Tasos Karteris

Evolution of species.

Summer of 2009. A six-foot man on his monster rib is breaking the waves. He wears a smooth black neoprene suit, while sporting a 120 cm. wooden speargun with two super evolved carbon blades shining in a prominent place. In his full size cooler, a big Grouper and an old lady Dentex are freezing to death! This spearo is proud, no? Nevertheless, this spearo is Sapiens… and Sapiens means wise and selective!

However, things weren't always thus.

Modern spearhunter is also an outcome of human evolution. By that, I don't mean that Apes were dressed in weird physical-mimetic suits, fishing with coconut made guns… Well, if Darwin were a spearo, surely he wouldn't agree on this last one, but whatever. The main issue here is how spearfishing evolved over the past few decades, as many of us seek to understand and describe how this occurred. However, there's even more to talk about, as the modern spearo is a species with a lot of subcategories. Read it all and maybe you will find yourself amongst them. First things first: 

A Brief History

Spearfishing in Europe first appeared in the French Riviera. Coming from Polynesia, it began to expand after the end of World War II. Equipment and techniques were still in primitive stages but the idea of hunting fish in its own natural environment was growing more and more popular. And by “fish” I mean a lot of fish!!! I'm so sick and jealous when I hear the famous stories of those times. Fish were many, big, and stupid! As I read books written in the early 1960s, I freak out: “You only have to dive 4-5 meters, and the Grouper will come out of the rock to observe you. It is the most curious fish of all…” I know what you're thinking, and I think the same: Curious fish only swim in aquariums these days!

Thus, the equipment before the 1970s was limited to the essentials: a mask and a spring gun which had the amazing range of a meter or so! Later on, spearos started to use some sort of plastic fins. Of course, when it came to fishing techniques, (at least in that period) , they simply did not exist. Swimming fast toward the fish, or waiting a few seconds for the curious Grouper mentioned earlier, was enough to ensure a victorious return home! This is sick, I'm telling ya!

From Disco to Hard-Core

After 1970, spearfishing equipage gets better and better. Neoprene suit makes spearo's life warmer. Fins are now longer and faster, although still made from plastic. However, the fundamental change in our sweet hobby happened as we were finally able to overcome the firing range trouble! First came airguns and then our beloved arballetes, which managed to make our hunting easier! On the other hand, fishing techniques are progressively delimited. Even nobler, the ambush makes a huge revolution in the underwater community, and gives happy spearos the opportunity to conquer the haunted castle! 

The named Dentex…

It can't be only Man who is evolving, though. Fish are too! Dorados will not approach so easily anymore; Groupers are understanding better how a human thinks; Dentexes are becoming the “queens of suspicion”, with none of them fooling around anymore at 10 meter depths-rather deeper and deeper…

As we reach the present day, spearfishing equipment is blooming: 10 meter ribs, multi-rubber spearguns, 8 mm. shafts, and revolutionary carbon materials dominate the life of the modern spearo. The disco times of the 1980s has been now replaced with hard-core apneists who are determined to catch the formerly untouchable Golden Grouper at all costs. Hell boy, if you do it safely, why not?

Tribes

Well, that's the story so far. Let's now discuss some of the Spearo Sapiens “tribes”. You see nowadays that spearos are not judged only by their prey, but also by the style in which they pursue it! Certainly, at one time or another all of us have inwardly made this kind of segregation, feeling a bit cooler than the colleague we saw coming out of the water. Therefore, you need not feel guilty. Man is a (sel)fish creature…

The Fish Bagman

He lives among us. He might be the man next door. Some prefer to call him “the rainbow wrasser “. Got it? No? Well, do you remember the guy at the beach who, while you were enjoying your best sunbath ever, came out from water with a sticky fishbag around his waist? Then he started loudly striking a poor octopus onto the rocks, so everyone can admire him. Do you remember? This is the man! This is the fish bagman! He always uses a 5 prong spearhead, while the tribe leaders also wear an old snorkel neoprene shorty! His special feature is with no doubt, the 5 inch Rambo knife which he often uses to kill the rainbow wrasses… I bet that you desperately want to show him the pictures of the 10 kilo Amberjack you speared last week, don't you?

Plus: Well mates, we have to admit that in the beginning of our glorious sea “career” we were all “rainbow wrassers”! No hard feelings. The sea belongs to everyone!

Minus: Hearing your girlfriend say, “Look, there's a spearo like you!”. I know it's outrageous, but trust me on this one: you need to stay cool… 

The Philosopher

You just finished an afternoon session, and a 4 kilo Grouper is hanging from your diving buoy. A guy approaches, takes a look at the fish and smugly says, “I don't spear them unless they are 8 kilos or more…” (This is not fiction mates, it has happened!)

This is the philosopher, a middle-aged spearo who thinks so much of himself, although he spent his youth killing little “meros”. Now, he has strangely turned into the vice president of Greenpeace. Of course, he is the know-it-all type. On the contrary, some members of this tribe are quite sophisticated and humble. You will spot them immediately: they don't speak a lot, avoid giving advice, and just stick to the point.

Plus: Unwillingly, he might reveal some hot fishing spots. Be patient.

Minus: A 4 minute ambush my friend? Ha! I'm not buying it!

New Gen

Now we're talking! He's around 30 and his spearing staff can easily fill up a room! It doesn't matter if it is summer or winter. The New Gen spearo never misses a chance to go to the sea. He compares and analyzes the dive logs from his suunto, and decorates his room with Renzo Mazzari posters!

Sooner or later, every friendly chat comes around to spearfishing,. Surely he will be more frustrated shooting wide off a Dentex than breaking up with his girl. Ring a bell? Look in the mirror, Man! In the future he may slow down a bit, but his spearfishing passion is never lost. He eventually grows up wiser. We're talking about the people who discovered the meaning of life in their water-centered universe.

Plus: New Gen tribe never dives alone and most importantly, hunts selectively!

Minus: Minus what?

The Grand Blue Tribe

In the past few years some weird dudes came along, who dove 60 meters cleanly and could hold their breath for around 7 minutes! But that's not the weirdest part! These people have only a small interest for spearfishing! Can you believe it? Yes, they are free-divers. They are one of the toughest athletes in the world. They dedicate many hours to the pool, every day in the gym, and eat a disciplined diet all year long. Strangely they prefer hunting down a record more than Tuna… As a matter of fact, sometimes the blue magic of free diving can be more touching than a boring-no fish-day at sea, no?

Plus: They are a kind of passe-partout. Free-divers, spearos, underwater cameramen etc…

Minus: Man, you can go down there, but you can't catch the poor soul Sargo? What a pity…

Trendy Sub!

Trendy Sub is the New Gen tribe's next step. Loose, relaxed, a traveler, all natural playboy spearo! Fish is not an end in itself anymore, but only the path to a splendid lifetime. Eating sashimi with the girl and having exciting dialogues like this:

-I love you babe but duty calls me…

-Where?

-Coral sea…

His vigor of youth is now reflecting on qualitative “prey” in and out of the water: White Grouper, new birds, bikes, fast cars, and trips to breathtaking destinations.

Plus: Sandals and flowered shirts are so fashionable this year! How about a trendy wetsuit?

Minus: You are too loose brother! Don't forget: visiting the deep reef is still your idea of having fun!


Well that's about it. There are many other species, I know. Maybe in a future article we will expand on that topic. For example, the story-teller spearo needs a book of his own.. The borders which separate each tribe's territories are often hard to see. Hence, if we combine the best from all, we will build the perfect spearo. In any case, every spearo who dives safely and doesn't break the law is most welcome in our small underwater society. Yep, even you with that Rambo knife… Let's come together!