Dorset Spearfishing 2006

[Old Man Dave]

His names Paul.

Just watched an old John Wilson on Sky. He was fishing with Dr Mike Ladle in Kimmeridge Bay near Lullworth Cove. They caught mullet on fly rods using maggots as bait. Dr Mike also had a nice bass on a plug from within the shoals of mullet which were feeding literally at their feet on seaweed fly maggots.

Any of you Dorset boys fish/spear this area? Is it any good?

Dave .

 

[glowworm]

Bit of a long treck from memory....Very shallow as well....Mke Ladel has written two good books about fishing in Dorset..Operation Sea Angler and BASS...Operation Sea Angler makes very interesting reading as he goes into detail about when,where and how he catches different speices including weather and states of tide.

 

[Billy West]

Mike's other book is "Hooked On Bass" and has recently had a reprint. A great read then & now.

 

[fearthespear]

Alrighty Old Man Dave!

Kimmeridge is a beautiful bay, predominantly a series of rock ledges absolutely teeming with life. I have rod and line fished it a fair few times and caught bass. I have speared it only once (the sea temp was 20 degs!) two seasons ago. We swam out a fair way and the water was still v. shallow. Saw plenty of crab and lobbingtons as well as the usual wrasse and pollack but no bass:head

Just around the corner is a place called dancing ledge. This is a place I would really like to try, in with a chance of some bream there!

The weather here is tits and has been for a while now. Didn't get out this weekend so am double keen to get wet this coming weekend!

Hope you are all faring better in the islands...

 

[Old Man Dave]

Thanks for the replies.

The weather here is absolutely pants. That's partly why I'm watching old fishing prog's on Sky and musing about distant shores. Also new boy Billy got me thinking with his flyfishing exploits.

One thing about Channel Islands is we are just one tiny bit of rock in some wild area of sea. Weather can be great with good vis but when we get storms then we really get blown out.

Been really getting into the rythm lately and fish are starting to show but vis is now about 2 inches that's if you could get in through the surf. Even rod dangling off the boat which was planned for this week is curtailed. Most of the ferries didn't sail this weekend and coastguard was giving warnings not to go to sea. That don't happen often.

Oh well, back to the box, Rex hunt might inspire me to go down under.

Dave.

 

[Magpie]

Operation Sea Angler is out of print, but he's put it all on the web for everyone to peruse at their pleasure:

http://www.mikeladle.com/osa.html

He's also got catch diaries from 2002 to, hold on, ah, today! All of which make very interesting reading.

 

[SurfnSpear]

Hi guys, sorry to hear of the crappy weather. I sneaked out to Durban for a little spot of business. Managed to borrow some gear and first dive blew my mind. Crystal day off Westbrook Beach north of Durban with everything so active. Friday morning had the usual dolphins, a southern right whale offshore and while diving a close encounter with a massive Devil Ray which was a little inquisitive. On the fishing front I whacked a 7kg Dagga Salmon (Kob) and got my bag of 8 crayfish. A lovely little reintro to the Indian Ocean. Saw some nice kit at www.freedivers.co.za too.

Cheers

 

[1 shot 1 kill]

Can anyone tell me what the weather/wind/vis is like around Portland at the moment? I'm keen to get in this weekend (probably Sunday) and want to start selecting a spot...
If anyone wants to meet up let me know, i'm hoping to get in with Glowworm if we can get ourselves, kit and the sea in the same place at the same time!
Cheers

 

[UK Spearo]

Weather is Strong winds, high waves and brown water:head even the harbour is not good!

 

[1 shot 1 kill]

Bugger. Anyone got any bright ideas for somewhere worth trying this weekend (other than lakes/south africa)?

 

[flyflicker]

Just back from fishing in Portland Harbour (the river is in full flood and I had to do something!) vis was fine and in Newtowns Cove (honest UK Spearo!) BUT strong winds are forecast for tomorrow and may ruin it again.

It was a great way to spend 4 hours but Mr Bass weren't playing

 

[Doc]

I'm coming to weymouth with my sailing son mid june for the weekend. what are the rules about where you can go.? I may be able to be dropped off a rib on the breakwater. is that allowed?
otherwise its find a spot from shore.

 

[fearthespear]

This year spearing the breakwater has been banned. (Why??) Saying that, the spearing along the wall is brilliant so as you were as i'm concerned!:t

Otherwise there are loads of areas to try, especially around Portland.

 

[UK Spearo]

flyflicker..... umm last time you said there was viz in Newtons cove we couldn't even see the end of our guns - you sure ??????? rofl maybe free Monday to dive - txt me....

We've got spolit by the 60ft viz we had the other week

Be glad when I can get back out to Bill point in the tide....

 

[Buster Lung]

Where has the information come from about being banned from spearing along the Portland Harbour arms?

Confused of Portland.

 

[fearthespear]

er...Portland Port Buster. I'll check the paperwork again to check...

Went in at Newtons tonight to catch dinner and failed miserably. Viz was poor, v. milky. Plenty of the usual fish mind.

 

[fearthespear]

Well, here it is. I think i'm wrong mainly. See for yourself at

http://www.portland-port.co.uk/3MapDivingRestrictions2005.pdf

The yellow hatching says "Diving and underwater swimming prohibited".

What do you think?

Check out Grove Point too!!

 

[Almostafish]

Grove point.. You dont wana mess with the navy's acoustic fingerprinting device! You will end up getting a torpedo designed to look for your waterprint..

 

[UK Spearo]

Ade, Now I'm confused.... looking at that Diag it looks the same as last year ie permit holders only on the arms... Can't remember where I heard it from now...

 

[glowworm]

How will they enforce Grove Point....I have dived there all my life and remember being escorted back off the beach by marines when they wanted to use the firing range...If i wanted to shoot on the arm's i wouldn't mind paying but off the beach :rcard :rcard

Is newton's cove also a no go area??