Cornwall Spearfishing 2006

[dave]

I REALLY REALLY wouldn't recommend swimming to the Manacles from the shore unless you are super fit and know exactly what the tide does at various times (at some parts
of the ebb it runs straight offshore)
Porthoustock can be a bit dodgy from the "tyre slashing while you are away" point of view by the aformentioned locals
The local fishermen tend to run crying to Cornwall Sea Fisheries if they so much as see a spearo on "their" reef, and normally lie about the quantity of fish they have seen taken . One report a couple of years back claimed a grey RIB had taken a huge catch(I think 100 fish was the story). I was the only boat out there that day apart from one fisherman who spent all morning shouting abuse and trying to run us over. We had 4 bass between 2 divers.............
cheers
dave
www.spearo.co.uk

 

[Huw]

Went in at Polridmouth bay (between fowey and the gribben head) yesterday.

Vis was amazing and water was noticably warmer than last month. Saw one shoal of nice bass (2.5 - 3.5lbs) but stayed just out of range; i thought they were about to head out so i fired but managed to miss :head :duh , they hungaround for a while and whilst i was frantically trying to reload they came within about 2ft from me, but then were off when i was locked and loaded (the way of the world)! My buddy follwed a couple of mullet but as we were after bass he decided not to take them, he reckons that they were around 3lbs. Quite a few pollack around aswell but once again decided to leave them, we are heading out again tomorrow so i think we may try for some then!

Saw around 12 spider crabs on the whole dive so we took a few as we headed back to the boat. Ate them last night... lovely!

Anyone else speared around Fowey before? I used to snorkle around Gyllingvase (not sure if that spelling is correct) in Famouth a few years ago before i started spearing so i may take a trip over there in a few weeks. Is anyone familiar on that area?


Huw

 

[Pav]

Got down to cornwall this weekend. It really is a nice change to dive in such good viz,.. although I find myself trying to find the cloudiest water to get closer to the bass.

Had a Bass of 5lb. There were two together, the bigger one being behind the other. It was lined up for a shot through both fish! , but didn't want to miss the larger one of the two so I waited to get a clean shot. Has anyone tried 2 bass in 1 hit?

Also took a 2lb Bream. I'm told they are good eating?

Saw loads of big mullet but I wouldn't eat them so they are safe from me!

 

[Jez]

Hi Pav, would love to see a picture if you have one. Never tried for the double but I did score 2 mullet in one shot last summer by accident, side on obviously. I have shot a bass head on before. The spear emerged exactly through the fork of the tail. It was sod to get it off the spear!

 

[Huw]

Jez...

I also shot a bass head on last year and had to go back aboard my boat in order to get it off the spear!

Also Pav, where abouts in Cornwall did you spear? Nice catch by the sounds of it, well done! How deep were you for the bream? I still havent seen any my way this year . A few years back now when i used to snorkle we used to be surrounded by shoals of big red bream, but now that the speargun comes with me, i just never see any!!!

Huw

 

[Pav]

Huw,
South Coast. Loads of good spots East and West of Penzance. Suprised to see a NO SPEARFISHING SIGN at Lamorna Bay.

Bream was in shallow water (1 - 2m) which suprised me. Shoals of about 10. This was the biggest of them. I'll try and sort out a photo Jez, if my parents can work out how to email them to me! I think the Bream is Ray Bream.

 

[Andrew@Rockface]

I used to snorkle around Gyllingvase (not sure if that spelling is correct) in Famouth a few years ago before i started spearing so i may take a trip over there in a few weeks. Is anyone familiar on that area?

I dive around Castle which is just to the left of Gyllyngvase. More rocks, more fish. Wouldn't advise shooting at Gyllyngvase due to the large amount of swimmers etc - Castle's much better. Though I don't hunt (maybe next year) myself I'd be happy to buddy up if you visit.

 

[fatboyjim]

We had an amazing dive on saturday at an offshore spots in lizard area. One of those amazing mornings with no wind at all and blazing sun...perfect!

Took the boat out and did a few dives for bass but initially nothing about, but we could see what we thought were mullet shoaling on the surface which is quite a common sight out there.

We swam over quietly to the shoal hoping there might be the odd bass in there and were amazed to see it was all decent bass hundreds of them. Really cool sight. Pretty easy to shoot so resisted being greedy, looked like they were feeding on fry - looked like really young sand eels? We spoted a few more shoals by watching the surface and the seaguls and took turns dropping each other into the shoals took half a dozen 4-5lb fish between us so nice start for our late season.

Had a real blue planet feel especially when we saw a big shark breach and skitter across the surface after something. Think it was just a basking shark we were not really close enough to get a good look. Only about 10 -12 ft long but good seeing one acting a bit shark like for a change instead of doing the normal floating about thing

anyone get much on the north coast?

 

[Huw]

fatboyjim,

Sounds like a great dive, havent seen any basking sharks myself ths year though. How far out were you?

Also Pav it would be great to see some pictures of your catch

Huw

 

[Jez]

Sounds really amazing Jim, I think Cornwall sounds ace. Soon as I can dive again I fancy a trip down

Did you see the shark from the boat or were you in the water?

 

[samdive]

Was also down in Cornwall at the weekend and some of my mates saw a load of basking sharks

Did anyone get a photo?

I missed out again... as usual!

 

[fatboyjim]

hey sam! did'nt know you were about you should have got in touch

 

[Loveboater]

Anyone had any experience of spearing in the Scilly Isles?
I'm thinking about going out in a few weeks. I know some guys that have gone on angling trips there and they have all had pretty good hauls fishing from the rocks.
Going to be staying on St Marys. Can anyone suggest any spots that are worth look?

 

[dave]

I visit the Scillies fairly regularly, and no longer bother taking a speargun. The scenic diving is fantastic, but I have never seen a bass there! Lots of mullet, and some big pollack on some of the deeper drop offs
cheers
dave
www.spearo.co.uk

 

[Huw]

I have visited the Scillies many times, but have never speared over there. Any more information that anyone has to offer would be great. I am sure that i have heard that it is great for flatties... anyone follow this up

cheers,

Huw

 

[dave]

like a lot of places, the Scillies used to be good for flatties, but these days they are few and far between!
cheers
dave
www.spearo.co.uk

 

[Greenheart]

Off camping at Par Sands in a couple of weeks. Can't afford anywhere exotic this year due to the daughters uni fees!!! Has anyone done any spearfishing in this area. Hoping to try it for the first time. Spearfishing that is!!!! Seen loads of Bass, Pollack & Mullet on previous snorkeling trips & thought it was about time I got one for lunch!!! :t

 

[Mr. X]

Off camping at Par Sands in a couple of weeks...

Is that Praa Sands? I am just planning a trip down late Summer. I like cottages but for some reason "the team" want to try a caravan ... anyway it turns out that caravans are often located with access to out of the way beaches (due to lack of planning laws for mobile homes perhaps?).

I was looking at several places around the Lizard/Helston/Penzance/St. Ives/Hayle area; Lizard being the main draw for this trip. Wondered if anyone had any recommendations for spearing, snorkelling & kayaking spots, caravan sites (/cottages/etc.)?

This area is all new to me, my past experience in Cornwall has mainly been on the N. coast, W. Penwith & one trip to Liskeard & the coast south of there.

Some areas that caught my eye so far: Praa Sands, Kennack Sands, Kenneggy Sands, Cadgwith, Poltesco, Polbream Cove, Polpeor Cove, Bass Point(...always suspicious about places with such names tho!). The whole of the Lizard looks pretty interesting to me .

 

[Greenheart]

No definately Par Sands, St Austell bay. Went camping on the lizard a few years back. Very nice area. Did'nt get a chance to do any snorkeling there though, but recon it should be a cracking venue. Saw a few seals & basking sharks from the cliffs. Check out the Pasty shop in Lizard village. It was set up by some woman in the garage on the side of her house. Her pasties are out of this world & were featured on one of Rick Steins Food hero programmes.

 

[Andrew@Rockface]

Check out the Pasty shop in Lizard village. It was set up by some woman in the garage on the side of her house. Her pasties are out of this world & were featured on one of Rick Steins Food hero programmes.

You're right there. The best I've eaten, and I've eaten rather a lot