The fishermen don wetsuits and go below the surface with only SCUBA gear, speargun
and a diving computer that looks like a watch but provides helpful information, like how
much time can be safely spent underwater.
The hunters have to be within about 12 feet of their prey to take the shot. They aim for
the back of the fish’s head, called a stone shot. Get it right, and the fish will be dead on
impact. If not, it turns into a tug of war with the fish.
Being below the surface, seeking the prey in its own habitat, makes the job of fishing
a bit more personal. The fishermen strive to bring in every fish they shoot, even if that
means following an injured fish until it “holes up” in a rock. They do not take it lightly if
a fish dies in vain.
“I love the feeling of getting good fish and taking really good care of them,” Solano says.
Spearfishermen see the fish before they kill it. Instead of hoping to get the target fish after
throwing a net in the water or dropping a line, they can make sure it’s the right fish and of
appropriate size before spearing it. In other words, there is no bycatch.
“I take a lot of pride in my seafood product and getting it in the cleanest way,” Solano
says.
Like so many vessels, Orion has a story. In a previous life, she was a lobster boat in
Maine. Then, in Bedford, Massachusetts, she became a tugboat. That was where Solano
found her in 2011, and gave Orion yet another season as a commercial spearfishing boat
in North Carolina.
Hunting beneath the waves
B y A s h l e y J o h n s o n
53
Clockwise from top left:
While most fishermen
operate above the surface,
spearfishermen venture
into their prey’s habitat.
Albie Solano goes beneath
the waves to catch
amberjack, sheepshead
and black grouper.
Jonathan Kent with
several African pompano.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALBIE SOLANO
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM