Although he was young, Kirkconnell remembers watching his dad swimming in the water, stalking fish and getting close enough to spear them. 

   “Some of my favorite times were when I was really little before I was allowed to even shoot yet,” Kirkconnell said. “I would hold on to my dad’s arm, and he would swim and we’d go down the reef. Some of my proudest favorite moments were when I would spot a fish before he would and be able to point it out to him.”

   Now Kirkconnell has helped clients land 25 spearfishing world records and personally holds 18. While spearfishing hasn’t been the most popular hobby in the past, according to ABC News, spearfishing is booming in popularity due to the rise of thrill seekers like Kirkconnell posting their underwater adventures online. 

   Spearfishing has been going on for thousands of years throughout ancient civilizations However, spearfishing as we know it today started in the 1930s and spread rapidly through the world following World War II. 

   Spearfishing can be done with a speargun that uses elastic bands to propel the spear. Another type of spear is a long pole spear that can be thrust by hand or with a rubber band that is pulled up the spear to add momentum.

   Many people are attracted to spearfishing because it is a more sustainable way of fishing. Unlike other forms of fishing, spearfishing allows selective harvesting, which allows fishermen to choose the fish they are targeting. This prevents unwanted or endangered species from being harmed.

   One person who has taken part in the spearfishing popularity boom is junior Aksel Williams.

   Williams’s favorite part of spearfishing isn’t just the kill. 

   “The freedom–you can spear any fish you want, just swimming around in the water,” Williams said.  “While spearfishing,…. you get to take in all the beauty of the ocean too.” 

   According to Kirkconnell, the most essential spearfishing skill is being able to improvise.

   “[The best spearfisherman] can put the recipe together with the ingredients that are available to them,” Kirkconnell said.

   If anyone wants to take part in this growing hobby Kirkconnell has very simple advice.

   “Take a class, learn how to free dive before you do it,” Kirkconnell said. “Eat what you catch.”

   Kirkconnell’s favorite part is that there is always more to learn. 

   “My favorite thing about spearfishing is you can never be perfect,” Kirkconnell said. “Everything is fluid and it’s constantly changing and there’s no two situations that are exactly the same, so it always makes you try to be better and there’s no way to be perfect.”