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Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught
Grow Your Knowledge
“Join our exclusive Spearfishing Master Classes, podcast, and exclusive diving content powered by Bret Whitman’s SpearFactor—the ultimate resource for spearfishing enthusiasts! Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned diver, these classes are designed to elevate your skills and deepen your understanding of the sport. Drawing directly from the knowledge shared on the SpearFactor podcast and Bret's 25 years of experience, you’ll benefit from expert advice on everything from breath-hold techniques and selecting the right gear to advanced hunting strategies for targeting various species.
Each episode features insights from top guests who have appeared on SpearFactor podcast offering you access to the same valuable tips and expertise that have shaped many successful divers. Whether you're looking to fine-tune your technique or take your spearfishing journey to the next level, these master classes—backed SpearFactor is your gateway to becoming a more skilled and knowledgeable diver”
Spearfishing La Jolla: A Local's Guide to San Diego's Most Iconic Dive Spot
La Jolla is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in Southern California, and it also happens to be one of the best places to spearfish in San Diego County. But if you're new to the area, there are some things you absolutely need to know before you grab your gun and jump in. Between marine protected areas, entry protocols, knowing which kelp beds actually hold fish and that this corner gets full exposure to winter weather, La Jolla has a learning curve. I've been d
Bret Whitman
5 minutes ago6 min read
6,000 Reports Exposed the Secrets of California Dorado — What Divers Need to Know
California dorado — also known as mahi-mahi or dolphinfish — are one of the most electrifying targets in bluewater spearfishing. They're fast, aggressive, brilliantly colored, and surprisingly accessible for divers willing to get offshore. But when do they actually show up? Where do you find them? And what conditions matter most? We dug into over 6,000 fish reports spanning 15 years, containing 1,849 specific dorado mentions, to answer those questions with data instead of doc
Bret Whitman
15 hours ago5 min read
Sand Bass: California's Year-Round Bottom Dweller
Spotted and barred sand bass are the most reliably available targets in Southern California — present year-round on sandy bottoms, near-shore structure, and kelp edges. Here's how to find them and shoot them.
Bret Whitman
1 day ago11 min read
Spearfishing Catalina Island: The Complete Guide
Catalina Island sits 22 miles offshore and holds some of the best diving in Southern California. Thick kelp, clear water, and consistent fish. Here's how to dive it.
Bret Whitman
1 day ago11 min read
California Spearfishing Regulations 2026: The Complete Guide
Everything You Need to Know Before Diving in California California offers some of the best spearfishing in the world — giant kelp forests loaded with white sea bass, yellowtail cruising the offshore islands, and lingcod stacked on rocky reefs from Big Sur to the border. But California also has some of the most detailed fishing regulations in the country, and if you're diving here, you need to know them inside and out. This guide covers every regulation that matters for divers
Bret Whitman
1 day ago7 min read
How to Spear Yellowtail in California: Tactics, Timing, and Where to Find Them
Yellowtail are California's ultimate spearfishing target. Learn when they show up, where to find them from San Diego to the Channel Islands, proven hunting techniques including the blacksmith method, shot placement, gear recommendations, and how to prepare the catch.
Bret Whitman
1 day ago11 min read
Spearfishing in Poor Visibility: Tips and Techniques for Murky Water
Tips, tricks, and techniques to spearfish in poor visibility. There are way to make spearfishing in murky water safer and more enjoyable.
Bret Whitman
1 day ago6 min read
185,000 Bluefin Tuna and the Data That Changes How Divers Hunt Them
Between 2019 and 2025, CDFW logbooks recorded 185,319 bluefin tuna catches off Southern California. Here's what that data actually reveals about when, where, and how to hunt them.
Bret Whitman
2 days ago5 min read
What 169,000 Yellowtail Catches Taught Us About Spearfishing Success
169,308 yellowtail catch records analyzed across Southern California. What the data actually says about timing, temperature, depth, and where to find them.
Bret Whitman
2 days ago6 min read
Spearfishing Baja Mexico: A California Diver's Guide from Ensenada to Cabo
Baja California offers some of the best spearfishing in the world, and it is right across the border. From the rocky reefs of Ensenada to the bluewater of Cabo San Lucas, here is everything you need to plan your trip.
Bret Whitman
2 days ago6 min read
California Halibut Have Tripled Since 2019 — Here's What the Data Shows
CDFW records show California halibut catches tripled between 2019 and 2023. Here's what's driving the comeback and what it means for divers on the hunt for flatfish.
Bret Whitman
3 days ago5 min read
How to Spear Lingcod: A Diver's Guide to California's Meanest Reef Fish
Lingcod are aggressive, territorial, and built like a nightmare. Here is how to find them, approach them, place your shot, and bring home one of the best-eating fish on the West Coast.
Bret Whitman
5 days ago8 min read
2026 Southern California Fishing Forecast: The Largest Marine Heatwave Ever Recorded Meets a Developing El Nino
The largest marine heatwave ever recorded in the northeast Pacific is still active. El Nino is forecast to develop by summer. Water temps are already running 3-4 degrees above average. Here's what the data says about what's coming for Southern California fishing and diving in 2026.
Bret Whitman
6 days ago6 min read
Why 2022 Was the Craziest Dorado Season in Southern California History
Over 81,000 dorado caught. Schools so thick they made foamers in local waters for the first time ever. Half-day boats getting limits. And it all happened during a La Nina.
Bret Whitman
6 days ago4 min read
What Thousands of Reports Reveal About White Sea Bass in California
We analyzed thousands of white sea bass reports across California to uncover the patterns that actually matter — water temperature, visibility, depth, moon phase, time of year, and the conditions that consistently produce fish.
Bret Whitman
Apr 211 min read
When to Dive California: A Month-by-Month Guide to Visibility, Temperature, and Fish
Month-by-month breakdown of California diving — water visibility, temperature swings, which species are active, and the best windows to get in the water from San Diego to Monterey.
Bret Whitman
Mar 266 min read
Bluefin Tuna in California: The 25x Boom the Data Proves
California bluefin tuna catches grew 25x in five years. Here's the data behind the boom, when it peaks, and what it means for bluewater divers.
Bret Whitman
Mar 265 min read
California Dive Conditions: Real-Time Visibility, Fish Forecasts, and 33 Spots from San Diego to Humboldt
we built the SpearFactor Dive Conditions Tool — one page, 33 dive spots across all of California, everything you need to know
Bret Whitman
Mar 254 min read
How to Spear California Halibut: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about spearfishing California halibut — from spotting them camouflaged in the sand to shot placement, regulations, best dive spots, and why they are one of the finest fish you will ever eat.
Bret Whitman
Mar 2211 min read
Spearfishing the Channel Islands: A Complete Island-by-Island Guide to California's Best Diving
Island-by-island breakdown of California's Channel Islands — dive spots, MPAs to avoid, target species, seasonal timing, logistics, and safety for Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, Catalina, and San Clemente.
Bret Whitman
Mar 1916 min read
A Beginner's Guide to Spearfishing Orange County, California: Species, Spots, Gear, and Techniques
The complete beginner's guide to spearfishing Orange County, California — covering target species, shore dive spots from Huntington Beach to Dana Point, MPAs, gear recommendations, and seasonal timing.
Bret Whitman
Mar 1718 min read
I Analyzed 827,624 Fish Catches Over 4 Years — Here's What I Found About Yellowtail, White Sea Bass, and Halibut in San Diego
827,624 fish catch records analyzed over 4 years. Here's what the data reveals about yellowtail, white sea bass, and halibut patterns off San Diego.
Bret Whitman
Mar 167 min read
White Sea Bass in California: A Diver's Complete Guide to Regulations, Locations, and Tactics
Cameron Craig of Tag Spearguns with another solid sea bass from 2025.
Bret Whitman
Mar 146 min read
How to Spear Wahoo: Bluewater Tactics for the Fastest Fish in the Ocean
Wahoo are the fastest fish in the ocean and one of the ultimate bluewater targets. Learn the gear setups, flasher rigs, shot placement, and timing that put more wahoo in the boat.
Bret Whitman
Mar 126 min read
Spearfishing Mu (Big Eye Emperor): Hawaii's Most Elusive Reef Prize
Mu (Big Eye Emperor) are the most prized reef fish in Hawaii — skittish, deep-holding, and rarely shot. This guide covers identification, habitat, hunting techniques, and the dive locations where they're found.
Bret Whitman
Mar 107 min read
The 2026 World Freshwater Spearfishing Championship: Everything You Need to Know
If you haven't heard, the 2026 World Freshwater Spearfishing Championship is happening this week at Lake Taupo, New Zealand — and it's shaping up to be one of the most exciting events in the freshwater spearfishing world.
Bret Whitman
Mar 95 min read
The Seven Species of Coral Trout: A Diver's Guide to Identification, Habitat, and Hunting
A diver's identification guide to all seven coral trout species — covering coloration, range, habitat depth, and hunting tactics for each Plectropomus species across the Indo-Pacific.
Bret Whitman
Mar 75 min read
How to Hunt Yellowtail: The West Coast Diver's Complete Species Guide
Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) is the fish most West Coast divers dream about. Big, fast, and incredibly powerful, a quality yellowtail will test everything from your breath-hold to your shooting judgment. I've chased yellowtail off the California coast and down into Baja, and I can honestly say there's no other hunt quite like it. The speed of the chase, the depth you often need to reach them, and the sheer size of a big YT makes landing one a genuinely hard-earned achievement
Bret Whitman
Mar 54 min read
Oregon Opens Rivers and Streams to Spearfishing for Bass and Walleye in 2026
Oregon has opened its rivers and streams to spearfishing for bass and walleye in 2026 — a significant regulation change with new rules on gear, seasons, and legal waters.
Bret Whitman
Mar 54 min read
Spearfishing Australia: A Region-by-Region Guide to Game Fish, Seasons, Hazards, and Charters
Australia offers some of the most diverse spearfishing on earth — from Queensland's coral reefs to WA's open bluewater. Here's a region-by-region breakdown of what to expect.
Bret Whitman
Mar 316 min read
Spearfishing Cobia: Spring Migration Tactics, Gear, and Sight Fishing Tips
How to spearfish cobia. Complete guide covering habitat, behavior, gear, shot placement, and tips for finding and landing these powerful migratory fish while freediving.
Bret Whitman
Mar 27 min read
Freshwater Spearfishing in the Interior States: The Ultimate Guide to Diving Inland Waters
The complete guide to freshwater spearfishing in inland states — regulations by state, clear water techniques, gear for rivers and lakes, target species, top destinations, and safety for divers heading away from the coast.
Bret Whitman
Mar 114 min read
How to Hunt Lionfish: A Diver's Complete Guide to Gear, Technique, and Safety
I'll be honest — when I first heard someone describe lionfish hunting as "the most important thing a diver can do for the reef," I thought it was a bit dramatic. Then I got in the water in the Florida Keys and saw what these fish are actually doing to a reef ecosystem. After that first dive, I became a convert. Lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) are native to the Indo-Pacific, but since the 1980s they've spread across the Gulf of America, Atlantic Coast, and Caribb
Bret Whitman
Feb 276 min read
Hawaii's Shallow Water Blackout Bill: What Every Diver Needs to Know About HB 1765 and Freediving Safety
Hawaii is on the verge of passing one of the most significant pieces of spearfishing safety legislation in the United States. House Bill 1765, introduced in the 2026 legislative session, would require every speargun and pole spear sold, leased, or rented in Hawaii to carry a warning label about the dangers of shallow water blackout. The bill is backed by divers, water safety advocates, dive shop owners, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources. If it passes, it could
Bret Whitman
Feb 277 min read
How to Learn Spearfishing Online: What a Good Course Covers and Why It Matters
What a good online spearfishing course actually covers — freediving safety, gear rigging, hunting technique for kelp, reef, and bluewater — and why it matters before you get in the water.
Bret Whitman
Feb 235 min read
Michigan Just Opened Great Lakes Spearfishing for Walleye, Pike, and Lake Trout: What You Need to Know for April 2026
Brett Leable joining some freshwater diving with his son. If you haven't heard the news yet, Michigan just made one of the biggest moves in the history of freshwater spearfishing in the United States. The Michigan Natural Resources Commission voted unanimously to expand underwater spearfishing regulations across all four Great Lakes bordering the state — Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior. Starting in April 2026, freedivers will be able to legally target walleye, north
Bret Whitman
Feb 236 min read
How to Read the Ocean for Spearfishing: Currents, Tides, Swell, and Conditions
Whether you're a seasoned spearo or just starting out, one skill separates good spearfishers from great ones — the ability to read the ocean. Understanding water conditions, fish behavior, and underwater terrain can mean the difference between coming home with a cooler full of fish or just a great story about the one that got away. 1. Know Your Water Visibility Visibility is the first thing every spearfisher checks. Clear, blue water with 15+ meters of visibility is ideal, bu
Bret Whitman
Feb 202 min read
Common Spearfishing Mistakes Beginners Make and How to Avoid Them
Every spearfisher makes mistakes early on — it's part of the learning curve. But some beginner spearfishing mistakes can ruin an entire dive day, damage expensive gear, or even put you in a dangerous situation underwater. The good news is that most of these errors are completely avoidable once you know what to watch for. After years of diving and mentoring newer spearfishers, I've seen the same handful of mistakes come up over and over again. Whether you're gearing up for you
Bret Whitman
Sep 15, 20244 min read
Freediving Techniques for Spearfishing: Breath-Holding, Equalization, and Safety
Freediving is the engine that drives spearfishing. Without solid breath-holding skills, efficient equalization, and disciplined safety habits, even the best spearfishing gear in the world won't help you land fish consistently. Mastering freediving techniques is what separates casual snorkelers from confident, capable spearfishers who can hunt at depth and stay calm under pressure. Whether you're just getting started or looking to push your depth and bottom time, the fundament
Bret Whitman
May 1, 20244 min read
California Spiny Lobster Season: A Freediver's Complete Guide to Gear, Regulations, and Techniques
Lobster season in California is one of the most exciting times of the year for freedivers and spearfishers alike. Hunting California spiny lobster by hand while freediving is a uniquely thrilling experience — crawling along dark reefs with a flashlight, spotting antennae poking out of a crevice, and making the grab. It's an adrenaline rush that keeps divers coming back season after season. Whether you're a first-time lobster diver or gearing up for another season, having the
Bret Whitman
Oct 20, 20233 min read
How Water Temperature Affects Fish Behavior: A Spearfisher's Guide to Finding Fish
If you want to consistently find and land fish while spearfishing, understanding water temperature is one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal. Fish are cold-blooded animals whose entire behavior — feeding, breeding, and movement patterns — is directly driven by the temperature of the water they live in. Knowing how temperature affects your target species gives you a massive advantage over divers who simply jump in and hope for the best. Every species of fish has a pref
Bret Whitman
Sep 28, 20233 min read
Dry Land Training for Spearfishing and Freediving: How to Stay Dive-Ready Year Round
Spearfishing and freediving are physically demanding sports that require a unique combination of lung capacity, cardiovascular fitness, core strength, and mental discipline. The divers who perform best in the water are the ones who train consistently on land — especially during the off-season when cold water, rough conditions, or travel make regular ocean diving difficult. The good news is that you don't need the ocean to stay in peak diving shape. With the right dry land tra
Bret Whitman
Aug 14, 20233 min read
How to Shoot Bigger Fish While Spearfishing: 5 Rules That Actually Work
Every spearfisher wants to land bigger fish. But consistently connecting with trophy-sized targets isn't about luck — it's about preparation, discipline, and making smart decisions before you ever pull the trigger. The divers who regularly bring home impressive catches all follow the same core principles, and once you understand them, your results will change dramatically. Whether you're chasing pelagics offshore or hunting reef species in close, these five rules will help yo
Bret Whitman
Jul 21, 20233 min read
Saltwater Boat Maintenance for Spearfishers: How to Rinse, Protect, and Store Your Boat
Owning a saltwater boat is the fastest way to access the best spearfishing spots — deep reefs, offshore pinnacles, and remote coastline that shore divers can only dream about. But saltwater is one of the most destructive environments on the planet for boats. Corrosion, salt crystal buildup, UV degradation, and marine growth will quietly destroy your hull, engine, and electronics if you let your guard down. The difference between a boat that lasts two seasons and one that runs
Bret Whitman
Mar 4, 20234 min read
How to Train for Freediving While Landlocked: Breath-Hold, Pool, and Fitness Tips for Spearfishers
Not every spearfisher lives within driving distance of the coast. Whether you're stuck in the middle of the country, traveling for work, or sitting out a long winter season, being landlocked doesn't have to mean losing your freediving fitness. In fact, some of the most effective freediving training happens outside the ocean entirely. The divers who show up to their first dive of the season in peak condition are the ones who trained consistently on land while everyone else sat
Bret Whitman
Mar 1, 20235 min read
How to Maintain Your Speargun: Cleaning, Band Care, Shaft Inspection, and Storage Tips
A speargun is the most critical piece of equipment a spearfisher owns, and the difference between a gun that fires reliably for years and one that fails at the worst possible moment comes down to maintenance. Saltwater, sand, UV exposure, and the sheer stress of loading and firing will wear down bands, corrode metal, and stiffen trigger mechanisms if you don't stay on top of care. The good news is that speargun maintenance is simple, takes only a few minutes after each sessio
Bret Whitman
Feb 27, 20235 min read
How to Care for Your Wetsuit: Rinse, Dry, Store, and Repair Your Neoprene the Right Way
A quality spearfishing or freediving wetsuit is one of your most expensive and essential pieces of dive gear. It keeps you warm in cold water, protects your skin from stings, scrapes, and UV exposure, and directly determines how long you can stay in the water comfortably. But neoprene is surprisingly fragile when it comes to salt, heat, UV light, and improper handling. The same suit that lasts one diver three months can last another diver three years — the difference is entir
Bret Whitman
Feb 27, 20234 min read
3 Remote Spearfishing Spots in Baja California You Need to Dive
Baja California is one of the most incredible spearfishing destinations on the planet. With over 2,000 miles of coastline, warm Pacific and Sea of Cortez waters, and an astonishing diversity of gamefish, Baja offers world-class diving that rivals anywhere in the world. But the real magic happens when you leave the tourist towns behind and venture into the remote stretches of coastline where the pressure is low and the fish are plentiful. These three remote spearfishing spots
Bret Whitman
Feb 25, 20233 min read
Beginner Spearfishing Gear Guide: Simple Recommendations to Get You Started
Getting into spearfishing can feel overwhelming when you start looking at gear. There are dozens of brands, endless options, and a lot of conflicting opinions online. The reality is that you don't need the most expensive equipment to get started — you need reliable, functional spearfishing gear that lets you focus on developing your skills in the water rather than worrying about your setup. Here's my straightforward, simplified gear guide for anyone looking to get into spearf
Bret Whitman
Oct 14, 20223 min read
How to Hunt White Seabass: Spearfishing Tips, Techniques, and What You Need to Know
White seabass are one of the most prized and challenging gamefish for spearfishers along the California coast. They're fast, skittish, and incredibly rewarding to land. Unlike many reef species that hold tight to structure and give you time to set up a shot, white seabass often appear and vanish in seconds. Landing one consistently requires patience, stealth, and a solid understanding of their behavior. Whether you've been chasing white seabass for years or you're targeting t
Bret Whitman
May 15, 20223 min read
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