Spearfishing is one of those sports that looks deceptively simple from the outside. You hold your breath, dive down, and shoot a fish. But anyone who has actually tried it knows the reality is far more complex. Between freediving technique, gear selection, ocean reading, fish behavior, rigging setups, and safety protocols, there is an enormous amount of knowledge that separates a beginner who struggles to land anything from a confident diver who consistently puts fish on the

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

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

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

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

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

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

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