South Devon report 2007

[spearheads]

Pic 2 is my second favourite hunting spot in the bay i had my biggest catch of fish their this summer. Its a bit of a swim from shore but its worth it.

[fearthespear]

Originally Posted by Huw

Do i spy a gabbiano there??? I think i do!! I do love that gun, and im pretty sure that i have the same float too. If i am lucky then the yak should be similar too .

Great pictures to both of you. Here in cornwall out water is distinctly brown

Huw

Definately a Gabbiano...I rate them too. The first time I used mine I managed to aspetto a lovely bass into range and promtly shot over its head...tits! I was aiming with the bands (funny angle) and not down the barrel. Luckily i'm used to it now and even managed to spear a bass last season!

[Huw]

ahahah :... the first time i shot mine, i was aiming at a mullet that was about to pass underneath me, so i kept on tracking the fish, paying absolutely no attention to where the butt of the gun was pointed, squeezed the trigger.... shot hit straight through the top of the fish, but i also managed to smash myself in the mask with the recoil !!!!

First fish i had ever stoned... i was off to a good start, and i had the mark on my face to remember it by

[Allan B]

Sorry for the delay in posting, had a really busy couple of days.

The plan was to set off from Babbacombe but when you can park at Oddicomde for free, during the winter, that’s where I decided to go. From here it’s only a short paddle back to Babbacombe an around to Long Quarry Point, keeping close in, and a sharp eye out for semi submerged rocks, lots of them the size of cars.

From Long Quarry Point I decided not to hug the coast line into Anstey’s Cove but go straight across the bay heading towards Hope’s Nose, this was ok until nearly half way across and now having no shelter from the strong offshore breeze was finding it hard going. On the other side of the bay there is a small but sheltered bay with nowhere to land but just nice to get out of the wind and rest. It also looks a good spot for some spearing and will be checking it out later in the year.

From here I carried on to Hope’s Nose, this whole section of coast looks good for spearing and is quite out of the way. Half way between Anstey’s and Hope’s Nose there is a tiny beach, pictures 3, 4, and 5 in my previous post. I hauled out here for lunch, I was so hungry that I ate everything that I had with me and with no food left the decision was made not to carry on the Hope’s Nose but to head back and test my new fins. Besides there was more food back at the car!!!

Heading back was much the same accept on reaching Long Quarry Point I headed straight across the bay to Petit Tor Point. No sooner had I got out into the middle of the bay the wind picked up again, you would have thought that I would have learnt from earlier, but no, not me.

Oddicombe was looking like a small dot on the horizon and the wind was now howling offshore. It must have taken me 30 minutes to get across to Petit Tor Point, was it worth it, no. The water was really milky with no more than half a metre of viz. That was enough paddling for one day, time to get in and change into my Spearo gear and test my new Omer ice fins. So it was a quick pit-stop back at the car and back in again. The quick test dive ran into an hour and a half and then only ended because I needed to be making tracks home.

I am pleased with the Omer Ice’s very comfortable foot pockets, no cramping at all, which is more than can be said for my old Gara 2000 HF’s. They may not be quite as powerful as the Gara’s but made up for it in comfort and smoothness and can easily wear them all day.

Did I see any fish? Two, that is all, one lesser-spotted dogfish about forearm in length and a bull huss of a full arms length. All in all a fantastic day considering what was in store the following day, weatherwise.

Allan

[Pav]

sorry if i've missed the thread and this has been mentioned elsewhere.

Looks like a large cargo boat has been wrecked of Sidmouth, south devon. The news reports re. the containts of the containers doesn't sound good. Battery acid, Perfume.. I understand they are putting a floatation barrier around the wreck as it it leaking diesal.

Someone else can probably find the bbc news link for anyone interested / concerned.

I'd be interested in knowing the true containts and hazards of the cargo. I Imagine any waste is being washed onto the south devon reefs with the strong s.westlies and not out too sea, unless the wind has changed.

[James T]

Yes - I have been watching this really carefully as it is where we have our holidays every year and is all over my spearfishing/fishing ground - am very p****d off about it - at least the cargo is getting put to good use by the local 'salvage teams' hee hee hee.

Here is a link to the article - BBC NEWS | England | Devon | Scavengers take washed-up goods

Hopefully the oil (3500 tons of it) and about 150 containers of hazardous chemicals will get taken off over the next 3 days.

I checked the weather forecast and if the the wind stays N/NW as per forecast then the salvage teams should have reasonable conditions.

[Mr. X]

I was hoping to visit S/E Devon for hols. this year, so watching the Napoli incident with interest. I dived Branscombe once last year. Thought there might be some BMW motorbikes for sale on this thread by now. Should check the Cornish thread...to see if there are any disappointed Wreckers down there near the Lizard!

[Nice pics Allan]

[spearheads]

Some of the birds have been found in torbay effected by the oil.

(Quote from bbc news )The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reported that 900 guillemots and 200 gulls had been found suffering from the effects of oil. Some have been found up to 25 miles away, near Torbay

Some good information.

BBC NEWS | England | Fear for birds after Napoli wreck

[Spiderman]

Looks like it could be a year before it's all done then!

[spearheads]

well the weather has been good a few days so the water should of cleared up nicely, going to give it ago tomorrow want try out my new weight gilet.
I will post a few pics if i see anything interesting.

[Allan B]

I’m sorry it’s not a spearing report, but it might be of interest….

Took my kayak out of Ladram Bay this afternoon, which is about 8 miles west of where the Napoli is aground. One just to be nosey, two to have a look for pollution and three to check out a little reef for when the fish do make an appearance

So I paddled east to Sidmouth a good half-mile off shore and even from this distance she looks a bloody massive ship, the good news is on the way down I must of seen fifty odd birds out on the water and none look oiled, also no trace of oil or litter out there either.

Looks like the tide has taken all the problems east of the wreck, if time allows I will take the yak out of Seaton and Lyme later next week.

As for the little reef, looks promising when some seaweed grows back.

Allan

picture 1

picture 2

picture 3

picture 4

Sorry pictures are not so good today

[spearheads]

How was the viz or did you not dive.
I'm not sure if I'm taking the spear gun tomorrow ,but they are still catching mackerel so their is still the chance of a bass or mullet.

[Allan B]

Hi Spearheads, I didn't dive today but the viz looked about 2-3 metres with a very small easterly swell.

Allan

[spearheads]

Well i dived oddicombe today and its was very very cold.
For the first hour i dived with the camera and made a few videos which i will post later. (they take a long time to upload on you-tube.)
Once i got cold i got out and warmed up and grabbed the gun saw a few wrasse and saw one mullet disappear into the distance. On the swim back i looked under some rocks in the search of a crab, manage one nice sized crab and i also saw a baby lobster which i left to grow for another time.
The viz was 3 meters but 4 when you get to deeper water , Cant wait for Summer getting a bit sick of the crap viz.

YouTube - freedive oddicombe

YouTube - freedive oddicombe 2

one more video this one is special it has a one eyed dog fish and a wrasse.

dogfish/wrasse

[spearheads]

i made a very cheesy video today as i had not much else to do.
(warning cheesy ) also its not 4 mins long thats when the music ends.

YouTube - freediving babbacome and oddicombe