Basics of Spearfishing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Divers frequently "chum" the water when hunting in blue waters. What purpose does this serve?
- Fish game in and divert them with it. (Correct answer)
- Assist in determining the water depth and current.
- Bring in seabirds, which will draw game fish.
- Sharks should be repelled and kept at bay.
Correct answer: Fish game in and divert them with it.
Chumming involves throwing bait into the water to attract fish. In spearfishing, this technique is used to draw target game fish closer to the diver, making them easier to spot and shoot. It also serves to distract the fish, allowing the diver to get into a better position for a shot.
Question 2: Spearfishing calls for acute awareness and in-depth familiarity with the underwater environment. Different abilities are needed in various parts of the world. Why is that so?
- The water's temperature varies.
- The water's depth differs.
- Every place has its own kind of fish, and each fish calls for a unique approach.
- All of the above. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: All of the above.
Spearfishing requires adaptability due to diverse underwater environments globally. Water temperature affects wetsuit choice and diver comfort, while varying depths necessitate different diving techniques and equipment. Crucially, different regions host unique fish species, each with distinct behaviors and habitats, demanding specific hunting strategies and knowledge from the spearfisher.
Question 3: A school of Yellow Tailed Tuna appears to be feeding in the area where a dedicated spear fisherman is about to dive in. He gives his equipment a routine inspection. What should the diver have because this is a blue water dive and tuna is the main game fish?
- Stick, float, knife, and speargun banging
- Wetsuit with blue camouflage, bang stick, mask, and fins
- Weight, mask, snorkel, and fins
- Knife, mask, fins, snorkel, weight, speargun, float, float line (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Knife, mask, fins, snorkel, weight, speargun, float, float line
For blue water spearfishing, especially for large game like tuna, a comprehensive set of equipment is essential for safety and success. This includes basic freediving gear (mask, fins, snorkel, weights), a speargun for hunting, a knife for safety (e.g., cutting tangled lines), and a float with a float line to mark the diver's position and help retrieve large fish.
Question 4: What is a one shot instant kill known as?
- Quick Shot
- Scale Shot
- Stone Shot (Correct answer)
- Break Shot
Correct answer: Stone Shot
In spearfishing, a 'stone shot' refers to a perfectly placed shot that instantly kills the fish, often by hitting its brain or spine. This term signifies a humane and efficient kill, minimizing the fish's suffering and preventing it from struggling and potentially damaging the spear or escaping. It is a highly desired outcome for skilled spearfishers.
Question 5: It is recommended to choose a mask for spearfishing that is low volume, has a dull color, and is most significantly comfortable. On the glass of certain masks, there is a dark, mirror hue. Why is that so?
- It prevents fish from seeing your eyes. (Correct answer)
- It blocks away dangerous UV radiation.
- It improves vision underwater.
- It seems cool.
Correct answer: It prevents fish from seeing your eyes.
The primary reason for a dark, mirror hue on spearfishing masks is to conceal the diver's eyes from fish. Direct eye contact can startle fish, making them wary and causing them to flee. By obscuring the eyes, the diver appears less threatening, allowing for a closer approach and a better chance at a successful shot.
Question 6: A diver will use the speargun tip or the end of a three-prong pole sling to gently probe the hole while carefully tapping, pushing, and pressing against the octopus to coax it out of its burrow. What's the name of this?
- Shoeing
- Squeezing
- Tickling (Correct answer)
- Bribing
Correct answer: Tickling
The technique described, involving gently probing and coaxing an octopus out of its hiding spot, is commonly known as 'tickling' in the spearfishing community. This term aptly describes the delicate and persistent action used to encourage the octopus to emerge without harming it or causing it to retreat further.
Question 7: Which of the following fish are frequently shot while spear fishing?
- Blue Marlin
- Cod
- Parrot-fish
- All of these (Correct answer)
Correct answer: All of these
Spearfishing targets a wide variety of fish species depending on the location, regulations, and diver's skill. Blue Marlin are highly sought-after large game fish in blue water, Cod are common in colder waters, and Parrot-fish are often found in tropical reef environments. Therefore, all listed options represent fish that are frequently targeted by spearfishers in different regions.
Basics of Spearfishing 1
Divers frequently "chum" the water when hunting in blue waters.
What purpose does this serve?