Cornwall 2008.

[Pav]

Me and my dive buddy had a weekend camping, down in Badlanders lands. Saturday dived twice on the North coast. 2 Good sized Mullet for the BBQ, but sadly only glimpsed a bass. Scouted a few spots on the north coast for future trips, but bit of swell around. Got buzzed as per usual by the a cornish seal!

Sunday North coast again. Viz ok, but worsening. Again a Mullet. No Bass.

Monday South coast. Really nice ground swell, and stumbled on a surf spot we didn't know! Got in 3 dives! Marizion Bay was not useable, but it took a good hike to discover this and as we had the kit in got in anyway!

We did find 2 better spots of which one was full of School size bass. I dived and watched from below a circling school of 40 ish mixed Mullet and Bass. Long dive as I waited and waited trying to pick out something larger. Had to leave them as nothing took my fancy!

Fair few spidercrabs around and noticed a lot of Urchins (never seen these before in number or size).

Good being out camping, bbq'ing the catch and supping beers in the outdoors. Spots not named as most have been kindly loaned by Badlander ;>)

 

[badlander]

Good to hear the weekend went well,although bit of a bummer you didn't score any bass.Thought about giving you a bell yesterday as it looked lovely but it turned out to be a family day out,at the beach sadly that looked absolutely perfect spearing conditions.
Did a weekend freediving course with Samdive from saltfreedivers over the weekend up at Chepstow.Had a really good time even though it was a bit chilly and my sinus' were blocked which meant i was unable to make the required depth,means i've got to go back at a later date to complete the course.However,i learnt a hell of a lot over that weekend and learnt some very important rescue techniques and breathold techniques.For example,before the weekend my best dry breath hold time was about 2minutes 6 seconds,by the end of the weekend,in the pool, i managed a 3 minutes 15 seconds which totally blew me away.I'd recommend it to anyone.
North coast looks pretty doable this morning with a small swell and SE winds.

 

[badlander]

Scott, i reckon anything between NW and NE would okay at Talland,however,i based that on a quick butchers on google earth and have never actually been there,although like you, it's on my to do list.Let me know what it's like if you do go.

 

[REddie]

Took a dip in a west facing north coast spot today just before low tide and conditions were near perfect: 6-7m vis, still a bit of tide running, plenty of inshore sand eel and small pollock. But I'm afraid that's where the fairy tale ends - found nothing shootable.

Had to make do with a couple of decent sized cock spiders (have decided to stop taking the egg laden females). My bottom time is picking up nicely at last after some sinus problems and sticky ears. Despite having some really pleasing dives, I was left feeling like a cumbersome oaf after watching some acrobatics from a seal that turned up out of nowhere and then rocketed off after showing off!....... Maybe that explains the lack of any fish!?

Am considering going for an early morning dip tomorrow on the south coast. Does anyone know how the East/S.E winds have affected vis/swell?

 

[foxfish]

I love seals!
Guys the gun build has begun .... http://forums.deeperblue.net/spearo...building-extravaganza-build-7.html#post711477

 

[Pav]

I love seals!

Maybe you could post a recipe under recipes and cooking foxfish ;>) !

 

[napper]

Went in at Mounts Bay at low tide this afternoon. Vis wasn't great but good enough for some but not for me to get anything!!!!! Fair amount of pollack about but not much else. Smallish swell was coming across from the SE. The local angling shop was moaning about the lack of large sand eels and consequently the lack of bass but I never know whether to believe what he says or the complete oppposite..........

 

[nickever]

Hi folks!

Aiming to get in the water for my first dive of the season after work today (very excited!). I will be in my favourite south coast spot in the mounts bay area - anybody got any idea what the conditions are looking like around there at the moment? Usually quite bassy there early on in the season so fingers crossed for some good visibility.

We have spotted a big bass (10lb plus) there a few times over the past couple of years that keeps avoiding us (convinced it is the same fish - always in the same area of weed), we have lovingly named her 'Big Bertha'. Every year we imagine her fattening up in the winter and returning bigger and wiser to taunt us in this spot.
It would almost be a shame if we ever caught her though as she is easily the biggest bass I've ever seen.
However, I would probably get over it !.........

 

[SurfnSpear]

Hi all, I jumped in on the south coast of a headland very near Fowey on Monday. The vis was pretty bad and the tide was going low. I swam out through near nil vis until I got to a maximum 2m consistency. It was a battle really but I started seeing a LOT of high speed bass in the 2-5lb range, obviously heading out quickly. I happened across a couple of bass in gullys and took two reaction shots from above as they were going out of the gully and missed, but as I say it was a battle with the vis. I really found it hard to get my 90 Omer carbon with rob Allen spear on them as they were not turning or interested, just straight past at speed. I did drop into a nice gully on agachon/aspetto and drew in the biggest dogfish I have ever seen and although I have shot and enjoyed eating 'rock' before, I left him alone as he really was almost a mini shark!
A fisherman in a small craft (blue, # 586 I think) was pulling up unmarked gill nets literally 50m off shore and right in the kelp as I was heading further out to the point. Not good in that vis, and no doubt doing no benefit to the mullet and bass.
I eventually gave up in the end out of frustration and left a very fishy 'stringerless' dive behind and started on the long walk back to the car park. Being troubled a lot by my sinus on the weekend so ultimately a bit peeved as was the wife with no offering being brought home!
Still, I fitted in some classic little mellow surfs and realised winter was a bit good to me and I need a little more time on the board too!
Any usual suspects from the forum interested in more details on location etc. then PM me.

cheers

 

[fearthespear]

Nice dive Brett...shame you couldn't get contact!

 

[spearflap]

we also went in for a dive monday out on a south coast reef in the kayaks viz was a bit crap, saw 1 big pollack and 1 good size bass that went past me at good speed ,2 big seals and the biggest sand eels ive seen, looked more like garfish.
took the kayak out tonight for some excersize and to find some north coast spots, took my rod and managed to bag 11 mackeral threw 3 back and a pollack also threw him back, i love these light evenings

 

[nickever]

Well, back from my first dive of the season. Extremely glad I got in!!!!

Went to my favourite south coast spot with two mates, flat calm, tide high but still pushing, vis about 5 metres which is about the norm for this spot due to the high concentration of weed etc.

After about 10mins in the water I was paddling over a thick patch of kelp when I spotted a 4lb (ish) bass hiding up in a gap below. Not believing my luck I lined it up, shot, and promptly missed by about 6inches! Gutted. A few minutes later one of my mates bagged a solid 4lb-er and the gaunlet had been thrown down!

After another 20mins of not-a-fish-in-sight (other than a few tiny pollock) and a few lung stretching early season dives I had just about admitted defeat. When, lo and behold, a beast of a fish popped out from the kelp below and promptly received my spear through the end of its tail for its trouble! Not an ideal spot to hit a fish, but considering it was my second pull of the trigger in about 8months - it will do! After some carefull pulling in (thank god for that double barbed spear!) I was the proud spearer of what would later weight in as a personal best 8lb bass!!!

A very good start to the season. It's all downhill from here!!!!

Bass pictured next to my gabbiano 90 for scale (what a gun!)

 

[Old Man Dave]

Great fish and a PB too. Take a picture with todays newspaper and get your entry in the Fish of the Month, before you cut it up. Should be in with a good chance.

Dave

 

[spearflap]

what a beauty well done...

 

[nickever]

Bugger. Had to cut it up to get it in the freezer (no time to eat it this week-shame). Forgot about fish of the month and a pick with the newspaper!

Oh well, won't let that dampen a good day... there's plenty more fish in the sea (apparently)...

 

[foxfish]

Anyone got a link for the English FOM?

 

[badlander]

Bloody hell,you did this last year!Nice fish mate....what a way to kick off the year.

 

[fearthespear]

Great spearing...and a cracking fish! Well done!

 

[James T]

What a beauty - nice one mate!

Must have been fun catching that one in the tail - your heart must have been in your mouth.

 

[ickledevil]

Hey all,
Must admitt I usually haunt the dorset boards but heading Cornwall direction over the weekend, have a number of spots in mind that I have dived plenty before but just wondering where the best conditions (vis etc) are liable to be found. My main two options are in the vicinity of Looe so south coast and north coast in vicinity of Polzeath.
Any info on vis etc or what its liable to be saturday much appreciated, either here or PM.
Cheers all and safe diving.
Joe