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. Taking place March 13–14, this competition brings together elite divers from around the globe, all competing in the crystal-clear waters of one of the Southern Hemisphere's most iconic lakes. Whether you're a seasoned competitor or just getting into freshwater diving, this event is worth paying attention to.

What Is the World Freshwater Spearfishing Championship?

Freshwater spearfishing doesn't always get the attention it deserves. Most of us think about reef dives and blue water hunts when we hear the word spearfishing, but there's a growing community of divers who are passionate about rivers, lakes, and freshwater systems. The World Freshwater Spearfishing Championship is the pinnacle event for this discipline, organized by the National Freshwater Spearfishing Association (NFSA) in partnership with Spearfishing New Zealand.

This year marks a milestone because the event is being held at Lake Taupo — the largest freshwater lake in New Zealand and a body of water that sits inside an ancient volcanic caldera. Taupo is world-famous for its trout fishing, but the championship has a different target species this year, and there's a very good reason for that.

The Target: Invasive Brown Bullhead Catfish

Here's where it gets interesting from a conservation standpoint. The primary target species for the 2026 championship is the brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus) — an invasive species that has been wreaking havoc on Lake Taupo's ecosystem for decades. Originally from North America, these bottom-dwelling catfish were introduced to New Zealand in the 1870s and have since become a serious ecological problem.

Brown bullheads stir up sediment, destroy native plant beds, and compete with native species for food and habitat. They're tough, adaptable, and reproduce quickly. By making them the target species, the championship turns competitive spearfishing into a direct conservation effort — divers are literally helping rid the lake of a destructive pest. I love when our sport can align with meaningful environmental work, and this is a perfect example.

Competition Format and Categories

The championship runs across two competition days, March 13 and 14, with the event headquarters based at the Motuoapa Fishing and Boating Club on the southern shore of Lake Taupo. One of the things that makes this event special is the variety of categories available. This isn't just a single open division — it's structured to welcome a wide range of divers.

The categories include Men's Pairs, Women's Pairs, Junior Pairs (under 18), Master's Pairs (55 and over), and Mixed Pairs. Each country can send up to two pairs per category, with the host country New Zealand allowed four pairs and the next host nation receiving three. This pairs format means you need a reliable dive buddy, someone you trust and communicate well with underwater — which is a great reflection of how we should always approach diving.

I especially appreciate seeing Junior and Master's divisions. Growing our sport means welcoming younger divers into competition while also acknowledging that experience doesn't expire at a certain age. If you're thinking about getting younger family members involved in spearfishing, a structured event like this with proper safety protocols is a great introduction. And speaking of safety, if you haven't already, make sure anyone entering the water has a solid foundation — check out the free freediving safety course at freedivingsafety.com.

Why Lake Taupo Is the Perfect Venue

Lake Taupo is massive — roughly 616 square kilometers of freshwater sitting at an elevation of about 356 meters. The lake ranges from shallow bays to depths exceeding 160 meters in places, which creates diverse underwater terrain for competitors to navigate. Water temperatures in March (early autumn in the Southern Hemisphere) are typically warm and comfortable, usually in the low 20s Celsius (around 68–72°F). Visibility varies but can be excellent in certain areas, especially along the volcanic shoreline.

For freshwater spearfishing, the conditions at Taupo are close to ideal. There are minimal currents compared to river systems, the water is warm enough that you won't need extremely thick wetsuits, and the lake's sheer size means competitors won't be on top of each other. The volcanic geology also creates interesting structure underwater — rocky shelves, drop-offs, and weed beds that catfish love to inhabit.

Freshwater Spearfishing: A Growing Discipline

One of the reasons I wanted to highlight this championship is because freshwater spearfishing is genuinely growing worldwide. In the U.S., states like Oregon have recently expanded regulations to allow spearfishing for bass and walleye in rivers and streams. Australia and South Africa have active freshwater scenes. And New Zealand has been at the forefront of freshwater competitions for years.

Freshwater diving presents unique challenges compared to ocean spearfishing. Visibility can change rapidly depending on weather, runoff, and bottom composition. Target species behave differently in freshwater — catfish, for example, are largely bottom-dwellers that hang out in murky structure, so you need to be comfortable diving in conditions that are less predictable than your typical tropical reef. Current management, temperature layering (thermoclines), and navigating around submerged timber and vegetation are all skills that freshwater divers develop over time.

If you've been thinking about trying freshwater spearfishing but aren't sure where to start, the fundamentals are the same as ocean diving — breath-hold technique, proper equalization, buddy safety protocols, and understanding your equipment. The SpearFactor Master Class at spearfactor.com covers all of these fundamentals, and they translate directly to freshwater environments.

How to Get Involved in Future Competitions

Even if you can't make it to Lake Taupo this week, this championship is a great reminder that competitive spearfishing opportunities exist at many levels. Most countries have national spearfishing organizations that run qualifying events and regional competitions. In the U.S., organizations like the United States Freediving Association and various state spearfishing clubs regularly hold competitions.

To compete internationally, you'll typically need to qualify through your national body and represent your country. The selection process varies, but it usually involves demonstrating skill in national-level competitions. If international competition is a long-term goal, start by connecting with your local spearfishing community and entering regional events. The experience you gain — diving under pressure, managing your time, selecting target species strategically — is invaluable whether or not you ever make it to the world stage.

Conservation Through Competition

What I find most compelling about this particular championship is the conservation angle. Invasive species removal is one of the most tangible ways divers can contribute to healthy ecosystems. Brown bullhead catfish don't belong in Lake Taupo, and every one that's removed during competition is one less fish degrading native habitat. This model — targeting invasive species in competition — is something I'd love to see adopted more widely. Imagine freshwater spearfishing tournaments in the U.S. targeting invasive Asian carp, or competitions in the Mediterranean focused on lionfish. The potential for our sport to drive real conservation outcomes is enormous.

If you're passionate about both spearfishing and protecting our waterways, make sure you're equipped with the right knowledge and skills. Download the free Emergency Procedures checklist from SpearFactor — because whether you're diving in the ocean or a freshwater lake, preparation is everything. And if you're ready to level up your overall diving game, explore the courses and resources at spearfactor.com. The skills you build will serve you well in any body of water, from tropical reefs to New Zealand's volcanic lakes.

Good luck to all the competitors heading to Lake Taupo this week. I'll be following the results closely — and if you're there, I'd love to hear how it goes.

Photo credits: Lake Taupo by Avenue via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0); Brown bullhead catfish via Wikimedia Commons; Diver with catch by Government Press Office of Israel via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).