Why I didn't go spearfishing in Montenegro 🇲🇪

Montenegro has been on our list of destinations to get to for a while. Located on the southern Adriatic Sea, it is nestled between Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and Albania. I really wanted to go spearfishing here but I always try and follow the rules. A spearfishing license is required but I couldn't get one issued to me - shooting fish with a camera instead was the order of the week.
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[@Kumukarl]

I love the heart of the locals in the comments, telling you to just go and enjoy diving in their beautiful country! At the same time I think there’s something special about respecting the local law and making a video like this. It will be that much more special when you can 🤙

[@DanielMann]

Thank you very much! I always try and be a good visitor to someone else’s country. I’d expect the same from them.

[@knightclan4]

Your photography is above and beyond Daniel!!

[@DanielMann]

Cheers!

[@grantharmon7415]

Epic imagery Dan. Loved it!

[@asioalmo8618]

Wow Daniel! Thats some awesome footage! I hope you had fun in Albania, cant wait to see the new Video. I love Seranda!

[@DanielMann]

Thanks very much. Always a fun time in Albania. We were in Sarande also.

[@iwan_0408]

Hey Dan, really nice video. Kinda enjoying it even more, when your not spearfishing an just holding the camera. Brings another vibe into it and you start to notice the small things. I was in Montenegro this summer and dove there everyday for three weeks. The water where I was (Ulcinj) was poor visibility and not really much fish life. Later in the trip, we went to kotor, for diving. Its a fjord. The only mediterranean in europe. There I had best diving ever in the med. Crazy fish life, due to lots of plankton. From time to time I was just chilling in giant baitballs of sardines. If you take the same route back to the uk, you should check out the bay of Kotor, more specifically Lepetane. Greetings from Hamburg, Germany. Really enjoying your videos. Keep it up ;)

[@DanielMann]

I found the water pretty bad around Ulcinj for visibility as well. Apparently lots of seabass though. We travelled back through the centre of Europe on the way home.

[@crnogorac9611]

Hello Daniel, i am from Montenegro, I've been spearfishing here for 5 years and I've never been stopped by any government individuals. So you could have gone spearfishing no problem. Great video have a nice time in Crna Gora!!

[@laibach6411]

Brits don't like to break the law as much as us in the balkans haha

[@DanielMann]

It’s not so much about willingness to break the law but being respectful in a foreign country as a visitor 😎

[@tylergrunert]

Here in California, violations will ruin your day. And Cali wardens don’t play. I’d follow rules in Montenegro because California would probably fine me for out of State violations when I got home.

[@fotoz2363]

@@tylergrunert In Montenegro you don't need to follow the rules, it's relaxed country where nobody cares, I try to spend as much time there as possible because of how laid back it is.

[@tylergrunert]

@@fotoz2363 I just got jealous. Sounds nice.

[@flexadventures8337]

Another great video as usual

[@DanielMann]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@sporranheid]

The way those dentex appear is something else. Beautiful footage expertly delivered. What an amazing apartment! P.S. After the previous video, I'm thinking a reimagining of the classic Footloose - "Finloose!", featuring your jaggy rock song, of course. 😂

[@DanielMann]

Was really lucky with that apartment, only booked it two weeks in advance!

[@southern.adventures]

Awesome videos and very informative about diving.👍

[@DanielMann]

Cheers!

[@gazzabyerun9048]

Very nice, too bad for the spearfishing, still looked like a wonderful trip, thanks for sharing! Be safe!

[@ShaiAharony]

Stunning!

[@DanielMann]

Thank you! 😊

[@mariocinque8588]

Complimenti bellissimo video.

[@TheDreadEmpire]

Quality vid as always Dan! I think camo suits do play a part in confusing fish. I wear a blue digi camo suit from Cressi. Few times I've had very close interactions with sea life. They seem to be less spooked in my active cloaking 😂😂

[@DanielMann]

I guess it’s not going to hurt the chances of getting close to fish.

[@dantrailwilliams8801]

That camo wet suit is a banger mate

[@germsytoad9405]

Beautiful country. Makes me want to visit.

[@kilobytefishingtv]

Any way, your camera just captured a lot of different species in this trip so its still an awesome experience..dive safe always. cheers🥰👍

[@DanielMann]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kilobytefishingtv]

@@DanielMann yep, we always do🥰 looking forward on your next edventures💪😁

[@davidlichti8003]

Initially, I was unable to run this video. I kept getting a series of commercials. Then, when I logged in to Google to leave this comment, it allowed me to actually watch the video. Thought I'd mention it.

[@DanielMann]

Interesting! Very strange but I hope you enjoyed it eventually.

[@cdocranktours2514]

spearfishing cinematic at its best.. awesome video even without a gun...

[@DanielMann]

Thank you very much!

[@antoniomineo70]

Interesting video Daniel, awesome as usual. Given no fish speared, I hope restaurants in Montenegro treated you well 😅

[@DanielMann]

Some lovely restaurants to visit and everyone was very friendly.

[@Itzmfalex]

I used to use a blue wetsuit and fish were hesitant to come close then switched to camo and fish would swim straight at me, but I think it also depends on how smart the fish are 😂

[@nikolabjelanovic1471]

Helloo Daniel, next time when you come in Montenegro you can take licence for fishing and that one is covering also spearfishing for tourists (non-Montenegrians). I knew this because I was taking for one of my friends and we was stopped by a inspection-police and all was fine. So next time just take licence for fishing and ENJOY Spearfishing in Montenegro..

[@jcdrums2798]

Hello Daniel, Very beautiful ! Thanks you

[@DanielMann]

Glad you like it!

[@billycervi]

Hey Daniel, Lovely video mate. I was just wondering what camera were you using to film under water in this video and fps? cheers

[@DanielMann]

Hi Billy, I filmed this on my Sony A7S3, Sony 24-105 F4, Sony 16-35mm F2.8 and a mix of 50 and 100 fps.

[@billycervi]

@@DanielMann Thanks Dan for the detailed answer 🙏

[@sh1237]

Everytime i go diving without a speargun i see the biggest fishes also:) also about the licence, i think montenegro people/police wouldn't bother you

[@DanielMann]

Maybe they wouldn’t but I couldn’t bring myself to do it!

[@SweetAnica]

❤❤❤❤

[@benmorgan7016]

Loved the video, even without the spear fishing you can keep us entertained - clearly just down to your charisma and not the incredible videography skills 😅

[@DanielMann]

A little from column A and a little from Column B 😂

[@Z3N1T4]

I think this could be a new format for you. Entertainment is all about storytelling and there's only so many ways you can tell a story about spearing fish. Telling a story about the lives of the sea creatures themselves adds a new dimension and opens up new markets to your channel. And being a spearo you know the sealife better than most marine biologists. Think David attenborough of the sea.

[@DanielMann]

Thanks very much for the feedback 🙌

[@petenotman9909]

Love cammo. Makes you look professional- but the fish don’t care … and cammo makes it hard to find the bodies = probably worth mixing up with at least a colourful weight belt and snorkel 😊

[@DavidBulsey]

Hey Dan, I Reckon The Camo Wetsuits Does Make A Difference I Dived Plain Clothed Most Of My Life 23 years Ive Been Diving Started Age 7 With My Brothers And Dad. My Little Brother Was Out Hunting Me A Few Times A Few Years Back He Had A Blue Rob Allen Suit And I Thought Its Maybe His Suit, Cause I Ain't Silly 🤣So About 6 Years Ago I Started Wearing A Rob Torelli Wetsuit And I Felt Like Most Times I Was In Stealth Mode They Do Work In High Pressured Spearfishing Areas.. Got A 105cm Bluespot Coral Trout With My Suit And 80cm Red Emperor In Murky 14m Water At Our Locals Reefs Off Palm Island Here❤❤.. But I Still Wear Plain Clothes In Clear Waters haha

[@DanielMann]

Interesting David, the blue suits to me always stick out much more than working as camo when I’ve seen them in the water. Maybe the blue suit is attracting fish 👀

[@DavidBulsey]

''Blue Camo''.. Maybe They Are Attracted, fish don't see big blue objects everyday? Basically I Mainly Wear A Suit When Its Murky Or To Stop Jellyfish Stings😁@@DanielMann

[@Drewbie.Freediver]

Where exactly in Montenegro was this? It looks amazing

[@DanielMann]

Pržno Plaža

[@mrpulpol]

Nice video, I think your decision is the right one, respect and enjoy the sea from another point of view. Here in the Canary Islands we have an absolutely unfair spearfishing law that we are fighting to modify. Thanks for sharing

[@DanielMann]

Which law is there in the Canary Islands that is unfair?

[@mrpulpol]

Hi Daniel, 40 years ago it was approved a law, without any type of scientific support to limit spearfishing to less than 20% of the coast of the islands. For example in La Palma, a small island, where I live, currently and due to the eruption of the last volcano a couple of years ago, we have less than 12% of the total coastline to be able to fish. We have been fighting against this regulation since it was approved, more actively for the last 5 years trying to obtain a law equal to the rest of Spain, but for now we have not had too many results. If you want to come and collaborate with a video complaint, you have house, food, and fishing trips guaranteed. 😅😅

[@nemanjagradinac5419]

Good luck with your battle there mate. It sounds like a totally non logical & small percentage of water to be allowed to fish. Maybe your government has ulterior motives, like - trying to hide a UFO or mermaids hey 😂🤪 I joke of course, but either way good luck pal!

[@dylan54255]

Hi Daniel, What job do you do that allows u to travel and spearfish?

[@DanielMann]

I’m a freelance cinematographer.

[@daiquiri.]

When you mentioned in one of your previous videos, that Turkey is your final destination, and you plan to do spearfishing everywhere on the way,the legislation issue was one of my first thoughts - and not for Montenegro, but for Turkey where the regulations were similar the last time I checked - spearfishing only allowed for Turkish citizens, or for people with long term residence permits. Am I missing something, has this changed since then?

[@DanielMann]

I went out with the Turkish national team and no license was required. The Euro African spearfishing championships are being hosted by Türkiye next year and no license needed for that either.

[@daiquiri.]

@@DanielMann oh that is good to know, then I guess they have changed the regulations! thanks!

[@jist1377]

I know it's an incredibly rare occurrence, but do great white's ever cross your mind in situation like these? There have been a few predations in Montenegro, and GW's in Med tend to be a really huge ones (6 m). I'm diving a lot in Croatia, and I can never fully relax

[@DanielMann]

Great whites are never a concern in the Mediterranean for me. Yes they can occur but I know divers who have been fishing in the Mediterranean over 50 years and never seen a single shark.

[@marginatux]

Nice easter egg on the house...

[@DanielMann]

Glad you found it!

[@MZviX]

Such a shame man, I was really looking forward to a spearfishing video from Montenegro one day.. we really should start pushing to change that legislation.

[@voytek_two_thousand]

@Daniel, Montenegro is not on the Mediterranean sea, but on the Adriatic sea.

[@DanielMann]

It’s all encompassed in the Mediterranean Sea.

[@mikey2864]

Never stopped me.... and I've never known anyone to be stopped. I'd pixelates (an option).

[@balsakralj]

Nice to see my country on your video! Hope when you came back to Montenegro we can spearfish together. I have license, one is more than enough 😉 Regards from Montenegro!

[@tylergrunert]

Camo in Spearfishing is the same as in hunting on land. It’s mostly made to catch people not fish. With that said, there are things on land and in water that do not require camo to hunt and kill. And other fish and animals that having good camo is almost completely necessary! In my locality body language is all that matters.

[@DanielMann]

I think body language is of much higher importance for sure.

[@Randymcsendy]

I don’t think camo matters much at all. I think it’s 99% understanding movement and concealment. Your back drop and when you move is most important. I’ve done a lot of duck, turkey, bear, deer hunting before I started Spearfishing and the same principle apply stocking a fish. Waterfowl and fish actually have very similar mannerisms and they “flare” from similar things. You could wear a neon orange wetsuit if you have a good backdrop, look with your eyes not your head and move when the fishes body language is saying it’s comfortable .

[@DanielMann]

Great advice 🙌

[@joachimklawe8639]

It seems to me that you see more fish without a speargun. So when I dive with it, I think to myself: Oh no, this is not a speargun, I'm not a hunter - but it don't work! And Camo Wetsuits? They look nice, but I think the fish don't really care what we look like...

[@DanielMann]

I think the fish interpret your behaviour and with a camera it’s less threatening.

[@jovan4290]

Dan, no one will mind, my whole life no one ever did anything, next time, get that gun out! Love from Crna Gora

[@DanielMann]

Thanks Jovan, I didn’t want to be a bad guest!

[@ittakir]

Did you have any questions from customs officers when you drove into Montenegro with spear guns and drone? They are restricted to import, you need to have special papers from government for them.

[@DanielMann]

No questions, they looked in the car and all was good. It’s a temporary import, like the vehicle.

[@tobirichards7786]

You only live once mate just do it anyway it’s only illegal if you get caught

[@MrPatrik246]

abbreviation for Montenegro is MNE

[@DanielMann]

It’s on the registration plates yes.

[@rbhawcroft]

I went and no one said anything. Kotor Bay has the most life.

[@DanielMann]

I guess I didn’t want to be a bad visitor in case the authorities questioned me. Especially with the prior knowledge that I do need to have the license.

[@rbhawcroft]

@@DanielMannthe thats not really the culture there.

[@AndrejVuksanovic-ml5cz]

HI Daniel next time you are in montenegro just go spearfishing 99% they wont see you or wont mind atleast where i live in montenegro

[@DKofDAH]

Yeah not a good idea to film it and post it on KZbin though. And that’s what he wanted to do.

[@AndrejVuksanovic-ml5cz]

@@DKofDAH I still dont think anybody would mind i go spearfishing all the time during the summer and novody is bothering me they are focused on catching bigger poachers that fish with dinemite

[@user-abcdefgggfku]

@@Delphinus_delphisgo back your stop oil group

[@user-abcdefgggfku]

@@Delphinus_delphis how they broke it and did you stop them

[@AndrejVuksanovic-ml5cz]

@@Delphinus_delphis Iz is thrue that there were more fish in the med but they werent destroyed by spearfisherman it was the big trawlers boats that take everything from the bottom and simular

[@orcaazur06]

Nice vidéo...I didn't understand why you didn't hunt, what was the problem with licence?? I'm going to Montenegro soon. by the way, when you mentioned Kosovo, you are making waves....Kosovo is old southern Serbian territory. Américains stole from the Serbs.

[@DanielMann]

The problem is I couldn’t get a license as I explained. So without a license it was illegal to go spearfishing for me so I didn’t. I don’t want to get political with geography but it’s on my Google maps as Kosovo so went with that.

[@islemarhab8536]

Of course when you don't have a speargun in hand, fish will come right up to you.

[@DanielMann]

Seems to be the case!

[@bobclark4994]

Not sure about the cammo wetsuit but I do know that if you swim around like a predator you'll be treated like one!

[@DanielMann]

Wise words!

[@patrickryan3094]

hahha unreal. Didnt know you cant spear there as a foreigner haha I just went and speared lol

[@DanielMann]

Could probably do that in most places in Eastern Europe really.

[@Profitaxofficial]

Reminds me of Mallorca - almost impossible to get a license and insurance as a foreigner, which is when you find yourself in the beautiful clear water with the nicest fish you always wanted to catch (but without speargun 🥹).

[@DanielMann]

At least in Spain it’s possible, difficult but not impossible. Still painful though.

[@TEM1]

Dianna Mann