Dorset Spearing 2008

[UK Spearo]

There are always Bass here by April, it's just we don't always get the viz, these two were about my 5th and 6th Bass of that year (April 2006) as we had exceptional viz that year (up to 100ft!) ..... Roll on end of March, begining April, and hopefully some good viz! I always get my first Bass around April have done for the past 10 years or so. I know the Sussex boys get some really big fish coming in that time of year.....

[glowworm]

Nice bass Clive.Hopefully we will get good vis this year and i will be looking out for new species to hunt and eat after watching River Cottage Gone Fishing.I have tried Red Gurnard before and it was nice might even try a ballen wrasse this year.

Any other species that could be tried?

[UK Spearo]

Red mullet is very nice to eat.... I'm not keen on wrasse so leave them.... I love John Dory, would love to get a few more of those this year...

[glowworm]

Red Mullet is a good night dive target.I would love to catch the following list this year..

Black Bream
Gilthead
Trigger Fish
John Dory
Brill
Turbot

I've only ever seen small black bream in dorset but i've seen large speciemens which have been caught on Chesil Beach by rod fisherman.

This could be my mission in 2008 to look for these species instead of the usual suspects but if a bass or mullet decide they want to play then so be it.

[foxfish]

Not keen on Red mullet myself taste like a freshwater fish in my opinion but does look great on a plate.
I only eat the occasional wrasse in fact I have not shot one for a year or so but people will give me one to smoke every now & again.
I eat loads of gurnard & have been doing so for most of my life however I have only ever speared one, the others come from the boat while bottom fishing.

[glowworm]

Yeah i must admit that taking a gurnard red or tub off a spear doesn't fill me with joy...spikey..spikey fish...

Smoked wrasse sounds worth a try foxfish..

[foxfish]

Black Bream yes nice fish
Gilthead O baby the best fish but so rare!
Trigger Fish nice firm flesh
John Dory beautiful delicate fish
Brill lovely
Turbot king of the sea

[glowworm]

I think there maybe some lesser know species that could be targeted for consumption.Pollock and Pout need to be eaten within hours of being caught and ideally filleted even sooner.

Spearing a mackerel should be a challange.Flounders and dabs also taste good.

[Old Man Dave]

Originally Posted by glowworm

Red Mullet is a good night dive target.I would love to catch the following list this year..

Black Bream
Gilthead
Trigger Fish
John Dory
Brill
Turbot

I've only ever seen small black bream in dorset but i've seen large speciemens which have been caught on Chesil Beach by rod fisherman.

This could be my mission in 2008 to look for these species instead of the usual suspects but if a bass or mullet decide they want to play then so be it.

I have only seen a very few bream in 40 years of spearing. They catch them by the shedload on the rods but even on scuba I have seen few. Not over fond of eating them but would like to spear one. Have been close the last year or two but the force seems strong with them. Catch them off the boat on the rod though so can always get a feed.

Had one trigger last year and a few previous. They were common here last year and if you target them you will succeed. Nice taste. Just like chicken.

Caught a few JD's but they're not too common and I love to look at them underwater so let most go unharmed.

Brill and turbot. Now you're talking. Not as good as plaice but better than sole in my opinion. I have been known to get the odd flatty. Freediving last year was a nightmare for flatties but managed half a dozen brill and a few turbot. Added the same amount but bigger from further off shore in the boat on scuba.

Catch endless gurnard on the rods and speared a nice tub freediving last year but tend to catch and release most on the rods and leave them as they're so pretty when diving.

Size red mullet I always take at night on the spear although I seldom eat them but distribute them amongst family and friends where they are in high demand.

Ditto the above for soles, plus I get my share in the daytime as well.

Quite like wrasse, especially smoked. Took a dozen last year. Bit conscious of their territorial nature.

Golden grey mullet I would put high on the list of must have tried species. I managed to spear a few last year and all were delicious.

How about rays and conger? Then there's pollack, pout, garfish, crabs, lobsters, scallops etc etc. All viable targets. If you've never tried them it's worth the effort even just for the experience of the one off tasting.

I love the fact that you can pick your catch from the sea.

Dave

[glowworm]

Good point about ray's and conger dave...

I remember eating conger fishcakes as a child and they were very nice but i also remember the smell of it cooking and picking bones from the meat...

I have only heard scare stories of shooting and eating ray which has put me off.I think i would only take one if i had several people who wanted to try it.

Which species of ray do you reccomend Dave.

What about the humble dogfish and bigger bull huss??

[Old Man Dave]

Some people swear by cutting conger into chunks and deep frying like scampi. Have caught and eaten both sorts of dogs and they are okay.

The 4 common species of edible ray are the thornback, small eyed, undulate and blonde. We've never had thornies although they used to be common in the uk and are the shallowest water inhabiting of the 4 species. Blondes are the biggest (over 40lb) but prefer deeper water and strong tides. All rays are mainly nocturnal and are seen more on night dives. As far as I know they all taste about the same. They are a major commercial fishing target species.

Freediving 5lb would be a good target weight and a good meal for 2+.

Rays are slimy and spiky and also the large ones are very strong, easily towing a diver along at speed. They do however die easily unlike most flat shaped fish. A knife between the eyes kils a ray stone dead, (note that a spear shot there seldom does). I could write a lot about spearing rays but on the grounds of other people getting bored I'll save it for now.

Eating wise a few years ago skate (as ray is usually called) was popular in posh retaurants as the dish "Skate in black butter". Which ever way you cook it you need to wing your fish (ASAP) and then skin it before putting it in the fridge foor 2 days. Rays like sharks have no bladder and excrete through their skin causing a strong ammonia smell (and taste). The flesh is made of fibres not flakes and the bones are soft, rubbery cartiledge. A large ray has large cheek muscles called "ray knobs" which are highly prized.

Sorry I've rambled on.

Dave

[foxfish]

If you spear a ray you must pay the forfeit - clean & skin the slimy devil & leave it in your fridge for two days! Not nice to do - not bad to eat!
Ray knobs - now they are a culinary delight.

[podge]

Glowworm as soon as you get your new kit let me know and I’ll be down hickey-tic.
All this talk of fish and there’s still a couple of months until Clive’s fabled April start.
List of fish well I can’t believe that you’re going to try a Wrasse John after all the talk of "it’ll be like shooting my pet dog" but I must be honest that after trying Foxfish’s Wrasse last year there is defiantly room on my list for 1 or 2 this year.
I’ve had Dogfish before and I find them good to eat and would have no problem in taking them for the table, breadcrumbed and flash fried very tasty.
Flatfish of any kind will remain high on the list of top prizes as will lobster and large crab.
I’ve never tried cuttlefish before and this year that’s going to change and the same goes for Red Mullet.
Having said all this my number one fish this coming season will remain the same as last year, and the winner is the good old Mullet whether it’s in the Grey form or with the Golden checks treated right they both taste great, and of course Mr. Bass I hope will be in there somewhere to.

The evenings are drawing out now boy’s it was still half light when I was on my way home from work last night at around 5.45 so there’s light at the end of the tunnel, soon be Spring.

[glowworm]

OK OK i may have not expressed an intrest in eating wrasse before but i feel the need to extend the palet....

There are a few more species that i have forgotten about and these are listed below...

Angler Fish or commonly know as monkfish (although monkfish is a species in its own right)

Whelks and cockells spider crab razor clams just to name a few more off the top of my head.

The list want stop in the summer and i feel the need to make an effort to catch a cod and whiting in the winter months this year.

Maybe a Dorset Spearo BBQ may have to be arranged in April,May,June,July.....

[podge]

Originally Posted by glowworm

Maybe a Dorset Spearo BBQ may have to be arranged in April,May,June,July.....

I’m 40 this April if you fancy a right good up???