Choosing a Speargun on a Budget

First and foremost, the question:

One of the most common requests in life is also one of the most humorous I think, and I still find myself asking it all the time... “What is the best possible product I can buy and I want it for as little money as possible?” Come on, admit it! You asked that question sometime recently haven't you? This common request can be translated as “value.” The best “value” is getting the “most” out of the money you spend. HOWEVER, it is important to stay realistic in your shopping and purchasing.

You ask, “What can I shoot with the speargun I choose?” This is another common question that is difficult to answer because you can “shoot” a 1000 pound Marlin with the oldest, cheapest and rustiest speargun you found in the garbage but your chances of landing the Marlin are pretty slim. My point is this, when you ask for a speargun that you can use for shoreline diving and Blue Water fish AND you want it cheap, you will be sacrificing some part of your spearfishing experience. It's like asking for a Monster Truck with great mileage.

There are spearguns out there that can do both shoreline and Blue Water and they can do them very well but you may need to spend a little more to get the best of both worlds. You see, it is easier and safer to power-down a powerful speargun than it is to power-up a light duty gun. For example, if you take an “entry level” speargun, that may roughly cost $100.00 to $200.00, and try to power it up with three bands to make it shoot like it's larger and more powerful counterparts, you will cause the trigger mechanism to give out and misfire. Not Good! Also, most gun barrels that are designed to use one or two rubber bands are generally skinny and will bow if you add too much power causing the shots to be very inaccurate. Where as, if you were to take a gun that easily uses three bands at a rough cost of $400 - $500 and power it down to one or two bands than the gun will shoot fine and the trigger mechanism nor the barrel strength will even be an issue.

Now, realize there are many Blue Water spearguns on the market for $800 - $1500 or more and that's NOT what I'm talking about “powering down.” I'm talking about using a modest, mid-level gun that will do both shoreline and limited Blue Water spearfishing as is the purpose of this article. If you want to get more into Blue Water spearfishing then you will need to get a Blue Water gun. If you only need a shoreline gun than get a shoreline gun.

There will be those that disagree with what I have stated here because they believe or have even shot large shoreline or Blue Water fish with small, one or two banded light-duty guns. Again, I say, it's not about shooting the fish, it's about landing it. And the appropriate gear will increase your chances of landing a fish once it's speared. I like to ask those divers that claim to have landed large shoreline or Blue Water game fish with small guns how many fish they have lost to how many they have landed? I have listened to countless divers brag about landing HUGE fish with pole spears, Hawaiian Slings or spearguns without line attached to the spear shaft (called free-shafting), but when asked how many fish they lost using that same method they all said the same thing, “Many,” they exclaim! Ask yourself how much it matters to you if you shoot an incredible fish and lose it, time and time again? Hopefully, you will care.

To try and simplify things a bit I will offer you some different ways of thinking about your spearfishing equipment.

Work Tools: Depending upon your occupation you may realize, more or less, how important having the right tools is to your job. You will notice that you work more efficiently, faster and with less effort, even safer with good tools than with not-so-good tools. Imagine building a house by pounding the nails in using the heel of your boot instead of a hammer. You could do it but it might take a little longer your experience will not be pleasurable.

Sports: Depending on your sport you may realize, more or less, how important having the right equipment is to your sport. You will notice that you work more efficiently, faster and with less effort, even safer with good equipment than with not-so-good equipment. Imagine playing professional football wearing no pads and no shoes. You could do it but your experience will not be pleasurable.

Which is why the saying, “you are only as good as your equipment” came from. Well, why would spearfishing be any different? With the right tools and equipment you will have more success, dive safer, have more fun and gain skill faster. If you buy something cheep you can easily become discouraged without giving spearfishing a real chance. I have heard time and time again people that stop spearfishing due to a faulty equipment purchase which is why The Blue Water Hunter writes articles like this and others to inform people so they may make a better, more educated decision when purchasing equipment.

Ultimately, you know your budget best and you need to stay within that budget. Just buy the best piece of equipment you can afford but don't expect too much on a “small” budget. Upgrade as you go along and remember, knowledge is your best friend.

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