Last spring, UNC Wilmington water clubs welcomed a new member in the form of spear fishing. Entering their first full year as an organization, officers and members of the club alike are optimistic about the club’s ability to catch interest around campus.

The club was established to connect the community of spear fishermen and to provide techniques on how to safely swim and hunt.

Spear fishers have the option to free dive as well as scuba while hunting for fish. Free diving includes holding your breath as far down as 60-80 feet below the surface while searching for fish.

“The physical aspect would be the hardest part of free diving,” said club member Mark Winneberger. “I like to free dive because I like to add a little bit of sportsmanship and make it a little bit more difficult.”

Although holding your breath while free driving can be intimidating, there are many ways to practice. One way that members practice is holding their breaths while watching TV. Spearfishing can also be an exhilarating experience.

“It’s one of the biggest adrenaline rushes you can get,” said club president Brian Davis. “It’s awesome when you pull the trigger on a fish and fight to reel it in, all while trying to keep sharks away. I also like how I can go home right now and have a freezer full of fish for dinner.”

The club dues are 20 dollars and includes a free t-shirt. It is recommended that participants feel comfortable in the ocean.

“The water is unpredictable, whether that be currents, the weather, or sea life,” said Davis. “Sometimes where the sharks are, the fish are, so we do run into a lot of sharks. It’s important to stay calm and make eye-contact with them.”

Daily trips are made off-shore, out to jetties, and even ship wrecks. Trips are made during the day and night, as long as the weather is in good condition. A wide variety of fish are caught raging from flounder, grouper, sheepshead, king mackerel, and wahoo.

“The club is all about conservation and preserving the fisheries,” Winneberger said. “We aren’t all about killing tons and tons of fish. We look for the biggest fish and we are trying to be sportsman about it.”

Recently, the club has picked up Redix as a sponsor and now receives quality Omer gear at a discounted price. In the future, the club hopes they will eventually have gear that they can rent out.

Sam Blount, a member of the club, is providing safety classes in the future to old and new members.

“There are a lot of people that are interested in the sport but have never done it before,” Blount said. “I’m going to be giving some safety classes that describe gear safety, and proper techniques in the water. It is a dangerous sport if done improperly.”