Spear Fishing

Yes, I have gone spear fishing in many places. In Okinawa, off mainland Japan, in Hawaii, and other places. I have used a spear gun, and a spear sling. It is a hard trick to learn with the sling. Some fish will let you get very close to them, not knowing what is about to happen. You really can't miss, if there is any sport in that. I went with a group once where we were trying to get at many fish as we could, as fast as we could.  But the intention of that was to feed a large party of people. I have gone with groups where we have been very selective and really looking for a certain fish of a certain size. You need to understand a bit of safety with a spear gun. Just like a real gun, you never point it in the direction of another diver, so you need to keep up with where the other divers are at all times. And you never swim with your hands at your sides, holding a spear gun, unless you want to shoot yourself in the foot. I  have made awesome cool shots that got the fish right through the middle, and not close to me, either.  I have also missed shots that any rookie should have made. But water surges, currents move, and sunlight alters your perspective, so missing happens. This was mostly with snorkeling gear, so we don't go down very far.  I'm not really much into scuba diving. I have this thing about large fish that want to eat you. I know they can still get you, but at least I can cut down the odds a bit. On that note, a quick story;
I was on the reefs in Okinawa, snorkeling and just checking everything out. There were three of us together, because our rule is we never go alone. I  was focused on this little fish that was so brightly colored and different.  It looked like it was glowing, and maybe it was.  I was right next to the reef wall, when all of a sudden, all the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. What does that mean to you? I know what it means to me!  Something was right behind me! And it didn't feel small, either. I said "Oh S--t!" in my snorkel, bubbles and all. I turned around slowly, as I didn't want to startle whatever was behind me. When I did an about-face, I was eye-to-eye with a huge grouper that was only inches away. He scared the living hell out of me, he was so close. I know he was just plain curious as to what I was and what I was doing there. We stared at each other for a whole minute! I didn't want to move because I have seen groupers that large attack. He finally got bored and slowly swam off. It was a good thing I was already in water, so you couldn't see that I damn near pissed myself! My friends told me they looked over and saw this huge fish right behind me just before I  turned around. They said I looked so small next to it. They were worried what it might do. We estimated by it's size and length that it was a good 400 pounds! Yes, it was that big! This is not one of those fish stories where the fish gets bigger with every telling of the story. Of course, I have never forgotten that my entire life! And I was damn glad it wasn't a shark! I might not be sitting here typing this if it was!