Feeling lost at sea and don't know where to start? Avoid rookie mistakes and learn the essentials to dive in with confidence and safety.
What is Spearfishing?
This activity involves catching fish and shellfish underwater using a speargun. Unlike other fishing methods, it doesn't use lines or nets, making it a more selective and sustainable practice.
Spearfishing is a freediving activity that demands technique, patience, and physical endurance. At first, controlling your breath, improving your aim, or anticipating fish movements might feel challenging, but with practice, it all becomes second nature.
If you're just starting out, this beginner’s guide to spearfishing is for you! We'll help you understand fishing regulations, choose the right equipment, and dive into the water with greater confidence.
Spearfishing Regulations in Portugal
Before you begin spearfishing in Portugal, it's essential to understand the local regulations. Spearfishing is permitted throughout the country but is governed by rules aimed at ensuring the safety of divers and protecting marine ecosystems.
A spearfishing license is mandatory for anyone aged 16 or older and can be obtained from the Direção-Geral de Recursos Naturais, Segurança e Serviços Marítimos (DGRM). Always carry your license when practicing! Those under 16 may only spearfish if accompanied by a licensed adult.
Although the law doesn't require a medical certificate or insurance, it is highly recommended to ensure you're physically fit before entering the water. Spearfishing is demanding and involves considerable apnea efforts! While not mandatory, having a personal accident and liability insurance is strongly advised too.
Other specific rules must also be carried out:
- Daily catch limits: You may only capture up to 15 kg of fish per day, excluding the largest individual fish caught. Capturing protected species such as groupers, seahorses, lobsters, or crayfish is strictly forbidden. If you accidentally catch any protected species, you must immediately return it to the sea.
- Restricted areas: Spearfishing is prohibited in swimming areas, navigation channels, harbor entrances, or protected marine areas.
- Permitted hours: For safety reasons, spearfishing is only allowed during daylight hours, from sunrise to sunset.
Spearfishing Equipment
Using the right equipment is essential to practice this sport safely and effectively! Each piece of spearfishing gear serves a specific purpose and contributes to your performance and safety during dives. Here are the main items you should take with you into the sea:
- Spearfishing wetsuit: crucial for protecting your body from cold temperatures, sunburns, and abrasions caused by rocks or marine life. It also improves buoyancy and thermal comfort during immersion.
- Speargun: this is the tool used for catching fish. There are various models available, from pneumatic to band-powered. Your choice will depend on your experience level, targeted fish species, and diving depth. Don't forget the bag to safely carry your gear!
- Dive knife: an indispensable safety tool. It allows you to free yourself quickly from fishing lines or nets in emergencies and helps handle caught fish safely.
- Mask and snorkel: the mask provides clear visibility underwater, which is essential for spotting your targets. The snorkel lets you breathe comfortably at the surface without having to repeatedly raise your head, improving efficiency between dives.
- Spearfishing fins: these enhance propulsion and reduce physical effort underwater. They're especially important for covering greater distances and enabling controlled and safe ascents.
- Signal buoy: legally mandatory, this buoy signals your position at the surface, alerting boats and ensuring your safety. It can also be used to transport caught fish and provide support for resting periods.
This set of equipment ensures safe, effective, and compliant spearfishing. Investing in quality gear is essential for confidently and responsibly enjoying your time in the ocean!
4 Types of Spearfishing Techniques
Stalking
Also known as the “Indian approach”, this technique involves a slow, silent approach toward fish, using underwater terrain, rocks, and vegetation to camouflage your presence. It's frequently practiced in shallow coastal areas with ample cover, such as seaweed beds or hard bottoms.
Species like sea bream, mullet, and sea bass can be effectively caught using this method. Maintaining controlled movements and minimal noise is essential. This technique requires short breath-holds and constant awareness of fish movement and sea conditions.
Ambush Spearfishing
This method involves diving down to the seabed and remaining completely still. It's particularly effective for attracting curious or territorial fish such as sea bass, gilthead bream, and sea bream. Usually performed at depths ranging between 5 and 15 meters, it demands good apnea control and patience. Using a medium-to-long-sized speargun and effective camouflage significantly increases your chances of success.
Hole Hunting
Ideal for those who enjoy exploring underwater nooks and crannies, this method focuses on finding fish and octopuses hidden in caves, holes, or rocky crevices. A flashlight is crucial, and the speargun should be short to ensure easy maneuverability in tight spaces.
Species such as conger eels, moray eels, and octopuses often take shelter in these areas. Hole hunting is especially productive on days with rough sea conditions or poor visibility and is commonly practiced by beginners due to its relative safety.
Blue Water Hunting
This advanced technique is conducted in open waters, typically offshore, where the seabed is beyond reach. It involves drifting in mid-water, often utilizing flotation and attraction systems, waiting for large pelagic species such as amberjack, tuna, or mahi-mahi. Blue water hunting requires excellent buoyancy control, significant apnea diving experience, and support from a boat.
Commonly practiced around the Azores and Madeira islands, where deep and crystal-clear waters are ideal, it is demanding but offers the chance to capture large specimens and an adrenaline-filled experience!
Where to Spearfish in Portugal
Portugal offers a diverse and exceptionally rich coastline for spearfishing, with ideal conditions spanning the mainland and islands alike. You can explore everything from stony seafloor and calm waters to strong currents and great depths. This variety of fishing environments results in an abundance of species to target!
Costa Vicentina
Stretching from Sines to Sagres, divers find mixed seabeds, clear waters, and relatively low human presence. It’s one of the top areas to catch species like sea bream, sea bass, gilthead bream, conger eel, and octopus. The Atlantic’s cooler waters and excellent visibility make this coastline especially appealing for experienced spearfishers.
Arrábida Region
Further north, the Arrábida area between Sesimbra and Setúbal stands out with its sheltered bays, calm waters, and moderate depth — ideal conditions for beginners! Common catches here include octopus, conger eel, triggerfish, wrasse, and sea bream. The natural reefs and gentle slopes are perfect for ambush and stalking techniques.
Azores e Madeira
When looking at Portugal’s islands, the scenario changes! Volcanic seabeds, exceptional visibility, and pelagic species offer unique spearfishing opportunities. In the Azores, it’s common to encounter amberjack, barracuda, bluefish, snapper, and red porgy. Madeira, on the other hand, is notable for species like wrasse, black moray eel, triggerfish, and occasionally grouper in deeper areas.
Northern Coast
From Viana do Castelo to Porto, though less frequently explored, there are still promising spearfishing opportunities. The waters here are colder and rougher, yet it’s possible to find good specimens of sea bass, sea bream, and conger eel. Rocky bottoms and port areas also offer interesting possibilities for hole hunting.
Spearfishing in Portugal is challenging yet highly rewarding. With diverse coastal areas suitable for this activity, you can catch various species throughout much of the year. If you’re just beginning, understanding local regulations, practicing safety measures, and regularly training to build your skills and confidence are essential. With proper preparation and the right gear, spearfishing can lead to impressive catches. Have any questions? Share them with us in the comments!