Good looking fish Dave, we're getting the same sort of thing over in Anglesey too. Nothing worth the embarassment of shooting close to shore but just like you say, bigger fish tucked in the kelp on the outer reefs.
We went out last Thursday about a mile offshore, lay on the bottom for a while on the join between the sand and kelp. 90 deg to my left and 45 deg high I saw a 10 poundish fish pop out of the weed to have a look at me about 2.5m away. I had my old gun with 16mm bands on, so I swung it round slowly and let if go, as the gun fired the fish bolted and I could see the spear following the fish but at a slower speed by the time it got close
Very very annoying
