Cornwall Spearfishing 2006

[Doc]

Originally Posted by 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.

Kennack itself is a likely spot with the rocks on the right and some deep gullys. Went in the at easter but a bit cold and quiet then. should have hotted up now.
Has anyone fished the manacles??

[podge]

thanks Doc i'll have a go and if the weather gods permit we'll be BBQing on the beach.

[rab]

Have only dived Kennack once last year, saw a few good bass on the reefs but managed to miss them all!
Vis in Mounts bay is down to nothing at the moment and there is plenty of surf so east side of the lizard will probably be your best bet.

[podge]

Thanks for the info rab, maybe i'll take the surfboard along just in case.

[Doc]

http://www.divingcornwall.com/
try this site and check the shore dives list. only been to mullion and kennack so far and some unpronouncable spot in north cornwall.

[podge]

once again thanks Doc, just the job now its all down to the weather??

[podge]

When in at Kennack yesterday and had a good look around the spit of rocks in the middle of the beach saw a couple of bass but they were out of reach and the biggest whasse I’ve ever seen.
As I’ve already said I can only snorkel but the vis was good although the water still seemed a but cold, didn’t see a single spider crab in or around the weed thought there would have a been a few there?
Once again thanks Doc and rab for the posts.
And with the tourist massing don’t forget to
Maintain your sense of humor…

[stuckinsurrey]

Hi everybody,
No spearfishing this weekend but did manage a snorkel through the masses at Porthcurno and a bit of a surf at Sennen. Visiblility was really good (especially Porthcurno) all weekend, despite the strong winds. Not alot to see except loads of sandeels and a few small pollock. Will be taking the gun along this weekend so will be hoping for the same visibility coupled with a lot more fish! Will have to find somewhere away from the crowds, always feel a bit suspicious strolling down the beach with a speargun!
Jim

[fatboyjim]

"the Manacles"

theres good fishing to be had on the manacles but the local fishermen are really anti spearos to the point where some of them will actually run over you in the boats on purpose! seen it happen. A few years ago some non local spearos really took the p!ss and were filling the boat and selling bass at 2 pound a pound to local resturants. Caused a right scene it did, fisheries pretty much boarded my little 3metre zodiac one day! quite funny

a few boats work the reef trawling lines with redgill eels if you give them a wide berth and stay up on the reef you'll be alright. Maybe just the odd visit and dont take too many and all should be well. You can swim it from porthoustock we used to all the time but be aware of tides - low water out there is approx 2 hours after low on the beach but its never exact. Avoid spring tides. I'd say unless you really like long surface swims it a boat dive really you can launch at porthoustock for small boats or 4x4s or otherwise go round to the dive centre at polkeris and they'll launch you for a fiver or something.

[rab]

Finally got back in the water yesterday, tried a spot with loads of shallow string weed for the first time this year. Water looked great from the beach but poor vis (2m max) once I stuck my head under!!! And it was freezing, the storms seem to have lowered the water temp some how and even in the glorious sunshine I felt cold for the whole dive.

On the swim over towards the reef my buddy spotted 8 or so large mullet in a channel in the rock and managed a great shot on one through the top of the head!! 20 Minutes later an I still hadn’t seen a fish was getting cold and frustrated! Glanced down at the rocks as I was sneaking through the string weed and their was a huge Mullet only 2 foot beneath me, Unfortunately I had my Comanche 90 and the fish was far to close !!

About 5 minutes later I moved over some weed and spotted a nice bass facing away from me again in about 2 ft of water, lined him up and let fly, spear hit the fish behind the pectoral fin before the end cleared the barrel!!! Very nice 2 ½ pounder for dinner !! Saw one other mullet before I headed back to the beach Cold! The vis was poor for the whole trip with the tip of the spear disappearing a couple of times! May have a look at a more open site tonight.

[dave]

I REALLY REALLY wouldn't recommend swimming to the Manacles from the shore unless you are super fit and know exactly what the tide does at various times (at some parts
of the ebb it runs straight offshore)
Porthoustock can be a bit dodgy from the "tyre slashing while you are away" point of view by the aformentioned locals
The local fishermen tend to run crying to Cornwall Sea Fisheries if they so much as see a spearo on "their" reef, and normally lie about the quantity of fish they have seen taken . One report a couple of years back claimed a grey RIB had taken a huge catch(I think 100 fish was the story). I was the only boat out there that day apart from one fisherman who spent all morning shouting abuse and trying to run us over. We had 4 bass between 2 divers.............
cheers
dave
www.spearo.co.uk

[Huw]

Went in at Polridmouth bay (between fowey and the gribben head) yesterday.

Vis was amazing and water was noticably warmer than last month. Saw one shoal of nice bass (2.5 - 3.5lbs) but stayed just out of range; i thought they were about to head out so i fired but managed to miss , they hungaround for a while and whilst i was frantically trying to reload they came within about 2ft from me, but then were off when i was locked and loaded (the way of the world)! My buddy follwed a couple of mullet but as we were after bass he decided not to take them, he reckons that they were around 3lbs. Quite a few pollack around aswell but once again decided to leave them, we are heading out again tomorrow so i think we may try for some then!

Saw around 12 spider crabs on the whole dive so we took a few as we headed back to the boat. Ate them last night... lovely!

Anyone else speared around Fowey before? I used to snorkle around Gyllingvase (not sure if that spelling is correct) in Famouth a few years ago before i started spearing so i may take a trip over there in a few weeks. Is anyone familiar on that area?


Huw

[Pav]

Got down to cornwall this weekend. It really is a nice change to dive in such good viz,.. although I find myself trying to find the cloudiest water to get closer to the bass.

Had a Bass of 5lb. There were two together, the bigger one being behind the other. It was lined up for a shot through both fish! , but didn't want to miss the larger one of the two so I waited to get a clean shot. Has anyone tried 2 bass in 1 hit?

Also took a 2lb Bream. I'm told they are good eating?

Saw loads of big mullet but I wouldn't eat them so they are safe from me!

[Jez]

Hi Pav, would love to see a picture if you have one. Never tried for the double but I did score 2 mullet in one shot last summer by accident, side on obviously. I have shot a bass head on before. The spear emerged exactly through the fork of the tail. It was sod to get it off the spear!

[Huw]

Jez...

I also shot a bass head on last year and had to go back aboard my boat in order to get it off the spear!

Also Pav, where abouts in Cornwall did you spear? Nice catch by the sounds of it, well done! How deep were you for the bream? I still havent seen any my way this year . A few years back now when i used to snorkle we used to be surrounded by shoals of big red bream, but now that the speargun comes with me, i just never see any!!!

Huw