Cornwall Spearfishing 2006

[dave]

I have speared Sennen, Porthcurno, Prussia Cove and many of the small bays in between (one illegally which was pointed out to us after we got out of the water!):rcard A real shame as some of the ground we covered was spectacular...I think it was called Porthgwarra? (spelling could be dodgy!

Spearfishing is not illegal at Porthgwarra (or indeed anywhere else on the Cornish coast) although many areas have pissy locals who will tell you it is. Lamorna Cove is privately owned and has a sign banning spearguns, but that only refers to the area above the high water mark

I dived on the North coast first thing this morning, flat calm, and almost no viz because of the plankton!

I agree that spiders are better eating than brown crab, just not very good if you are starving and need a lot of food NOW They are fantastic in a pasta sauce;
Fry up onions, garlic and a bit of chilli, stick in a couple of smallish spiders cut in half and fry around a bit more, good slug of white wine, carton of passata, simmer for about 10 minutes, serve with spaghetti

cheers
dave
www.spearo.co.uk

 

[stuckinsurrey]

I agree that spiders are better eating than brown crab, just not very good if you are starving and need a lot of food NOW They are fantastic in a pasta sauce;
Fry up onions, garlic and a bit of chilli, stick in a couple of smallish spiders cut in half and fry around a bit more, good slug of white wine, carton of passata, simmer for about 10 minutes, serve with spaghetti

I had a few spider crabs last year, and cooked them similar to this, really tasty. Hard work but well worth the effort!

 

[Soul Deep]

Sounds like a plan, simple but delicious... fresh french stick + Jersey butter, Balsamic Vineger and lots of red wine sitting in the sun.. I'm sold, bring on the weekend and spider crabs!!!

 

[Soul Deep]

I agree that spiders are better eating than brown crab, just not very good if you are starving and need a lot of food NOW They are fantastic in a pasta sauce;
Fry up onions, garlic and a bit of chilli, stick in a couple of smallish spiders cut in half and fry around a bit more, good slug of white wine, carton of passata, simmer for about 10 minutes, serve with spaghetti

cheers
dave
www.spearo.co.uk

Nice one, gonna add that to my recipe book :t cheers Dave...

 

[fatboyjim]

the Orca - Porka!
might have been a bit hasty with that post:duh
just asked the guy in the village about the Orca as i saw the dolphins last week but could'nt confrim seeing a Killer whale. He said it was last year not this year? hmm reckon it was probably that minkee whale. But there are orcas about when the basking sharks appear and people do see them , theres a theory that they follow the sharks and eat them check this link...

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hocking/conjan2.htm

still no bass, best meal so far this year cuttle fish stir fry - surprisingly good

 

[Soul Deep]

the Orca - Porka!
might have been a bit hasty with that post:duh
just asked the guy in the village about the Orca as i saw the dolphins last week but could'nt confrim seeing a Killer whale. He said it was last year not this year? hmm reckon it was probably that minkee whale. But there are orcas about when the basking sharks appear and people do see them , theres a theory that they follow the sharks and eat them check this link...

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hocking/conjan2.htm

still no bass, best meal so far this year cuttle fish stir fry - surprisingly good

Wow! Thanks for the info fatboyjim. Thats an education... I'm gonna have to try and validate that link but I have NEVER heard of Orcas eating basking sharks. Orcas are big but Basking sharks are bigger, second largest Fish in the sea! I can only assume that they are preying on the old ones that die and they then feed off them. Weird thoery though as its not like loads of basking sharks are dying off. On the plus side to the thoery Orcas are seriously intellegent creatures and are recorded to develop a vast range of hunting skills and practisies the world over. They have interesting social structures and it is possiable that one "group" has decided to prey on Basking sharks.

I think it may be more likely that due to global warming and more plankton the Orcas have clocked onto following the basking sharks to find better fish stocks, thus better seal supplies. Still stranger thories have proved true!

Anyway thanks again for that, and please post any other info you find regarding Orcas off our south coast!

 

[dave]

There was areport a few years ago of 2 orcas attacking a basking shark off Porthcurno, but I cant find any details just now
With increased sighting of orcas off the UK coast, I wonder how long before a group discover there are really easy meals to be had off beaches like Polzeath in the summer (and some of those tourists must have fat % approaching that of seals, perfect orca food )
cheers
dave
www.spearo.co.uk

 

[Pav]

I'll join in being on the Cornwall / Devon border. North coast has cleared up. Had my first Bass of the year (for me!) on Tuesday. Today I was a bit out of touch seeing 4 Bass which I estimate to have been 5lb , about a dozen Mullet (which I won't shoot, dirty !!) and a Garfish! A few tiny bass also. What was I doing to come back with an empty fish stringer?! LOADS of rain today and a swell due so guesse it'll be back to murky waters tomorrow.

 

[podge]

Hello all
Will be coming down to cornwall at the weekend with the family but hope to be able to get a quick session in anybody have any info on a spot that will be ok for a snorkel and as a beach for the kids? Will be based at kennack sands although have car, snorkel and speargun will travel. How about church cove anybody tried there if so any good?
also not to sure about the weather and the wind for this weekend any info would be much appreciated.

 

[Huw]

I wonder how long before a group discover there are really easy meals to be had off beaches like Polzeath in the summer (and some of those tourists must have fat % approaching that of seals, perfect orca food )

rofl your right, we could do witha big reduction of tourists from polzeath!

Went in for my first session of the year last weekend ( in Fowey if any one is familiar with it) saw a huge ballan wrasse, which proceeded to follow me for the entire duration of my dive . No bass around unfortunatly. Saw a few pollack, but in the end i decided that i would leave them to grow for the summer . Does anyone else ever visit fowey? I have got the boat in the water now so i shall be heading round to the quieter bays soon in search of a monster bass lol:martial .

Huw

 

[Doc]

Hello all
Will be coming down to cornwall at the weekend with the family but hope to be able to get a quick session in anybody have any info on a spot that will be ok for a snorkel and as a beach for the kids? Will be based at kennack sands although have car, snorkel and speargun will travel. How about church cove anybody tried there if so any good?
also not to sure about the weather and the wind for this weekend any info would be much appreciated.

Kennack itself is a likely spot with the rocks on the right and some deep gullys. Went in the at easter but a bit cold and quiet then. should have hotted up now.
Has anyone fished the manacles??

 

[podge]

thanks Doc i'll have a go and if the weather gods permit we'll be BBQing on the beach.

 

[rab]

Have only dived Kennack once last year, saw a few good bass on the reefs but managed to miss them all!
Vis in Mounts bay is down to nothing at the moment and there is plenty of surf so east side of the lizard will probably be your best bet.

 

[podge]

Thanks for the info rab, maybe i'll take the surfboard along just in case.

 

[Doc]

http://www.divingcornwall.com/
try this site and check the shore dives list. only been to mullion and kennack so far and some unpronouncable spot in north cornwall.

 

[podge]

once again thanks Doc, just the job now its all down to the weather??

 

[podge]

When in at Kennack yesterday and had a good look around the spit of rocks in the middle of the beach saw a couple of bass but they were out of reach and the biggest whasse I’ve ever seen.
As I’ve already said I can only snorkel but the vis was good although the water still seemed a but cold, didn’t see a single spider crab in or around the weed thought there would have a been a few there?
Once again thanks Doc and rab for the posts.
And with the tourist massing don’t forget to
Maintain your sense of humor…:head

 

[stuckinsurrey]

Hi everybody,
No spearfishing this weekend but did manage a snorkel through the masses at Porthcurno and a bit of a surf at Sennen. Visiblility was really good (especially Porthcurno) all weekend, despite the strong winds. Not alot to see except loads of sandeels and a few small pollock. Will be taking the gun along this weekend so will be hoping for the same visibility coupled with a lot more fish! Will have to find somewhere away from the crowds, always feel a bit suspicious strolling down the beach with a speargun!
Jim

 

[fatboyjim]

"the Manacles"

theres good fishing to be had on the manacles but the local fishermen are really anti spearos to the point where some of them will actually run over you in the boats on purpose! seen it happen. A few years ago some non local spearos really took the p!ss and were filling the boat and selling bass at 2 pound a pound to local resturants. Caused a right scene it did, fisheries pretty much boarded my little 3metre zodiac one day! quite funny

a few boats work the reef trawling lines with redgill eels if you give them a wide berth and stay up on the reef you'll be alright. Maybe just the odd visit and dont take too many and all should be well. You can swim it from porthoustock we used to all the time but be aware of tides - low water out there is approx 2 hours after low on the beach but its never exact. Avoid spring tides. I'd say unless you really like long surface swims it a boat dive really you can launch at porthoustock for small boats or 4x4s or otherwise go round to the dive centre at polkeris and they'll launch you for a fiver or something.

 

[rab]

Finally got back in the water yesterday, tried a spot with loads of shallow string weed for the first time this year. Water looked great from the beach but poor vis (2m max) once I stuck my head under!!! And it was freezing, the storms seem to have lowered the water temp some how and even in the glorious sunshine I felt cold for the whole dive.

On the swim over towards the reef my buddy spotted 8 or so large mullet in a channel in the rock and managed a great shot on one through the top of the head!! 20 Minutes later an I still hadn’t seen a fish was getting cold and frustrated! Glanced down at the rocks as I was sneaking through the string weed and their was a huge Mullet only 2 foot beneath me, Unfortunately I had my Comanche 90 and the fish was far to close !!

About 5 minutes later I moved over some weed and spotted a nice bass facing away from me again in about 2 ft of water, lined him up and let fly, spear hit the fish behind the pectoral fin before the end cleared the barrel!!! Very nice 2 ½ pounder for dinner:t !! Saw one other mullet before I headed back to the beach Cold! The vis was poor for the whole trip with the tip of the spear disappearing a couple of times! May have a look at a more open site tonight.