Cornwall 2010

[gutshot]

I'm interested that you guys anchor up when diving from the kayak - do you then stay close to the yak, or take a float/smb too? I always use my yak like a float, i.e. i remain tied to it and just swim/tow the yak which is clipped onto my dive belt. I'd be very nervous of being separated from the yak, especially when i head out far.
Anyway, its interesting to hear how other people do it

I sometimes pull the kayak around by the anchor line until i find a spot i want to focus on. I do stay fairly close to the kayak and i dont use a float when diving from it but i do fly an A flag to help keep other boats away. So long as you have your anchor line long enough and check that the anchor is secure on the reef you should be fine. Just be sure that if there is a little wind or more, or if the current picks up check the kayak more regular. I sometimes look over at the kayak after every dive!

 

[Kernowsniper]

Hey All.. glad to see people are finally getting some bass.. I have finally bagged a few now too.. 4 total, best was from around Newquay on saturday.. bad vis, strong current, it was pretty sketchy! - I saw saw 2 large bass cruising on the bottom so just ignored them and slowly dived and hid slightly away from them in some kelp, they both came straight back and were at the tip of my spear immediatley (this gun is a fair bit longer than my last one!) so I went for my 1st kebab shot this year and was stunned to hit him clean between the eyes in full 007 style.. spear cam out the tail.. killed him stone dead not a flinch! - this did make removing the spear a bit difficult.. but I'm stoked on the accuracy of this gun (Cressi Geronimo Pro 85) ... the other 3 bass I've had have been shot straight through the gill plates!

 

[devondave]

Pretty much as Gutshot said, you need to know the tide quite well, know when it will increase or decrease in strength to judge how far away from the kayak is safe, this also depends on how fast you can fin.
The problem I have with your method Jonny, is sometimes the tide takes you away from the hunting ground, you could paddle past it and then drift back over but that seems a bit pointless if you can anchor on it instead.
How far away also depends on the amount of boat traffic in the area.
If the current is weak and boat traffic nonexistent then I don't mind leaving the kayak and swimming quite far away.
When in a strong current I don't go further than I can swim back in a minute or so, it just takes to long to recover for a breath-up (oh to be young and fit again).

Jonny, does the kayak not tug on you sometimes if you are attached to it?
I would worry that when making the shot of a lifetime you get yanked at the wrong time, but I've never tried drifting with it so am only guessing.

Regards,
Dave.

 

[Jonny250]

Dave when i dive i tend to keep a loop of line in my left hand which allows me to feel the tension of the yak (comfort blanket thing ), but also to smooth out any pulls. I use floating rope - strong but generally keeps out of my way and doesnt tangle once in use.
The main benefit for me in using the yak is that it means i can get to places that i couldnt otherwise swim to - too far or too much tide, etc. so getting separated from the yak could be a disaster in those circumstances...
Do you find yourself in those situations, or do you use the yak more for travelling along the coast to different places?

Nice fish there Kernowsniper!

 

[devondave]

Ah-ha, a loop of line, very clever.
It's amazing what you can learn on db.
At the moment I use the kayak to reach a reef that's a bit too far offshore for a relaxing swim, (like I said, to be young and fit again.)
Yes, there are times when it would be a bad idea to get swept away from the kayak, I just don't go that far from it in strong tides.
Really it's a glorified float, when not used for paddling, with a 1.5kg anchor and 1m of chain, I can't see it drifting off anywhere.
I will try the drifting method, it's just that I'm not sure about having a line near me, I don't like being near a line when using a float either, I think It might scare the fish (probably wrongly).
The proof is in the pudding, as they say and judging by the number of fish you catch it obviously works.

Regards,
Dave.

Just to add, it's a good idea to incorporate a bungee into the anchor line system, this takes out knocks and shocks and stops the anchor being tugged so much.
I have a metre of it fixed to the carry-loop, on the end is a carabiner to which the anchor line is clove-hitched, this allows the anchor line to be adjusted for length, (clove-hitches do not slip.)
Jonny, maybe a bungee could be used in the towrope for drifting, less tugging perhaps?

 

[gutshot]

You could also use extra long bungies like you have on a speargun line. That would help take the shock of any movement from the kayak. Not something i have done but heard about.

 

[devondave]

Ha ha, Gutshot you were posting as I was editing.
I would say great minds think alike, but I know in my case that's not true.

Regards,
Dave.

 

[Jonny250]

Its very useful being able to brainstorm ideas on here - the drift/line method is certainly more restrictive than being free of all that. I know Sunfish uses the method of anchoring and diving too...
anyway, thanks for the input & ideas

 

[devondave]

Gents-
Anybody know for a decent pub B+B down around The Lizard area that does a proper evening meal with some good beer:friday, that won’t mind a couple of spearo’s along with there wetsuits and that’s not going to pull our pants down with the price?
I seem to remember The White Heart somewhere new Porthallow but can’t find a working link to there website.
Any suggestions would be most welcome as myself and Jim are hoping to make it down to your fair shores sometime in early September.

Podge, the best one I know of is this :-
Halzephron Inn, Cornwall at Gunwalloe on The Lizard near Helston
Only eaten there, not stayed, so unsure about prices etc.
The food is very, very good, and that's from someone who is extremely fussy about restaurant/pub food.

PS. I have a couple of good spots down that way if you need some areas to try.

Regards,
Dave.

 

[scottwilson]

News on the bass i got last friday. One of the bigger ones was almost uneatable. Riddeled with parasites :rcard. The only parasite free area was within the fillet above the lateral line. The lower part was awful. I have kept the infected part to have a closer look when i can.

Si I know what you mean. I have one spot I catch bass where the bigger ones almost always have a load of round worm in them . The seals play a part in it I believe part the round worm's cycle. It's enough to put you off

 

[googlyfloogly]

I'm a kayak and anchor person too. I've also made sure that I stay really close if there is a strong current. It's reassuring to hear that other people are doing the same.
Being at the bottom when there's a current makes things interesting too. Extra effort holding on to the kelp can reduce bottom times. I recently found first when lying fairly flat that the current was getting underneath and behind my fins, pushing me forward and also making me look big and scary.
I then found a trench where I could in with my back to the current so that the current was holding me still against the rock, with just my head and gun sticking over the top, Tommy style. Helped a lot.

 

[podge]

Podge, the best one I know of is this :-
Halzephron Inn, Cornwall at Gunwalloe on The Lizard near Helston
Only eaten there, not stayed, so unsure about prices etc.
The food is very, very good, and that's from someone who is extremely fussy about restaurant/pub food.

PS. I have a couple of good spots down that way if you need some areas to try.

Regards,
Dave.

Thanks Dave, looks good.
As for spots thanks for the offer mate but i've spent a lot of time around the Cornish coast so i reckon we'll be ok for spearo and for the surf.
Cheers mate and rep will be on the way

 

[sunfish]

News on the bass i got last friday. One of the bigger ones was almost uneatable. Riddeled with parasites :rcard. The only parasite free area was within the fillet above the lateral line. The lower part was awful. I have kept the infected part to have a closer look when i can.

I'm still experimenting with this but try putting ice packs against the belly of each fish in your kayak well or fishbox. It may be coincidence but since I've been doing this the amount of worms in the flesh seems to be way less.

Wrap the ice packs in thick layers of newspaper so they don't thaw and when you get a fish unwrap the packs, wet the newspapers and cover the fish+icepacks with the wet newspaper. My idea is that the cold penetrating the flesh from outside discourages the worms from burrowing into the flesh from the guts. It seems to work but even if it doesn't it'll keep your fish fresher.
Alternatively gut the fish immediatly after killing them. If anyone trys either of these two methods please let me know if you still find worms.

 

[Kernowsniper]

Wrap the ice packs in thick layers of newspaper so they don't thaw and when you get a fish unwrap the packs, wet the newspapers and cover the fish+icepacks with the wet newspaper.

Sounds like a good idea!

 

[Goingtothecoast]

Hey All.. glad to see people are finally getting some bass.. I have finally bagged a few now too.. 4 total, best was from around Newquay on saturday.. bad vis, strong current, it was pretty sketchy! - I saw saw 2 large bass cruising on the bottom so just ignored them and slowly dived and hid slightly away from them in some kelp, they both came straight back and were at the tip of my spear immediatley (this gun is a fair bit longer than my last one!) so I went for my 1st kebab shot this year and was stunned to hit him clean between the eyes in full 007 style.. spear cam out the tail.. killed him stone dead not a flinch! - this did make removing the spear a bit difficult.. but I'm stoked on the accuracy of this gun (Cressi Geronimo Pro 85) ... the other 3 bass I've had have been shot straight through the gill plates!

I use the same speargun but the 95 and its very accurate taking head or gill shots nearly every time, although i am still looking for my first bass

 

[Kernowsniper]

I use the same speargun but the 95 and its very accurate taking head or gill shots nearly every time, although i am still looking for my first bass

Yeah its a great gun eh! How do you find loading up the 95.. I am definitely struggling to get mine to the second catch!!

 

[Goingtothecoast]

Yeah its a great gun eh! How do you find loading up the 95.. I am definitely struggling to get mine to the second catch!!

At first it hurt like hell using muscles you dont normally use every day so I just left it on the first catch but now i can pull it straight to the second catch everytime although I think it has more than enough power on the first catch.
Scottwilson uses the 115 now that must be fun to load

 

[bobdonny]

I'm still experimenting with this but try putting ice packs against the belly of each fish in your kayak well or fishbox. It may be coincidence but since I've been doing this the amount of worms in the flesh seems to be way less.

Wrap the ice packs in thick layers of newspaper so they don't thaw and when you get a fish unwrap the packs, wet the newspapers and cover the fish+icepacks with the wet newspaper. My idea is that the cold penetrating the flesh from outside discourages the worms from burrowing into the flesh from the guts. It seems to work but even if it doesn't it'll keep your fish fresher.
Alternatively gut the fish immediatly after killing them. If anyone trys either of these two methods please let me know if you still find worms.

Been wondering about that prob for the last few days...
I wonder if the ice packs has the same effect as keeping the fish on a stringer underwater?
I think gutting underwater immediately may be the best option all around.

 

[Old Man Dave]

I'm still experimenting with this but try putting ice packs against the belly of each fish in your kayak well or fishbox. It may be coincidence but since I've been doing this the amount of worms in the flesh seems to be way less.
View attachment 28908
Wrap the ice packs in thick layers of newspaper so they don't thaw and when you get a fish unwrap the packs, wet the newspapers and cover the fish+icepacks with the wet newspaper. My idea is that the cold penetrating the flesh from outside discourages the worms from burrowing into the flesh from the guts. It seems to work but even if it doesn't it'll keep your fish fresher.
Alternatively gut the fish immediatly after killing them. If anyone trys either of these two methods please let me know if you still find worms.

I've just ordered a coolbox for my boat. A few years ago when I did commercial fishing nobody much used coolboxes.

Day boats might take ice in a fishbox or bongo but that was about it. You'd gut your catch fairly soon and keep them in a fishbox with a wet towel over the top.

However over the last 4 or 5 years seems like all the wetfish dayboats have invested in cool boxes. Some boats carry multiple 180 litre boxes on deck.

These are passive boxes basically just insulated plastic tubs with hinged lids. Icey-tek made in New Zealand are THE boxes apparently. They keep ice for 5 days at an outside temperature of 30deg C.

A few inches of saltwater ice slurry in the bottom of the box keep even a full box of fish in good condition.

I was going to get a 135litre box but changed my mind and have a 105litre Icet-Tek on order as it fits in the seatframe on my boat. You will be able to sit on the box simply replacing part of my seat. Cost £160. Will post a picture when it's rigged up.

Dave.

 

[badlander]

Headed down to the south coast today since i had the whole day and wanted to explore a stretch of coast i've never had a look at. Bloody long swim, just over 4 miles according to google earth and all of it looked like prime bass habitat. Shot a couple of mullet before i started encountering the bass which were much further along towards a well known bass mark. Got to my turnaround point just as the tide started to rise and then had a mega fin back against the tide but all the bass had come out to play but none of any considerable size. Managed 3 bass in the end.
I managed to damage the longer bands on my Snake 90 so was just using the smaller bands. Might just stay with this single band setup because the gun was feeling so nice. Totally silent firing and easily as accurate as my Gabbiano. The smoby wishbones are a bit unimpressive. The fiddly o-rings are a pain in the arse and always seem to all go over to one side or the other. Really love the Snake though, wishbones aside.