Its evolution in the modern form, happened especially in the last century, thanks the innovations in the techniquesand in the underwater equipments. Storically called (underwater fishing), today is better called “apnea fishing” to point out its sporting value and the radical difference with the illegal fishing practics done with scuba diving, forbidden in Italy as in many other Countries. The sportivity and the fascination of this discipline, is determined from the fact that diving happens in apnea, unbreathing for few minutes, looking for a prey, free in its natural habitat. The success of an “apnea fishing trip”, is determined especially by the adaptability of the fisherman, in the marine ambient in which he tries to move. This adaptability will be acquired with years of experience and training, and takes the diver to move under the water with fluidity and silently. To obtain this target, is fundamental the union of the relaxing, which reduces the usage of the oxygen, with the concentration necessary to obtain the fishing goes to a good end. The satisfaction in this sporting discipline, is not determined only by the catching itself,but generally by the happyness of the immersion and the searching of the prey. This searching want a deep knowledge of the marine ambient acquired with experience, and this knowledge must be accompained by a very deep respect from the fisherman for the sea and its inhabitants. The catch represent the target of the athletic performance. A fundamental characteristic of the underwater fishing, consists in the fact that it is highly selective, except of course yhat is also difficult and charging. The diver in fact, sees the prey before the shoot, and can estimate in advance the dimensions and the species. If this analysis will be done, the diver can choice to catch only adult models, granting the survivance of the different species. The diver can also choice to avoid, when the law permits, to catch or intensify the assumption of remarkable species, or to mind about them during the period of the reproduction. This concern especially the permanent benthics species as the brown meagre and the grouper, with which the diver can and could have a selective assumption that counts of their vulnerability. These species truly,
lives next their holes and this is the reason because thei are so vulnerable whereas the potential selectivity of this spot fishing technique. In the protected marine areas, where the fishing is prohibited, these species are obviously present in more numerous numbers.While the diver must try to adapt himself in an adverse ambient, the prey is free in its natural habitat, and has the capacity to feel every small movement of the diver also from a long distance, either by the “side line” or the vision. Every noise or quick movement, index of hostility, determines the quick escaping of the fish or its “parking” at a security distance, over the shooting range of the “rifle”, which is of 4-5 metres. This, however, is not very important for the fish species which lives in holes and that as defensive strategy use to refuge in the same, this is the reason because they are the most striked by this technique, as its abundance shows in the protected areas where the fishing is prohibited.
