Cornwall 2013

[fry]

going like long dogs whatever they were! did you fart??!

got in south coast today - new type of dive for me in deeper water with a shifting current. buddyless on the top so didn't go loopy on bottom times but managed a bass and my first golden grey mullet. both 44cm and will be turned into cervice tomorrow.


If there are any AIDA (or equivalent) qualified divers in the area who fancy fishing at this spot with me then I would be keen to buddy up some time - I think the spot could hold some decent fish but don't fancy the risk on my tod!

PS its probably not a 'secret' spot but no chance I'll be saying where it is as the bass were flinchy enough as it is

I didn't fart - pretty sure they spotted me and bolted!

Sounds good, how deep were you diving? Ive just started diving in moderate/strong currents but I cant figure out which way to face is best; up or down current. Got any pics of your fish?

 

[Alzorro]

Trelawny,
Where exactly are those U-boat wrecks? I was down there the other day and couldn't find them.

 

[watermandrew]

I didn't fart - pretty sure they spotted me and bolted!

Sounds good, how deep were you diving? Ive just started diving in moderate/strong currents but I cant figure out which way to face is best; up or down current. Got any pics of your fish?

Not very deep - 10-12m max I should think.

In terms of which way to face - if I were a fish, I would either be saving my energy and drifting with the tide, or holing up somewhere and waiting for prey to drift past in the tide. So during Aspetto it would make sense to face uptide and wait for things to come towards you? In shallow water where you can see the bottom I would be tempted to drift with the tide for these reasons;

saving energy
quieter
cover lots of ground

things to consider if doing this;

Sunlight - is your shadow ahead of you as you drift, spooking the fish?

Currents - are you going to be able to get back to shore?

Dark/reflective lenses - if exclusively surface hunting without a buddy, it might be permissible to wear these. Fish can see your eyes and don't like you looking at them. However, if you were doing deeper dives your buddy also needs to see your eyes in case you samba/BO. Something to consider.

Fins - you might want shorter fins which make for quieter finning on the surface. Reconsider if you think you can swim better in long ones (but they are louder in my experience)

Provisions - Take a float and load it up with snacks and water if you think you might be on a long session. Drifting can allow you to do longer sessions, so be prepared if you're going for it. Maybe put a drogue on your float so its always behind you, you can always wrap it up when you want to swim home.

If you are hunting in deeper water with currents these might be my thoughts;

Anchor a buoy on your chosen mark- you and your buddy need a reference point to find eachother. Dive around the buoy only and wait for fish to pass. One up, one down. The buoy can be rested on to breath up. This could be a kayak. Move spots if unproductive.

Short sessions - with tides in some areas of the UK up to 14m in height you don't want to start a session at low tide and get caught out a few hours later. Know your limits and stick to them.

Light - if you are undecided which way to face, look towards the sun. The silhouetted fish will appear from further away and your shadow (on descent) has spooked the fish in the opposite direction to where you came from.

Sound - I would be more inclined to grunt/croak/ping elastics in the hope of bringing a fish in from afar. Fish are more confident in deeper water - although I am not a fish, this is just a hunch



Loads more to think about beyond that, but now I'm bored of typing.
Pictures to follow, emailing from my phone right now

 

[watermandrew]

here we are

Actually looking at the picture vs a golden grey I'm not as sure this is a golden grey and in fact this is a thick lip grey? Can someone confirm please? at the time it looked like there was a golden spot on the gill plate but really its very faint

Either way, it was delicious both as sashimi and cerviche.

For the cervice, one bass and one mullet fillet, sliced thinly and mixed with 2tbsp olive oil, a large finely sliced red chilli, the zest of a lime, juice of 2 limes and a tbsp of sliced ginger, seasoned sparingly with salt and pepper. Just before serving sprinkle with chopped coriander.

the sashimi was prepared by filleting, refrigerating for an hour until firm, sliced thinly and presented on a bed of shaved raw celeriac, a bit of pickled ginger, sticky rice, soy sauce and wasabi paste. Lovely meal indeed, and the only heat used was to boil the rice!

And here's a limpet having a graze (for no particular reason)... I could hear him chewing seriously!

 

[speerolee]

A golden greys have smooth lips, concaved pec fins and are covered in a thick white mucus.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[foxfish]

You ate a raw mullet! Rather eat the limpet myself LOL
When the Germans occupied Guernsey during the second world war it was said the beaches were devoid of limpets come near the end, such was the shortage of food!
The locals & Germans alike, had eaten every winkle & limpet in sight ... seems unbelievable but apparently true!

 

[Trelawney]

Trelawny,
Where exactly are those U-boat wrecks? I was down there the other day and couldn't find them.

Here you go.They are easy to find once you know where to look .
Silver Steps
Castle Beach

 

[Etruscan]

Goooodmorning friends !The time of my cornish holydays draws near and I have some curiosities that bother me... I think I have understood that south coast is better for spearfishing than north. Buy why? More accessible spots? Lower exposure to the winds? More fish? And if more fish, why ? More articulated coast? More interesting seaground ? More current? More results of sweet water (good for bass!!!) ?
Please help me ! I' m not sleeping the nights for this !!!
:head

 

[fry]

Not very deep - 10-12m max I should think.

In terms of which way to face - if I were a fish, I would either be saving my energy and drifting with the tide, or holing up somewhere and waiting for prey to drift past in the tide. So during Aspetto it would make sense to face uptide and wait for things to come towards you? In shallow water where you can see the bottom I would be tempted to drift with the tide for these reasons;

saving energy
quieter
cover lots of ground

things to consider if doing this;

Sunlight - is your shadow ahead of you as you drift, spooking the fish?

Currents - are you going to be able to get back to shore?

Dark/reflective lenses - if exclusively surface hunting without a buddy, it might be permissible to wear these. Fish can see your eyes and don't like you looking at them. However, if you were doing deeper dives your buddy also needs to see your eyes in case you samba/BO. Something to consider.

Fins - you might want shorter fins which make for quieter finning on the surface. Reconsider if you think you can swim better in long ones (but they are louder in my experience)

Provisions - Take a float and load it up with snacks and water if you think you might be on a long session. Drifting can allow you to do longer sessions, so be prepared if you're going for it. Maybe put a drogue on your float so its always behind you, you can always wrap it up when you want to swim home.

If you are hunting in deeper water with currents these might be my thoughts;

Anchor a buoy on your chosen mark- you and your buddy need a reference point to find eachother. Dive around the buoy only and wait for fish to pass. One up, one down. The buoy can be rested on to breath up. This could be a kayak. Move spots if unproductive.

Short sessions - with tides in some areas of the UK up to 14m in height you don't want to start a session at low tide and get caught out a few hours later. Know your limits and stick to them.

Light - if you are undecided which way to face, look towards the sun. The silhouetted fish will appear from further away and your shadow (on descent) has spooked the fish in the opposite direction to where you came from.

Sound - I would be more inclined to grunt/croak/ping elastics in the hope of bringing a fish in from afar. Fish are more confident in deeper water - although I am not a fish, this is just a hunch



Loads more to think about beyond that, but now I'm bored of typing.
Pictures to follow, emailing from my phone right now

Thanks for your thoughts on this - I will take them into consideration on my next dive! Still havn't seen any fish bigger than 2.5lbs here in st ives .. I think I may have to get braver and hit the headlands. Its just every time I have a look there it looks so intense!

 

[watermandrew]

You ate a raw mullet! Rather eat the limpet myself LOL
When the Germans occupied Guernsey during the second world war it was said the beaches were devoid of limpets come near the end, such was the shortage of food!
The locals & Germans alike, had eaten every winkle & limpet in sight ... seems unbelievable but apparently true!

haha, well its been a few days and no ill effects so far...
It actually was delicious - wouldn't eat a harbour mullet though!

Would be interested in collecting limpets and whelks and some point for use in a chowder or something. Anybody tried eating them?

What is the winkle and limpet population like in Guernsey now foxfish? Have they recovered?

 

[watermandrew]

Thanks for your thoughts on this - I will take them into consideration on my next dive! Still havn't seen any fish bigger than 2.5lbs here in st ives .. I think I may have to get braver and hit the headlands. Its just every time I have a look there it looks so intense!

low tide, spaghetti weed, stealth.

that should get you started! oh, and when you see one, wait for it to swim in front of the gun they dont like being followed or looked at

 

[foxfish]

Yeah limpets are abundant now, they can be prepared quite successfully by beating the foot flat with a meat mallet & simmering with potatoes for about three hours. Then liquidising the saucepans contents to make a thick soup. A very distinctive but very edible.
Some local folk take this dish to a higher level by first air drying the limpet feet for a day before cooking to add an even more distinctive flavour!

 

[spearo Clark]

Sounds super yummy probably worth trying north coast and south coast to compare!

 

[watermandrew]

Haha do they taste best served in an old sweaty boot too?!

 

[scallywag]

Goooodmorning friends !The time of my cornish holydays draws near and I have some curiosities that bother me... I think I have understood that south coast is better for spearfishing than north. Buy why? More accessible spots? Lower exposure to the winds? More fish? And if more fish, why ? More articulated coast? More interesting seaground ? More current? More results of sweet water (good for bass!!!) ?
Please help me ! I' m not sleeping the nights for this !!!
:head

Both coasts offer great fishing. All depends on the wind direction and strength. When the surfs up on the north coast go south, when the wind's in the east go north! It's only a short drive between the two.
Ask when you're here and we'll put you on the fish.

 

[AlB]

Spent the week on the south coast, viz was fantastic In the bay, but only one silver fish seen (huge bass 8-10lb at a guess) just missed it and gutted. Down to 10-11m looking for flatties and none found either. Apparently no one had seen any bass for a while in the local dive and fishing shops...!

Still a good week in the water and loved it. Back to my local neck of the woods in south Devon now!

 

[Etruscan]

Both coasts offer great fishing. All depends on the wind direction and strength. When the surfs up on the north coast go south, when the wind's in the east go north! It's only a short drive between the two.
Ask when you're here and we'll put you on the fish.

Thank you Scallywag.. I will PM you just before leaving !
How' s going the season !
It seems to me a little late, because of the bad weather...
Isn' t it ?
We have had the same problem in Med...

 

[scallywag]

Spent the week on the south coast, viz was fantastic In the bay, but only one silver fish seen (huge bass 8-10lb at a guess) just missed it and gutted. Down to 10-11m looking for flatties and none found either. Apparently no one had seen any bass for a while in the local dive and fishing shops...!

Still a good week in the water and loved it. Back to my local neck of the woods in south Devon now!

Went in on Tuesday at a local mark not renowned for great fishing but sheltered and easy access. In for no more than an hour and saw loads of small bass. Came home with a 2 1/2 lb fish for tea. I think that they are finally starting to show.

 

[fry]

Went in on Tuesday at a local mark not renowned for great fishing but sheltered and easy access. In for no more than an hour and saw loads of small bass. Came home with a 2 1/2 lb fish for tea. I think that they are finally starting to show.

I agree, where I am fishing the local chaps dont even bother with and a few decent bass are showing up - not just schoolies!

 

[SurfnSpear]

Its very late and seems to be missing a good few pieces of the seasonal marine jigsaw! I am still feeling cold and have had only mullet and pollock so far on the few Newquay dives I have made where I would usually be well into the bass by now.
Went for a south coast night dive till 1am last night and took a nice Frutti di mare home of crab, cuttlefish, plaice, flounder, a solitary bass, and notably a Topknot.
Saw the biggest pipefish I have ever seen too at least 40cm long.
Anyway time flew but nice out there.