Ayoze Monzón is a Spanish athlete from the Canary Islands. This year, he caught the biggest fish in the Spanish Championship, and last year, he was a member of the Spanish national team at the World held in Brazil. Monzón is one of those athletes you don’t easily forget, because he always has a smile on his face, and his positivity and energy are contagious to everyone around him. He thoroughly enjoys spearfishing and is always ready to both compete and help his friends during competitions.
A passion that began in childhood
Valentina Prokic: When and how did your passion for spearfishing begin?
Ayoze Monzón: My passion for the sea goes back to when I was a kid. I used to go fishing with my family all the time; we’d go camping, spend whole nights fishing… And when I watched one of my favorite movies as a kid, Alice in Wonderland, I was always curious to see what was under the water, since in one of the scenes she puts her head underwater and sees the oysters dancing… Until one day I was given my first set of diving gear—some of it handed down to me. Today, it’s my way of life, my therapy, and I’m so happy that my daughter is following in my footsteps. She’ll be just as passionate about the sea as I am…
The techniques and species he enjoys the most
VP: What are your favorite spearfishing techniques and what fish do you like to catch?
Ayoze Monzón: My favorite techniques are waiting and stalking, though I don’t rule out hole fishing either; I almost always fish at considerable depths. In my waters, it’s very difficult to catch a large dentex, so it’s one of my favorite catches. But I also really like amberjacks, which put up a great fight, and snappers, for their strength after being shot… Without a doubt, I can’t leave out the grouper. They may seem easy, but you always have to aim for a precise shot—or, better yet, not shoot at all.
First Steps in the Competition
VP: When did you start competing and why do you like to compete?
Ayoze Monzón: I started back in 2009 at an Open Mague tournament on my island. I was lucky enough to compete alongside Tanausú Motas and Juan Antonio Carballo, two legends of the sport. We won—obviously thanks to them—because I didn’t catch a single fish that day. I love competing, although I’m not very competitive, to be honest. The result isn’t what matters most, but it’s allowed me to travel and meet people from all over the world—many of whom I considered, and still consider, my idols… I consider many of them friends today; for me, that’s what’s important and what I like most about the championships.
The Spanish Championship and Upcoming Challenges
VP: What are your next plans for the competition?
Ayoze Monzón: Well , I just competed in the national individual championship, a very challenging event held in the waters off Cádiz, where I faced many obstacles, since it’s very difficult for us Canarians to cover the travel costs, and often, thanks to friends, we’re able to make some preparations for the championships on the mainland…I was only able to scout the area for a few hours on the second day… So on the first day, I didn’t even know where to go and ended up in 24th place, but on the second day I managed to climb back up to 13th place and caught the biggest fish of the tournament: a 4.5 kg snapper. Even so, since it was such a tough tournament, you realize just how important it is to have friends everywhere helping me out, from the regional tournament all the way to this one. Pipo, Aridane, Ariel, Oliver, Ángel, Raúl, Sergio, Tana, Nico, Fernando, El Tuerca, Juanvi, Kike, Sandra, Juan, Braza, and others I’m sure I’m forgetting. The Canary Islands team championship is at the end of August, though it coincides with my family vacation, and if I go, it’ll be without any preparation either…
VP: You were a member of the national team. Did you enjoy the experience, and do you plan to continue being part of the team?
Ayoze Monzón: Well , it was an amazing experience; we had a great time together, and that showed in the result. In addition to learning and helping Sandrita — Sandra Osorio Arca —and the whole team, we also got to see a little bit of Brazil. It was wonderful. Obviously, if they count on me again to be part of the Spanish national team, I’ll be delighted and proud to represent my country and my community.
The C4 material that makes all the difference
VP: You’re a C4 athlete. Which C4 products do you particularly like?
Ayoze Monzón: The truth is, I’ve adapted easily to the gear. Overall, it’s amazing; I don’t really have a preference for any one piece—I love it all: the MB001 fins are effortless like jet engines; the Fénix speargun is the most customizable speargun I’ve ever had; theCamo Skin wetsuit has been in use for six months now and looks just like it did on day one; the Skyline mask has a spectacular field of view and is incredibly watertight…
The 56-kilo sea bass he’ll never forget
VP: What is your best and most moving shot, and can you tell us a little about it?
Ayoze Monzón: There are many I’ll never forget, but for me, so far, it was a 56-kg red seabream I caught in 2019 in Cape Verde. A group of friends from the Canary Islands and I went there to fish, thinking it would be much easier, but the truth is that it was quite a challenging fishing trip. The locals said they’d never seen such a big medregal, and it provided them with plenty of food for a while… I caught it on a rock at a depth of about 40 meters . There’s a video called Tarrafalon the Immersvs channel about that trip—it’s great—and in it you can see thatcatch and several others from all of us who went…
VP: Can you tell us a little about your work?
Ayoze Monzón: In Spain, it’s not legal to pursue spearfishing professionally, which I think is unfair, since it’s allowed with a fishing rod or other less selective gear—and those methods surely have a greater impact on the environment than a person with a spear and the air in their lungs… Luckily, I have a job related to fishing that gives me plenty of free time to enjoy my family and fishing…
