Cornwall Spearfishing 2006

[Soul Deep]

Originally Posted by fearthespear

I have speared Sennen, Porthcurno, Prussia Cove and many of the small bays in between (one illegally which was pointed out to us after we got out of the water!) A real shame as some of the ground we covered was spectacular...I think it was called Porthgwarra? (spelling could be dodgy!).

Anyway we have had varying success with the odd bass coming our way. I must also say that the vis was superb - almost blue water style! We only visit for two weeks each year for the annual hols. We will be down in Sennen again towards the back end of July if anybody wants to hook up for a sesh or two...

I'm there last weekend of July first week of August so I am always grateful to dive with experince when it comes to new areas... PM nearer the time...

[rab]

Back in again today, surf has been up for the past few days so no diving but what a difference week makes. The water feels a lot warmer (stayed in for over 2 hours with out getting cold) but the vis has dropped off a bit as the stringy algae has appeared so down to 8 to 10m.
The spider crabs have arrived loads of them about. Found this in the kelp near where I got the bass last week.
The Big news is that the bass have arrived big time saw several shoals of about 30 schoolies with bigger fish to about 7 lb mixed in. The bad news is that we missed them all!!!!

[Soul Deep]

Originally Posted by rab

Back in again today, surf has been up for the past few days so no diving but what a difference week makes. The water feels a lot warmer (stayed in for over 2 hours with out getting cold) but the vis has dropped off a bit as the stringy algae has appeared so down to 8 to 10m.
The spider crabs have arrived loads of them about. Found this in the kelp near where I got the bass last week.
The Big news is that the bass have arrived big time saw several shoals of about 30 schoolies with bigger fish to about 7 lb mixed in. The bad news is that we missed them all!!!!

A good size spider crab you have there Could you recommend a recipe sir plus any preperation tips you have? They seem to be everywhere along the south coast at the moment (and this is just the start, wait for July!)

[rab]

Personally I think they are too much like hard work so have given it to my Buddy who is planning to boil it. Only picked it up as it was a bit of a monster.

[foxfish]

[QUOTE=Soul Deep Could you recommend a recipe sir plus any preperation tips you have?

Spider crab is a favourite with Channel Islanders. Generally the meat is eaten cold after boiling the crab for 20 Min's. All you need is a few friends or family members to sit around the table, a hammer, crab picker, bread, butter, (Guernsey is best but I guess Cornish will do) & some vinegar. Vinegar is a good accompaniment because it cuts the richness of the sweet meat. Most of the meat is in the legs so the male crabs are best but you can pick the leg sockets as well. In my household eating spiders is a social affair & ideally done outside in the sun with a bottle of whine.
Bon apetite.

[dave]

Originally Posted by fearthespear

I have speared Sennen, Porthcurno, Prussia Cove and many of the small bays in between (one illegally which was pointed out to us after we got out of the water!) A real shame as some of the ground we covered was spectacular...I think it was called Porthgwarra? (spelling could be dodgy!

Spearfishing is not illegal at Porthgwarra (or indeed anywhere else on the Cornish coast) although many areas have pissy locals who will tell you it is. Lamorna Cove is privately owned and has a sign banning spearguns, but that only refers to the area above the high water mark

I dived on the North coast first thing this morning, flat calm, and almost no viz because of the plankton!

I agree that spiders are better eating than brown crab, just not very good if you are starving and need a lot of food NOW They are fantastic in a pasta sauce;
Fry up onions, garlic and a bit of chilli, stick in a couple of smallish spiders cut in half and fry around a bit more, good slug of white wine, carton of passata, simmer for about 10 minutes, serve with spaghetti

cheers
dave
www.spearo.co.uk

[stuckinsurrey]

I agree that spiders are better eating than brown crab, just not very good if you are starving and need a lot of food NOW They are fantastic in a pasta sauce;
Fry up onions, garlic and a bit of chilli, stick in a couple of smallish spiders cut in half and fry around a bit more, good slug of white wine, carton of passata, simmer for about 10 minutes, serve with spaghetti

I had a few spider crabs last year, and cooked them similar to this, really tasty. Hard work but well worth the effort!

[Soul Deep]

[quote=foxfishIn my household eating spiders is a social affair & ideally done outside in the sun with a bottle of whine.
Bon apetite.[/QUOTE]

Sounds like a plan, simple but delicious... fresh french stick + Jersey butter, Balsamic Vineger and lots of red wine sitting in the sun.. I'm sold, bring on the weekend and spider crabs!!!

[Soul Deep]

Originally Posted by dave

I agree that spiders are better eating than brown crab, just not very good if you are starving and need a lot of food NOW They are fantastic in a pasta sauce;
Fry up onions, garlic and a bit of chilli, stick in a couple of smallish spiders cut in half and fry around a bit more, good slug of white wine, carton of passata, simmer for about 10 minutes, serve with spaghetti

cheers
dave
www.spearo.co.uk

Nice one, gonna add that to my recipe book cheers Dave...

[fatboyjim]

the Orca - Porka!
might have been a bit hasty with that post
just asked the guy in the village about the Orca as i saw the dolphins last week but could'nt confrim seeing a Killer whale. He said it was last year not this year? hmm reckon it was probably that minkee whale. But there are orcas about when the basking sharks appear and people do see them , theres a theory that they follow the sharks and eat them check this link...

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hocking/conjan2.htm

still no bass, best meal so far this year cuttle fish stir fry - surprisingly good

[Soul Deep]

Originally Posted by fatboyjim

the Orca - Porka!
might have been a bit hasty with that post
just asked the guy in the village about the Orca as i saw the dolphins last week but could'nt confrim seeing a Killer whale. He said it was last year not this year? hmm reckon it was probably that minkee whale. But there are orcas about when the basking sharks appear and people do see them , theres a theory that they follow the sharks and eat them check this link...

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hocking/conjan2.htm

still no bass, best meal so far this year cuttle fish stir fry - surprisingly good

Wow! Thanks for the info fatboyjim. Thats an education... I'm gonna have to try and validate that link but I have NEVER heard of Orcas eating basking sharks. Orcas are big but Basking sharks are bigger, second largest Fish in the sea! I can only assume that they are preying on the old ones that die and they then feed off them. Weird thoery though as its not like loads of basking sharks are dying off. On the plus side to the thoery Orcas are seriously intellegent creatures and are recorded to develop a vast range of hunting skills and practisies the world over. They have interesting social structures and it is possiable that one "group" has decided to prey on Basking sharks.

I think it may be more likely that due to global warming and more plankton the Orcas have clocked onto following the basking sharks to find better fish stocks, thus better seal supplies. Still stranger thories have proved true!

Anyway thanks again for that, and please post any other info you find regarding Orcas off our south coast!

[dave]

There was areport a few years ago of 2 orcas attacking a basking shark off Porthcurno, but I cant find any details just now
With increased sighting of orcas off the UK coast, I wonder how long before a group discover there are really easy meals to be had off beaches like Polzeath in the summer (and some of those tourists must have fat % approaching that of seals, perfect orca food )
cheers
dave
www.spearo.co.uk

[Pav]

I'll join in being on the Cornwall / Devon border. North coast has cleared up. Had my first Bass of the year (for me!) on Tuesday. Today I was a bit out of touch seeing 4 Bass which I estimate to have been 5lb , about a dozen Mullet (which I won't shoot, dirty !!) and a Garfish! A few tiny bass also. What was I doing to come back with an empty fish stringer?! LOADS of rain today and a swell due so guesse it'll be back to murky waters tomorrow.

[podge]

Hello all
Will be coming down to cornwall at the weekend with the family but hope to be able to get a quick session in anybody have any info on a spot that will be ok for a snorkel and as a beach for the kids? Will be based at kennack sands although have car, snorkel and speargun will travel. How about church cove anybody tried there if so any good?
also not to sure about the weather and the wind for this weekend any info would be much appreciated.

[Huw]

Originally Posted by dave

I wonder how long before a group discover there are really easy meals to be had off beaches like Polzeath in the summer (and some of those tourists must have fat % approaching that of seals, perfect orca food )

your right, we could do witha big reduction of tourists from polzeath!

Went in for my first session of the year last weekend ( in Fowey if any one is familiar with it) saw a huge ballan wrasse, which proceeded to follow me for the entire duration of my dive . No bass around unfortunatly. Saw a few pollack, but in the end i decided that i would leave them to grow for the summer . Does anyone else ever visit fowey? I have got the boat in the water now so i shall be heading round to the quieter bays soon in search of a monster bass lol .

Huw