spearfishing
Breath-hold catch with a crossbow or speargun: allowed for licensed amateurs, but surrounded by rules and bans.
when to use it
Clear water and calm sea, on rocky points, slabs and shoals outside protected areas, always breath-hold and with a buddy. In inland waters it is very restricted: in the Paraná basin the crossbow only counts for exotic and non-native species and artificial lighting is banned; in Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) spearfishing is only allowed for exotic species.
where to look
- rocky shore and slab
- parcel
- wreck outside protected area
- channel edge with clear water
gear
Low-volume mask, snorkel, long fins, neoprene suit suited to the water temperature, weight belt with quick-release buckle, knife, dive flag buoy with line, and a crossbow or speargun sized for the place (shorter in murky water and in caves, longer in blue water). Stringer tied to the buoy, not to your body.
baits and lures
- no bait is used: the techniques are waiting on the bottom, searching holes, and approaching the slab
how to do it
- Get the federal license in the boat category, which is the one required for spearfishing, and check the state rules and banned areas before getting in the water.
- Always dive in pairs: one dives while the other watches from the surface. Tow the marker buoy.
- Don't hyperventilate before a breath-hold, and rest at the surface for at least twice the time of each dive.
- Breath-hold only: scuba tanks, hookah and compressors are banned for spearfishing, and the support boat may not carry compressed air unless the maritime authority requires it.
- Identify the fish with certainty before you shoot. Don't shoot threatened species (goliath grouper, grouper, badejo, caranha, sharks and rays on the list), fish below minimum size, or fish in closed season.
- Shoot only with a clean, close shot to kill quickly. A fish in a deep hole is a lost and wounded fish.
- Keep your distance from swimmers, busy beaches and boats.
common mistakes
- Diving alone or without a marker buoy.
- Hyperventilating before a breath-hold: causes blackout without warning.
- Shooting threatened species, small fish or fish in closed season.
- Fishing in a strictly protected conservation unit or in an area with a ban.
- Using scuba tanks or compressors.
- Tying the stringer of fish to your body.
species
sources and references
- official Portaria SAP/MAPA nº 616/2022 — normas gerais da pesca amadoraGear allowed to amateurs (arts. 4 and 5), bait (art. 11) and transport (arts. 6, 12 and 13), per the app's regras.json.
- official Instrução Normativa IBAMA nº 26/2009 — pesca na bacia do rio ParanáProhibits hooking fish by the body with jerks; in underwater fishing, the crossbow only for exotic and non-native species.
- official Decreto estadual MS nº 15.166/2019 — pesca amadora em Mato Grosso do SulBanned gear, snagging fish by the body, and underwater fishing restricted to exotic species, per the app's regras.json.
- official Lei nº 9.985/2000 (SNUC) — unidades de conservação
- official Lista nacional oficial de espécies ameaçadas de peixes e invertebrados aquáticos (MMA), versão vigenteSpecies and current rules are listed in the app's regras.json; check the current version with the MMA and ICMBio.
- technical Divers Alert Network (DAN) — orientações de segurança em apneia (apagamento e hiperventilação)