Underwater fishing

Underwater fishing is an activity that consists of hunting aquatic specimens, usually fish, using free diving techniques. In Santa Catarina, Sub-Fishing is generally practiced in the sea because it contains clear waters, giving greater visibility for the fisherman to find the fish. However, the sport can also be practiced in rivers, lakes and places where other types of fishing (line, net, cast net, etc.) are allowed, with the exception of areas that have their own regulations, such as the Conceição Lagoon e Arvoredo Island, where Sub-Fishing is prohibited.

In order to avoid predatory fishing, the activity prohibits the use of cylinders and artificial respiration devices, that is, everything must be done in apnea (with held breath). In addition, to contain excesses, the limit stipulated for sub-fishing in marine and estuarine waters is 15 kg, plus one specimen of any size. For continental waters, the federal quota for capture and transport of fish per fisherman is 10 kg, plus one specimen of any size.

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where it is practiced

In Florianópolis, the most coveted areas for the practice of Sub Fishing are the coastal islands, such as Ilha do Xavier, located in front of the soft beach. As they have a large area of ​​rocky bottom, these places are home to a wide variety of fish, such as Grouper, Sea Bass, Badejo, Sargo, Olhates and many others. Other places well frequented by the Sub Fishermen are the coasts of beaches. In them, fishermen find a large amount of stones at the bottom of the water, good visibility and easy access, not requiring the use of any vessel.

what do you need

To practice the sport, the diver needs adequate equipment: wetsuit, mask, gloves, rubber boots and fins are indispensable. The Sub-Fisher must also carry a compressed air weapon, used to hunt fish in burrows, or an Arbalete, a rubber band weapon used to hunt both passing and burrowing fish. In addition, the fisherman should always carry a knife and, above all, a surface buoy to warn nearby vessels that there are divers in the area.

Techniques Used

The technique most used in the practice of the sport is the hold fishing, which requires little effort, but a lot of patience. To perform it, the fisherman must remain still and wait for the curious fish to approach. This hunting usually kills fish such as Robalo and Sororoca.

At intermediate depths, the ideal technique is burrowing hunting, in which the fisherman uses a flashlight to find fish buried in rocks, catching them by surprise. This technique usually kills specimens such as Grouper, Whiting, Sea Bass, Sargo, Olhate, Olho do Boi, Pampo, Octopus, as well as Shellfish, Hedgehogs and other shells.

The best part to hit a fish is in the head, especially in the eye, causing the animal to die immediately. If you don't hit the head, another vulnerable region is the tail, where the spine is located, bewildering the fish in a short time.

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Recommendations

Because of the dangers and high risks of snorkeling, today, the activity is classified as an extreme sport. One of the risks that the fisherman runs is the lack of oxygen in the body, caused in those who dive deeper than they should. Therefore, to carry out fishing, the main safety rule is to be aware of your own limit. In addition, it is always recommended to dive in pairs or groups, because, in case of unforeseen circumstances, the diver will have someone close by to help him.

To avoid such unforeseen events, the fisherman must practice some breathing exercises on the surface, aiming to increase the breath to stay underwater longer. In this case, the most used technique is hyperventilation, which intersperses slow and deep breaths, which serve to oxygenate the body and expel carbon dioxide, guaranteeing up to four minutes of breath for the dive.

It is important to note that sub-fishing is unitary, as only one fish is caught at a time. It is selective, as the fisherman chooses the fish to be caught. And seasonal, as it is impossible to fish at certain times of the year. The best time for fishing is summer, as the water is warmer and clearer, giving greater visibility to look for fish. In addition, on days when the sea has big waves, fishing should be avoided for safety reasons.

License

To practice amateur fishing in any modality (line, rod, net, bottle, etc.) a license issued by Ibama is required. For underwater or underwater fishing, a license is also required, which is valid for one year from the date of payment. Non-payment implies seizure of material and fishing product, in addition to other sanctions provided for in Article 56 of Decree-Law No. 221, of 28.02.67 and complementary legislation.

See here how to make your license for landed amateur fishing.

Here's how to get your fishing license on board.

Important:

- Read here Normative Instruction No. 21 of 4/7/2005, which provides for rules for amateur fishing activities carried out on the coast of Santa Catarina.