Stringers

Stringers are necessary to carry your catch if you are not diving from a live boat (boat w/ driver following). If you are diving from a live boat the diver would just signal the boat to come pick up the catch each time a fish is speared. When diving from the beach / coast, a stringer would usually be hung from the divers float, or can be hung from a weight belt. Weight belt attached stringers are not recommended in areas where sharks, barracudas or other aggressive fish are present.

There are two main types of stringers. The style most often used by free divers is composed of a 6” – 12” (15cm – 30cm) stainless steel shaft that has a stainless steel or monofilament line affixed through a hole in the center of the shaft. The shaft has a sharp point on one end which is pushed through the gills or eyes of the catch in order to string it.

Freediving Fish Stringer (click picture for details) The style most often used by SCUBA divers is composed of a stainless steel shaft that is 9/32” or 5/16” thick and bent into an oval shape with a locking tip. These are easily carried in the hand of a SCUBA diver and are easy to ditch if necessary. The end of the shaft has a sharp point which is pushed through the gills or eyes of the catch to string it.

Stainless Steel fish stringer (click picture for details)
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