I guess everyone has a differnent idea here, but I recommend everyone start with a pole spear, but they do have limited range, unless you get one of those uber long Hawaiian jobs, but they are hard to handle in the water. Pole spear is mostly for fish hiding in a hole or crack, and is sitting still. So learn your fish, and don't bother with a swimmer. Hard to out swim a fish trying to get away from you swimming after it. There are experts who take a lot of fish with a spear, but if the fish are educated (been hunted before by a spearo), they know how to stay out of range of your spear. Before you spend a lot of money on a real high quality spear, try and borrow one. If no luck there, get a fairly inexpensive one to see if this is the way you want to go. There is a technique to it. You might like a speargun a lot better because, depending on your wallet and your arms, you can get one that can go out to 21 feet, or even more for a big blue water gun. If you are just starting, try and make it to the Blue Wild this June 4th, 5th, 6th. You'll learn a ton about spearing in just one weekend, and you might win the gun of your dreams. Nothing like it really. There is a world class expert in your neck of the woods, Chad Carney. Look him up. He teaches and takes charters out frequently, so spend the dough if you can and learn from an expert. He might well loan you a spear or a gun if you take a class with him, and that might be money better spent. He's on this board and Spearboard.com too. Good luck, have fun, stay safe.
