Cornwall 2009

[scottwilson]

Fun dive on the north coast today, good vis. Saw lots of small bass and small mullet nothing worth taking though, ended up with a small pollack (2lb) and a 1.5lb trigger fish. It made a break for it, they only run if theyre guilty right ? And since everyone said they are so tasty I took it home.

Is it MADE of coral ? lol no idea how im going to prepare it!

Personal first saw an amazing little fish, just looked it up, baby john dory

Sounds like a good dive mate Im yet to see a trigger but ive seen a few JD's great eating fish

I like swimming behind them and moving side to side they match your movement perfectly amasing fish Love em

 

[budleigh spearo]

I've noticed the water around falmouth beaches has been a rusty brown colour lately. Reading today's paper they say the south coast has been hit by toxic RED TIDE algae (report).

Seems like bad news for the fish.

not looking good atall there hope it clearsup quick

 

[diver9]

The red tide is mainly in St Austell Bay althoguh has appeared near Falmouth.

News reported from Charlestown (where I am based) and it is dire - took the kids to Porthpean for a few hours and found literaly hundreds of dead/dying fish which for the most part were small dover sole!!!!

Most people did not have a clue as to the reason (emmetts don't see news do they!)

Here are some photos:

 

[googlyfloogly]

Apologies for the non-spearfishing post but.....Anyone want a dog, or know of anyone that does? I've rescued a border collie called Bill that a farmer was keeping in a cage because he was no good at herding sheep. (I'm not either.) He is 18-24 months old, comes to heel and sits very well..., is very friendly and good with kids and is handsome too. I'm near Looe.

 

[Padaxes]

That's really not good is it

(i mean the red tide, not the dog)

 

[foxfish]

The red tide! whats all that about then?
Poor dog, lets hope you can find him a home mate, cant you keep him?

 

[budleigh spearo]

hi all

i have just purchased a elios mtm suit and am now selling my previous suit as it is a bit big for me it is a cressi camoskin size 4 it has a few marks on as you would expect but is all good for jumping into the blue with have glued atiny rip on the arm etc will sell £100 onoanyone interested??

heres a link for info on the suit
http://www.scubadivingstore.co.uk/cressi-camouskin-suit-p-605.html

 

[redvanrob]

hi all

i have just purchased a elios mtm suit and am now selling my previous suit as it is a bit big for me it is a cressi camoskin size 4 it has a few marks on as you would expect but is all good for jumping into the blue with have glued atiny rip on the arm etc will sell £100 onoanyone interested??

heres a link for info on the suit
Suits, Gloves & Hoods - Cressi Camouskin Suit 5mm

Hi Budleigh, not sure on sizing of those suits, how big are you and then I can make a comparison.

On another note, ever wondered if there's a plankton bloom going on at your favourite spot before you get there? Well this might help a little to follow the general trend?
RSG MultiView for area pa

 

[Lazuli]

I hope the bloom does not affect my winter scallops. I read there is a link between red tide and DSP/ASP shellfish toxins.

 

[tonyeynon]

Hi all!

I've got 2 glorious weeks staying with family in Falmouth at the begining of Sept and wondered if you could give me any advice on were to try my luck. The only place I've tried so far was Swanpool, I didnt really see too much while I was there but I wasnt there long enough to give it a fair shot. Anything at all would greatly appriciated and I dont mind driving anywhere
Thanks!

 

[Lazuli]

Hi all!

I've got 2 glorious weeks staying with family in Falmouth at the begining of Sept and wondered if you could give me any advice on were to try my luck. The only place I've tried so far was Swanpool, I didnt really see too much while I was there but I wasnt there long enough to give it a fair shot. Anything at all would greatly appriciated and I dont mind driving anywhere
Thanks!

If the murk lifts you should be quids-in. The water is none too clear at the moment around falmouth.

 

[tonyeynon]

Yeah so I've read on this string - this red tide sound pretty alarming?! Do you think Swanpool is a gooda place as any? Thanks

 

[Lazuli]

Yeah so I've read on this string - this red tide sound pretty alarming?! Do you think Swanpool is a gooda place as any? Thanks

Swanpool is a great mark provided the conditions are right. "Falmouth Beaches" are all nice depending on how you "read" them as a spearo (if you catch my drift!).

 

[tonyeynon]

Lowd and clear buddy thanks very much

I was thinking of also making the drive over to Talland bay, how would you compare Swanpool to Talland - a bout the same?

 

[diver9]

Talland will be a lot further from the bloom and Talland will also be in the lee of the south/westerly although I do not know Swanpool that well.


Hope it helps

Rich (diver9)

 

[Padaxes]

Hit my GG spot today and there was ne'r a fish to be seen , mixed vis and felt quite cold!

I was about to give up then though "man up!" and swam out to a deeper spot across the channel as the tide turned and began to drop. Found the bass finally and had a really fun dive playing cat and mouse with them. I REALLY wish my breathe hold was longer as the bigger ones stayed at the edge of my vis and another 30 seconds would have brought them in i'm sure.

I love that moment when they all come out of the gloom and surround you a few times I didn't shoot just let them swim around me it amazes me how close they come when you remain still Really beautiful.

I took home 4 in the end one over my usual bag limit as i'm throwing a sushi party

(all over 42cm he says after reading other threads..... seems like size is a bit of an issue at the moment , and my gf said it didn't matter!)

 

[gutshot]

I have been really busy as of late so not really been on much but today i noticed i got a slapped wrist from the forum as i had not posted in several weeks. I thought i'd better sort that out.

I didnt get in much thru july but the times i did i usually managed to come out with at least a mullet if not bass were around. This last week was great though. I did one kayak dive with spearflap only to realise i had left my weight belt at home:head. I still managed a surface shot and got a mullet. After a while spearflap lent me his weight belt and i found a canyon down at least 10m. It was quite a long dive but it paid off as i scored a good sized bass. My deepest ever bass! Top marks to spearflap for the loan of his belt! No points for me for leaving my bely at home!

On wed i went in off a remote beach on the lizard and was greated by the bass right away. I came out with 3 bass, the smallest one at least 42cm so that will give you an idea of scale for the big one i got. The big bass gave 6 adult sized fillets and 2 smaller childrens fillets. Not sure how heavy as i dont have reliable scales. I also got a nice lobster which had decided to run out into the open under me. The viz was good at upto 6-8m.

This morning, at dawns crack i met up with spearflap for a jolly offshore on the lizard on the kayaks. The viz was not great. very patchy bloom. I guess the red tide has pushed this far since wed! Anyway, after not seeing much in the way of bass, and having a large mullet taunt me from the murk i decided on taking one of the many mullet which kept swimming past. After that i got 3 bass. Again, one was big but not sure how heavy. Measured up at 65cm. Can anyone recomend some fish scales? I would haved loved to know how heavy these last 2 big bass were. Spearflap managed 5 bass so everyone was happy. I took my video camera in today so i will post a link later. Also someone mention a while back about looking forward to seeing some films put together from the cornwall forum. Well i have loads of stuff on my computer now so i will make a start as soon as i can.

We paddled past 5 guys diving and spearing inshore. Very scary! Spearguns being waved all over the place in a very tight area and water being kicked up like you would expect from a speed boat. Any fish in the area would have heard them all a mile off! I knew there was a good reason i started diving from a kayak!

 

[gutshot]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvABEvUZu58]YouTube - 16 aug deeperblue[/ame]

Fish from today.

 

[Old Man Dave]

Excellent report and nice catches. The info below might help you.

I am never without my fish weighing scales. They never lie unlike fishermen :t . I've used many sorts over the years including the common "dial" type and electronic versions. I have found all to become unreliable with time. I now only use the "tube" type which simply extends a spiral spring. Very reliable and accurate. I check mine now and again with packaged goods eg 1 kilo bag of sugar. The ones I have are Salter Brecknell Super Samson Tubular Hanging Scales and highly recommended they are too. Pic' below.

Dave.

European Bass
Length (cms) weight (lb)
36 - 1 lb 1 oz
50 - 3 lb
52 - 3 lb 6 oz
54 - 3 lb 13 oz
56 - 4 lb 4 oz
58 - 4 lb 12 oz
60 - 5 lb 4 oz
62 - 5 lb 13 oz
64 - 6 lb 7 oz
66 - 7 lb 2 oz
68 - 7 lb 12 oz
70 - 8 lb 8 oz
72 - 9 lb 5 oz
74 - 10 lb 2 oz
76 - 11 lb
78 - 11 lb 14 oz
80 - 12 lb 14 oz
82 - 13 lb 14 oz
84 - 15 lb
86 - 16 lb 2 oz
88 - 17 lb 5 oz
90 - 18 lb 9 oz

 

[fearthespear]

Thanks for that Dave.

Sharp shooting there Gutshot...