Best spearguns in Australia for 2026

Picking a speargun in Australia is less about chasing the most expensive rig and more about matching the gun to the water you actually dive. A diver working the rock platforms south of Sydney needs a very different gun to someone running wide off Cairns for Spanish mackerel. This guide walks through the gun types worth your money in 2026, the lengths that suit Australian conditions, and the rules that decide where you can legally use them.

The two speargun types, and who each one suits

Railguns are the default for most Australian spearos, and for good reason. The shaft sits in a track along the top of the barrel, which keeps it tracking straight and makes the gun stable and accurate. They are simple to load, easy to maintain, and they handle reef, headland and general shore work without fuss. If you are buying your first proper gun, this is almost always the right starting point. You can see the current range on the railguns collection.

Roller guns route the rubbers over a roller at the muzzle, so the bands stay under load through a longer part of the shaft's travel. The result is more power and a flatter shot from a shorter barrel. That matters in Australia, where a 105 cm roller can punch like a longer rail gun while staying easy to swing in tight country. They cost more and there is a bit more to maintain, but the performance is real. Browse the roller guns here.

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What length actually works here

Length is the decision people overthink. The honest answer is that water clarity and your usual target fish set the range, and most Australian divers are best served somewhere between 90 and 110 cm. Here is how it breaks down.

Reef, headlands and dirtier inshore water (90 to 100 cm). Tight country, surge and average visibility reward a gun you can swing quickly. A 90 cm gun gives you a useful 3 to 8 m of effective range and turns fast around bommies. A 100 cm is the most versatile single size for mixed reef work, with roughly 5 to 12 m of reach.

The one-gun all-rounder (100 to 110 cm). If you want a single gun that covers shore dives and the odd boat trip, a 110 cm rail gun holds its own in cleaner water (8 to 15 m visibility) while still being manageable on the reef. Pair it with a 7.0 to 7.5 mm shaft and two rubbers.

Bluewater and pelagics (120 cm and up). Chasing tuna, wahoo and big Spaniards is a different game. You rarely get close, so you want range and penetration: 120 cm to start, 130 to 140 cm with multiple bands and a slip-tip for serious fish, and a float line and reel to match. The reels, fins and floats collection covers the rigging side.

We have broken the length question down properly, including shaft and band pairings, in our companion guide on what size speargun you need. If you are still weighing up your first gun overall, the older ultimate speargun guide is worth a read too.

[tip]A longer gun is not a more powerful gun. Power comes from band stretch and shaft setup, not barrel length. Buy the length your visibility justifies, then tune the rubbers for punch.[/tip]

Our picks for 2026 by use case

If you dive a lot of rough reef in southern states, a 100 cm rail gun is hard to beat as a daily driver. If you want one gun that does almost everything from the shore and a small boat, step up to a 110 cm. And if you have caught the bluewater bug, a 105 cm roller or a 120 cm-plus rail gun with a proper float train will serve you for years. Whichever way you lean, build the rest of the kit to match: a suit for your water temperature, long-blade fins, and a float with a flag. Our full spearfishing gear buying guide covers the lot.

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Where you can legally use a speargun

Australia does not regulate speargun length, but it heavily regulates where and what you can spear. The rules are set state by state, and they change, so check the current source before every trip rather than relying on a forum post. A few patterns hold almost everywhere: no spearfishing in inland or fresh water, set distances you must keep from swimmers, jetties and boat ramps, and a blanket ban inside marine park sanctuary or no-take zones.

New South Wales. NSW DPI Fisheries sets the rules, including a ban on spearing within 20 m of bathers and protections on species such as Blue Groper. Start at the NSW spearfishing page and the saltwater bag and size limits.

Queensland. Spearfishing is legal in much of the state but closed in some tidal and fresh waters and inside Great Barrier Reef green zones. Check the Queensland recreational fishing rules, the fishing gear rules, and the Reef Authority zoning explainer before you go.

Victoria and Western Australia. Victoria bans spearguns in many inlets and within 30 m of piers and river mouths, and across its marine national parks. See the VFA equipment rules and the list of restricted marine parks. In WA, the DPIRD recreational fishing rules are the place to confirm closures and sanctuary zones.

The short version

For most Australians, a 100 to 110 cm rail gun is the smart first buy, a roller is the upgrade when you want more punch from a shorter barrel, and a 120 cm-plus rig is for dedicated bluewater days. Match the length to your visibility, not your ego, and confirm the local rules before you get in the water. When you are ready, our team are spearos themselves and happy to talk you through it.