What would be a good starting 'speargun' for a new hunter? My birthday is coming up and my wife wants to know what she's getting me.
I dive in the Puget Sound if that makes any difference.
Everyone is trying to get information about your diving experience so we can help you better. If you are an new diver, we will suggest gaining more experience first. If you are an experienced diver and can find fish, compare features with the 38 speacial, AB Biller in a similar length, Riffe guns in a similar length, I have used all three brands and each price level gains comfort and versatility. The metal tech 0 mid handle from Riffe is wonderful for the fish and conditions I hunt, But, I have been spearfishing for over 35 years, and I hunt the biggest fish where I dive.
If you are a beginning diver. . . start diving a lot, find the small baitfish, and learn to swim with them without disturbing them, smooth out your behavior, such as hand waving, bouncing around on the bottom, breathing erraticly, faceing head on at the smaller fish. These behaviors must be eliminated, and your diving skills must progress before you are ready to hunt fish with success.
All fish of any size have been hunted by other fish since they were born. . . they have learned to fear any animal that faces them, as a threat. A hunting diver can get closer to fish by keeping their body pointed away from the target and turning their head slightly in the direction of the fish. This works if you are using a speargun or camera.