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I do it every once in a while when I'm in the Keys. It's not as easy as people think. It's like anything else. You've got to learn the techniques like how to sneak up on the fish. It's much harder to approach certain species and spear in areas with heavy spear fishing pressure. My first time out I nailed Red Grouper and a Hogfish. I had a blast. Make sure you know the laws and be respectful of the fisherman/women in the area so they don't start chumming for sharks while your in the water!!! www.spearboard.com is a great source of info.
That pic is a bit misleading. Tuna are taken using a float line. The spear line is attached to the float line, the fish is shot, and either the gun and line is released, or the shooting line and float line separates from the gun. The fish is held up by the float, and is either dispatched by diving down to it, or dragging it up to the surface.
That pic appears to be taken by diving back under after the fish was subdued.
But, yes, a lot of the bluewater hunters are a little on the wacko side. It's pretty darned impressive to watch someone hold their breath for two, three, or four minutes. Some of these guys work the 100 ft line. Not me, man.
My dad and I spearfish for Striper along the Jersey shore. Sometimes it's less that 1 foot visibility so you carry the gun really close. All breath holding, no tanks. We do it along the jetties. My Dad has a website - http://realfish-underwater.com/
Spearfish on the rigs almost every weekend off the coast of La. Most intense, exhilerating sport I have ever been part of. Hunting under water! You got to have it in you. It is also a lot of work. Very worth it to me.
Great deal of fun, difficulty depends on the fish you're hunting. Over here, a hogfish will swim right up to you and let you stone him; but the gag grouper will often prove to be a much more elusive and smarter target.
Go to spearboard.com- you'll see some impressive shooters there.
Tried it a few times many years ago. Used a Hawain sling, not a speargun & no scuba gear. Not easy. Gave up after a large barracuda parked himself right in front of me one day & almost dared me to give it my best shot. "Did I feel lucky chump?" No & the boat was almost 200 yds away. Score, bari 1, Doug 0.
Been certified since 1968, hunting since the beginning. Monterey & Carmel Bay hold lingcod to 25 lbs, 5-6 lb rockfish, halibut up to 45 lbs. Further north is abalone, further south out to the channel islands are lobster, yellowtail and white sea bass.
There are many days when the fishing is poor, but the diving is great, or vice versa. Being able to go either way adds months to our season (diving is best in winter around here- Lobster season does not even open until October). In many ways, I perfer spearfishing to hook and line fishing- you are always busy, and activly hunting is more fun that waiting for something to bite. Plus, you can be very selective on what you take.
Here are a couple of fish I speared while freediving in the Sea of Cortez last year. The Tuna went #264 and the Black Marlin went approx. #275.
I almost drowned when the line didnt release from the gun after I shot the Tuna. I was dragged down to 50 feet before the line released. It took 3 arrows, over an hour, and a knife to the brain before I was able to land her.
anybody every try spearfishing? 
Right on Westbootie 
