The Best Fish Stringer for Spearfishing in 2023

I’ve tried lots of different ways to secure my catch, and the best fish stringer is one that not only keeps your fish secure, but is quick and efficient to use. Unless you want to swim to shore with every fish you spear, you need somewhere to hold your catch.

In this guide, I’ll explain the options you have for a spearfishing stringer, and then dive into the details. Why it’s important to have a fish stringer, how to set it up and use it effectively, and what to look for when you’re buying a stringer of your own.

But if you want to skip right to it, the stringer that I recommend is Spearfishing World’s fish stringer. I’ve used it on a ton of dives and it still looks new. Click here to get it now.

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The Best Fish Stringer for Spearfishing in 2023

 

Skip to the good part:

• Best Overall: Spearfishing World’s Line Fish Stringer
• Wife’s Favorite: Spearfishing World’s Loop Fish Stringer 
• Top of the Line: Riffe Fish Stringer with Quick Clip
• Best for Beginners: Hammerhead Spearguns 8″ Kui Fish Stringer
• Best for Professionals: Spearfishing World Fish Stringer with Coated Handle
• Best Cheap Option: Eagle Claw 04300-002 Stringer
• Best for your Kayak: Rogue Endeavor Stainless Steel Fish Stringer

 

UPDATE: 14th April 2023. We’ve recently spent a weekend going through all the different options you have for a spearfishing stringer. My recommendation is to get your hand’s on Spearfishing World’s spike and line stringer. It’s a great buy. 

Made from stainless steel cable, the coated plastic line makes it easy to thread on a fish, without tearing the fish up even more.

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What You Need to Know When Choosing A Spearfishing Stringer

A fish stringer will make your life easier in the water, as it’s a critical piece of spearfishing gear that everyone should be using. But before you buy just any, make sure the fish stringer you do get allows you to:

1. Quickly and efficiently thread your fish on
2. Secures your fish in place so they don’t fall off
3. Easily attaches to your floatline (or belt)

Quick and efficient is the name of the game, so you can get your speargun reloaded and get back to spearfishing.

Right, now onto the best fish stringers for spearfishing.

 

Spearfishing World Line Fish Stringer

Editor’s Choice for the Best Overall Spearfishing Stringer

For ease and efficiency of use, you can’t go wrong with this fish stringer from Spearfishing World.

Explicitly designed for spearfishing, unlike many other fish stringers you’ll find online or in your local fishing shop.

It’s what’s known as a cable and spike fish stringer, which looks a little like a “T” shaped design. You get a clip to attach the stringer to your float. This connects to a heavy-duty cable (and is where your catch is stored), with a spike at the end. On the other end is a 2″ stainless steel carabiner for the stringer to clip to your float or belt.

What I love, though, is that the stringer is attached to the carabiner with a small loop. So, at the end of the day, you just unclip this, and all your fish will slide free.

Threading your fish onto this is as easy as pushing the spike through. The plastic-coated stainless steel cable doesn’t damage the fish further. Once on the cable, your fish cannot slide loose as the spike at the end of the line works as an anchor point. Though it isn’t foolproof. In rough seas or against a persistent predator, there’s a chance a fish can come loose from this stringer. A small chance.

It’s only happened to me once in all my years of spearfishing. And was because I hadn’t dispatched my fish first. He was still kicking, and I’d threaded the stringer through the hole my shaft made before turning back to the reef. Kicking on the line, the hole wasn’t as close to his centre as I thought. The fish tore himself free of the line and swam off.

These days I dispatch every fish that goes on my stringer.

Why we think Spearfishing World make the best fish stringer for spearfishing:

• Stainless steel construction stands up to the elements
• 7″ spike rod is sharp, and pushes easily through a fish
• 33″ cable gives plenty of space to store your catch
• Gives you the option to wear on your weight belt or float line
• Heady duty construction you can rely on in the water

Click the product box below to order yours today.

[amazon box=”B078YF2RC2″ ]

Spearfishing World Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Fish Stringer

Wife’s Choice: The Best Fish Stringer

With a slightly different design to the line I prefer, looped fish stringers are another great way to secure your catch while you’re spearfishing.

Coming in at 18″ in length with a 7.5″ loop, you’ve got enough space on this fish stringer from Spearfishing World to thread several fish before you start running out of space. Made from thick, stainless steel, there are only two weld points on the entire device, meaning you’ve got very few failure points.

But where this particular stringer stands out amongst the others we tested in this style, is the spiked end. When you’re in the water the last thing you want to be doing is fumbling around with your catch, and the sharpened tip makes it incredibly easy to thread your fish onto this stringer.

[amazon box=”B086XGK8JL” ]

 

Riffe Fish Stringer with Quick Clip

Top of the Line: The Best Fish Stringer

Another fish stringer that uses the “T” shape design, this product from Riffe is another good buy as they make some of the best spearfishing gear you’ll find.

Completely stainless steel, it feels tough and durable in your hands and will stand up to whatever abuse you throw at it while you’re spearfishing. I previously used this exact model for years, and the tuna clip makes it incredibly easy to use even while you’ve got your spearfishing gloves on. It’s a top of the line piece of gear.

My only challenge is that the cable is fixed in – which is a downside for this product. You’ve got to de-thread your fish with the spike instead of sliding them off the line.

[amazon box=”B001O7EFYU” ]

 

Hammerhead Spearguns 8″ Kui Fish Stringer

Best for Beginners: The Best Fish Stringer

Featuring a stainless steel spike affixed to a length of heavy-duty mono cable, this particular fish stringer is what I’d recommend for most beginners.

It’s cost effective for what you get, though you will need to either find a small length of rope to tie it directly to your float line or find a spare tuna clip, because this fish stringer doesn’t come with one attached. Which is fine, because it’s a well made bit of gear.

The larger 8″ spike makes it easier for beginners to handle in the water, as you get the hang of threading your fish onto this stringer.

[amazon box=”B01N8VN100″ ]

 

Spearfishing World Fish Stringer with Coated Handle

Best for Professionals: The Best Fish Stringer

As the largest looped fish stringer we tested, this particular model from Spearfishing World is what I’ve seen most professionals use, especially if they’re spearfishing with a tank.

Coming in at 19″ long by 9″ wide, you can fit several fish on here easily. The spiked tip making it easy for you to thread each fish on.

Suitable to be clipped to your floatline or your belt, the vinyl covered handle gives you a good grip if you’re simply keeping your catch next to you while you’re on the bottom.

[amazon box=”B07Y49RD2C” ]

 

Eagle Claw 04300-002 Stringer

Best Cheap Option: The Best Fish Stringer

Now if price is your primary concern, this fish stringer from Eagle Claw is one of the cheapest you will find in the market.

It’s a relatively simple piece of spearfishing gear, with a fixed attachment loop on one end. A length of nylon rope, and a spike on the other for threading your fish on the line.

It’ll do the job, but where you need to be careful is the spike. Because it’s not fixed at a T, you will need to pass the spike back through the loop to secure your fish on the line. It can be a bit annoying to tie and retie this in the water, but for the price it can’t be beat.

[amazon box=”B003ZZ6HP4″ ]

 

Rogue Endeavor Stainless Steel Fish Stringer

Best for your Kayak: The Best Fish Stringer

If you’re attaching a fish stringer to your kayak to go spearfishing, I’d actually recommend the ultra heavy duty version from Rogue Endeavor.

Made from corrosion resistant 304 steel, the pointed tip makes for a smooth slide of your fish onto this 17.5″ stringer.

What I like best though, is the high quality stainless steel carabiner and fishing lanyard that’s attached. It clips shut so it’s out of the way when you’re getting in and out of the water. But unclipped the line can stretch up to 36″ to keep your catch fresh, and in the water.

[amazon box=”B09VR9RXRP” ]

 

 

Thoughts on the other fish stringers we tested

If you start looking at fish stringers, you’ll find a wide variety on the market. Some made for spearfishing, others for boats and kayaks. But to give you the best possible advice for the best fish stringer for spearfishing, let me share my thoughts on all the others that we tested. So you can decide on the best fish stringer for you.

 

 

Calissa Offshore Stainless Steel Fish Stringer

Shortlist: The Best Fish Stringer

Built from 5mm 304 stainless steel, this is another looped fish stringer you can use when you’re spearfishing.

It comes with a lanyard and clip so it can easily attach to your floatline (or kayak). The spring line cable stretches up to 51″.

The clip though, was the biggest downside for me. Being plastic it undermines the quality of the rest of the product. And I’d recommend swapping this out for a stainless steel carabiner so I can trust that it won’t fail in the water.

[amazon box=”B091Y3W4KD” ]

 

Fishernomics Black & Red Floating Fishing Basket Cage

Shortlist: The Best Fish Stringer

Now this isn’t a fishing stringer, but I wanted to see how a floating net bag would hold up in the ocean when I’m spearfishing. I was pleasantly surprised.

The collapsible floating basket is light, but probably better tied to my kayak than my floatline. It creates quite a bit of drag in the water. And when I say quite a bit, you will struggle to paddle your kayak with this deployed as well. It’s best used when you’ve already anchored up in a spot.

The positive is that it’s the easiest way to keep any fish you catch fresh, and the net stops any other fish from getting at them.

[amazon box=”B0BX4SFHNQ” ]

 

Scuba Choice Spearfishing Large 5mm Fish Stringer

Shortlist: The Best Fish Stringer

The handle on this 16″ fish stringer from Scuba Choice is a nice touch, but being such a basic design in my opinion there are better options available.

I didn’t like that the stringer tip wasn’t sharpened (though perhaps this is an advantage if you’re looking for a model that’s not so sharp). But I had to attack this with an angle grinder to add a point, so I could make use of this fish stringer after all the testing was done.

Adding a small carabiner makes it a quick connect to your floatline, and the 5mm stainless steel loop does stay in place.

[amazon box=”B00TT97J6Q” ]

 

Rapala Metal Stringer Black

Shortlist: The Best Fish Stringer

With the brass sliding sleeves and swivels, this fish stringer from Rapala uses a series of clips to allow you to attach each fish individually.

For me, I clip both ends to my float, which creates a loop of the heavy-duty mono line where all the different clips for you to use will hang. Each has a sliding brass loop, though you might want to add swivels in between so your hooks have a bit more movement.

[amazon box=”B00YHZGGDE” ]

 

 

ForEverlast Generation II Stringer System

Shortlist: The Best Fish Stringer

If you need a long fish stringer, the 15′ line on this fish stringer gives you plenty to play with.

Double spiked on each end, the floating cork is what stops the fish from simply sliding off the line. For me, this one actually felt a little too long, and would be more ideal if you would be using it off your kayak instead of your floatline.

[amazon box=”B0055N2HBW” ]

 

Eagle Claw Invincible Chain Stringer

Shortlist: The Best Fish Stringer

A heavy-duty option if you like the running series of individual clips, this fish stringer is capable of holding up to eight fish.

Being chain, you can use this stringer to hold some pretty big fish without working they’ll get loose, which is great once you start spearfishing in deeper water.

The downsides are the weight, as it’s the heaviest out of all the different fish stringers, and it’ll hang down quite far from your float. I actually used one of the center clips to attach this to my float line so it didn’t hang so low in the water.

And while it’s one of the cheapest options, you will need to take care of the chain and keep it dry, so it doesn’t begin to rust.

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My experience using a fish stringer while spearfishing

When I first started spearfishing I had no idea what a fish stringer was. I had always kept my catch live in a net bag (when I would fish), so my first proper attempts at a spearfishing float setup were quite similar. Floats to keep it on top of the water, with a large net bag hanging underneath.

The net bag proved great for holding a couple of crayfish, but once you add three or four fish into the mix it starts to become serious dead weight.

Using a setup like this, I made two mistakes.

First, I wasn’t using a dive flag. Where I grew up was quite remote so it wasn’t an issue, but as I moved to more popular spots and went spearfishing in Sydney, and other areas of the coast a flag was a must have piece of spearfishing gear. A flag makes you visible in the water, reduces the chance a boat runs you down, and is often legally required.

The second mistake with this setup was that I quickly became a victim of my own success. Fish are aerodynamic in the water, but when they’re stuffed inside a big net bag, they’re most definitely not. If I had been using a fish stringer instead, they would have been much easier to drag behind me on my float line.

The first time I used a fish stringer I was a little apprehensive, (I was worried I’d lose my fish), but once I started pulling my float through the water the difference in weight was noticeable. It was like I’d been spearfishing with an anchor behind me, and suddenly the weight was gone. I became a rocket in the water again.

 

Why you need the best fish stringer

Despite being a relatively simple piece of spearfishing equipment, a fish stringer serves a very important purpose.

My favorite style of fish stringer is the cable and spike, or “T” style, because it’s just so damn fast to use. You can thread a fish on in seconds, quickly dispatch it, and focus on reloading your speargun to go catch another. All of the other options involve opening a latch to thread on a fish, and while a little more secure, it’s just another step I don’t need to worry about.

For me, I like simple equipment that makes your life easy as you go spearfishing.

And I’m sure you will too.

 

 

The benefits of using a fish stringer while spearfishing

The biggest benefit of using a fish stringer is convenience. If you’re shore diving it’s not always possible to swim your catch back to the beach. For me, there’s no way I could do the 500 to 800-meter swim continuously just to drop off my fish. Having a fish stringer means you can catch more than one fish, and get right back to spearfishing.

It’s also a lot safer to use a fish stringer.

Fish stringers make spearfishing safer

I’ll never forget my first experience with a bull shark. You always hear about the attacks, but you never think it’ll happen to you.

I was out on a solo dive at a rock wall in southern Queensland. It was a little murky in the water, but I was keen to get a quick afternoon session in. Now I know, this breaks one of the fundamental rules of spearfishing, but back then I took a lot more risks. Like this one. Because as soon as I landed my first shot, this little bull shark tore in and ripped the fish from the end of my spear before I’d even got back to the surface. It was over in just a few seconds.

He must have been hanging around watching me in the water, and for his patience he was able to happily swim off with a free feed.

I however, was a little more shaken. If the shark had swum up a few seconds later the fish would have been in my hands (or threaded onto my shooting line). You’ve got to wonder what would happen if you’ve got fish clipped to your belt. I’m pretty sure if he’d tried to take the fish off my so close, I would have lost a chunk of me.

It was after this dive that I made my first proper float line, with a decent float, a dive flag, and a fish stringer that keeps my catch well away from me. Just in case. I’ve also bought a shark shield that I keep charged, and hangs from my tow line as well. Maybe it’s all in my head (though their research proves it works), but I’ve not had any shark troubles since.

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How to use a fish stringer?

Using a fish stringer when you’re spearfishing isn’t rocket science. It’s essentially just a piece of cable or metal you thread your fish onto. You connect it to the float on your float line, so it’s right there and ready to use once you’ve caught a fish.

But not only that, the dead fish on my stringer hang at least 30 meters from me at all times. It makes me feel just a little safer in the water, on the off-chance there’s a bigger predator out there looking for an easy meal. When I catch a fish, this is how it works:

1. Once the fish is on my spear, I head back to the surface.
2. I pull my float line in close so I’ve got my fish stringer handy.
3. Using my shooting line I retrieve my shaft and grab the fish tight, just behind the gills.
4. From here, I use the spike on my stringer to thread through the gills and out the mouth.
5. Then, and most importantly, you need to dispatch your fish to not attract sharks.
6. Push your knife through the backbone, or straight down into the top of their head.
7. Getting a fish onto my stringer takes about 10 seconds, a little longer if I need to kill it as well.
8. Then I simply reload my speargun and get right back to spearfishing.

Now a few people have reached out about this, because when you’re fishing most people will tell you to keep your catch alive so it stays fresh for longer.

When you’re spearfishing, you don’t have this luxury.

 

Dangers of sharks when you’re spearfishing

A live fish, struggling on the end of your stringer is like a beacon for sharks.

We’ve all learnt that blood in the water will bring the sharks in, but what many people don’t know is there’s something else the sharks love more than blood. Sharks hone in on the signals a dying fish sends out. As your catch thrashes about, it is sending out signals the sharks in the area can pick up on, and they’ll come in to investigate. Keeping a struggling fish on your line is like ringing the dinner bell. You want to kill your catch as fast as possible.

If a fish on my stringer is still alive, once it’s secure I’ll dispatch it quickly with a knife through the backbone, or straight down into the top of their head into the brain. This makes for a quick death, I’m not a fan of letting anything suffer unnecessarily.

Getting a fish onto my stringer takes about ten seconds, a little longer if I need to dispatch it as well, and then I just need to reload my speargun and get back to spearfishing.

Once you’ve finished spearfishing and are back on your boat (or on shore), you just need to reverse what you did in the water. Unthread the fish, or unclip your fish stringer and then it’s time to start cleaning and scaling your catch.

 

How to set up a fish stringer?

When it comes to spearfishing, I like to keep things as simple as possible.

This is how my float line is setup these days.

• A heavy-duty float with a “diver below” flag attached. I use this one from Spearfishing World.
• A float line of 30 to 35 meters (approx. 100 feet) that attaches my speargun to the float.
• A spearfishing fish stringer attached to the float, another great bit of gear you can get here.

That’s it.

I’m a big fan of the “T” style cable and spike fish stringer as it’s just so easy to use and it’s what I always recommend when any of my friends will ask. Though I do have some dive buddies who prefer the hoop style stringer, along with my wife, because they feel it’s more secure. Ultimately, it’s up to you.

 

When you shouldn’t use a fish stringer

Of course, if you’re spearfishing in an area with high levels of shark activity a fish stringer isn’t a good idea. A pile of dead fish is like a buffet invitation for the sharks. I’ve had a few close encounters in my time, and these days I have a few options when I’m diving in areas that are particularly sketchy.

The first is to use a spearfishing catch bag instead of a stringer. It’s similar to what I used when I created my first float line, and doesn’t eliminate the fact you’ve got a bunch of fish in there. But it will make it harder for a shark to get them out. I usually have a net bags on my float line at all times anyway (to store crayfish), and if I’m worried about sharks I’ll put my fish in the bag. What’s great about this bag is you can open it with one hand, so there are no knots or cord getting in your way. Simply stuff your catch inside and get back to spearfishing.

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The second option is to get a float boat. You can buy one, like the below model from XS Scuba which is essentially just a tiny inflatable boat. You use this instead of your float, but it has an area you can actually use keep your catch right out of the water. No dead fish in the water, means no hungry predators looking for a meal. The only downside is they’ll be sitting in the sun (which can speed up how fast they spoil), so I wouldn’t recommend this on a long dive or in the middle of summer.

[amazon box =”B07LC594WG” ]

 

The final choice is to keep either a live tank or a cooler on your boat. When I’m spearfishing in deep water (and also where most of the big scary sharks like to hang about), I never use a fish stringer. I bring two coolers on board. I bought these hard plastic ones from Yeti a few years back and they are perfect on the boat.

My catch goes straight into the boat and on ice. As soon as I’ve wrestled the fish out of the water that is. I’d hate to lose a prize fish because I was too greedy, or didn’t take the time to secure it properly.

[amazon box =”B004SC8V5C” ]

 

Choose the best fish stringer when you’re spearfishing

A fish stringer is a must-have piece of spearfishing equipment. As it allows you to secure every fish you catch quickly, so you can keep spearfishing. Which is critical.

If you happen to find a hole full of jewfish, or to happen across a big school of trevally, you don’t want to be fussing about with your catch. You want to be able to effectively thread it onto your spearfishing stringer, and take another shot. And another. Because catching fish is what spearfishing is all about.

If you’ve any questions on my setup. Or what’s the best fish stringer to use in your situation. Drop me a comment below or send me a message.

Would love to help you out with finding the right gear, and I also love hearing from my readers.

Happy spearin’