Underwater fishing in summer: destinations and advice

Underwater fishing in summer: destinations and advice

In summer the sea is lively and crowded as never before. In addition to the many fish that reach the coast attracted by food, the waters are populated by swimmers and boats, which can constitute a serious danger for those who practice fishing. Spearfishing. To this must be added the inevitable beach ordinances, with the associated appearance of buoys that delimit the areas reserved for bathers.

Yet summer is a season in which immersion can give enormous satisfactions: in addition to the possibility of returning home with a good game bag, the season also allows us to appreciate theexuberant marine life of the coast, which in the warmer months can be a spectacular sight.

Spearfishing in summer: what to know

For those who dive all year round, summer may not be the best season to dedicate to underwater fishing: despite the ideal weather conditions and particularly clear waters, the massive presence of swimmers and boats can be a decisive obstacle, especially in more tourist areas.

During the summer, however, the fishing in the coastal area becomes particularly compelling: several fish approach the coast in search of food, while others are engaged in courtship and mating practices, and the greater visibility makes it easier ambush prey or in dens that are barely accessible in winter.

For beginners, summer is perhaps the best season for fishing: the equipment is lighter, the cold is not a problem and the apnea times are not so fundamental, as well as the depth that you can push yourself to. In the hot season you can have fun in just a few feet of water, if you can find an oasis far enough away from other people's holidays.

The fact that surface temperatures are so welcoming, however, should not be misleading: summer is also the season of thermocline, or cold cut, a sort of very clear separation line between the warm waters of the surface and the cold and stable waters of the bottom. In short, the idea of ​​diving without it move it might not be the best, despite the 35° outside.

Summer diving: what do you fish in summer?

In the summer the fish are very wary: the crowding near the coast does not go unnoticed by them either, who take advantage of the particularly profitable season to go near the coasts in search of food. In this season the predators are very active, especially at dawn and dusk: during the hot summer days, most tend to move away from the torrid bathing areas to go to cooler waters.

The fish that can be found in the below the coast I am above all mullets and salps, which in large schools push into the shallow waters to consume algae and other nutrients transported by the currents. Some predators also venture below the coast: the bluefish, for example, but also the mullet (usually hunting mullet).

Then there are the fish that mate in the summer, and here the situation becomes more complicated: groupers, amberjacks, damselfish, mennoles and sea eagles begin courtship rituals and are dedicated to reproduction, ending up being decidedly distracted.

This would seem like an opportunity not to be missed, but we must always know how to balance the factors at play: catch a fish of reproductive age that is about to mate, or has just mated, means that the offspring of that fish will not see neither the sea nor the speargun's shaft. In the case of fish like the brown grouper, which can live over 50 years and is classified as an endangered species, this discussion cannot be left out.

Summer spearfishing: the equipment

The summer diving equipment dedicated to underwater fishing is less demanding than what you have to carry with you when fishing in winter. The first big difference is in thickness of the suit, which can taper to 3 millimeters, for unparalleled elasticity and comfort.

There are also those who fish all year round with a 5 mm wetsuit and those who combine trousers and jackets of different thicknesses, depending on the needs of the individual fishermen: the 3-3,5 mmIn fact, it is perfect for diving in waters with stable temperatures above 24°C, but already if you plan to reach 15°C it is advisable to have at least 5 mm of neoprene on you (even if it will be heavier and will take longer to dry).

Even with a light wetsuit ballast it becomes less bulky, allowing you to reach greater depths and facilitating the ascent to the surface.

As for fins, a practical consideration must be made: how long will we have to swim to reach our destination away from swimmers? If we already know that we will have to cover a considerable distance, it will be a good idea to choose the softest fins we have so as not to tire our ankles too much.

The crossbow, as always, It depends on the type of fishing what you intend to do: it is clear that if the idea is to fish near the coast a speargun from 80 cm it will be more than enough, even more so if you want to go near dens and rock formations.

A fundamental part of summer diving equipment is the platform: if you don't have a support vessel, it is absolutely necessary make themselves visible to swimmers and boaters. A large platform with an easily identifiable flag is better.

Among other things, a good swim platform will be essential for carrying spare equipment with you, but also water and snacks – a baggage never to be forgotten, especially when fishing in summer.

Summer diving: the best destinations

La summer fishing in the Mediterranean can give great satisfaction: it is difficult to indicate a region of Italy or an area in which to go in search of perfect spot, perhaps while you are on holiday. Divers fish all over Italy, and it doesn't take long to discover that even the least attractive places (on paper) can hide pleasant secrets.

The only sensible advice, if you are thinking of take advantage of your beach holiday to dive with a speargun, is to avoid the high season and aim for locations where there is a certain culture of underwater fishing. Destinations such as the Island of Elba, Sicily or Liguria can be easier to approach thanks to a large community of fishermen who exchange experiences and advice also online, and who can help in learning about specificities and "practices of good neighbourhood" in force in the area.