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| So You Want to be an Underwater Hunter? Here Are Some Things to Consider First |
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Author |
: Dale Sheckler |
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Date |
: October 24, 2009 |
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There are certain things that want-a-be divers say to me that just make me cringe. A statement I have heard more than once is, 'I can't wait to get certified, get a speargun and go down there and kill something.' Yikes. Scary.
Those days are long gone, if they ever existed at all. Haphazard underwater hunting is no more. Underwater hunting now takes responsible consideration before ever venturing forth. It takes education and common sense. Without these virtues, you will at best waste a lot of money and time and, at worst, put yourself in harms way and do irreparable damage to the underwater environment.
So you want to be an underwater hunter. So you want to gather seafood from the ocean. Great. I have nothing against that so long as you fully understand and follow Fish and Game rules and laws, and that is your first hurdle. In the last few years, Fish and Game laws have become tremendously strict and complicated. Size and number limits are prolific and apply to more species than ever. There are stamps, tags and report cards. New preserves have been put into place and more are coming. And if you don't follow the laws to the letter, you will suffer stiff fines of several hundred, if not thousands, of dollars. Jail time is even common. And ignorance of the laws is no excuse. Take the time to thoroughly read and know the regulations, particularly on the animals you wish to take. And don't fudge on the laws even a just a little bit. They will bust you.
Second, quality spearfishing gear is expensive. And you don't want anything less than good quality. With poor or improper gear you are more likely to just wound a fish leaving to just swim off and die, wasted. Don't try to shoot a large fish with an underpowered gun. This failure will not only just hurt the fish it could put you in danger as well.
Take the time to develop your diving skills. A sloppy diver will make for a sloppy, and dangerous, underwater hunter.
Most spearfishing these days is done by an elite group of very serious free-divers. They stalk the most challenging and rewarding species -- white sea bass, yellowtail, even tuna. This kind of spearfishing takes years, even decades of discipline to become proficient. I genuinely admire these hunters.
If you are interested in underwater hunting, even just to gather a lobster or some scallops, take an underwater hunting specialty course. Not only will you become more familiar with Fish and Game laws, you will also learn the nuances that will allow you to deal with a Department of Fish and Game officer should you encounter one (and sooner or later you will). With an underwater hunting course you will learn how to avoid peripheral damage to the environment as you hunt. Judging sizes underwater will be included. Also taught will be proper gear, diving techniques and locations. The course will maximize your safety, efficiency and success.
Be selective in you quarry. Some game fall within the category of "sustainable fishery." This category is for seafood that is still in good supply and, through the proper fisheries management in place, are expected to stay that way. Halibut and lobster, for example, fall within the sustainable fisheries category. Rockfish do not. (For a good list of species that fall in the sustainable fishery category go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium website at www.montereybayaquarium.org and click on "Seawatch.")
Then as you venture forth use common sense. Seafood is only good when it is genuinely fresh just a few hours old. Take only what you and your family will be consuming in just the next few days. You are not here to supply your neighborhood or mechanic with seafood. That is irresponsible. Don't take all the animals off one particular area of a reef. If there is only a couple of scallops on a reef, leave them be. Take only from areas where the desired species is abundant. Know how to prepare the seafood properly and consume all you take. Remember, you are taking from the sea. You will be making an impact on the environment of the ocean. Minimize that impact.
And finally, safety is paramount. It is easy to get your head out of whack while chasing prey. Getting that lobster or abalone is not worth risking your life. And it seems every lobster season a diver pays the ultimate price trying to get that last big bug.
Hunting seafood underwater can be a rewarding pursuit. But it takes responsibility. Go into it with your eyes wide open. Protect the environment you are taking from. Be safe. Most importantly become educated. Underwater hunting is now a complicated pursuit that requires knowledge, skills and common sense.
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