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Cornwall 2013

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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First session of 2013 today! got in after work at about 6.30 at castle beach falmouth. Vis looked glorious from the road but in reality was murky 3-4m - still better than a kick in the teeth!
frightfully cold still, only managed 40 minutes in full 5mm suit and 3mm gloves and booties.
Saw a decent 12inch-ish flounder about a minute after heading off the beach and soon had dinner on the spear. Shortly after this I watched with annoyance as dinner swam off the spear and away into the gloom. Bugg*r!
lesson learned - do not pick up the spear when shooting flatties, push the spear through into the sand.
I hope the fish isn't suffering, I've heard they're pretty hardy but can't help feeling a bit guilty :S
 
Got in for a dive this morning in Falmouth bay.
Looking at the flat calm sea and feeling the warm sun on your face, one could be excused for thinking that a foray into the drink would not be unproductive! Well in typical British fashion I suited up and gracefully fell into the cold sea (doing the put-your-fins-on dance) with a stiff upper lip, hopeful and half-expectant of seeing some silvers. I must have seen at least ten different species.... of jellyfish - which stoked the fires of good old British Disappointment some more. There were however lots of tiny sandeels, normal sized sandeels, large launce, and more even larger launce - so many of such great size that if you cared to shake a stick at them, the stick would run away scared. They must have been 18 inches long, and most certainly not garfish! I urinated. Now, usually when you can see the seabed from dry land it is a sign that you're looking at a dry beach over low tide or at a postcard. Well, the visibility reassured me that I hadn't in fact become confused and this really was the spearfisherman's dream. At least in the UK. In May. At the weekend.
I digress.
Progress was rather slow, searching out large Pollock for a fish pie proved to be easy enough but their ability to stay beyond range of a 75cm gun was uncanny. Undoubtedly their ability to stay beyond the range of a 110cm gun would be equally uncanny. Perhaps its better to convince oneself that the solution cannot be solved by dousing the problem in money and buying a bigger gun, but instead just to accept ineptitude and concentrate on bettering breath-holds and cunning.
After 40 minutes the cold (which actually onset within the first 6 seconds) was becoming unbearable so I returned to the shallows for some flattie bashing. The term bashing should be taken with a pinch of salt.
The particular spot where they are seen here tends to be in 1 gully about 20m from the shore, 2-4hrs after high tide in about 1.5 - 2m of water. It is necessary to hunt them drifting downtide, and with the sun in front of you so as not to spook them with clumsy shadows. Interestingly, every flattie I have seen here has been found facing downtide which makes the hunting tactic particularly easy. Has anyone else noted this?
The result was one fat flounder, possibly 14" inches or so in length. I'll take a picture and upload later.
It would be nice to know where to bag a plaice down here, as surely this season will be good for them with the water staying cold this early.

 
Reactions: Broseidon and tribs
Third post in the row, and saved the best until last

Had the enormous pleasure of swimming with a basking shark today at Sennen, spotted the graceful giant from the clifftop and pegged it to the car park and into the wetsuit!

Will sort out some footage tomorrow, here's a cheeky still

 
Reactions: winky
Anyone found viz on the south coast?
Got in at first light on Sunday morning. Waited on the beach for the sun to hit the water, conditions were perfect, high water and flat calm. Shuffled into the water to be greeted by the worst algae bloom ever. 0-1m tops. Spent the next hour stumbling around swimming into rocks.
May need to give the north coast a go.
 

Apart from the bloom, they are the best way to start the day. I often get to my local rocks under cover of darkness having driven to the mark suited from home and sit, dabbling my feet in the water ready to be able to drop in as soon as I can see! Magic that costs nothing. More fish then usually too!

Tribs

Finished being mushy

Out
 
If you do please let us know what the vis is like. The bloom was awful on Sunday.
 
Right guys and girls, here's how it went........

Gloomy, green, just about see the tip of my spear, murky soup!!

Conditions outside of the water were not bad at all, bit of a breeze with slightly cloudy but blue skies. In the water; completely different!

A very heavy algae bloom in the water off of Roseland today. I swam out to about a depth of 20-25 feet to see if it would clear but that was wishful thinking. In the shallower areas (10-15 feet) that I dived in today there was plenty of smaller pollock (6-10 inches) but nothing more except a rather large bull seal which made it his business to pass me quite a few times, I don't think he was too happy about me being there but I'm no expert so I didn't hang about (general rule for me in the water is that if its bigger than my spear gun let it do its thing unless its one of those big mouthed things we all love)

Not really disappointed, I rarely am but roll on warmer (or colder) seas! Anyone else been out today?
 
Calling any Newquay spearo's. I'm going for a day on the beach at Holywell bay with the mini rugby team I coach, Its going to be a bit of a family day, BBQ etc. I would like to arrive a couple of hours early and have a quick dip. Is it worth having a go? Any suggestions? left side/right side, dangerous currents? Has the bloom hit that area? Any info greatfully recieved.
Thanks in advance.
 
Anyone who is interested, checked out falmouth bay after work and there looked to be a terrible blooom underway
 
Back down in a few weeks for two weeks working in truro again if anyone can meet up.may be staying in Newquay this time . Let you know nearer the time ta Ian.
 
Down week on Monday bringing gear again hope to get in Eve's ta
 
Should be prime time by then and hopefully the bloom will have cleared. Fingers crossed.
 
Has anyone been in the last 24 hours? Really want to get in later in today!

Perfect day for it...........
 
Vis is looking ok in the Falmouth Bay Area from outside the water, probably a different story inside but sod it, I'm heading out later for an early evening dive!
 
Got in the water the other day to find something tugging on my fin without noticing it, Upon looking it was a seal who did not looked best pleased to see me, This was my 1st encouter with a seal and probs over-react a little more than i should have to say the least. As i headed Back in it followed me almost the whole way back to the beach a good 15minute swim, Has anyone else had any encounters like this? and any advice? Should i have just continued what i was doing or Just stay well clear?
 
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