Cornwall 2008.

[Pav]

I eat the odd mullet. I fillet the fish without gutting the fish. I also cut out the red meat. Mullet are a nice alternative when the Bass don't show. I don't like to think about possibly Mullet holiday-ing to the local sewer pipe! Even when I take one from clear cornish waters I wonder how far away they may travel to feed on sewer outflows!

I'm sure its fine to eat Mullet. ;>)

[gutshot]

We took the kayaks out for our first diving trip to some offshore reefs on the south coast. Slightly choppy due to the wind which made it hard while on the surface spearing and a fair amount of current running which we were expecting as we were just outside slack water but due to the neaps was managable.

As for in the water it was a slow start. No fish to be seen and the current was hard work. The viz was about 6-8m and the heated kidney belt which i posted a message about some weeks back was unreal. I am in a 5mm elios suit which is starting its 3rd season so it is a wee bit cold but with the heater on i was too hot. Mind you, an hour later after it lost it's heat i was getting cold especially on the deeper dives. I will wait a while before setting it off next time.

Spearflap came up with a nice bass which he later said was just over 4lb without guts. I had a bummer! I had my back to the wall pulled into the kelp facing to my left. Just as i was about to come up i looked around to my right to see a big bass (easily over 10lb) with 3 other bass of about 3-4 lb looking at me. The current (unknown to me) had pulled a load of kelp around my gun so i could not move it up to aim. I had to watch them swim off slowly. It was the perfect shot if i could have taken aim. Not long after that the cold started to set in.

Thats it now for me, the season has started. My better half is not impressed.

Oh, and as promised a couple of pics of the kayak. Also picture is spearflaps bass.

[tribs]

Unlucky Gutshot!

If it helps i had a mare today also, in the rough water, put a 4" tear in my Elios!
Tribs

[spearflap]

first dive of the year today went out with gutshot in the kayaks to an offshore reef good viz but very strong rip, saw a couple of schools of bass but managed to bag one at 4 1/4lb bass, thats gutted and scaled, guts was probably 1/2lb. gutshot saw some double figure ones but coudnt get a clear shot, lovely day, and that bass has just been eaten,think it is going to be onother good season, also used my new 6mm elios jacket and was toasty warm. cant seem to get upload pictures as i am shite with computers
but i think the bass worthy contender of fish of the month

[scottwilson]

Good Effort spearflap.

[spearflap]

what a plank

[Old Man Dave]

Well done both of you. First kayak assisted caught fish of 2008?

Spearflap, are you entering those 2 soles in the second photo in the FOM?

Dave

[scottwilson]

[gutshot]

Ahh, leave him alone. Technology escapes him. He's not the fastest processor in PC world.

[SurfnSpear]

Hey Neil, we know each other since way back when Newquay was a tumbleweed town! Good to see you mate and nice bass.

Brett

[foxfish]

Nice bass - nice boots, are they the new style elios 6mm?

[fearthespear]

Well done chaps - good reports too! 10lb+! ...a memory that will stay with you for a long time.

[Robbo66]

That's the thing with Mullet, we all seem to need to smother it in Chilli/Ginger etc as it has a pretty bland taste. Stooped shooting Mullet for this reason alone ( + the fact they are practically tame)

[gutshot]

I too stopped shooting mullet. I will admit to eating some which tasted as good as bass but i have had more which tasted too strong for me. It's a shame as they put up on hell of a fight but now i just let them go. I did see a big one out on the reef yesterday. I couldn't help but aim my gun and track him. Bless. He has no idea how lucky he was.

[badlander]

Been away for a few days,hoping to get in a bit this week.Anyone know how the viz is on the south coast right now?