Dani Acién, fisherman from Cadiz and Sea Hunter athlete, combines his passion for the sea with competition. With a versatile vision of spearfishing and a clear commitment to the development of technical material, he has become a reference among the young talents of the south of Spain.
Valentina Prokic: When and how did your passion for spearfishing begin? And where do you fish?
Dani Acién: My passion started when I was a child. My grandfather had all the VHS tapes of the biologist Jacques Cousteau and I watched them one after the other. My parents gave me a mask and a snorkel, and when I was 12 years old I was already looking at the tide table and to convince my parents of the time we had to go to sea, to coincide with the low tide. This way I had access to the big puddles that formed, and I would spend 3-4 hours there without neoprene… I could stand the cold better than now! Haha. Then, when I was 15 years old, I got my first equipment. My father took me to the beach of Santa María del Mar, in Cádiz, and watched me from the Levante breakwater. I’ve been fishing in the Cadiz area since I was a kid.
Techniques and competitions
VP: What are your favorite spearfishing techniques and what kind of fish do you like to catch?
Dani Acién: I really like all fishing techniques. I consider that a versatile and polyvalent spearo must master all of them, that’s why I never stick to just one. Although, if I have a favorite, it is the ambush in shallow water. One of my favorite species is the dentex. Their distrust and predatory nature give them an added difficulty to catch, and I like a challenge. Another species I love is the grouper.
VP: What has been your most special and emotional capture, and could you tell us a little bit about it?
Dani Acién: I remember a gilthead seabream in Almería that was not very big, about 1.5 kg, but the ambush was from far away. I managed to catch the fish by moving along the bottom without being detected. For me, it’s not the fish: success is in the way.
VP: Are you competing? If so, why do you like to compete? If not, why not?
Dani Acién: Yes, I am competing. At the moment I compete in the team category with my fishing partner. This year we have done a good job and we have qualified for the Spanish Championship in Santander. I like to compete because you meet a lot of people, very good fishermen from whom you learn a lot. Besides, preparing for championships and competing sharpens your instincts.
Exceptional work by Sea Hunter
VP: You are a Sea Hunter athlete, what do you think of the equipment, wetsuits, spearguns… What do you like the most and why?
Dani Acién:Sea Hunter is a brand that I love, not only because it sponsors me. Really, Enrico (the owner) does an exceptional job, where he takes into account the opinion and experience of each fisherman in his team. This gives him an extra point of quality. On the other hand, his spearguns are amazing: versatile, handy and powerful. Ideal for fishing in the Strait of Gibraltar, as is my case. In addition, we have a very nice project to add material to the brand. We are growing together, and that makes me happy.
