Not shooting straight is probably the thing stresses a spearfishermen out more that anything else. There are so many factors involved in getting the shot right, that when it goes wrong we are often left with more questions than answers.

On Saturday I missed an absolute ‘sitter’, a good sized Queen Mackerel or Natal snoek swam past while I was lying on the reef. And I duffed the shot completely!! The fish was close and I got over confident and took the shot without aiming properly and totally missed the fish.

This made me think of some of the basics I had ignored, and thought that it would make a good article for the Spearfishing tips pages. So here are some basics that I have learnt over the years that will help you shoot straight.

1. The starting point is always going to be your equipment. If this is dodgy then you will be at a disadvantage from word go. I used to dive with spears that I had kind of made straight and missed loads of fish. My dive buddy at the time invested in straight spears, and looked after his equipment ……. He always got more fish.
   
   To make my point I will let you in on something, if the tricut on your standard spear is not centered (exactly symmetrical) you spear with constantly shoot off center. So how much more will a bent spear shoot off center?
   
   Rob Allen is one of the few guys that spends hours in a pool testing and evaluating every thing he makes. Recently he changed the barb on his spears, flattening the lip by a mil or so. I asked why he had done this and he said that the steel that they are now using got so good that it is stiffer than it used to be and now does not sag out the front of the muzzle as much. (I am talking fractions here!!) And he said that before the lip used to compensate for the sag, but now the spears did not sag as much and there was no need to have the as much of a lip.
   
   So make sure you have straight spears, its just not worth diving with bent ones… you never know when that ‘Great Opportunity’ swims past. Leave no room for doubt!!
   
   

2. Concentrating! I miss more fish for no other reason that not concentrating. Its like I have to remind my self to think. I am not sure if it is because you get zoned out on the bottom or what, but I either don’t aim properly or when using a large gun don’t hold it tight enough and the recoil gets me.
   
   I am teaching my lighty to dive and have come up with some helpfully tips. (it must be working his last 2 fish were shot in the head)
   - Pick a spot on the fish and focus on it.
   - take aim at the spot … keep the focus on the spot and not on the gun.
   don’t ask me why but this seems to work.
   
   I mentioned recoil, this is the prime reason guys miss with larger more powerful guns. I read an article in a spearo mag were they did gun tests. All the guns did ok, one gun did not do so well. I found it odd as it was one ‘best’ guns on the market. I puzzled for a while, and then it finally clicked. In the article they guys testing the gun said they really battled to load it. They did not have this problem with the other guns. And it started to make sense.
   
   Most modern guns if the spear is straight and set up well should be accurate, it greatest margin for error is in the diver. These guys were shooting less powerful guns all day, then coming to a more powerful setup and probably did not change the way they were shooting.
   
   I know of more than one diver that has shelved their double rubber guns after their first experience with them. And its all in the recoil, also remember that it is very easy to over power these guns and not go over board. It is only going to make the gun difficult to handle.
   
   So the way to over come recoil is:
   1. Shoot with a straight arm, with your elbow locked.
   2. A firm grip is essential and will also help stiffen your wrist.
   3. CONCENTRATE and brace yourself, expect this thing to kick, and that will be half the battle won.
   4. If this fails time in the pool you will soon work it out there.
   
   

3. Build confidence, this can be done in a pool or just by time in the water. Firstly you can work on how you are aiming and what works for you. There are many techniques and no one is best. Find what works for you and try stick with it. Chopping and changing will only break you confidence and rhythm.
   A pool is great for this it is amazing to get some shots in and know that your equipment is 100s. You can also experiment.. with out loosing fish.
   
   Once you have a rig and technique that works try stick to it for at least a season. I have an old faithful Ild style Rob Allen 1.3m, set up with a 7mm / 1.8m spear and a powered up 20mm rubber. I know the spear is long (old school) but this combo just works for me and I just don’t seem to miss with it. Even at max range which is well over 6m with the double wrap shooting line, I still seem to hit what I aim at.

Lastly remember that spearfishing is a sport where there are so many variables, it’s not an exact science. Things like visibility and depth can all have an effect, especially if you are not familiar with those types of conditions. The point is that every one misses from time to time, I know that I am definitely not the best shot in the water. But nailing down the basics helps give you the security and confidence that things are going to go well, and that is the right foot to start off on.

It is a mental game aswell, I have missed with a gun, put it a side or changed the spear, and gone on to shoot some amazing shots. Only to come back to find that there was nothing actually wrong with the spear, rubber or gun. I just needed to have confidence in my equipment, by leaving no room for doubt. The converse is obviously true I have also found that a spear was slightly bent or barb not closing properly, and have either fixed the problem or ditched it.

I must say that there is a weird relief to find out that the reason you were missing was because your spear was bent, and that it was not something you did.

So look after your equipment, leave no room for doubt. Prepare your self mentally that everything is working in your favor and go and shoot some fish!

Coatesman