KEY WEST SPEARFISHING

Key West Spearfishing

A Key West Spearfishing trip is by far one of the most exciting ways to spend time in paradise catching fish, and there are lots of places around Key West to do it. It's an unusual sport, in that not many tourists will spearfish while on vacation, and not many people get to hone their diving and shooting skills unless they live near the ocean. That said, there is an avid Key West spearfishing community as well as throughout the Florida Keys. Just check out spearfishing chat sites and you'll see the Key West section is full of daily posts. Divers get on and report the visibility, or vis, as it's called by the Key West spearfishing crowd. There's talk about how good someone's shot is, whether the good spots are still any good for the season, what gear is good... lots of shop talk! Really, in Key West, spearfishing isn't hard if you know a few things.

Spearfishing Gear

First, it helps if you are already comfortable snorkeling in the ocean. This means being in possession of a well-fitting mask. If your mask doesn't fit right, then don't try to spearfish until you either adjust it or buy a better one. $40 is enough to spend to get a good mask for snorkeling or Key West spearfishing. When choosing a mask, make sure you can keep the mask on without the strap. This means you can make a seal on your face with the mask, by breathing in through your nose. The seal is key, so make sure there's no strand of hair between the mask and your skin, or you won't make a good seal. Make sure you can tighten the straps without hurting your face too much. Speaking of straps, you can buy a replacement strap for your mask, which is not made of rubber so you don't rip out your hair when you go snorkeling. These straps feature a wide band made of fabric, not plastic or rubber.

Get a good snorkel too, if you're serious about Key West spearfishing. This is important because after diving down, and then coming to the surface, a good snorkel will not get any water in it, and you can breathe through it immediately after surfacing. No need to empty the tube out, because it will be dry if you have a good snorkel. There are mid-range ones for $25 and then hte $45 ones are really good.

Fins are less important at first, since as a beginner you'll be diving in 10 to 15 feet of water so you should have no problem getting down to the bottom with regular cheap $20 fins.

For sun protection and protection from jellyfish, wear a long-sleeve rashguard, especially for Key West spearfishing where the sun is strong. You will be in the water for a long time and you'll be in Key West, so those two reason right there should be enough to justify the $25 to $30 a rashguard will cost you. Go to Divers' Direct on Simonton Street since they have the biggest selection. It's a really fun store, too, and the people there know a lot about gear.

As for the speargun, some people think wooden ones are better because they will float better.

Spearfishing for Beginners

A good fish for Key West spearfishingbeginners to target is hogfish. Hogfish are stupid and slow to react, so they make easy targets. Beginners can find them in shallow areas near the reef, 10 to 15 feet deep, or deeper if you're ready to dive down further. Hogifish like hard bottom and often hang out near a rock or coral head. If they see you, they might head for a sea fan or rock and sit there, camouflaging itself, thinking you can't see it. Aim for the head. Get within about three feet of the fish before you shoot, wait until the hogfish is sideways to you, and shoot. Get your fish into the boat fast because if there's a lurking barracuda, he'll try and steal the fish from you. If you get the midsection and it bleeds a lot, and this happens a few times, it's time to find a new spot because you don't want to be in the water very long with all the blood. Sharks might come.

When you dive down, the first 10 feet are the hardest. As you descend, the pressure will build up in your head, and you'll have to clear. Either hold your nose and blow out to clear your ears, or swallow a few times. This should release the pressure you feel. Now just keep practicing and practicing and soon your shooting and your breathing & diving will improve.

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