Desert Hunters: How to Get Started with Spearfishing in Arizona
When most people think of spearfishing, they picture crystal-clear tropical oceans, massive tuna, and coral reefs. They certainly do not picture a landlocked desert covered in saguaro cacti. It is completely understandable to think that living in Phoenix means your spearfishing dreams are sunk. But we are here to gently correct that misconception: Arizona actually boasts a thriving, challenging, and incredibly rewarding freshwater spearfishing scene.
Lakes like Lake Pleasant, Lake Mead, and Lake Mohave offer fantastic opportunities to hunt both invasive species and specific game fish. It is an amazing way to source your own sustainable food, help balance the local ecosystem, and push your aquatic skills to the next level. If you are ready to trade your fishing rod for a speargun, Cactus to Coral Scuba is your starting line. Here is exactly how to get started safely and legally in Arizona.
Step 1: The Breath-Hold Foundation (Get Certified)
First things first: in almost all ethical spearfishing circles (and by law in many jurisdictions), spearfishing is done while freediving, not while on scuba. Scuba diving gives the hunter an unfair advantage and takes the sport out of the experience. Furthermore, blowing bubbles scares the fish away!
Before you ever pick up a speargun, you need to learn how to be a safe, efficient freediver. Trying to teach yourself how to hold your breath while wielding a loaded weapon is a recipe for disaster. Enrolling in an SSI Freediving Level 1 course with us will teach you:
- Relaxation and Breathe-up Techniques: How to double your bottom time safely.
- Proper Equalization: Mastering the Frenzel maneuver so you can drop silently to the fish without blowing out your ears.
- Rescue Skills: How to recognize and manage shallow water blackout, ensuring you and your dive buddy always make it home.
Step 2: Know the Law (Arizona Game and Fish)
You cannot just jump into an Arizona lake and shoot whatever swims by. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has strict regulations regarding underwater spearfishing to protect native and sport fish populations. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse, and game wardens do patrol the lakes.
Note: Always consult the most current AZGFD fishing regulations before your dive, as rules can change.
Here are the general rules of engagement for Arizona:
- You Need a License: You must possess a valid Arizona fishing license.
- No Scuba Allowed: Spearfishing must be done while freediving (apnea).
- Know Your Targets: You are generally allowed to spear non-game species. However, striped bass are a major target in certain waters.
Common Target Species in Arizona Lakes
| Species | Difficulty | Edibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carp | Beginner | Low (mostly used for fertilizer/bait) | Great target practice. Highly invasive; removing them helps the lake ecosystem. |
| Tilapia | Beginner / Intermediate | Excellent | Often found in the warmer shallows. Great eating fish. |
| Striped Bass | Advanced | Excellent | The ultimate AZ prize. Fast, easily spooked, and requires good breath-hold and ambush tactics. (Check specific lake limits). |
| Catfish | Intermediate | Good | Often found hiding under ledges or in the mud. |
Step 3: Gearing Up for the Lake
Spearfishing in a lake requires slightly different gear than ocean hunting. The visibility is usually lower, and the water temperatures fluctuate wildly.
The Weapon: Pole Spear vs. Speargun
If you are brand new, start with a Pole Spear (a long fiberglass or aluminum pole with a rubber band at the end). It forces you to learn how to stalk fish closely, it is safer to handle, and it is inexpensive. Once you master the pole spear, graduate to a Pneumatic or Banded Speargun. For Arizona lakes where visibility might only be 10 to 15 feet, a shorter gun (70cm to 90cm) is ideal. A massive blue-water ocean gun will be impossible to maneuver in the murky coves of Lake Pleasant. Check out some of the spearfishing equipment online or come into our shop and talk with some of our staff!
The Wetsuit
Lake Pleasant gets cold. If you are doing long breath-holds, you are not swimming constantly, which means you get chilled faster. A two-piece, open-cell freediving wetsuit (usually 3mm or 5mm depending on the season) in a camouflage pattern is essential. The integrated hood keeps you warm and breaks up your human silhouette.
The Dive Flag (Mandatory)
Lake Pleasant is incredibly busy with boat traffic. You absolutely must tow a high-visibility dive buoy with a standard red-and-white dive flag. Never dive without it, and try to hunt early in the morning before the wakeboarders and jet skis take over the lake.
Step 4: The Buddy System is Non-Negotiable
Spearfishing combines the physiological risks of freediving (shallow water blackout) with the physical risks of handling a loaded weapon and fish that might fight back or tangle your line. Never spearfish alone.
The spearfishing buddy system is strict: One diver is down hunting, while the other diver is on the surface, actively watching their partner. The surface diver breathes up and prepares, and only begins their descent after the first diver has surfaced, cleared their airway, and given the OK signal.
Join the Tribe at Cactus to Coral Scuba
Spearfishing is an addictive, primal way to connect with the aquatic environment. It teaches you profound patience, respect for the animals you harvest, and absolute control over your own body.
If you are ready to explore the wild side of Arizona’s lakes, stop by Cactus to Coral Scuba. We can walk you through the SSI Freediving curriculum, help you select the right low-volume mask and long fins, and get you pointed toward the best hunting coves. Dive safe, shoot straight, and we will see you in the water!