Dorset Spear Fishing 2011

[speerolee]

Hello. Today morning I was spearfishing in Swanage. Vis was different.. 2-8 mt... depends where I was fishing... I cought extremely huge sole (for me). It had 57 cm. Unfortunatly I couldn't check the weight but I think it was about 2,5 kg.

Well done on the big sole mate; they're all coming out now!! armed with my digital scales and camera every trip now.

Managed a sesh over the bank hols. Some very good fish seen, mullet and bass to 6lb and loads of smaller shcooliles. For some reason my aiming skills where way way off; I missed 2 big solo mullet and a really nice bass; I dove down to look at some starfish in a hole in the reef, looked above me at the end of my breath hold and was met by about 6 big bass; biggest was 6-7, so singled him out (managed to find some magic oxygen reserves) I floated up near him and at about 5ft away took an aimed shot and completly missed :head. Same story for the big mullet, got close and missed. Funny thing was that I got these 2 smaller ones from a distance!
View attachment 32458

The jumbo mullet always seem to evade my spear! this year I have seen some huge ones, even into double figures; just can't seem to hit em.

Lee

 

[misterlizard]

Anybody fancy a dive around Portland area tonight about 6ish? Would also be well up for staying in after sunset if anybody's got a torch and would like to join me?

 

[misterlizard]

I floated up near him and at about 5ft away took an aimed shot and completely missed :head.

Sounds like a great session Lee. I have had the same thing with missing fish recently and I reckon it's to do with over-aiming. I never aim, I just point and shoot and I almost never miss. However, last couple of sessions I've tried aiming by looking down the spear and I've missed loads of times. So I'm going back to the point-and-shoot jedi method

 

[spearo nobby]

hi guys, does anyone know of any 6-10hp outboard engines for sale? 2stroke. i have a 4hp but i am looking for a bigger engine to go on my inflatable tender. i have used a 10hp on it b4 and it went great. the only problem was it was a 4stroke so much to heavy.

 

[apneaboy]

http://forums.deeperblue.com/spearo-board/92301-any-uk-spearo-underwater-attacks.html#post859050

Rip into this guy for me, who was it down South have a boat drive straight between the cheeks of his a***? Get him to post the pics above

 

[Trelawney]

It was my mate Pete who was hit by the boat. He is just getting back into spearfishing now. I'll see if he has a pic to put up again.

 

[BarnacleBoy]

Going on my first real mission tomorrow morning at Man-of-War (Warbarrow is closed so will probably try that on Saturday). Seriously looking forward to it!

If anyone's fishing these spots, come and say hello - I'll be the person with bright yellow fins, tangled in my floatline I'm keen to meet some DB members.

UPDATE: First mission complete. Dinner tonight....Spaghetti Bolognese Warbarrow tomorrow...if anyone has any pointers, pm me. I think I'm going to need all the help I can get!

 

[speerolee]

Next dive for me will be off E portland from sunday am through to a possible night dive.

PM me if you fancy joining me.

Lee

 

[Dan_r]

Going on my first real mission tomorrow morning at Man-of-War (Warbarrow is closed so will probably try that on Saturday). Seriously looking forward to it!

If anyone's fishing these spots, come and say hello - I'll be the person with bright yellow fins, tangled in my floatline I'm keen to meet some DB members.

UPDATE: First mission complete. Dinner tonight....Spaghetti Bolognese Warbarrow tomorrow...if anyone has any pointers, pm me. I think I'm going to need all the help I can get!

I dont think you can get down to Worbarrow at the moment, or at least you couldnt on monday. I wanted to get round to a mark from kimmeridge and you werent able to and the sign said warbarrow was shut.

 

[misterlizard]

Next dive for me will be off E portland from sunday am through to a possible night dive.

PM me if you fancy joining me.

Lee

Inspired by the other night then? I wish I could join you but I've got a lot to do at home on Sunday. Another time though I'd definitely be up for another go.

I've just got back from a quick sunset session at my local spot, but the viz was terrible. I saw one shoal of reasonable bass and pointed, pulled the trigger,... and the bloody safety catch was on :vangry:vangry:vangry AAAARRRGGGH! I never usually use the safety catch, but I put it on the other night and had forgotten to switch it off again. Grrr.

 

[BarnacleBoy]

I dont think you can get down to Worbarrow at the moment, or at least you couldnt on monday. I wanted to get round to a mark from kimmeridge and you werent able to and the sign said warbarrow was shut.

Oh, according to the timetable it's open. Do you have more info? The holiday period (29th was last day I think) is over, so mon-fri is off limits (military range) but it should still be open at weekends...unless something has changed? I'm really hoping to have a go there. I'm keen to get a fish (my first ever) before I have to head back to Sussex. If it is open, are you thinking of heading down there?

Edit: Just check timetable and the monday (29th) should have been open?!?! It says that it's open every weekend apart from a few dates (not including this weekend)...so I'll cross my fingers and head down there in the morning and if it's closed try somewhere else...

 

[Dan_r]

Oh, according to the timetable it's open. Do you have more info? The holiday period (29th was last day I think) is over, so mon-fri is off limits (military range) but it should still be open at weekends...unless something has changed? I'm really hoping to have a go there. I'm keen to get a fish (my first ever) before I have to head back to Sussex. If it is open, are you thinking of heading down there?

oh right i didnt realise that, it should be ok then if its says so. Iv not ever been down to worbarrow. I keept meaning to and i did get as far as the car park once which was crammed with cars so i headed down the a quieter mark

 

[Poolewanderer]

Tried Kimmeridge today but the vis was awful could just about see my hands in some places. Looked at Durlestone also which looked really murky. Saw a couple of guys spearing in Swanage who also said the vis was terrible.

Warbarrow should be open tomorrow according to this link Lulworth Range Walks and Tyneham Village opening times 2011 - dorsetforyou.com.

 

[BarnacleBoy]

Yeah, Man-of-War was pretty milky and had loads of floating debris. Vis from 2-4 meters.

 

[speerolee]

Can anyone point me in the right direction for squid or cuttlefish this time of year. Day or night.

Had one cuttle last month from sandsfoot; tasted great, also seen some baby squid at night off portland. Really want to get into some of those 2ft beasts!!

Yet to spear/gather (but want) list:

Squid, lobster, any bream, gurnard (any), mackerel, turbot, cod, whiting, TUNA!!!

Main targets for this year: double figure bass and mullet.

Anyone else have targets for this year?

Lee

 

[spearo nobby]

got in at chesil cove last night, saw good size pollock and mullett but didn't bother with them as really wanting a bass for dinner with not much luck. also saw hundreds of mackrell then all of a sudden shooting right past me some swimming into my gun. at the bottom at about 10m i was getting excited to see wot had spooked them. seeing 5 big shaddows comming my way i was thinking i was on for some good dinner . staying very still with gun ready to fire the 5 shaddows was now in firing range of my 110 i waited for a bit to get a decent shot and so glad i did! it was 5 sea salmon/trout. very big and very fast. i know they are a no go area so just sat at the bottom and watched. verry pretty fish!! shame as they was a good 5-6lb each! did see a bass but was small so left him to grow. no fish shot but happy to see the salmon/trout for the first time

 

[BarnacleBoy]

Did Worbarrow today, Vis 3-6m, slightly milky and lots debris (like Man-of-War) but definitely do-able. Dinner tonight? Roast Chicken :head

Can I ask a few questions to improve my chances of seeing/shooting some fish in the Dorset area.

1. How important are tides? Do you tend to go spearing on a rising tide only?
2. Where do you first spot fish, is it from the surface (and you go and greet them) or are you diving down the whole time to find them (excuse me if this is a daft question!)?
3. How deep on average are you when you shoot round fish?
4. From the youtube videos it appears these big bass etc are in the open water...is this the norm or do you generally find them underneath kelp/rocky ledges?
5. On an average trip, do you see fish you could shoot (ie edible and MLS) or is it 1 in say 3 trips? I have no idea what my expectation should be.

Cheers

David

 

[foxfish]

You need to have some sort of plan... fish are in certain areas at certain times & that can take up a life time of trying to find out where!!
Anyway you can start your own hunt by fishing low tide over sand for flatfish & slack tide in the sting weed for bass.
If the water is very clear you can spot flatfish from the surface but you will find many more by diving down & swimming a few feet off the bottom. Dont forget the plaice, sole & flounder are more often hiding half buried in the sand so look very closely.
Bass in the string weed can be shot from the surface if the weed is in shallow water like 2-5' but, you can also hunt the string weed on the high tide & then you need to dive down.
Bass & pollock also live on kelpy reefs, normally pollock are in deeper water 20-50' but thet are often in mid water!
Bass can be either deep or shallow on the reef, some hide under the kelp & in holes on the reef....

 

[BarnacleBoy]

Thanks foxfish. As a total beginner, before you've seen/shot at fish, you just have no idea whether you're doing the right thing, going to the right places (eg how far out from shore, in bays do you stick to rocky edges or go into the middle?) or whether you're a million miles away from ever catching a fish! As soon as you've hit a few, you know you're on the right path, but until then, you're kind of blind! I'm probably far too noisy on descent and my bottom time is v short, but I'll improve. So, when hunting the kelp, are you actively swishing it away to see into the crags for bass?

 

[barny02]

got in at chesil cove last night, saw good size pollock and mullett but didn't bother with them as really wanting a bass for dinner with not much luck. also saw hundreds of mackrell then all of a sudden shooting right past me some swimming into my gun. at the bottom at about 10m i was getting excited to see wot had spooked them. seeing 5 big shaddows comming my way i was thinking i was on for some good dinner . staying very still with gun ready to fire the 5 shaddows was now in firing range of my 110 i waited for a bit to get a decent shot and so glad i did! it was 5 sea salmon/trout. very big and very fast. i know they are a no go area so just sat at the bottom and watched. verry pretty fish!! shame as they was a good 5-6lb each! did see a bass but was small so left him to grow. no fish shot but happy to see the salmon/trout for the first time

Yes was a great dive thanks mate, sorry could not do pulpit today must do it soon, good deep diving my favourite diverofl