Guernsey 2008

[Andy.Round]

Saturday night? The sea was very calm, but the viz had really dropped off, a lot of ‘stuff’ floating in the water. I guess the falling tide scenario on a bigger tide picking all the crud up off the beach. Patches were OK ish but in many spots it was down to the length of the gun. There was the usual cuttles and small ‘sole de la nuit’ but little else. Managed a couple of 'takeable ones' but certainly no 'rugs'

Think I overdid it though during the day because my ears were sore and I couldn’t get out where I wanted to get to.

The weirdest thing though was the lightning. Swimming along I was aware of flashes of light, but there was not a cloud in the sky?!!?? I also got really disorientated, but managed to navigate by the stars! OK so I looked at the North star to help me. I’m always amazed how difficult it is at night to find your way around, and how difficult it is sometimes to find the spot you are looking for.

Saturday was summer, back to westerly force 7 again. I heard an interesting theory on the bad viz yesterday. The constant strong winds we experienced over the winter coupled with a couple of storms, and in particular the big one with its associated tidal surge, have moved some of the tidal flows (only a small amount). Areas which may have been for example in a tidal eddy where sediments were deposited, the movement of the tidal stream has disturbed these particles and picked them up into suspension. Sounds plausible?

Andy

[azapa]

great fish Jonny! what a feeling!

i got my first ever plaice last weekend with the new gun, tasted great, about OMD size I reckon (1Kg). glad to hear (and see) that the fishing is better lads. Summer on the way here, and viz failing.... lost a nice spear Saturday, but did manage a "tripple" of three fish in one shot in a cave. Dinner tonight!

(thanks guys)
http://www.larompiente.com/fotocappeces.asp?pez=Lenguado

(some are not from Chile on that page!) it can be caught up to 10Kgs, the flesh is white, firm and non-oily, very delicate tasting.

[foxfish]

Anyone consider subscribing to a spearfishing mag? magazines @ APNEA.cz

[ADM]

The bass are out there.....

Sea Angling for Spearos

Also been several large fish landed by danglers over the festival comp weekend. See www.gbass.co.uk for the results, click festival then onto the 2008 results.

Hopefully still some left out there!!

[ADM]

Originally Posted by Old Man Dave

This is the quoted explanation

"There was one very unfortunate incident this morning which has take up my whole day.
Basically, the committee received a couple of reports that a young lad had been seen setting trot on the shoreline last week. The concerns were based on the fact that if he entered the competition, rightly or wrongly people would be suspicious if he weighed in any fish.

The committee advised me of this last night and before I'd even had a chance to check if the entrance list to see if he'd entered, he turned up with a big fish at the weigh in this morning.

We had to make the difficult decision not to accept the bass on the basis that he should not have been allowed to enter the festival in the first place. He would have been informed of this today even if he hadn't turned up with a fish to weigh in.

Now let me make one thing clear. The young lad in question is from all accounts a completely honest and dedicated angler and I have no doubt that he did catch the fish fairly on rod and line. ...and he did in fact confirm that he'd been setting trots on the shoreline last week The problem for the committee was that we owe it to the other 200 anglers that the event is run fairly. Now if 2 of the competitors raised concerns prior to the first weigh in..... we owe it to them and the other competitors to ensure there is no opportunity for suspicion. If we had of accepted the bass into the competition the whole event would have been in danger of losing credibility.

I'm honesty devastated about the whole matter and I'm sure the poor kid is to..... but he bottom line here has to be that you cannot be seen setting trots one day and entering a competition a couple of days later. On a small island like this people will point the finger.

Bloody shame...... and I hope it doesn't take that shine of a very successful festival and I hope the young lad will get over this"

.

There's loads more on Fishing-Guernsey forum.

Issue is sort of closed and I never commented although I'm a forum mamber but as it's come up here then personally as he didn't break any rules I would have thought "innocent unless proven guilty" but apparently not.

Logically anyone who went boat fishing would be banned incase they entered a fish in the shore competition that they'd caught afloat?

One of the trouble with competitions IMHO is people take them very (too) seriously plus there's a lot of money involved in some prizes.

Dave

PS Spaniard any news yet?

Knowing the full story Dave, there is more information which has not been released by the club committee (for various reasons) which does make things look different from what you say above but yes it is a very hard decision to be taken. I would personally have taken the same decision as the committee with the info I have.

It's not an easy thing whatever you do with the events which led to the fish not being accepted, damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Best to leave it at that really and see if anything happens. Not really best thing to discuss further.

[gbo200]

What is a trot?

g.

[Magpie]

A long line with hooks tied to it every, say, 5m, which is baited and set, either from the shore or from a boat and left for many hours, usually over the rise and fall of one tide, before being retrieved to find out what is left hanging from it.

[Old Man Dave]

I've had some of the best days of my life spent trotting off the shore and boat. It's a Guernsey traditional fishing method. Off the boat it can be very productive and is still a method used by full time commercial fishermen. Off the shore it's very unproductive but great fun.

Dave

[Magpie]

CI August FOM Poll

[Sarnian]

Originally Posted by Sarnian

Good one Jonny!

I thought I'd try a new spot out west yesterday - possibly the same one Jonny went to. Within a short time of getting in, through the murk I sensed some movement in the weed and suddenly realised I was looking at the head of a 5-6lb bass sitting absolutely still! I was able to take careful aim, and bang! headshot. It thrashed around for a bit and then - wriggled off! It swam past me with a rueful look and I could see the wound in its head. Must check the Mamba's pressure! I tried to find it again in case it was dying, but no luck. I saw two more large bass tails disappearing behind rocks, then it started getting very murky as the tide started to flow.

?

Jonny I've just realised - your 7lb bass must have been the one that got away from me at G*%$ R*£"* a little while ago! No wonder it was so easy to shoot!

[azapa]

I was wondering where i could spend my 1000th post and I thought this place seemed about the best bet!
Cheers lads!

[Magpie]

Nice starter Az but what did you have for your main course?

[azapa]

Thanks mate. Took three sittings but we got through em, home made mayonnaise with roasted garlic, fresh (hot) bread and butter. Those claws were as sweet as you can imagine! Come on down to Chile Guernsey possee and we'll have a crabfest!

[grob]

Well done Azapa. That looks like the breakfast of champions!

Well so much for getting in this weekend. Spent the last week on call, and the last four weeks tied up with family stuff, and now it looks like conditions may be far from ideal.

If anyone is interested I've got a pair of Omer Runners going cheap, PM me.

[Jonny250]

Yep, looks very good! You and Foxfish will have to exchange recipes!
When woud be the best time to visit ... ?
Roasted Garlick - superb...

completely off topic, but what sort of music do you get down your way - what's on the radio and what's traditional?