Bournemouth Spearos

[1 shot 1 kill]

I've noticed that over the last year or so more and more spearos seem to be cropping up in the Bournemouth area, so I thought I'd start a thread to get to know you all a bit and try and take more advantage of local buddies and the coast between Hengistbury Head and Old Harry!

I've been spearfishing for a few years now, but the vast majority of my diving has been done around Weymouth and Portland, mainly due to the knowledge and location of my buddy Glowworm. I have visited the piers a few times, but other than that, my experience of 'my own back garden' is pretty limited.

This year I'd like to make the most of being 10mins from the sea and try and get some after work, early morning, night and any other type of dives in, as well as still getting over to Weymouth and Portland to dive with all the guys I've met through this site, Portland Oceaneering and spearo BBQs.

I've also met a skipper who runs a charter boat from Poole Quay, who used to be on the GB spearfishing team, and is more than willing to take groups out to dive. After getting me in the right place to catch a 14lb bass this summer (with a rod), as well as loads of Black Bream the year before, I'd be interested to get some tips from him!

Cheers

Alex

 

[Gaz D]

Hello Alex,

Count me in for some local dives (although there are plenty of excellent spots between Old Harry and Weymouth as well, if you don't mind a bit of yomping).

I've only been back spearfishing for a year now, but I took last summer off from work and (despite the terrible weather) managed to get in at most spots along the coast between Poole and Portland.

I've heard that there is a reef a few hundred meters off the beach between Poole and Bournemouth, so I'd be interested to try that one day.

All the best,

Gaz

 

[the_milkman]

Hey Alex,

Count me in too. I'm in exactly the same boat as you. I live 10 mins walk from Southbourne beach, but do most of my diving on the Purbecks. I met Gaz one evening at a bay near Swanage, so it seems we have the same stomping grounds.

I bought a torch because I reckon night diving will be the go for very local dives.

More than happy to get involved in any charter boat action for bass and bream and share lifts to and from Purbecks / Portland.

I've got both your e-mails for the Eddy trip so I'll buzz you both my contact details.

Hope to meet up soon! :friday

Rick

 

[Gaz D]

Rik,

You just want to use your new torch, don't you!

Joking aside, night dives sound like a good way forward. I'm being recommended to buy the Princeton Tec torch (which I think you've got too), so as soon as I've ordered one I'll be good to go.

I've read on another thread that you've heard there are a lot of plaice out where they are building that artificial surfing reef - are these best hunted at night, and at this time of year?

I'm happy to share lifts and chip in for charter boats too, bye the way.

Gaz

 

[the_milkman]

Not sure about this time of year for plaice Gaz. Besides the water is like chocolate milk at the moment!! Got the tip on the plaice from a charter boat skipper a couple of weeks back...either way it'd be good to get some local dives going soon!

 

[Gaz D]

Agreed,

And for future reference, I've managed to get myself on a coxwains course in February. If I pass that (and if I'm still flush!) I'll probably be buying some kind of inflatable, with engine, for local use - so that should come in handy too.

 

[chrisreynolds]

Hi Alex, Rik, Gaz

Only just spotted this thread. Had a read.

I'd be happy to join you all for some local dives. I used to dive (well swim really, its pretty shallow) southbourne all the time until they did the dredging a few years back. Nice picture of the corner Rik (on the dorset thread), if you look closely at the pic i attached you may still be able to see that this is the very same place (maybe 3 years ago) you took a picture of; the groyne right on gordons corner. Thats my upturned bike in the back ground, i used to cycle down with a 60 wrapped in a towel and a pair of swimfins. Pulled 4 or 5 of these out from around the groynes a month in the summer evenings, even with bad vis. I made a polespear just so i could still get fish like this in the middle of the day when all the tourists where on the beach (for safety mostly but i didn't really fancy flashing a gun about in front of grockles and families:naughty). The fish were there and i think they are starting to come back as the sand washes away again. In summer 04 you could almost guarantee there would be fish within the double groynes at point house all day on any tide. Big bass and even bigger mullet (the mullet are still there). i even saw a small trigger in the end section once!

I didn't get in much last year as my twin boys were born in January (and the weather/vis was rubbish) and the year before i was in Portugal, but i've got a good feeling about this year!

The reef running between poole and bournemouth is quite patchy i think. I've been out from branksome chine (Durley rocks?) and had good fish a couple of times, the last time being in October last year. The vis was amazing but few fish. Maybe its because they had just started work on the 5 new rock groynes they are putting in there which, if sandbanks is anything to go by, should see some fish. With these and the reef (if it ever bloody gets finished!) we should have a couple more local spots by September.

I think portman ravine 'suffered' the least from the dredging and i've been keen to get out around the groynes there for ages (it used to be the 3rd best groyn e spot after the corner and point house) but haven't had the chance. Hopefully we'll get some vis from March/April on.

Saw a few decent bass at point house last year also but the vis was mostly awful and i didn't get any (could of had some good mullet but the good lady doesn't like the smell of mullet, let alone the penny sized scales in the sink so i left them alone.)


Anyway, i think i've gone on long enough.......
sorry about the quality of the photo, it was taken on a camera phone back in '04.

Chris

 

[foxfish]

Chris you are a tough man, dont you even need a wetsuit!

 

[Gaz D]

Cheers Chris,

That is excellent information, which really helps to raise the enthusiasm for dropping in at Southbourne - thanks for sharing it.

Do you know if the dredging is over and done with now?

Good to see someone who writes even longer posts than me too!

Look forward to hooking-up for some dives in the near future.

Gaz D

 

[glowworm]

Have a look here chaps and cast your votes

http://forums.deeperblue.com/uk-ireland/81814-uk-fish-year.html

 

[chrisreynolds]

wetsuits are for wimps! my wooly mammoth like exterior keeps me warm.

seriously though, i used to go in for about 30 - 40 mins and be fine. mind you back then the water actually got warm, not like last year.

i would only fish 2 or 3 groynes, depending on how quick i got a fish, and i'd have a proper swim between them to keep me warm. besides, i was rarely deeper than i could stand up in.

even if the vis was rubbish i'd still go down for a swim.

 

[jimy286]

Hay rick i think the flatties would be around in the day just as much as night.

add me to the bournemouth masssive!

 

[Mr. X]

wetsuits are for wimps! my wooly mammoth like exterior keeps me warm.

Good on you! I used a shortie surf wetsuit the first year spearing. It was good for upto about an hour and half but I came out cold, a little hypothermic even. For some reason I tend to avoid Bournemouth, even though it is one of the closer areas to me. I guess its rather built up & crowded these days but I recall it getting really hot when I visited as a child - no shade and, as my mother recently reminded me, I didn't like sand!

 

[the_milkman]

Great info Chris, and nice fish too. Here's hoping for more this summer.

Jimy - you back in the UK yet? I'm sure the flatties are there in the day too, just harder to spot!!

 

[1 shot 1 kill]

Its good to see a few people on here now, we'll have to plan a trip for the near future when the wind has died down and the vis is a bit better...

Cheers

 

[the_milkman]

Good idea - or failing that an evening in a pub whilst the viz is still sh*te...

 

[chrisreynolds]

Hello again spearo's of bournemouth.

took a walk earlier today and thought it might be nice to go and see how the vis is coming along down at pointhouse. Had a bit of a surprise when i got there!!!!

anyone know anything about this???? i couldn't see any information boards or anything.

looks like dredging again...................:head

took a walk out on boscombe pier too and the end is just about past the brown murky strip. another week of this weather and might even be able to take a look at the infamous reef layout.

 

[tonyiannu]

Hi guys
It's really nice to have a thread on Bournemouth too I just spotted it and is a good idea to have something very local for locals.It's almost a year that I live in Bournemouth and I didn't have a time last year to go spearfishing even if for me it's the best thing to do and the main reason why I moved down here.This year will be different I want to go spearfishing everyweek once or twice and I really hope to be considered by you guys for anything that involve spearfishing : early morning, night dive or charter boat trips.I'm also available to drive anywhere. Never dived Bournemouth before but I really looking forward for it.I experienced many diving in Torquay area including Babbacombe,Durlestone,Hope Cove,Portland,Weymouth and Portland Harbour and I had a great fun.
Please keep in touch
Toni

 

[the_milkman]

Of course Toni! Nice to have more spearos on board in this area!

 

[chrisreynolds]

found some info on the pointhouse photo's i took yesterday on the bournemouth council website. here you go:

Beach top up at Hengistbury Head

PRESS RELEASE - 20 February​

​

The next phase of the DEFRA-funded beach replenishment programme at Hengistbury Head west beach is due to take place in the next few weeks.​

Plant, machinery and pipelines are already arriving in preparation for dredging 70,000 cubic metres of sand on to the beach between groynes 50 & 53.​

Beach replenishment is vital in maintaining and protecting the coastline in Bournemouth. Without regular, planned replenishment, the coastline would be eroded, seafront and cliff top properties damaged and Bournemouth would lose its famous multiple award-winning beach.​

Councillor Robert Lawton, Environment & Transport commented: “This beach replenishment is vital to maintaining our coastline. Without this action, homes, livelihoods and our famous seafront would be lost due to the natural erosion by the sea. Each year 7,000 lorry loads of beach is lost and in 1987, just before the last programme of replenishment in 1988, 100 beach huts were destroyed in a single storm. We have attempted to schedule the works to cause minimum disruption and inconvenience and we ask the public to bear with us. In the long-term we will all enjoy the benefits for years to come.”​

The dredger is due to arrive on 4 March and pumping will take approximately twelve days of 24-hour operation. The entire project is expected to be complete around the beginning of April.


there you have it.
​