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Dorset 2016
- Thread starter Almostafish
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 90 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
I find the tides east of Portland quite moderate (esp. compared to the Bristol channel) and usually fairly, small they also have a double frequency tide which makes high & low tide a little harder to predict - but because the difference is relatively small perhaps not such a concern as it might otherwise be. However, strong tidal currents are still common.
If you can, consider using the tide to help your dive, e.g. ride out on the ebb, fish the slack water and return on the flood (easier said than done of course!). Needs planning.
There are some active spearos around south Hampshire & Sussex and at least one club - you might want to try to hook up with some of those or the International Club in London. There are some very experienced spearos there and you could learn quickly from them.
If you can, consider using the tide to help your dive, e.g. ride out on the ebb, fish the slack water and return on the flood (easier said than done of course!). Needs planning.
There are some active spearos around south Hampshire & Sussex and at least one club - you might want to try to hook up with some of those or the International Club in London. There are some very experienced spearos there and you could learn quickly from them.
Anybody interested to join me this Thursday night? A month ago I bought new inflatable boat but it is too heavy to load it onto roof of car on my own. 20HP Mariner is heavy as well. Would not like the idea to pump yhe boat and deinflate it after every usage. I need some help!
I have taken a week off and will be camping on campsite near Wareham.
My mob.: 07783931183
I have taken a week off and will be camping on campsite near Wareham.
My mob.: 07783931183
Paul, for you own peace, might be better to ask folk to use this forum's private Conversation feature to contact you. Posting your mobile # on public forums is bad practice and we have seen at least one member being targeted by some unpleasant folk after doing that. It also encourages spammers.
Last Thursday night joined me Aleks and we went to Old Harry's Rocks and Studland Bay, Water was clear (up to 8m vis) nad warm - 19- 20 deg. Nothing taken home - only small fish seen.
Next night joined me Paul Mikhail and we went to Lulworth Cove with my boat. Sailed to Worbarrow Tout and Mupe Bay. Visibility under water up to 12m! Only temperature very low - 16deg. I got 6 flouders, one Sea Bass and 2 lobsters. Paul got one 5kg ray and 2 lobsters and his gun got broken. I missed very big Grey Mullet - never saw such a size before. Saw more flat fish but left them to grow bigger.
Saturday was my drinking day and night - my friends from London arrived.
On Sunday night I went to Swanage on my own (with hanfover) for short dive off the Bay. Water was very clear - up to 8m! Got some fish. Sorry for bad quality of the picture.
Next night joined me Paul Mikhail and we went to Lulworth Cove with my boat. Sailed to Worbarrow Tout and Mupe Bay. Visibility under water up to 12m! Only temperature very low - 16deg. I got 6 flouders, one Sea Bass and 2 lobsters. Paul got one 5kg ray and 2 lobsters and his gun got broken. I missed very big Grey Mullet - never saw such a size before. Saw more flat fish but left them to grow bigger.
Saturday was my drinking day and night - my friends from London arrived.
On Sunday night I went to Swanage on my own (with hanfover) for short dive off the Bay. Water was very clear - up to 8m! Got some fish. Sorry for bad quality of the picture.
Hi, new on here and to the sport. I've had a day or so's tuition down in Cornwall as well as a few days spearing out in Madagascar learning from a french bloke who spoke nearly as little English as i speak french so the tuition was a little bit limited. I've since kitted myself out and trying to get out spearing more often. After doing a bit of reading it looks like Dorset is probably going to be the best spearfishing within reasonable driving distance for me (I'm based in either west London or Oxford at the moment) I drove down to Ringstead Bay on Friday night after finishing a late shift and got a few hours sleep in the car before diving Saturday morning. The vis didn't seem too bad to me in my limited experience but I didn't really see much in the way of fish, just small pollack and the flash of a bass disappearing off as it had clearly seen me long before I saw it 
still enjoyed diving more the enough to make it worth the trip though. I figured it's probably my inexperience and lack of technique that may of scared anything away before i saw it, or is it typical for there to be times where there is little in the way of fish around?
I would appreciate being pointed in the direction of a few good spots for a newbie, i have read that around Portland is good but probably not best advised for diving alone and not knowing the tides/currents in the area?
It looks like I might be able to make it down again this weekend and was wondering if any one here wouldn't mind me tagging along and trying to learn a bit, if thinking about going out over the weekend as well?
Sorry for the lengthy first post
still enjoyed diving more the enough to make it worth the trip though. I figured it's probably my inexperience and lack of technique that may of scared anything away before i saw it, or is it typical for there to be times where there is little in the way of fish around? I would appreciate being pointed in the direction of a few good spots for a newbie, i have read that around Portland is good but probably not best advised for diving alone and not knowing the tides/currents in the area?
It looks like I might be able to make it down again this weekend and was wondering if any one here wouldn't mind me tagging along and trying to learn a bit, if thinking about going out over the weekend as well?
Sorry for the lengthy first post
Saturday evening went to the eastern purbecks. There was a bit more swell than I had hoped for, so instead of heading west against the swell and breeze from my entry point, I chose to go east, which was not my first choice. I was greeted by fair viz of around 4-7m. I have seen a good few bass on this spot before and wasn't disappointed. Had a few buzzing around, but nothing offering a good chance. The pollock were absent for some reason, which was a shame as I have a nice space in the freezer for a few fillets! There were some HUGE wrasse about too. Mackerel were abundant and so were baitfish. I took only 1 shot and came away with a modest bass. Really nice trip, even despite the swell.
Has anybody been around the purbecks or portland last couple of days? Any chance of viz late this week or the w/end.
Not 100% sure how this little blow will have changed things.
Not 100% sure how this little blow will have changed things.
Any one know how good viz in lurworth cove I'm thinking about tomorrow in the evening
thanks
anton
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
thanks
anton
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Short evening trip yesterday to purbeckshire. Viz was a surprising poor to middling at 2-4m, hoping for better. More swell than expected too. Lots of school bass around, some takers but was holding out for a larger one. Other than a few bass, it was quiet- the pollock were absent again. Only thing of note were two f****** seals, one on each mark we tried, and they would not give us any peace. Really hate them now! One went away two fish fatter. Nice to be in, but would like to see a few fish please.
Spearing in this part of the world is all about knowing the conditions, vis will be better and the current less with a smaller tide. The easiest time of the tide to fish will be high tide slack water, BBC weather do an accurate tide graph, rain and wind direction also play a major part, to keep it simple just remember that the water is heading in westwards and the faster its coming in the more sediment is stirred up. Look for a small tide, no rain recently and a gentle SW or W wind for a few days, it can clear up surprisingly quickly. Northerly winds mean flat sea generally but sediment is being washed in from the creeks and there are a lot of them and major ones along the south coast, the bottom of which is mainly mud! Good luck with it all, it just takes time to get used to the conditions and for me, an acceptance that vis near me is pretty rubbish!
edited to say that I am talking about the Solent! 
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After a lil bit of advice from those in the know. If I were to enter on the E side of Portland, what would be the safest time to do so regarding the current. I don't fancy a trip out through the race! Looking at a tidal stream atlas for the bill, it looks like 2 hrs before and up to 1.5 hrs after HW looks like a gentle push NE back along the side of the island, anything else the current appears to run SSW past the bill itself. Is this likely to be correct? Assuming perfect weather conditions and neap tides of course. Thanks in advance.
Buddy needed for this Thursday night. I'd like to go with my inflatable boat along the coast from Lulworth Cove to St. Albans Head, stopping at some very productive spots.
Anybody interested, please give me a shout. My mobile phone number is in the post of 19 July in this treat.
Anybody interested, please give me a shout. My mobile phone number is in the post of 19 July in this treat.
Are there any spots in Dorset that match the conditions I'm used to in Cornwall. That being bays where the tide and current aren't any consideration at all. I still prefer to dive in calm, shallow water no deeper than 5m, and not having to worry about being swept out to sea regardless of where the tides at. Lulworth Cove and Man'O War beach look like they might fit the bill? Cheers.
I'm afraid you won't find Cornish conditions here in Dorset, though we can get some decent viz. There just aren't the tight enclosed coves you may be looking for, but there are some prominent headlands that can protect from swell and tide to a degree. Swanage bay (keep away from peveril point if you don't like a current) and Portland harbour are probably the most sheltered and shallow places, but be prepared for some boat traffic.
On a flooding tide the beaches east of Portland experience minimal tidal currents, namely Osmington,Ringstead and Redcliff. The strongest currents I've experienced were close to anvil point near Swanage on an ebb tide and were running at a stiff walking pace.
Lulworth and man o war are actually quite small areas once you get down there and are normally stuffed with holiday makers, so wouldn't be a first choice.