Shooting for the World

Competing in spearfishing for almost a decade, 22-year-old Alex Edwards from the Far North of New Zealand embarked on a challenging journey in 2023.

The World Spearfishing Championships unfolded in Laredo, Spain, featuring teams from across the globe. The selection process for New Zealand's team relied on the results of the preceding National Spearfishing Championships. This demanding competition spanned two days, with each day lasting five intense hours. Here's her account of this rigorous event.
Two weeks before the competition in Laredo, Spain, my determination was unwavering. However, during the initial scouting phase, it became apparent that the weeks ahead would be challenging. The fish proved to be elusive, and their numbers were limited. The ocean's conditions were ever-changing, influenced by shifts in visibility and temperature due to varying weather conditions. Strangely, fish became even more challenging to spot in clear, calm waters. Amid the presence of 100 other boats and divers, determining if we could secure the fish we saw added to the complexity.

Some scouting days were cut short because of ear equalisation issues, which heightened my stress levels. Fortunately, taking a few days off helped alleviate the problem. As the competition drew near, my nerves were on edge, but I was also excited to see how it would unfold and finally get the chance to target some fish.

The World Championships' scoring system differed from what we were used to in New Zealand. Various fish categories had specific minimum weights and assigned points. Over the next two days, three categories needed to be filled. Category One had a minimum weight of 500g, with a maximum of 7 fish per species. Category Two required a minimum weight of 700g, with a maximum of 5 fish per species. Scoring involved 500 points per fish, 500 points per new species, and one point per gram. If the species quota were filled, an additional 1000 points would be awarded. Category Three involved two conger eels with a minimum weight of 7kg, each earning 500 points, without extra points for weight. This intricate fish list demanded strategic planning for the day's competition. My daily goal was to capture as many different species as possible to maximise bonus points.

On a day with near-perfect conditions marked by gentle winds and calm seas, I braced myself for a challenging diving experience. As the boats ventured into the ocean, the waters became tumultuous due to the wakes of numerous vessels—it was a chaotic scene. Following the race start, I swiftly made my way to a scorpion fish I had scouted earlier, but I was not alone in my discovery. Another female competitor was homing in on the same target, just above the ledge.
Luck was on my side as we both dove, and I caught sight of the fish tucked inside a cave. This particular catch later weighed in at the required 500g minimum. After securing the fish and delivering it to my boatman, I wasted no time and headed back into the water, navigating the rocks amidst the churning white water. There, I encountered a small school of mullet with a larger one at the rear. I took my time and successfully bagged the prize.

As I scouted the surroundings further, I noticed that mullet and sargo were in short supply, likely due to the lack of white water, low tide, and clear visibility. Nevertheless, I managed to shoot a few pintos before moving to my next spot. At my second chosen location, it was crowded with divers, so I ventured a bit down the coast, where I had more space to myself. This choice paid off as I snagged a big goatfish on my second dive. I searched for a sizable scorpion fish I'd spotted days earlier, but it remained elusive. In the meantime, I successfully shot two substantial Salpa, contributing nicely to my haul.

I ventured into a third spot, hoping to find my conger, but another diver beat me. Still, I managed to shoot another Salpa and Pintos in the area.

At the fourth spot, I made several dives further out, but the cold bottom meant a lack of fish, prompting me to move on swiftly. In my final location, I had hope, but I still needed a few more pintos or maragotas to complete the species quota and earn those valuable bonus points. After numerous dives, I secured another pinto and two respectable maragotas, one of which turned out to be the largest fish in the women's competition at 1.7kg.

As the curtain fell on Day One's competition, I headed back to sign off. I was content with the day's performance, having maintained my composure and made few errors. With a total of 12 fish, missing the full quota bonus points by a mere 10 grams on one pinto was a minor setback. On the positive side, I racked up 19,510 points, establishing a comfortable lead by the end of the day. Day Two intensified my anxiety, with the smaller competition area leading to more boat and diver congestion. My slow boat meant arriving at my chosen spot took longer, and a few divers were already in the water. Undeterred, I targeted small mullet in the white water but inadvertently shot an underweight fish, incurring a 700-point penalty. The nearly perfect conditions spooked the fish, and my search for substantial catches proved challenging. A new strategy led me to collect pintos and maragotas, but after shooting three, I hit a dry spell. Diving deeper and exploring crowded spots yielded no fish, and after checking for scorpion fish and deeper dives, I was left with only four fish.

One last gamble paid off as I speared two more pintos, concluding Day Two with six fish. The scarcity of fish left a hint of disappointment, but I reminded myself that not every day unfolds without challenges.

During the weigh-in, I anxiously watched as Magdalena from Spain, who held third place after the first day, displayed an exceptional performance, indicating her potential championship win. The Spanish fans erupted in cheers, realising her victory. I congratulated her before rejoining the NZ Team and learning that I had secured second place. The realisation hit me like a ton of bricks—I had clinched second place in the World! I'd spent so long working up to that moment, and I was about to stand on a podium at a World Championship. How epic! What made it even more special was seeing Onyx and Taina from Tahiti securing third and fifth place after competing together for seven years.