South Devon Report 2006

[spearheads]

went fishing down there last week end not a single bite not much in the bay should be by the end of april.

[Mr. X]

Executive Summary:

Start of week water v. rough & milky, improved daily towards end of week.
***EXCELLENT VIZ*** on Friday (Best I have ever experienced in UK)
***NO FISH***

Conditions looked perfect for fish though -- so I am thinking they just aren't back yet. Actually, I did see the the tail of a small fish disappear in weed & a 2-3lb Ballan Wrasse (spared, not speared).

[Details to follow...].

[Jez]

Ahh, Mr X. You down for long? I have the week off following Easter and am plannig on getting wet. Haven't spotted your kayak. What colour is it?

Went to check the usual spots in Torquay today. Milky, as you say. So I bimbled on down to Dartmouth on a hunch and found a good 3-4 metres viz just outside the estuary mouth to the west. I've fished (rod and line) this area before and had always wanted to dive it, the water just looks so inviting .

I didn't stray far from the entry point as I wasn't sure of the currents, being and estuary and all. But the ground I covered looked really promising. Sand gullies, deep water close in, freekin huge rocks covered in kelp, massive overhangs (spent much time inverted, peering into caves). Of course, didn't see any fish but that's just the time of year. Seen some mackerel appearing in the local fishmongers, they're out there somewhere!

I must say, when there's no fish in, exploring new spots keeps diving fresh and interesting. If I'd had gone to my usual spots and found no fish I would have been bored after a short while, jus need a bit of motivation to travel a bit. Anyone interested in plundering the South Hams this summer, give me a shout.

[Mr. X]

Despite a lot of small bass in the fishmongers in Lyme, did not see any down there. First half of the week the whole party had flu -- so very little done. However, I don't think we missed much -- the sea was rough & milky when we arrived & looked similar by the time we were well enough to check again.

The weather seemed to gradually improve all week (from a diving perspective). We visited several locations with different aspects on the off-chance that one might offer flatter conditions. Mainly E. Devon but also W. Dorset. We visited several gorgeous, out of the way, locations...definitely worth getting off the beaten track a little. [Sorry, I promised not to divulge specific locations]...but did not get to dive at most.

Thurs. looked promising (N/NE winds, sunny) & we visited a S. facing beach. Unfortunately although much flatter conditions were not great & the water stilla little milky. With time running out, I decided to give it a try anyway -- which involved a long-ish walk in. After going out a couple of hundred feet the water cleared with about 2m viz for about 3 minutes before closing in again. Swam around for a while trying to find clear water but eventually came out -- glad at least to be back in the water. Checkout another location that evening that seemed much calmer & clearer but too tired to dive again.

Following day visited the calmer location. The weather had turned distinctly grey & cold overnight but the water was still clear & relatively calm. I placed a cray trap before heading out spearing. The water was quite clear & viz opened up to perhaps as much as 10m on the way out -- perhaps the best viz I have experienced in the UK. The environment was rich with sea life, colour and changed the further out I went. I saw several star fish before turning around (often a sign that plaice are around an old fisherman later told me -- he also pointed out where they usually were). On the swim back I saw a large, familiar head poking out of the weed -- a Ballan Wrasse. It looked like it might be big, maybe 6lb, but I prodded the rock nearby & it shot off -- the body was very small relative to the head, perhaps only 2-3lb. The main fish sighting of the day. There were plenty of food sources (snails, moluscs, starfish, crab,...) & weed types & rocks -- seemed like ideal conditions for fish -- so I am thinking the cold weather has delayed the return.

The cray trap caught only 2 small crabs & a fish (Miller's thumb/gurnard?), so released those. I'd had an excellent snorkel despite the lack of fish. On the way back the local fisherman also pointed out a flattie area closeby. As the water looked so good, I decided to take a quick look around before leaving. The water was great & different in character to the stretch I had just dived. I saw no flatties but it was great fun looking anyway. Most enjoyable day's diving so far.

[Mr. X]

Oh...one more thing. Suggest using some discretion if you plan to visit Beer. We dropped by one evening and I chatted with one of the guys with a business on the beach (asking about parking & the fishing boats) -- he was very helpful & friendly but he did mention that some spearfishermen "cleared out all the bass" last year (I was in tourist mode at the time, he had no idea I was spearing). He reckoned they took 5 bass one day & a similar number another day...which reminded me of an article I read on this thread or its predecessor!

I certainly make no judgement, just passing on the story. That is a pretty small bay & apparently little goes unnoticed. The local fisherman are all crabbers & clammers -- they don't actually catch fish, so this would not be a direct threat to their livings. I think it was more just concern for the local environment.

Found a couple of nice bays for kayaking (several actually offer kayak hire during the season -- somethings were just opening or just about to open when we were down there). I must say, even without the great seaside locations, that area (Exmouth-West Bay-Bridport-Chard) is a very beautiful part of the country . Excellent area.

[Spaniard]

I have fished Beer for years, taught one of the locals how to spear. I have swapped bass for crab/lobster with the local fishermen. There is no problem with spearing in Beer. If the people who earn their living from the sea, and in the most part have great respect for the sea, see people 'disrespecting' the sea you will have problems. If you do the tourist thing it doesn't go down well. I have spoken for hours about the sea and what's underneath it with the local fishermen who are only too keen to learn once they discover you are not just another d**k head from London.

[Jez]

Sick note from matron means diving is off at the mo', just getting over the flu

So anyway, fished at Long Quarry Point today with some feathers and pulled out one sandeel and two mackerel. At least there seem to be some fish about. Viz looked to be about 4m. Hoping to get in later in the week.

[Jez]

Dived Thurlstone today. I had planned to dive the Louis Sheid wreck but a bunch of scubies were diving that so I tried Thurlstone Rock to the south (see picture). Lovelly clear water, 6-8m viz. A very beautiful dive but not much in the way of fish. Saw a couple of wrasse, some sandeels, baby fish of uncertain type etc. Spent most of my time in the company of a flock of seagulls that took off from the rock and decided to poo on me now and then for fun

Saw one lonely pollack of just over a pound but managed to miss that (must have been the beer festival last night ). Still, a nice day out rounded off with a nice cream tea.

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by Spaniard

I have fished Beer for years, taught one of the locals how to spear. I have swapped bass for crab/lobster with the local fishermen. There is no problem with spearing in Beer. If the people who earn their living from the sea, and in the most part have great respect for the sea, see people 'disrespecting' the sea you will have problems. If you do the tourist thing it doesn't go down well. I have spoken for hours about the sea and what's underneath it with the local fishermen who are only too keen to learn once they discover you are not just another d**k head from London.

Yes, I found the local fisherman were curious and helpful too -- I was a little surprised by that actually; it made my day really. The odd spearo will have little or no impact compared to the commercial bass pair trawlers fishing the breeding grounds (...been reading the Guernsey2006 thread).

One of my party did comment that the guy with the business seemed a bit of a whiner -- but, to be fair, he was friendly, helpful & from several of his other comments, he seemed accutely aware that they had only a small bay/limited resource with which to draw the punters in and make a living from (it was a quiet day). I can't feel too badly about a guy genuinely concerned about protecting his local environment.

It is a lovely spot. Parking can be a bit hit or miss (it was quiet when we were there though).

Jez, that looks like an interesting area of coastline. (Darn, forgot to have a cream tea -- did sample the cider though ).

[Jez]

Managed to get in yesterday in Torquay. Viz was 4-5m meters, not bad considering the easterly blow on Saturday. Plenty of pots out now, I didn't check for what but I did see a couple of cuttelfish bones floating in the bay.

Not much fish life yet, a few wrasse, not even any mullet (which have appeared in the harbour I hear).

Finished my dive by perforating my right ear drum . Ouch. There was no warning at all and it went as I was just ducking for another dive at only 1m depth. What's all that about? So, when I get round to seeing the doc I guess he'll tell me I'll be out of the water for a month or so. Anyone else suffered this misfortune? I just don't know why it went when I was so shallow. Super cheesed off about it

[Mr. X]

Sorry to hear that Jez. I'd go see a physician a.s.a.p.. [ http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/medical/burst_eardrum.htm ]

[Jez]

Oh crap! Have just seen the specialist and he has confirmed my suspicion, I have surfers ear in my right ear, pretty bad too.

He shoved a camera down each ear and showed me the difference. Not quite sure why one ear is so bad. Some kayakers say it can depend on which side you usually do your eskimo roll on. I haven't paddled for ages though and don't really buy this, if your head's under it's under.

So anyway, looking forward to a scan then having surgery courtesy of Black n Decker. On the plus side, I have to wait only two more weeks (following my perforation) before diving is an option, and the waiting times for surgery are probably months anyway. I might actually get to see a fish this season! Gonna be at least 2 months out of the water post surgery

I might have to resort to worm drowning all summer. pants. Somone post a report soon, I need cheering up!

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by Jez

Somone post a report soon, I need cheering up!

Your wish is my command! I just got back from E. Devon. Only time for a quick summary, will follow up with details later:

Weather: good & getting better.

Viz: fair, from 0.5m - 4m+ (on the same dive, in the same area!)
"Plankton bloom", or whatever it is, is messing up otherwise v. good viz. However, some areas are worse than others (bad: near shore, down current of weed beds; good: rocky areas). Perhaps just coincidence but I did an early morning dive today 5am-8am (it was light at 4.30am) & the bloom seemed to suddenly get worse when the sun suddenly started getting warm (perhaps behind cloud before that?). It was often possible to get good viz by diving under the top few feet or murk.

Missed: bass 3lb-ish? Swimming over small clearing of light bottom straight into weed. It saw me. I was quick, but he was quicker. The spear went were it was aimed but he was gone. Then ... it returned over the clearing while I recovered my spear (guess I should have heeded forum suggestions to let them go, drop & await their curious nature ).

Hit: 2.3lb ballan wrasse (what can I say, I passed up several Wrasse but this one bolted like a bass...in truth, from a quick glimpse I would prob. have thought 60% chance wrasse rather than bass but no time for major thought process). Viz was only ok, a little murkey/dim.

Other fish/wildlife:

Saw one small bass - too small to hunt, it bolted under a boulder but I was able to make multiple dives to get a good look at it. Maybe 12-14" and < 1lb(?) -- it'd make a poor meal for one. Didn't have my torch unfortunately.

Saw lots of hand-size fish. Hard to tell what they all were in the bloom, many appeared to be small wrasse (not ballan). A couple of bigger Wrasse, maybe 2-3lb ballans. Fry/bait fish/minnow(?) & what I think were sand eels (bigger, maybe 6-7" long & shiney, mirror blue & transparent).

Lots more spider crabs than I saw at Easter, may be 30 in 3 dives (about 7-8 hours) - main-shell palm size on most. An edible crab which seemed small to me but probably just legal for the 14cm limit I now find - with a claw missing! Fewer star fish but a couple of really big ones (maybe a foot across?).

Kayaking: Very good. More later on the kayak thread.

[Mr. X]

One strange thing:

I took my knife out to finish off the Wrasse but found it unnecessary as it was stoned (shot must have hit the spine, just behind the gill cover). I dropped or put down my dive knife in the process. I forgot all about it as I swam off, by the time I realised I could only roughly estimate the location & was unable to find it. The knife had a mono lanyard but it tore right through the sheath - probably as I swam off.

Returned today, tried swimming over the same area (far fewer fish today) but with so much weed it was like looking for a needle in a hay stack. Gave up looking & started concentrating on hunting -- but very few fish about. Decided to abandon the area & try the other side of the bay. As I swam off towards my (different) entry point I looked around and there was my knife, glinting in the sun, resting on a rock shelf under about 5" of water! Just where I shot the fish -- which turned out to be much closer to shore than I recalled. Lucky.

[portinfer]

A mate of mine is on his 5th knife He kills a fish then in the excitement forgets about the knife ... he asked me to find the cheapest ones and buy him a job lot

Jez - Hope the ear works out.... sounds bad (no pun intended.)

Ed