indian hunting are
recomended and should be covered with a thin protective textile fabric when used for shallow
Indian hunting. Not only for protection from damage on the flippers, the protective textile
fabric dampen the noise generated when the leaves contacts with rocks. It’s useful to use
translucent PVC leaves. Rifle prescion is the next important variable. Furthermore important
is the release rate of the arrow. The weight of the arrow should also be adapted to the rifle and
the range that will be needed. Quality of the arrow is very important. So, for Indian hunting
arrows of exceptional quality should be used. The longest arrows can costs as much as a
cheap gun for underwater fishing. How the arrow is often fired at the far of the rifle it’s very
important that it is completely straight. Special, hard steels are expensive and that’s why the
arrows made from them are not cheap. When choosing a gun for underwater fishing it's best
done according to the specific tactics of Indian hunting. For Indian hunting from the surface
it’s more practical to use longer and massive rifles. The same recommendations applies for
deep Indian hunting. For shallow Indian hunting it’s more practical to use rifles with inner
pipe diameter and that are less massive. Considering that at this tactic of Indian hunting
targeting is often at the far range of the rifle with elastic springs which will be selected among
those whose body is rigid and tight. There are also used many innovative materials. The
strength of the material is important because even minimum twisting of the body rifle results
less precision at the far range. Length of the rifle is based on reviling tactic of Indian hunting
and target species of fish in the hunting zone. If Indian hunting with a rifle, when closer to the
water the rifle is shorter, otherwise longer. In any case, rifle shorter than 90 cm is not
recommended for Indian hunting. When hunting from a distance near the coastal edge, in
terms of better transparency the rifle used must be with elastic strings maximum length. It is
more practical to use several elastic springs of smaller diameters instead of one spring of
larger diameter. Patterns and colors of the diving suit should depend on the zone you usually
hunt. Also depending on the tactic of Indian hunting number of leads and their arrangement
around the body is different. For deep Indian hunting because of security reasons all the leads
need to be deployed on the belt which the hunter could at any time dismiss. For Indian
hunting in the shallows the lead ballast should be a larger quantity. The ballast will be
proportionately distributed throughout the body, so that the pressure on the spine in some
parts wouldn’t cause health consequences from the long hours or even days of hunting. Lead
plates for the back (associated with belts to set up, purchased in stores of diving equipment)
are replaced with a special vest that has proportionally spaced leads. The thickness of suit for
underwater Indian hunting can be adapted to seawater temperature during the year and the
depth level of hunting. The concentrations of the hunter during Indian hunting is extremely
important. It shouldn’t dominate any sense of freshness or warmth. Due to the necessary
negative of navigability it’s important to choose comfortable and thinner suits but with good
thermal insulation. Quality camouflage markings on the suits allows better results when
hunting. It’s best to choose the shade that matches the environment in which the hunting is
usually . A practical solution are different shades for upper and lower part of the suit. Part of
the required equipment are also high-quality neoprene gloves that has reinforced toes from the
outside. Indian hunting is about the withdrawal over rocks with one hand free, so cheap, lowquality gloves are quickly damaged. With low-quality gloves violations of the fingers are
more frequent. A practical solution is to use stiffer glove on the hand that is pulling the hunter
forward and a thin glove on the hand that is holding the rifle. With the thing glove the control
of the trigger is better and faster. In deep Indian hunting a signal buoy significantly facilitates
the hunting. Using a signal buoy in hunting on the surface and at shallow Indian hunting is
doubtful. The law requires the use of buoys even there is no boats around the shore to run into
the hunter. For hunting at the shore the buoys they can be smaller with short mooring. It’s
important to put proper weight on the buoys and after they're discarded the use is more to
mark the narrow hunting zone. The type of equipment for Indian hunting is very important,
but even the best equipment can’t replace experience. Experience comes with regular practice
and the chosen tactic Indian hunting. Improvement of the hunting with regular catches done
with year-round practice of these techniques, monitoring changes in behavior of the fish, and
adjusting the best approach to the observed group of prizes. Knowledge of hunting zones, the
place where the fish is often located, and possible refuge satisfied is the last criterion for a
good Indian hunting.
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Twenty years ago when hunting under the rocks of *Konavoskim Stijenama (a coastal belt
east of Cavtat, near Dubrovnik) behind a cape which sharply penetrated in the sea, i came
across a group of large white bream. They were approaching and retreating in concentric
circles from the edge of the underwater wall. I was hunting with a rifle of compressed air
length 115 cm. The range was about 3 meters. In this situation it wasn’t enough. The white
bream, where among many of them were heavier than one kilogram, were very careful and
didn’t approach my shelter. I followed them with my rifle, trying to see how far they were
from me. I tried to sneak up and down the wall so i could approach them with rifle range. I
did some short ambushes at different depths next to the underwater wall, in the level with the
identified fish. I went above and below the depth at which they swam. It was all in vain.
Ultimately, I moved directly toward them. The arrow failed to reach the nearest fish. There
was similar scenario the following year. By the rules in positions like this the white bream
would be held outside the range of the rifle. In summer 2005, I hunted with an experienced
hunter of older generation. We were diving on the coastal belt in pair, alternately plunging.
Behind a cape, known scenario the white bream. I left the place and swam over to my partner,
and asked him for advice. He said that he would try first, and that i should watch a then
repeat the same thing. Despite the place where the fish were he flattened himself to the edge
of the capes surface. He placed the rifle in an inclined position towards the fish. And then he
completely froze. His body was like doing the ambush for dentex. I was watching the white
bream. After the fish noticed him they showed it with nervous movements. The hunter stayed
motionless on the sea surface, and was breathing normally all the time. Such ambush from the
surface of the sea can take as long as necessary. After several minutes the white bream
calmed down. Their circulation was in harmony again. They were moving away and
approaching in concentric circles. They were swimming along the steep of the cape reducing
the angle to the fixed hunter. The rifle was aimed all the time in the same place. The hunter
didn’t show intention to remove it from the line targeting. An impatient hunter might have
tried to track the fish movements. And that would be wrong and cause nervousness and
distancing of the fish. The white bream slowly approached the range, but in the right
direction in with the rifle was aiming. Why doesn’t he change the aim of the rifle to the fish?
Not moving his head he looked in the direction his rife was aimed. After a while the circles in
which the white bream were swimming became wider. Now they were already passing the
edge of the direction the rifle was aimed. After ten minutes of the first set up the experienced
hunter hit the trigger for the first time. The streaked fish flashed on the arrow. The hunter
calmly stepped back from his place. He slowly pulled the rope with the arrow and the fish. He
kept the rope tight during skidding not letting the white bream to rise. His behavior still as it
was in deep ambush. The place that is taken the first time should be maintained, regardless of
the fish’s movements. The rifle should be aimed in the same direction, without any
movements. Even when you think that the fish is closer the hunter has to remain calm. Like the
body, the head must kept calm, even the pupils of the eyes. All movements of the hunter are
warnings for the fish to move away from him. From what I saw I tasted luck. White bream
was caught. Then he again and i again. From this place we caught several large white bream,
some of which weighted more than one kilogram. All the fish was literally caught from the
surface, without exhausting immersing, long ambushes, or searching thru dark crevices. The
patience is important until the fish approaches to the rang. This kind of tactic is effectively
practiced in narrow sea passages with strong sea currents. Preferably with limited
transparency. There is likely to find a flock of white bream, two banded bream, and sheep
head bream. It’s important to find a rock or a notch where you may lurk the fish from the
surface. This combination of surface Indian hunting and surface ambush. If there is fish in
that place it will show in ten, fifteen minutes, and start a circling approach. Again, it
important to wait for the fish to come to the range. The described tactic is also effective when
taking a place on the offshore reefs if you want to get the most saddled bream in the range (of
thirty diagrams). The hunter can have fun with a flock of big saddled bream for one or two
hours. During that period it could be possible that a smaller group of lumberjack appears. In
closed, narrow sea channels that are less salty with similar tactic a big leer fish could be
caught. According to hunters in the Adriatic Sea using a similar tactic the hunter has more
time to target, compared with the classical shallow ambush to the cost. The described tactic is
more effective in early summer or late autumn. The ideal situation is when it is blowing light
winds from the third and fourth quadrants, after a few days with bad weather. Good place for
hunting with this tactic is in narrow sea passages, which are the edges of the steep walls
down into the blue. In such positions on open Sea Islands it’s possible to caught inquisitive
grouper. The range of the rifle your hunting with must be at least 4 meters long. Arrow 6.5
millimeters or 7 because the fish is sniped from top to bottom. Higher weight arrows at
extreme range contributes to penetration through the body of the fish.
7. CONCLUSION
The described techniques of underwater hunting in the Adriatic Sea is a starting point for
improving personal hunting skills. Besides this described techniques and tactics of hunting it
is good for the person to independently develop some own tactics. The hunting techniques and
tactics that the hunter will use must adapted to the conditions of the specific hunting zone. In
addition to where you fish the tactic depends on the prevailing behavior of fish that your
going for. It is important to observance safety criteria. Hunter shouldn’t be exposed to
physical stress which will result rapid spending of energy and air in the lungs. Brining
yourself to the limits of psycho physical potential is an unnecessary risk. Although
underwater hunter dreams of meeting a large grouper, dented, lumberjack or leer fish the
safety of the hunter is paramount. Practicing the techniques and tactics of hunting that involve
extreme physical preparation, physical fitness, and often a dose of craziness is not for
everyone. Although the hunter thinks he caught his biggest fish, the sea can surprise the
hunter again. A prerequisite is to dive often, in different hunting zones and combine different
techniques and tactics. Underwater hunting is a skill that should make you feel fulfilled and
pleasure, not anxiety. The fish can’t be invented if it’s not in the hunting zone. It’s not
advisable to deep dive after a fish to the limit that an individual can reach. There will be more
hunts and chances to catch fish at lower depth, without high risk. As with other skills, the
underwater fishing hunter as well has to learn to enjoy. A good hunter sets his own standards,
and often talk to himself about his psychological limits. Fifty years ago in the Adriatic the
biggest problem was the quality of the equipment, primarily short range and power of rifle for
underwater hunting. Stories from the past were often like this: Beginning of the seventies. On
the position of that cape you could find a great grouper. She would lay on the bottom with her
head in front of the hole. It was necessary to know how to hit her so you could pull her out of
the hole in which she jumps. One time I was struggling with a large grouper, he was hitting
with the harpoon, but somehow I couldn’t break through his head. While I was having a hard
time with the grouper on the other side swam an amberjack of thirty kilograms. The
amberjack wheeled around me, I almost could touch it with my hand. But the rifles we hunted
with couldn’t penetrate such fish. The living legend of underwater hunting on the Adriatic,
Frane Zanki who confirmed his knowledge with medals at World and European
Championships in underwater hunting often diving in the blue of island Vis. He plunged
deeper than thirty meters looking for large groupers. It was never a problem with the groupers
or even in the depth of the dive but in the power of the rifle for fish hunting. With a rifle like
that you had to approach the grouper even closer than a half meter. Today’s hunters have a
wide range of lethal rifles for fishing. Modern flippers with leaves of carbon fiber for quick
dive and ascent. The diving masks wide field of view are comfortable at all depths. Without
any straining you can wear the mask whole day. Today underwater hunters has access to
everything, but more often they do not find fish. As a beginning stop hunting the fish and with
adoption of presented techniques and tactics wait for the fish in your shelter to approach the
rang. The hunting equipment is getting better and better, but the fish is getting harder to catch.
Fish can track hunter's silhouette and the hunter is often not aware that fish is near. Equipment
used to be the biggest spearfishing limit but today the problem is cunning fish. Spearfishing
hunter needs to dream and fantasize. Then, refine techniques and tactics. Everyone set its one
limits. If hunter has enough will and physical condition everything is possible. Eventually, we
have memories and photographs, experiences to share through past times stories when there
was more fish in the sea and the hunter could get closer to it.
Be aware of your abilities, adjust the equipment to previously known hunting zone, and you
will not fail to catch...
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