Spearfishing in Turkey

Text: Memo Arikok

It’s been 26 years since I looked down into the blue sea over my father’s shoulders. It
was a typical Aegean summer on the Turkish coast where glittering sun was trying to find
a way in between all those pine trees. Now, at 31 years of age with quite a few wrinkles
on my face, I still find it fascinating to watch the sun and to gaze at the hypnotizing
blue of Mediterranean waters. My name is Memo and I live in a country surrounded by seas.
I’m trying to shape my life around the sea and spear fishing is my Zen. Although I don’t
consider myself an expert, I do my best to travel and dive around the endless shores of
Turkey. In the following pages I will try to give you the most essential information
about spear fishing in Turkey.


Weather Conditions:
Turkey is a country surrounded by three major seas and an inner sea; Mediterranean to the
south, Aegean in the west, Black Sea off the north, and the Marmara, which is located in
between the straights. It is also one of the only two countries that has a coastline with
Greece along the Aegean Sea. Starting from the Syrian border up to Georgia, the total
coastline of Turkey stretches over 1700 km. Although there are significant differences in
climate conditions from one region to another, in general it can be said that
Mediterranean and Aegean coasts have cool, rainy winters and hot summers.  In contrast,
the  Black Sea region has heavy showers in winters with a relatively short, warm summer.
Unlike the rough scenery of most places, winter months are quite predictable. In the
north parts of the ountry the temperature drops down to 6-7 degrees C. During this
period, whereas the southern coast at the same time of the year shows an average of 16.
Heavy showers and strong breezes define the rough image of winter months, but in winter
months we usually have a lot of days whithout a crinkle on the surface of the water. On
the other hand, summers are dominated with thermal winds in Turkey. Water temperatures
reach up to 22 degrees in the Black Sea and a tropical 30 off the south coasts. As the
sun goes up the strength of the wind picks up during a typical summer day.

Fish & techniques
There are around 350 species of fish in Turkish waters, but the ones that are important
for spearos can be listed briefly as follows: Dentex, Amberjack, brown meagre, Sargos,
Blue Fish, Mottled Grouper, Bonito, Sea Bass, Gilthead Bream, common Sea Bream, Gold
blotch Grouper and the gigantic Blue Fin Tuna. It is also not very hard to find some
oceanic species like Spanish Mackerel and Mahi Mahi in almost all waters apart from the
Black Sea. I wish I could say that fishing is easy and the prey is calm in Mediterranean
waters, but it is generally not the case. Unlike the stories from the previous generation
of underwater fishermen, most of the time these days, trophy fish are fairly hard to
catch. A lot of techniques can be used to catch fish. Depending on the region and season,
one can use the following methods: waiting at the bottom, stalking, catching the prey on
the fall, and cave fishing.  These are the most efficient tactics that a spearo can use.
No matter how wise the prey is, it is always possible to find a gap in their alertness to
approach and finally to catch. If you have the opportunity to follow the fish all season
long, it is possible to catch trophies even in very shallow waters. Especially in summer
months, your fitness and apnea skills paces one step ahead to find proper places and to
catch mighty species like Dentex Dentex.


Gear:
With the progress of technology and design in spear fishing equipment, a lot of options
are available in the market nowadays. Your favorite mask and free diving fins will be
your best friends in all regions to watch the beauties of Poseidon. Unfortunately, there
is not a unique setup to enjoy all waters in all seasons. The clear and warm waters of
the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas usually need high power and long range spear guns for
techniques like stalking, waiting, and catching the prey on the fall. It can generally be
said that a spear gun with multiple elastics and a range over 4 meters is not overkill if
you wish to land decent prey. Whereas a 75 cm. single elastic spear gun would be
sufficient to fish in the holes or under the rocks. The Black Sea region, on the other
hand, with its usually murky waters and sea bed with big boulders, would be suitable for
a 90 cm. gun for all techniques. Additionally, a reel is very advisable in Mediterranean
waters to fight with big specimens and to have safer dives. In the southern and western
parts of the country, spearos can use a full range of wetsuits from 3 mm. to 7 mm.,
depending on the season. Meanwhile, for the Black Sea, a 5 mm. suit would be ideal for
summer. For cold and rough winter days you should look for a wetsuit thicker than armor.
CAUTION: Boating enthusiasts are usually in the habit of watching divers from too close a
distance at high speeds.  Although a marker float is not obligatory by law, it is
advisable to carry one, especially in summer months in places where there is heavy water
traffic.

Highlights:
Generally you can say that Turkey is a very safe place for spear fishing. There is no
danger of sharks, nor toxic marine animals. However, the crystal clear and warm waters
give motivation to push the limits. Every year lots of free divers lose their lives
because of shallow water black-out .Visitors should always be careful not to take
unnecessary risks. The best seasons for fishing in Turkey are in spring and in autumn. In
spring, most trophy fish come to shallow waters to lay eggs and also thermo cline starts
to appear at shallow depths. Following the borderline of warm and cold water is always
important to find decent fish. In most of the places, and especially near the off-shore
reefs, a boat becomes essential. Local fishermen are usually helpful in showing good
spots and for a little fee they can provide daily trips along with their valuable
guidance. Although weather in Turkey is predictable, the sudden gusts and storms of the
Aegean Sea are famous. Reports from the Turkish Meteorological Institute are accurate
with detailed charts, and it is a good idea to check their website right before each
diving day. Foreign tourists need a diving permit from the Ministry of Agriculture in
order to spear fish in Turkish waters. A travel agency or a diving club with a permit for
tourist fishing can get necessary papers. Each fishing coupon (valid for 3 days) costs
around TL 15. Only free diving is allowed for spear fishing and you can use your spear
gun only during the daytime. Caught fish cannot be sold.  Dusky Grouper and White Grouper
are restricted species and it is forbidden to spear fish on public beaches, in ports, in
freshwater mouths, and near military objects. There are 56 local marine protection zones.
Divers should check with their guide agency.

Location, Accommodation, and Traveling tips:
Wherever you are planning your vacation in Turkey, there is probably a good spot to spear
fish too. Due to the continuous water circulation and surface currents in the southwest
and northwest parts of country, there is a lot of sea life during summer months. Every
region will show you different seabed and water characteristics. You can find a
reasonable 5 meter visibility in the Black Sea or a to-good-to-be-true 40 meter view in
the southern and western regions. Obviously, the farther you travel from civilization ,
the better the fishing conditions. In almost all areas along the coast line, there are
many options for accommodations.  These range from bed and breakfasts locations, and
pensions, to a luxurious boutique hotel. The best option for real sea lovers is the Blue
Cruise, on which you can sail across the untouched bays in the comfort of a classical
wooden sail boat. Depending on your budget, you can book passage in a group of (maximum)
sixteen people, or arrange to book the whole boat with your friends. The crew will always
be ambitious about showing you interesting places and preparing your catches, as most of
them usually enjoy our sport. While you are traveling along the coast of Turkey it is
always a must to carry sun lotion and a hat, especially during the summer. There are
plenty of currency exchange offices, which usually give better rates than the banks, to
exchange your currency into Turkish Lira.
Turkish cuisine, especially in the little coast towns, is exceptionally healthy and food
is cheap. It would be a good idea to have meals at the crowded restaurants because
tourist places are well inspected. You can discover some heavenly tastes at the rustic
places so don’t be shy and be sure to experiment.


Epilogue:
Broadly speaking, having a dive trip in Turkey is an experience on its own. Apart from
the dreamy scenery of coast line and amazing sea, there will always be a challenge in
your dives. Whether you find the record size Sea Bass of the Black Sea, the monster Brown
Meagre and Sargo of the Marmara Sea, the rough but blessed waters of the Straights, or
the barrel chested devil Dentex of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, Turkey will give
you a lot of nice memories that you will never forget.