Steel Rockett | Spearfishing Stealth Techniques & Blue Water Dangers | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 865

Steel Rockett is a spearfisherman who started diving at 19 years old and now spends five to six days a week in the water hunting fish. In this episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, Steel reveals how terrible his early results were when he first picked up a spear gun, the specific techniques he uses to move through the water without spooking fish, and the three-hour battle it took to land a 380-pound marlin with multiple people involved. Steel also explains the critical difference between reef diving and blue water diving, why blue water diving is more dangerous from a shark perspective, and how he's building his YouTube channel Slingin' Steel to educate people about responsible spearfishing practices. This conversation goes deep into the stealth, strategy, and sustainability of one of the ocean's most demanding pursuits.

From Terrible Results to Three-Minute Breath Holds

Steel Rockett didn't start out as a natural. When his neighbor suggested he try spearfishing at age 19, he took a freediving course and immediately grabbed a spear gun. His early results? Terrible. But something about the challenge hooked him. Now he can hold his breath for three to four minutes underwater, a combination of genetics and extensive training that comes from spending most of his life in the water. Steel explains how he learned to relax and control his breathing, developing the skills that allow him to stay submerged long enough to hunt successfully. The transformation from struggling beginner to someone who spends five or six days a week in the water didn't happen overnight, and the specific training techniques that got him there reveal just how demanding this sport actually is. The progression from beginner to expert freediver starts at 00:02:18.

Moving Like Water: The Stealth Techniques Fish Can't Detect

Fish don't just see you coming—they feel you. Steel explains that fish detect vibrations and pressure changes in the water, which means aggressive movement gives you away before you even get close. The key is understanding the current and surge, then moving with the water rather than against it. When you descend, you want to look like part of the reef or part of the bottom, moving slowly and deliberately while looking in every direction—not just forward, but up, down, and side to side. Steel also reveals the critical technique of positioning yourself so the current carries your scent and presence away from the fish you're hunting. It's a chess match played in three dimensions, and the difference between a successful approach and a spooked fish often comes down to understanding one specific element of water movement that Steel details in the full conversation. The complete breakdown of stealth techniques and water movement starts at 00:03:03.

Blue Water vs. Reef Diving: Why Open Ocean Is More Dangerous

When Steel talks about blue water diving, he's describing something fundamentally different from reef diving. Reef diving means there's structure on the bottom—something solid beneath you. Blue water diving means you're over the open ocean with no bottom, nothing around you except fish and whatever else is out there. And that's where things get dangerous. Steel is direct about it: blue water diving is definitely more dangerous from a shark perspective. There are more opportunities for predators to get you, more opportunities for fish to flee, and the physical and psychological challenge of being suspended in open water with nothing around you. Steel and his team take specific precautions—they always have a boat nearby, eyes on each other, communication systems in place, and a safe exit strategy. When you shoot a fish in the open water and miss, there's a possibility it could attract a shark, so speed matters. The full explanation of blue water diving dangers and precautions starts at 00:04:49.

The Three-Hour Battle to Land a 380-Pound Marlin

The biggest fish Steel Rockett has ever harvested was a 380-pound marlin. It took three hours and multiple people to bring it in. Steel went for a brain shot to try to drop it quickly, and although it dropped, the marlin still fought for a couple of hours after they brought it in. The power of that fish was incredible. Steel used multiple spears and a lot of force and teamwork to land it. But here's the interesting part: marlin isn't the most delicious fish. Steel admits it's edible but not something he would personally choose to eat. The reason they harvested that fish was because it was a trophy fish. They used as much as they could and donated the rest to people who wanted to eat it. On a normal day, Steel is targeting wahoo, grouper, mackerel, snapper, and amberjack—fish that are better eating and more readily available once you find the right reef structure and underwater canyons. The complete story of the 380-pound marlin battle starts at 00:06:33.

Final Thoughts from Tom

I've always been fascinated by spearfishing because it requires a completely different skill set than what most of us use when we're fishing from a boat. Listening to Steel talk about moving with the current and understanding how fish feel vibrations in the water really opened my eyes to just how technical this sport is. It's not just about holding your breath and pulling a trigger. It's chess in three dimensions.

What struck me most was Steel's commitment to responsible practices and education. He's out there five or six days a week, and instead of just keeping it to himself, he's building content that teaches people how to do this the right way. The story about the 380-pound marlin is wild, but what's more valuable is understanding why he targets different species on a normal day and how he scouts locations using electronics to find consistent spots.

If you've ever been curious about spearfishing or if you're already diving and want to get better, this conversation has a ton of practical information. Steel breaks down the techniques, the equipment, the safety considerations, and the mindset that separates successful spearfishermen from people who just splash around and hope to get lucky. Listen to the whole thing—it's worth your time.