[foxfish]

Hi spearo's

Nice to see Guernsey spearfishing turning a full circle with new and enthusiastic characters appearing on the scene.

My diving experiences go back to the early 70's, i can remember waiting on the beach for my two brothers to return from their dives, very often laden with prime fish. Plaice and Sole were abundant in those days and generally most sought after.

Although a competitive and strong swimmer used to the local sea temperature, it was not until i got my first suit that i was able to follow my brothers, Derek and Dave (Old Man Dave now).

The suit, a shorty unlined and modified to fit (by Dave) was far from luxury, still aged twelve i managed my first fish, a Plaice from Braye Bay in Alderney. Incidentally although a proud owner of a Mamba 90, i speared that Plaice with a three pronged devils hand spear!

During the 70's and the 80's, my brothers became very efficient hunters, catching many specimens and even a few british records! Personally i have never reached their accolades however, i've a few stories to tell!!

SteveW (record claimer) would love to see in print the time i shot myself throught the collar of my suit, with a large air compressed gun, "maybe another time mate"! There was one dive though in about 1994, which saw me walking down Perelle slip. To some i guess i may have looked slightly odd, due mainly to a shiny silver oversuit i had made from a St Johns Ambulance survival blanket. Anyhow it seemed my appearance had attracted quite a crowd. A teacher friend of mine was leading a group of special needs kids on a beachcombing jolly. After serious interigation as to why a space man was walking down the beach i had a chance to explain to my teacher friend there was a small reef only metres from the shore, if i was lucky enough to spear a fish i would stand up and show it to the kids.

The conditions were perfect a big spring, hot and sunny. Of course spitting in my mask and de-snotting bought rowdy laughter from my audience. A few metres out i loaded my gun, a few metres more i was at the spot. The reef itself only one and a half metres high and barely covered produced the ideal conditions. The many crabs that live amongst the bladder wrack were having their cover swept back by the incoming tide, exposing them to any lurking Bass. Staying on the surface and keeping on the outside parameter, making best use of my camouflaged oversuit against the silver surface glare. I spotted a silver patch amongst the weed, took aim and fired. Deep down inside a thought i had a fish to show off, i was wrong! I had neatly speared two Bass of about three and a half pound a piece. Standing up i shouted "I've got two"!

Several weeks later i saw teacher friend, strangely he seemed to think i was somewhat lucky. I told him the silver smoker is never lucky.