Cornwall 2008.

[Pav]

what do you reckon the chance of Bass are on the north and south coast down Penzance way if conditions allow for good viz.

I've got some travelling to do over the next week and a chance I could get into waters in that area. If the Bass are still inshore I may have a quick look.

 

[gutshot]

Go for it although there has been quite a bit a swell so the viz is likely to be like pea soup,.....just how you like it!

 

[Pav]

Well on my drive further west I stopped off at Fistral on Wednesday and had some fun waves towards the top of the tide. I tend to avoid newquay, but when I do surf Fistral out of season! , I always seem to score fun waves.

Then Thursday opted for some small but perfect shaped waves at Praa. I just couldn't face the spearing in such a cold wind.

Friday decided I had to go in, so went in on the south coast not too far from from Marizion. Water was clear, but it has got really cold now. Nothing spotted apart from some small bait fish and a Wrasse. Just seemed too cold for Bass and I lost interest pretty quickly. I did go in on the end of the dropping tide so not ideal timing for the fish if they were about (I always favour the push).

Thats it for me this year! I now am waiting for spring and the return of the Bass

Unless anyone bags a Bass and tempts me back in again!

 

[gutshot]

I was aiming to be spearing out on the kayak today but the wind forcast is not great so i am staying closer to shore. I have a new spot lined up and thanks to Pav's report about the viz on the south coast wild horses couldn't stop me (well, so long as i can sneak past the wife!). Read many shore fishing forums and with the help of maps.live.com , i cant believe i have not speared there before! Cod or bass is on the menu tonight i hope.

Oh, and shiny, Bugger off back to the south devon reports! You make me sick with the fish you keep getting! There is no need to rub our faces in it too!

 

[Pav]

Oh great!! I had just convienced myself that I needn't poor ice cold water into my spearo suit again this year! ... My wife doesn't make it any easier when shes out with me as she always seems to find somewhere to buy a "Hot Chocolate" and lets me know as well when I'm shivering in the carpark!

Noooo way was that water warm yesterday! ... although I agree with you in theroy. It was a bitter cold wind at the end of this week.

Well now you've done it telling me the Bass are still here! Won't dry the gun off just yet, incase I'm tempted by the report of more Bass. I'll have to browse the southcoast forum.

Cheers!

 

[Pav]

So thanks to Shiny1 I found myself stood at the top of the local cliffs today. I suited up and finned out to find the reef. Bit of a struggle locating it. Water milky here and viz varied from closer than the tip of my gun to 2-3m in patches.

No show from the Bass! 14c water according to web. Still cold in the wind. , but marginly warmer it seemed than Marizion on Friday.

I think thats it! I'm drying my gun.

The slippers, homebrew and log on the fire feels so much better for having been in! :friday

 

[gutshot]

Ahh don't throw the towel in yet pav. Come back down here for another crack at the whip.

My new spot just didnt do it today. The viz was mostly good. Upto 5m at times although down to 1m in some very isolated spots. It was disturbing to see so much rubbish littering the seabed. Really made feel bad. Considered trying to take some out but there was so much i wouldn't have even made a mark. Tyres, broken fish traps, plastic, body board fins, i could go on but i think you get the picture! Got in just on the push of the tide but i am thinking that was a mistake. I tend to think it is more of a high tide spot. Nothing other than the rubbish to start with although it was clear further up the beach. Really nice ground which looks ideal. Loads of sandy areas mixed in with patches of kelpy reef. Just as i was about to get out i was no more than 4 or 5 m away from the beach in about 2m of water and i was buzzed by a big school of big mullet. I was totally taken by suprise and due to the cold my reaction time was slow than a corpse! After that i was surrounded by bait fish the whole time. No kelp to hold onto but i think i would still be able to lure any bass in. Dive down on an out breath and lay on the bottom looking up the sandy bank to the waters edge looks good. One or two rocks sticking up from the sand nearly breaking the surface would be good to hide behind! Next time.

I have a bit of time free during the week so will try again but i need some new wetsuit socks. My feet were like ice. Then again the soles of my socks now have more holes than sock so i kind of knew what was going to happen.:head

 

[dave]

Took the boat out on the south coast yesterday. Viz was great, but conditions were a bit wild on the surface once you got out of the shelter of the land. Temperature was fine in the water, but getting changed out of my suit was bracing to say the least. Plenty of fish still about

cheers
dave

 

[badlander]

Headed down to the south coast for the push today and lucked out.Vis was good, probably up to 10m in places.Felt cooler than my last dive and it was quiet to start off with only a couple of mullet spotted.Headed round to a spot that's usually worth a look and it was.Managed two nice bass, not sure of the weight but look about 4 and 6lb ish.One had an oddly deformed mouth that gave it an almost salmon like appearence.
Pretty bloody chilly by the end.

 

[Kernowsniper]

Good work Badlander.. I've been debating whether or not to get back in now its turned that much colder but its pics like yours that make me that much keener!!

 

[Pav]

:head damn that Badlander!!

I was content to call it a day and then you post that. Looks like I may take a trip down to the south coast next weekend. Nice to see a November Bass.

I want to see a photo in December now Badlander :t

 

[badlander]

A miracle happened and i got 3 spare hours today so i headed back down the south coast this afternoon to the same spot on the same tide.Swam right round to the place i had the other two and spotted this chap within 5 minutes.Water was cold,vis 5m and the sea was starting to chop up a little.Certainly my biggest fish this year and probably my final dive.Also managed a mullet on the swim back home that'll go straight round my mates place.They were the only two shootables i saw.

 

[scottwilson]

Cracking fish mate Good effort.

 

[Kernowsniper]

Damn it I wish I lived nearer the South Coast!! Oh well.. its Lanzarote in 2 weeks so that takes the edge off it!

Good work again Badlander :friday

 

[smudge13]

Just signed on to Deeper Blue. Not sure why I feel compelled to intrduce my self on the Cornwall board but here I am. I'm an American who was stationed at RAF St. Mawgan from 2001 til 2004 and I guess I miss the proper South West a bit!!

Unfortunately, I didn't get into freediving while I was there. I surfed quite a bit, and dove a little, but mostly fished in the sea and at a few of the clubs. (Actually, I mostly stayed in a few of the pubs!)

Anyway, I'm Matt and now I'm stationed in Hawaii and am quite enjoying myself. I've really gotten in to shooting fish and freediving. Even took the Peformance Freediving International Intermediate course with Kirk Krack and Mandy-Rae Cruikshank and reached my persnal bests of a 30M dive and a 4:55 sec static apnea. I dive just about every Sunday to shoot fish locally. If any of you happen to find yourselves on holiday over on this side of the planet please look me up! I'd love to get you out diving a shooting some fish here in paradise!!!

 

[podge]

Smudge13 welcome to DB, it’s always good to have a few new members around to share there stories and pictures of there catch.
As for Cornwall or the Hawaiian paradise thing, well sorry mate but I’ll take Cornwall every time.

Oh and nice fish Badlander well done sir, we might be coming down before the winter sets in proper if we do I’ll be in touch.

 

[smudge13]

Indeed!! The people are what make a place what it is. And honestly, I'd be hard pressed to find better people than what I found in Cornwall!! I must admit that I am quite blessed it seems no matter where I end up. I somehow manage to surround myself with the very best of folks where ever I go!

My connection with Corwall runs deep. The inscription on my custom speargun is in Cornish. Please don't think I was being a braggard by saying that I live in Hawaii now. It is simply a fact and not even one of my choice! I have very little say in where I live for at least the next 5 years.

My invitation is sincere though. If any of you do happen to find yourselves stranded on these tiny Islands, please know that there is a friendly spearo here to show you around!!

 

[podge]

Indeed!! The people are what make a place what it is. And honestly, I'd be hard pressed to find better people than what I found in Cornwall!! I must admit that I am quite blessed it seems no matter where I end up. I somehow manage to surround myself with the very best of folks where ever I go!

My connection with Corwall runs deep. The inscription on my custom speargun is in Cornish. Please don't think I was being a braggard by saying that I live in Hawaii now. It is simply a fact and not even one of my choice! I have very little say in where I live for at least the next 5 years.

My invitation is sincere though. If any of you do happen to find yourselves stranded on these tiny Islands, please know that there is a friendly spearo here to show you around!!

Not at all mate and as I’ve said its always good to have someone new and I do look forward to a few good Hawaiian stories to read.
All the best
Paul

 

[Lazuli]

Nice fish badlander, well done. Went in at Swanpool today to see if any fish were in evidence over the reef going left. No signs of life and the vis was poor. Drove back over to Gyllingvase and worked the reef almost all the way to Pendennis keeping a good eye out for any flatties in the sand further out. Vis was much better (5-6m in places) but did not see anything other than a few large Wrasse. Gave up after over an hour, hitched the gun to the float and made my way back in. Found a broken fishing rod and a traffic cone which I removed from the water. It was some good snorkelling and freediving in the end.
Laz

 

[Pav]

Good on yah for taking the rubbish. Respect!

Its a little gesture that a lot of surfers make. By taking just one bit of rubbish off the beach as you walk up back to your car collectivly we can make a difference.

Imagine if everyone did this.. (tourists, surfers, windsurfers, canoists, spearos, freedivers, dog walkers... etc)