• Welcome to the DeeperBlue.com Forums, the largest online community dedicated to Freediving, Scuba Diving and Spearfishing. To gain full access to the DeeperBlue.com Forums you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:

    • Join over 47,943+ fellow diving enthusiasts from around the world on this forum
    • Participate in and browse from over 531,990+ posts.
    • Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
    • Post your own photos or view from 7,455+ user submitted images.
    • All this and much more...

    You can gain access to all this absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today!

Dorset Spear Fishing 2010

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.
Hello folks,

I'm new to this forum so hello to all ye salts. I've just brought some spearfishing kit and am keen to get started any maybe even fed. I'm casting out a hook to buddy up at least for first few sessions. Don't worry I won't drown and I'll try to make sure you don't!

I'm quite keen to go in at Ringstead so will probably go there for first few dips. If you want buddy up email me and I'll let you know when I plan to go out. Likewise if your heading out somewhere west of lulworth cove and want a buddy send me an email.

Hello The Big Blue and welcome to Deeper Blue.:)
Ringstead is a great spot to spear with plenty of good ground to cover and it’s not too deep so a good spot to hone your skills, just be aware of the jet skiers and odd bit of boat traffic that tend to belt it around the area:blackeye, just make sure you have your float and you should be fine.
As Highlander has said the Wessex spearo club are out and about most weeks and are a fine bunch of chaps, just wish that I lived closer so I could join in with the odd dive.
Have fun and we look forward to your catch reports.
Paul.
 
Welcome Big Blue.

If you are interested there is a club dive, normally on Tuesday evenings. Try looking for the "Wessex Spearfishing Club 2010", nothing formal, just a group of us getting out for a fish in some of the local spots. The dive is off tonight, but some of the guys may fancy getting out anyway.

I am not sure if Ringstead will be good, because of the south westerley(plus its about a fiver to park), maybe Durleston(Swanage) or Newtons Cove(weymouth) maybe ok. Also it is always a good idea to dive with somebody as well just until you are comfortable with what you are doing.

I am not out tonight because of an ear infection, but I normally like to get out on a Tuesday evening.

Thanks for info. I'll be sure to come out on one of those tuesdays soon.
 
Congers are nocturnal & only very rarely appear in the daylight preferring to hide in dark holes during the day.
Ling are primarily a deep water fish often found on wrecks offshore reefs.
You dont say how big this creature was or what colour etc?
 
Foxfish, about 3 foot long and grey with a flat-tail end. As I said im 99.9% sure it was a conger but was surprised to see it in the open and in such shallow water. It was swimming behind some wrasse so im guessing that was his dinner!!
 
Foxfish, about 3 foot long and grey with a flat-tail end. As I said im 99.9% sure it was a conger but was surprised to see it in the open and in such shallow water. It was swimming behind some wrasse so im guessing that was his dinner!!

I once caught a bearded rockling in Roscoff port whilst waiting for the ferry. It was nearly 2 ft long and had a varacious appetite. It took a pouting livebait on the bottom. Maybe you saw a British record LOL.

It could have been a young ling as they do come inshore. i've caught them on old coal barge wrecks less than a mile from shore, up to 5lb in depths that I know boys on here can reach.

Common sense says its a strap out on a jolly! Crazywind 009 has seen and shot congers in the daylight and even more strangely he bloody ATE them:confused:

Again only my 2p worth.

Tribs

out
 
Hi all,

I thought I drop a line to say hi as I'm new to this sport. I live near Poole and have been shore plugging around Purbeck for some time now. Having some experience of diving locally, I have decided to give spearfishing a go.

I had my first dip on Tuesday at Durlseton and hope to be able to meet up with the Wessex spearos.

I thought that I would give Worbarrow, Durleston and Winspit a go to start with.

Can anyone please advise me on general principles for what tides/wind conditions to consider for these sites and whether there are any other sites nearby that are worth trying.

Finally, Is it worth trying Poole Bay at all - I'm just not sure if you ever get decent vis there?

Thanks in advance,

Phil V
 
Hi all,
I thought that I would give Worbarrow, Durleston and Winspit a go to start with.

Can anyone please advise me on general principles for what tides/wind conditions to consider for these sites and whether there are any other sites nearby that are worth trying.

Finally, Is it worth trying Poole Bay at all - I'm just not sure if you ever get decent vis there?

Thanks in advance,

Phil V

Hi Phil,

I am new myself to this, but the gist will be no southerly winds, basically looking for any northerlies, if you have that then you can go most places on the south coast. If we do have some south westerlies, then Durleston, Newtons Cove or Sandsfoot over near Weymouth. I also believe that a rising tide will be good. This is what I have worked out from the gerneral opinion on the forum.

I haven't done Worbarrow, although have seen it, but not sure how to get out there, maybe need a yak. I don't know much about Winspit, although I hae been looking on the sat map for potential places & did see it. There is always Lulworth & Ringstead as well.

I also like the look of Chapmans Pool a bit further West of Winspit, maybe Seacombe Cliff area; looks like I would have to employ my map reading skills to get down to these areas, but if there is a way down & it is mapped, I will find it.

Maybe some of the other guys would care to offer some info.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Highlander,

If you haven't been to Worbarrow before it is a must see. You need to drive down towards kimmeridge and turn off at the top of the hill. The road is closed at times due to the Army Ranges but weekends and main holiday periods it is open (from dawn to dusk). It is a 20 min walk to the bay from the car park at Tyneham Village.

I did see some guys down last year with their Yaks, but they weren't much looking forward to the walk back! Kimmeridge is much easier.

Phil V
 
I'm impressed,ordered a pair of carbon blades (:inlove)less than a week ago from fins4u and I received it today just have finished to pair them with my omer footpocket and I'm looking forward to try them on Sunday as i'm going to Isle of Wight so it will be a special Christening. Any reccomendation on the Isle of Wight guys? It's the first time for me and I would like to give it a go. Cheers Toni.:friday
 
Both Winspit and Seacombe are excellent, but might be a bit deep/daunting for someone just entering the sport.

It's a long walk down to these places with your gear (check an OS map).

Best way to do it, I've found, is to drift dive from Winspit to Seacombe, or vice versa, depending on which way the tide is flowing, and then walk back again along the cliffs. You can check the direction of the tide from the cliffs above both spots - make sure you get it right though, as there are no exit points (if memory serves) if you start going the wrong way.

It's quite a long drift dive for someone just starting out and, again, between the two spots there are no exit points.

Definately best to do it with a buddy the first time, if only for reassurance, as once you start the drift you are pretty much comitted to it (unless you want a strenuous swim back again - all tide strength dependant, of course).


Good luck, it can certainly be worth the walk if it goes well.




Hi Phil,

I am new myself to this, but the gist will be no southerly winds, basically looking for any northerlies, if you have that then you can go most places on the south coast. If we do have some south westerlies, then Durleston, Newtons Cove or Sandsfoot over near Weymouth. I also believe that a rising tide will be good. This is what I have worked out from the gerneral opinion on the forum.

I haven't done Worbarrow, although have seen it, but not sure how to get out there, maybe need a yak. I don't know much about Winspit, although I hae been looking on the sat map for potential places & did see it. There is always Lulworth & Ringstead as well.

I also like the look of Chapmans Pool a bit further West of Winspit, maybe Seacombe Cliff area; looks like I would have to employ my map reading skills to get down to these areas, but if there is a way down & it is mapped, I will find it.

Maybe some of the other guys would care to offer some info.
 
Both Winspit and Seacombe are excellent, but might be a bit deep/daunting for someone just entering the sport.

It's a long walk down to these places with your gear (check an OS map).

Best way to do it, I've found, is to drift dive from Winspit to Seacombe, or vice versa, depending on which way the tide is flowing, and then walk back again along the cliffs. You can check the direction of the tide from the cliffs above both spots - make sure you get it right though, as there are no exit points (if memory serves) if you start going the wrong way.

It's quite a long drift dive for someone just starting out and, again, between the two spots there are no exit points.

Definately best to do it with a buddy the first time, if only for reassurance, as once you start the drift you are pretty much comitted to it (unless you want a strenuous swim back again - all tide strength dependant, of course).


Good luck, it can certainly be worth the walk if it goes well.

Cheers for the info Gaz, I'll bear all that in mind if I give it a go, I am probably still in the mind set of needing reassurance for ceratin types of dives.
 
Toni, when and if you find some spots in the IOW (if you dont mind) let me know cos id love a bash over there!

Happy Hunting
Hi Chris,I had a positive experience in the IOW.Went in Ventnor the south east and did 1 hour in the murky water the vis was about 3 metres at max. On top of the water no currents at all but on the bottom it was difficult to stay still and I had always to grab some rocks or weed to do some aspetto which is my favourite. Anyway I loved it I had 2 bass both around 4lb I saw few small mullets that I left to grow and a huge bass maybe 7/8lb that appear to my right hand side without giving me the time to turn my gun, That's all happened in about the first 20 minutes after that nothing else. Forgot to say that when I first jump into the water a 2/3lb bass came to say hallo to me and it was underneath the boat before I load the gun.:fridayCheers.
 
DeeperBlue.com - The Worlds Largest Community Dedicated To Freediving, Scuba Diving and Spearfishing

ABOUT US

ISSN 1469-865X | Copyright © 1996 - 2026 DeeperBlue Global Media Limited.

DeeperBlue.com is an independent digital media platform dedicated to Scuba Diving, Freediving, Ocean Advocacy, and Dive Travel.

Since 1996, we’ve been informing, educating, and inspiring the global diving community through trusted news, features, and shared community experience.

ADVERT