Spearfishing White Mussel Cracker

Shooting Mussel cracker in the shallows needs a certain skill as these fish are skittish and also curios in the shallows, so if you know that they are around try to find a high piece of rock and hide behind it as I've been told that they actually come and look for you.
These fish are also found in the deeper water and shooting mussel cracker in the deep water, don't dive directly on top of them, but dive down so that they can see you going to the bottom, then find a nice piece of coral or rock and hold onto it to anchor yourself and just wait. You'll see that they start coming closer, but it normally takes a while for them to come in, so it'll probably take you two or three dives before they are close enough for you to shoot. If you think they're in range, but it's a long shot, don't take it, just be patient because they normally end up coming in very close. While they're coming in to look at you, try not to move your gun around too much until as I say when they're really close pick your target and slowly line up on him. You can usually get two out of the shoal before they disappear. It's also better diving by yourself when you are hunting these fish, especially if they're in shallow water (+/- 12m) because if you have a partner on the surface and the water is clean they will see him and they get intimidated. If the water is not very clean then obviously it's not that much of a problem. (Remember to keep your movements slow, noise down to a minimum and lots of patience).

I have huge trouble getting into position to shoot cracker. I usually target them in transkei in the shallows near the rocks, however I have never met a more skittish fish

Bear that is so true you have only one chance at klapping a cracker. They are super skittish but if you target them in dirty water you will have much more success. Vis less the 3,5m. You really have the best chance of nailing them in real crap vis. Have you watched breathless where Blignaut was diving with the pod taht is the type of vis I am talking about.