Fish Stringers & Gaffs for Spearfishing

Fish stringers and gaffs for spearfishing. Belt pins , nets for fish and crustaceans, extractor gaff and rings stainless steel fish stringers. Solutions for carrying and extracting fish.

Fish Stringers and Gaffs for Spearfishing

During a spearfishing session, managing the catch is an operational aspect that requires specific equipment. From the moment of capture until returning to shore or to the boat, the spearfisher needs to store the fish safely.

For this purpose, there are different categories of accessories by function: fish stringers, the extraction gaff, mesh bags, and stainless steel rings. This section includes all the tools for managing, extracting, and transporting the catch during freedive spearfishing, with products from specialized brands such as Hunt, Rob Allen, Beuchat, Picasso, Salvimar, Sigal Sub, C4, Mares, Imersion, and Meandros.

Product types

Belt fish stringer spikes

The fish stringer spike is the most widely used tool in spearfishing for keeping the catch directly on the belt. It consists of a stainless steel tip, which is inserted into the fish immediately after capture, connected via a dyneema line or nylon monofilament to an anchor point or to a sheath fixed to the belt. In some cases, the line length can be adjusted, so the fish can be kept close to the body during movement. Some models feature a three-prong tip that also functions as a stiletto for quickly dispatching the fish. The sheath, when present, is often equipped with a retention system that prevents the spike from coming out accidentally.

Short versions (around 8 cm) and long versions (up to 14 cm) are available, suitable for fish of different sizes. Models in this category include the Spillo-Stiletto 2006 by Hunt in long and short versions, the Sigal Sub fish stringer with belt sheath, the C4 belt stringer, the Mares String Releaser, the Meandros Simple Stinger, and the Imersion MATC models. Rob Allen instead offers variants with plastic-coated steel cable, stainless steel chain, and double steel cable with shark clip, each with different construction features in terms of closure system and connection type.

Stainless steel fish stringer rings

Fish stringer rings in stainless steel are the simplest and lightest solution for holding the catch. These accessories consist of a metal ring made from steel wire into which the fish are inserted. The fish then slides along the steel wire. Beuchat offers two versions: the stainless steel oval ring and the classic ring. Imersion offers its own version with a similar shape. These accessories are often used on boats to gather and move the catch or under the buoy.

Floatline fish stringer kits

This system is more commonly used in marine environments outside the Mediterranean, where the spearfisher uses a floatline connected to the speargun, which in turn leads to the buoy on the surface. The floatline system allows the catch to be transferred directly onto the floating line and finally to the buoy, pushing the fish away from the diver’s body as they continue fishing, automatically, without having to physically carry the caught fish to the buoy. Rob Allen markets a floatline fish stringer kit consisting of the Speed Stringer paired with the Speed Needle, a specially shaped needle that makes it easier to insert the fish onto the floatline. This system is particularly used in certain ocean environments, where keeping the catch on the body can be uncomfortable (large fish) or unsafe due to the presence of sharks.

Fish nets and mesh bags

Fish nets are mesh bags that allow multiple catches to be collected during the dive. They can be worn at the waist using attachment systems or carried by hand. Beuchat offers the Fish Bag, a mesh sack with a closure system. Rob Allen offers the Crayfish Waist Bag, available in three size variants and also designed for carrying crustaceans such as lobsters and crabs. Rob Allen also produces the Cray Net, a more compact net for managing crustaceans or chum, and the Chum Net, a specific net for holding small amounts of chum, used in bluewater hunting to attract pelagic fish. Picasso completes the range with the Mesh Bag, a lightweight mesh bag.

Extraction gaff

The extraction gaff is a hook tool used to extract fish from holes, crevices, or rocky cracks. Picasso offers two versions of its Fish Extractor, in different sizes, with a rigid shaft and end hook. Salvimar offers the Raffio Tana, with a handle and curved tip, and the Raffio Barca, in a version with a different shape for use from the boat or on the surface. Mac Coltellerie offers the Raffio P03/44, while Sigal Sub has a screw-on gaff in its catalog, which can be screwed onto a standard threaded shaft.

How to choose a fish stringer or gaff

The choice mainly depends on the fishing technique practiced, the size of the fish caught, and the individual diver’s operational preferences.

Hole Spearfishing and coastal spearfishing: the belt spike with sheath is the most commonly used solution. For medium-sized fish, a short model is sufficient; for larger fish or for those who prefer more room to maneuver, the long version is recommended. Models with a three-prong tip perform the dual function of a stiletto for quickly dispatching the fish.
Ocean spearfishing: the floatline kit keeps the catch away from the body and prevents it from hindering movement in the water. This is especially relevant when hunting large fish.
Crustacean hunting: fish nets such as the Rob Allen Crayfish Waist Bag are built to hold irregularly shaped catches without damaging them, while keeping them accessible during the dive.
Hole Spearfishing: the extraction gaff is the specific tool for extracting fish holed up in narrow cracks. The shaft length and the shape of the end hook vary between models and affect insertion depth and ease of use.
Weight of the fish stringer: some spike models, such as those from Hunt, have a sheath weight exceeding 300 grams. This allows the amount of lead on the belt to be reduced by a corresponding amount, while keeping the overall ballast unchanged.

Available brands

Hunt is the brand with the widest range in the belt fish stringer spike category: it offers the Spillo-Stiletto model in long (14 cm) and short versions, with a three-prong tip, sheath, dyneema line, and length adjustment system.

Rob Allen offers stringer spikes with coated cable, with chain, with double cable and shark clip, a floatline kit with a dedicated needle, two types of crustacean nets (Crayfish Waist Bag and Cray Net), and the Chum Net. It is the brand most oriented toward ocean spearfishing.

Beuchat offers three items: the Fish Bag mesh sack, the oval stainless steel fish stringer ring, and the classic stainless steel ring. These are essential-profile solutions consistent with the brand’s general catalog.

Picasso covers the extraction gaff category with two Fish Extractor models (standard version and Pro version, each in two sizes) and the Mesh Bag, a lightweight mesh bag.

Salvimar offers two gaff versions: the Raffio Tana, with a curved tip for extraction from crevices, and the Raffio Barca, with a slightly different shape. Both are available in two variants.

Sigal Sub is present with the belt fish stringer spike with sheath (in two variants) and the screw-on gaff.

C4 offers a compact belt fish stringer, with a direct belt attachment system.

Mares is present with the String Releaser spike, equipped with a quick-release mechanism for the catch.

Mac Coltellerie offers the P03/44 gaff, with handle and end hook in a compact format.

Conclusion

The fish stringers and gaffs category for spearfishing includes tools with specific and distinct functions: belt fish stringer spikes for carrying the catch on the body, mesh bags for collecting multiple fish or crustaceans, floatline kits for keeping the catch separated from the body in bluewater hunting, stainless steel rings as a simple and essential solution, and the extraction gaff for accessing fish in holes. Each type meets different operational needs related to the fishing technique, the size of the catch, and the conditions of the underwater environment. The brands in this section cover a wide range of construction solutions and price ranges, allowing you to choose according to your actual technical needs.