Cornwall 2009

[badlander]

Though i've had a couple of sneak attacks by seals, i've never had one get away with a fish.I do the same if they're obviously up for playing, unload the gun and enjoy it while it lasts.They do seem to like the taste of fins but my fin tip is a fair distance from anything fleshy of mine so that's fine by me.They've yet to cause damage.I went for ages with very little seal interaction and then one year i fully developed a seal magnet and couldn't get away from them.
They will always make me jump when they first appear and i'll always be cautious until i can gauge their intentions.
I'd certainly be less happy about porpoises or dolphins around me if i had fish on the belt.

 

[gutshot]

I have lost fish from my float before to seals which is why i keep them on my belt now. I have also lost a mullet before from my belt but the seal took a large bite out of the mullet so i surrended the rest to him. Usually if i know there is a seal around one hand keeps the fish tight into my body. Never had any problems with the seals though. Never threatened.

 

[nickever]

My mate and I frequently meet seals out of Porthmeor. Went in last week and after an hour in the water and things were looking quite fishy but had not seen much worth shooting of any size. Mate had a small mullet.

We had swum out almost to Clodgy Point and started to turn around to head back to the beach. As I was paddling I felt a slight resistance in one fin and turned around to see a young (but still massive) seal that was mesmerised by my fins and exploring them with his mouth! Scared the buggery out of me I can tell you. Anyway, he continued to follow us, rolling around under the water like a puppy that wants to play. He kept swimming between us and playing with our fins, or swimming out to the side and then under us or infront of us. I think he could smell the mullet my mate had but he didnt try to take it.

He followed us in all the way to the beach, so the spearing was a write-off from then on, but it was an amazing experience once we got over the initial shock as I am always wary of an animal of that size in the water when you think what it could do to you if it wanted!

At one point he started investigating my fin further up, then to my ankle and at one point his head was by the back of my knee as I was paddling - this did make me a little scared - mainly because I thought it was going to try and hump me!!!!

All in all a good bit of fun and didnt put me off going there again.

 

[Lazuli]

My mate and I frequently meet seals out of Porthmeor. Went in last week and after an hour in the water and things were looking quite fishy but had not seen much worth shooting of any size. Mate had a small mullet.

We had swum out almost to Clodgy Point and started to turn around to head back to the beach. As I was paddling I felt a slight resistance in one fin and turned around to see a young (but still massive) seal that was mesmerised by my fins and exploring them with his mouth! Scared the buggery out of me I can tell you. Anyway, he continued to follow us, rolling around under the water like a puppy that wants to play. He kept swimming between us and playing with our fins, or swimming out to the side and then under us or infront of us. I think he could smell the mullet my mate had but he didnt try to take it.

He followed us in all the way to the beach, so the spearing was a write-off from then on, but it was an amazing experience once we got over the initial shock as I am always wary of an animal of that size in the water when you think what it could do to you if it wanted!

At one point he started investigating my fin further up, then to my ankle and at one point his head was by the back of my knee as I was paddling - this did make me a little scared - mainly because I thought it was going to try and hump me!!!!

All in all a good bit of fun and didnt put me off going there again.

I had my first seal encounter in St Ives off the beach below the coastguard look-out. There is supposed to be a grumpy seal in the area but this could be a myth.

 

[Trelawney]

There is a new replacement seal in Looe and Hannafore that has taken over from Nelson. He's a bit small, but very playful. I saw him circling Tong and myself last year, darting in and out of the weed. At one point, he was swimming directly under me, on his back, looking up at me. I think he fell in love with Tongs grey bladed Beuchat fins. Just wouldn't leave them alone. I ended up playing hide and seek with him around the rocks.

 

[gutshot]

Dived with spearflap today from the kayaks. Had some really good footsge on the camera but for some reason lost it all:rcard. Managed to salvage some footage but nothing to post.

The viz was ok at up to 6m in places and there were plenty of fish around. I got my biggest and first fish of the day on my 4th or 5th dive. Diving was rubbish as it was hard keeping in position and there were alot of other boats out on the reefs. All in all we did well with 3 bass each and i also got a good sized mullet too.

 

[diver9]

Gutshot,

As someone who yaks and spears - can you let me know how easy you find re entry onto the yak - I assume they are sit on tops?? Just wondering as i always wonder wether to place the weight belt in first???

Cheers

Diver9

 

[gutshot]

I enter and exit the kayak (Perception Freedom) fully kitted. I used to remove my weight belt but found it was not a problem getting back on with the belt still on. Usually the only time the weight belt is removed is when i get back to the beach. Mind you the kayaks are very stable. My advice would be as you launch out from the beach try it out. If you remove it and roll you lose it! Sorry if that is not much help but it is all trial and error. Spearflap has a slightly different set up to me and we both swear blind ours is best. Mind you he does tend to roll his rofl. Top heavyroflrofl. Let me know if you have any other questions. I may be able to help a little more next time.

 

[googlyfloogly]

I'm very much a weight belt on at all times man. I manage to get on and off the kayak OK, but I'm still scoring low for artistic impression whilst doing this. I've never tried having sex with anyone over 30 stone, but I think the positions required may be similar.
Had a dive off Looe island Thursday night, as there was a bit of a swell, so I thought I may get some shelter from it. No seals. Got myself a reasonable bass, but had a sight of a pollack unlike anything I've previously seen myself. I was right at the end of my breath hold, so tried an optimistic long range shot which just frightened it off altogether. I might have been looking the wrong way whilst it swam past me, which brings me to the the question - Is it best to always look within say a 90 degree arc of where your gun is pointing? What's the use in knowing what's behind you, if by the time you swing the gun around (I use a 90cm) the fish has gone or you've scared it off anyway? In the end I came home satisfied with a bass, but slightly frustrated about missing the pollack, which seems a peverse stae of affairs...
My wife is due to give birth within the next 2 weeks, so I am now banned form being out of phone contact (ie underwater) or over the drink drive limit until after the birth.:waterwork

 

[diver9]

I enter and exit the kayak (Perception Freedom) fully kitted. I used to remove my weight belt but found it was not a problem getting back on with the belt still on. Usually the only time the weight belt is removed is when i get back to the beach. Mind you the kayaks are very stable. My advice would be as you launch out from the beach try it out. If you remove it and roll you lose it! Sorry if that is not much help but it is all trial and error. Spearflap has a slightly different set up to me and we both swear blind ours is best. Mind you he does tend to roll his rofl. Top heavyroflrofl. Let me know if you have any other questions. I may be able to help a little more next time.

Cheers

I have a prowler 13 set up with fishfinder etc (GPS etc on the pdf) - normally I would use it to cove hop so have not had to do much deepwater re-entry - I was always afraid of removing the belt in case things went tits up.

Thanks again for he reply.

Cheers

Stay Safe

Diver9

 

[Jonny250]

Diver9 i use a scupper pro for fishing and diving, i think you will be fie re-entering with your weight belt on and fins on etc. but as gutshot suggested, try it near the beach first
it's actually much easier (imo) getting back in the yak in freediving gear compared to in a drysuit with a lifejacket.

 

[gutshot]

Cheers

I have a prowler 13 set up with fishfinder etc (GPS etc on the pdf) - normally I would use it to cove hop so have not had to do much deepwater re-entry - I was always afraid of removing the belt in case things went tits up.

Thanks again for he reply.

Cheers

Stay Safe

Diver9

What area do you usually dive around? I will keep a look out for you. It sounds like you have a good set up. Do you have any pictures?

 

[diver9]

Hi,

Based in Carlyon Bay - Fish and Dive all round to caerhays and beyond -

The Yak is shown here with all the kit on the outside - In fact the diving kit/spearfishing kit is inside the forward hatch if not being used.

Brilliant fun although I swear the PDF has got more kit on it than the yak...flares/compass/gps/vhf/strobe/camera!!!

PM me if you want more info - I have spent time getting it ready and really must spend more time under the water!!!!

Beware anyone around Boats!!!!!! - see the Devon thread about Trelawney and especially Tong - Get Well soon Mate

Stay Safe

Diver9

 

[spearflap]

mines only top heavy with bassroflrofl

 

[diver9]

mines only top heavy with bassroflrofl

Not for me in the last few weeks - soon change all that - off for 3 weeks in August......even got a week without the kids....wifey taking htem to the monster in laws!!!!!!!


Happy days

 

[badlander]

Had a quick dive in the Falmouth area yesterday. Had an Oregon Scientific camera that a mate let me borrow so i strapped it to the the gun for a laugh. Don't think it's up to GoPro standards but it's not too bad. They rate the depth to 10ft so i was pretty cautious with it but pretty sure i went deeper with no ill effects to the camera.Oh, and that wrasse was a monster.

 

[Lazuli]

Hi all,
Went in today with my good lady for an epic snorkelling / freediving mission. No spearguns as we were looking for crabs and just enjoying the underwater world. Needless to say we saw loads of decent mullet and Bass, plus two cuttlefish who were doing some kind of courtship ritual. After three hours we bagged a brown crab and a monster 6LB Spider Crab. Well chuffed.

Just finished eating the monster. Had to knock on a few doors asking for an industrial sized panrofl. After extracting the meat (of which there was loads!) we made a Thai noodle dish with half of it. I have to say that it was the tastiest thing we have ever had out of the sea. Amazing.

God bless the spider crab :friday

 

[budleigh spearo]

wow thats a monster i agree they are an amazing tastin crab better than the brown crab without a doubt alot sweeter tasting

 

[Lazuli]

wow thats a monster i agree they are an amazing tastin crab better than the brown crab without a doubt alot sweeter tasting

Once he was with us that was it - dive over! Quite a handful with no bag large enough to hold him.

The meat was superb and we've had two meals out of him.

Nice video badlander. Does justice to the great vis at the moment.

 

[badlander]

That surely is one badass crab!

Noticed these the other day.Thought i might get one since they're cheap and look pretty handy for a belt or float additional knife.
Off to the Scillys on Saturday for two weeks so i'll try and get some footage whilst over there.No bass there may be but there's plenty of big mullet!