First Timer looking in South West England

[subaholic]

Hi,

I am looking for a good location along the South West Coast. I have just purchased my equipment and I am new to this.
I am looking at going to Lulworthg Cove down to Babbacombe Bay as I have been told these are good areas.
Can anyone tell me if this is true and if possible what the vis is like at present. I am hoping to go next weekend.

[Mr. X]

Yes, both are reasonable places to dive. They sometimes place gill nets in Lulworth Cove late afternoon/early evening & watch out for boats. Do a search of the Dorset 200* and South Devon 200* threads for info. You could try outside the cove at either side - watch out for strong currents.

[subaholic]

Mr. X,
Thanks for this. I was looking at maybe heading to the hole or going slightly east of Lulworth when I go down there. I am also looking at the mumbles area and down to Babbacombe Bay.

[Mr. X]

There are many good places to dive in and around Torbay. Ditto Dorset, S. Devon, East Devon & S. Cornwall. Not sure about N. Devon, N. Cornwall, Pembroke or Hampshire -- I haven't tried diving them yet. Yes, Mumbles strikes me as a place that ought to be good for bass. I think viz. (& perhaps tides/currents) could be an issue sometimes; there is an active thread for the area and those guys would know better than I. I used to climb on Gower and always carried a tide timetable as several beaches & many cliffs are partially or completely tidal.

[subaholic]

I should have asked what are "Gill Nets"?
As for boats I have a float with a flag and I will be using religiously.
Just hope for my first few times I at least get to see a fish. I know I will be lucky to catch anything for a while.

[foxfish]

Gill nets! nasty things - http://forums.deeperblue.net/hunting...tml#post706685

[subaholic]

Thanks for the information on Gill Nets. Nasty buggers them.

[subaholic]

Went out the other day to test my equipment to find I need more weight. Now got to sort that before I go for real. Tried Poole Harbour (Studland Side). No fish and vis was only 2 or 3 meters. Hoping to hit the coast this weekend at least once and try out with more weight and hope to see a fish or two.

[subaholic]

Newbie Question for you all. I have a Float with a Flag (thinking this is a good thing). Do I connect the float to me or do I anchor it to the bottom and allways aim to surfice near it. It just seems I will be swimming a long way from it at times looking for fish. Probably too early to worry about this yet... but thought it was worth asking.

Also reading some of these posts I notice that a lot of you seem to use diffent methods. Can I ask which is best. I was planning to be using a snorkel and dive down and try wait it out with little movement, should I be using a diffent method or should I be looking at doing a scuba course and get some tanks?

[Mr. X]

Re. Studland - how was the diving, the incline of the beach seems quite shallow? I wonder if it might be good for flat fish. Poole Harbour definitely holds fish, I haven't speared there though - too many boats & kite boards for my tastes.

Re. the float, as a shore-based spearo, I'm still attaching it to my gun, South African-style. I figure that's simpler & safer when you are starting out and you are less likely to loose your, no doubt much loved, new speargun. I notice a lot of the more experienced spearos connect to themselves, or to a weight/mini-anchor/reef-hook instead so that they can dive unencumbered by the float & float line. I don't dive real deep, so being disconnected from the floatline is not a big advantage &, as I usually dive alone, nobody is going to pull me up on a float line attached to my belt. My first speargun (an SA railgun) has a big game clip hanging from the handle for this purpose, and it was also the way suggested to me when I started - it worked well so I've stuck with it.

Yes, a dive flag on your float is a very good idea - although boats will not necessarily see it or understand it if they so see it. Holiday makers in dinghies or kayaks sometimes move towards the float to investigate rather than staying away; I usually point to the speargun or politely mention that I am carrying a loaded speargun - no need to be unpleasant. BTW if people express interest, show them your catch - it's good PR and interesting conversations often result.