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Cornwall 2008.
- Thread starter badlander
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 90 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
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Just had an hour on the south coast diving in 2-3m. First shot upwards into a good group of makarel after about 15 mins saw my spear disappear over a kelp bed.
Spent the next 30 mins carrying out search patterns on sea bed - no joy.
I did enjoy what appears to be a common theme on the forum - no spear = surrounded by pollack upto 5lb and regular visits from 2-5lb bass in 2's and 3's.
Have emailed Spearo Dave in hope of emergency re-supply. As fate would have it I had planned another dive tomorrow during my day off. Effin typical!!!
Still..... every dive teaches you something...
I did enjoy what appears to be a common theme on the forum - no spear = surrounded by pollack upto 5lb and regular visits from 2-5lb bass in 2's and 3's.
Have emailed Spearo Dave in hope of emergency re-supply. As fate would have it I had planned another dive tomorrow during my day off. Effin typical!!!
Still..... every dive teaches you something...
Vis in Mounts bay yesterday morning was really pretty good 8 - 10 m. I could only get in early on the end of the ebb into a mirror flat seas. Saw no bass and only one mullet of any size. A big seal made me jump out of my suit as he shot up out of a nook as I was going into it and after two and a half hours of no fish that was enough. On the drive home I cleared my ears as you do. Spent the next two or three minutes spinning around parked up on the verge with my wife wondering what the hell was going on. Don't think I'll do that again when I'm driving and looks like I'll be out of the water for a bit.
Got in around St Agnes at high tide today.Looked pretty grim,too much swell and pretty grey and weedy.I was pretty surprised to the find the vis was actually a good 5m+ when you got out there.Not a great deal of fish though,a few tiny bass and the odd mullet.Hard work aound the rocks with the waves and came home fishless but it was a hell of a workout.
Got in on the south coast today.Sea was dead calm but the vis was pretty poor at 3m and murky.A few mullet around in the shallows but no bass,tried deeper water and enticed a few in but none took my fancy.Managed my best shot i can remember on a lone mackerel.He came in and turned away but i thought sod it and tried a long shot and got him.My first mackerel!
Covered a lot of ground after that but either the bass were borderline size or they would appear at crap angles or be heading past on the surface way above me.Picked up a mullet on the swim back and even considered getting one of those huge wrasse i keep seeing and finding out for myself if they make good eating.They must have read my mind for they were conspicous by their absence.Ah well.
Covered a lot of ground after that but either the bass were borderline size or they would appear at crap angles or be heading past on the surface way above me.Picked up a mullet on the swim back and even considered getting one of those huge wrasse i keep seeing and finding out for myself if they make good eating.They must have read my mind for they were conspicous by their absence.Ah well.
Talking of Wrasse I went out on the south coast yesterday and was disappointed with the visibility, I thought things were calming down a bit...
But I saw more Wrasse than I`ve ever seen before, hundreds of the things, I was thinking about those recipies but in the end couldnt shoot them they are just too friendly, one swam along side me for ages , I probably could have stabbed it with my knife lol.
Saw one shoal of mullet but they didnt hang around and I asnt so lucky (skilled) with my attempt at a long shot
But I saw more Wrasse than I`ve ever seen before, hundreds of the things, I was thinking about those recipies but in the end couldnt shoot them they are just too friendly, one swam along side me for ages , I probably could have stabbed it with my knife lol.
Saw one shoal of mullet but they didnt hang around and I asnt so lucky (skilled) with my attempt at a long shot
Got in twice over weekend with Nickever but no fish!!!Pra sands saturday and St ives sunday. Vis poor over pra but much clearer in st ives. Saw a few mullet but thats about it.contemplating grabbing a few spiders??are they a lot of hard work for not much reward tho.we planning a trip up to St Mawes way soon ,bit of camping/spearing.any one got any good spots?willing to trade:t
I took a good sized spider not long ago and i was pretty impressed with how much i got off it,not loads but enough.Sure,there was some carnage going on out the back with a hammer but i reckon it's well worth it for that sweet sweet meat.Reckon it's worth getting a few though to justify the work and get a good feed.
If you dont over cook the Spiders most of the meat will come out the legs when you seperate the joints. Ive only been able to do this a few times and the rest have been messy affairs 
I prefer brown crab but spiders are a welcome change. fantastic mixed with pepper, spring onions and vinegar on toast and washed down with an ice cold beer
I prefer brown crab but spiders are a welcome change. fantastic mixed with pepper, spring onions and vinegar on toast and washed down with an ice cold beer
Pav - they are a bit fiddly but definately worth it. You can eat pretty much all the meat - the leg and claws obviously, but most of the muscle is contained in a honeycombe of thin walled muscle chambers in the body. Also keep any of the red roe ('coral' I think people call it.) Also the brown meat is fine but stronger flavoured but I like it. You will know if you have all the meat out because the body weighs very very little once it has all been picked
One of my favourite things to do is sit with 3 or four beers on a warm summer afternoon with friends/family and pick out meat from the crabs.
Mix the meat together if you like with some lemon juice, mayonaisse and salt and pepper. Very nice on crusty bread and butter - very nice IMHO. James
The shells and carcass can be used as part of making a fish stock along with what ever other carcasses you have a white fish (don't use the oily ones - apparently they spoil the stock according to a few books I have.)
Lastly when you bin the remains you are in for a treat - our bins only get taken every two weeks - them crabs stink to high heaven!!!
One of my favourite things to do is sit with 3 or four beers on a warm summer afternoon with friends/family and pick out meat from the crabs.
Mix the meat together if you like with some lemon juice, mayonaisse and salt and pepper. Very nice on crusty bread and butter - very nice IMHO. James
The shells and carcass can be used as part of making a fish stock along with what ever other carcasses you have a white fish (don't use the oily ones - apparently they spoil the stock according to a few books I have.)
Lastly when you bin the remains you are in for a treat - our bins only get taken every two weeks - them crabs stink to high heaven!!!
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Just got out from Falmouth area. The viz is getting better. 5ish m. The only problem is i didn't sea a single bass! Loads of pollock and more sand eels than i could shake a speargun at but no bass. It is odd as it always comes up good for bass. The first time i have come out without a seeing any.
On a brighter note my diving has improved no end since reading my new freedive book and doing more relaxation. Most dives were about 2min with one just short of 3min. It does start to get cold laying in the kelp for that long without moving though.
Maybe Sunday will bring a few more fish my way. Off out on the kayaks with spearflap. Will keep you posted.
On a brighter note my diving has improved no end since reading my new freedive book and doing more relaxation. Most dives were about 2min with one just short of 3min. It does start to get cold laying in the kelp for that long without moving though.
Maybe Sunday will bring a few more fish my way. Off out on the kayaks with spearflap. Will keep you posted.
Gutshot - what book are you reading that has helped you with those awesome breath-holds? I am stuck at 1min30 2mins would be great!!
What relaxation are you doing?
I can do nice long statics in a pool (up to a PB of 4min30) but when I get into the Sea the times halve and I generally can't stay down longer than about 1min30 - any tips?
What relaxation are you doing?
I can do nice long statics in a pool (up to a PB of 4min30) but when I get into the Sea the times halve and I generally can't stay down longer than about 1min30 - any tips?
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I have a feeling Mr X may know this one. Manual of Freediving, Underwater on a single breath, by Umberto Pelizzari and Stefano Tovaglieri. To be honest, the first 100 pages didn't show me anything i didn't already know, and neither did the last half or so but i use to deep scuba dive and i have been freediving for years and spearing for the last 3 years. The middle bit gives you all the info you need about techniques on how to relax. I also do yoga so this has also helped as does surfing. I like big waves so you do get forced every now and again to do long breath holds.
One of the main things which have helped me is combining the 2 freedive disciplines Static Apnea and Straight forward Freedive (more constatant weight). I found that as soon as i did any movement to start to slowly look around underwater that was it, end of dive as i would feel the need for a breath, but if i just focus only on the tip of my speargun or maybe anything else which look interesting my focus came away from breathing and before you know where you are 2 mins was passing on my watch. I will point out, i never strain. As soon as i feel the need i come up. I DO NOT AND WILL NOT PUSH MY LUCK. I always feel comfy with what i am doing. I only know the time as my watch is worn on my inside wrist of the hand i hold my speargun in, and as it is extended ready to shoot i can easily see it. The time was approx 2min 45.
Guys, as i said i am comfy doing this and never push it. If you feel you need to breath come up. Even if you do have a buddy watching you. The last thing we need is someone pushing things too far!
.One of the main things which have helped me is combining the 2 freedive disciplines Static Apnea and Straight forward Freedive (more constatant weight). I found that as soon as i did any movement to start to slowly look around underwater that was it, end of dive as i would feel the need for a breath, but if i just focus only on the tip of my speargun or maybe anything else which look interesting my focus came away from breathing and before you know where you are 2 mins was passing on my watch. I will point out, i never strain. As soon as i feel the need i come up. I DO NOT AND WILL NOT PUSH MY LUCK. I always feel comfy with what i am doing. I only know the time as my watch is worn on my inside wrist of the hand i hold my speargun in, and as it is extended ready to shoot i can easily see it. The time was approx 2min 45.
Guys, as i said i am comfy doing this and never push it. If you feel you need to breath come up. Even if you do have a buddy watching you. The last thing we need is someone pushing things too far!
cheers, I've eaten spiders but was interested what length of time people are cooking them for., I do about 10mins - 15mins MAX.
Good to read gutshots breath holds. I've got that book but found it hard going and gave up. Its encouraged me to pick it up again.
and thanks for the earlier report Badlander on you returning with NO fish! Its reassuring even the most active spearos blank at times!
Good to read gutshots breath holds. I've got that book but found it hard going and gave up. Its encouraged me to pick it up again.
and thanks for the earlier report Badlander on you returning with NO fish! Its reassuring even the most active spearos blank at times!
Think I'll have to get that book! I can do 50-60m in a pool, and managed 2.30min whilst teaching maths the other day, but when I get in the sea my times go right dowm (although I don't wear a watch.) If I could put my pool form into the sea, I'd be happier.
4min 30 though, I'm impressed.
4min 30 though, I'm impressed.
I found it quite hard reading the book too but i sped read thru to the bits i wanted to know. It depends on the conditions too. The other day diving in the bad viz from my kayak i didn't manage any more that 1 1/2 min. As said, if you can relax enough it makes all the difference. As a rule i tend to lay almost motionless on the surface using only slight scissor kicks from the ankle.