Dorset Spearfishing 2006

[Spaniard]

To my knowledge, unless anyone knows of resident shoals, all UK bass winter in the western approaches in deep water where the consistent temperature of the deeper water prepares them for spawning. This is where the French trawl for them in pairs because it is literally like shooting fish in a barrel once you locate a shoal. Also lots of dolphin by-catch which gets widely reported when they turn up dead on our beaches. Personally I have neither seen or shot bass any earlier than April on the mainland, anywhere. I know you can in the Channel Islands and I'm sure smaller ones are about in the estuaries which are designated nurseries so you can't catch them. I'm sure loads of people will now respond saying how many bass they've caught in Winter months. If so, they can tell you where to catch 'em

 

[fearthespear]

Your experiences ring true with me too Spaniard. As yet, no bass before May! Only been at this game for a few years mind! We are fishing much better sites now so I'll be hoping to see earlier fish this year...

 

[SurfnSpear]

Your experiences ring true with me too Spaniard. As yet, no bass before May! Only been at this game for a few years mind! We are fishing much better sites now so I'll be hoping to see earlier fish this year...

Yeah and you and Will seem to see the bloody decent fish later in the year too!!!rofl rofl
...er roughly around a certain BBQ (or Braaivleis in Saffa!)

 

[Mr. X]

So, do you reckon they'll be other fish about?

What sort of flatties do you guys get (sole? plaice?). Any particular technique - do you shoot them? I've heard scuba divers sometimes stab them with a knife or the spike on the handle end of a crab hook.

 

[glowworm]

Went down by the sea today..vis looked rubbish and it was very,very,very,very cold with the wind coming of the sea...

suddenly a 5mm suit just doesn't sound enough rofl rofl

 

[Old Man Dave]

More important than the suit thickness is your IOB (Inches of Blubber)measurement. I'm working on 1 inch minimum all over.
If you don't measure up try the old man dave fitness regime. Min 7000 calories (mainly jam doughnuts) taken daily. No exercise at all except for diving. Beats the hell out of practising breath holds!
Dave

 

[Almostafish]

Its not that bad! We are out for flatys on Saturday morning.. Mild Hypothermia is much underated.

 

[Mr. X]

Went down by the sea today..vis looked rubbish and it was very,very,very,very cold with the wind coming of the sea...

suddenly a 5mm suit just doesn't sound enough rofl rofl

Pity about the viz. I am not convinced about 5mm not being enough though. Last time I looked, the wind blows over the water, not in it!

More important than the suit thickness is your IOB (Inches of Blubber)measurement. I'm working on 1 inch minimum all over.
If you don't measure up try the old man dave fitness regime. Min 7000 calories (mainly jam doughnuts) taken daily. No exercise at all except for diving. Beats the hell out of practising breath holds!
Dave

At last a diet guru I can identify with!rofl The diet of Champions? (Atkins, Homer Simpson & Woody Allen! ).

 

[Mr. X]

Weekend forecast: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?id=1740

Current Sunday wind prediction, 3mph from the North -- I'm thinking that is probably good(?).
Tides good for say 2pm entry (a 2 or 3 hours after high tide)?

 

[SurfnSpear]

Mad dogs and Englishmen?rofl rofl Brrrrrrr......

 

[glowworm]

My kids have birthday parties to attend for the next three weekends....how come my children have a busier social life than me..rofl rofl

Oh well can't say i'll mind not being able to get in with the weather as it is....on the plus side bouncy castles and triffles for the next three weekends

 

[Mr. X]

Mad dogs and Englishmen?rofl rofl Brrrrrrr......

Not expecting a lot of Midday sun!rofl ("Defy the sun!"- Windsor Davies as Battery Sergeant-Major 'Shut Up' Williams).

....on the plus side bouncy castles and triffles for the next three weekends

Trifle - yum!

 

[Mr. X]

Lyme Bay?

Will be near Lyme Bay in April. Any suggestions for areas to spearfish? From Satellite pictures looks quite promising. [If anybody interested in coming out sometime let me know]. Might also try rod fishing from a day boat (any recommendations)?

 

[glowworm]

Mr X if you want to go boat fishing give Ron Bailey a ring on 07850 180331.He has a boat called Susie B which he runs out of Lyme Regis.Surfinspear,myself and some friends went out with him last year and although cold with easterly winds it was a laugh.You can also email him ron@susie-b.co.uk and he will let you know if there is any space.He was very resonable with price and even lent us all the tackle and provided bait.

 

[Mr. X]

Perfect! Thanks, that was quick. I have just emailed him.

 

[Almostafish]

7c Better viz and 4 flatys between UK spearo and myself. Over all a nice dive but quite short at 1.30h.

 

[Mr. X]

7c Better viz and 4 flatys between UK spearo and myself. Over all a nice dive but quite short at 1.30h.

Were you diving from shore? It was really cold last night -- the coldest so far this winter according to the news! (Felt like it here too). Good to hear viz is improving. Wind prediction for Sunday has changed to 6mph out of the NW.

AlmostAFish, as you went out this morning, it sounds like you were fishing on the slack water around high tide?

[Is there a rule of thumb for judging size limits for flatties -- plate size?]

 

[UK Spearo]

MR X, 'Almostafish' and I dived the tide as it was thumping in. Nothing quite like having your snorel humming in the tide as the water surges past you. Hard work.... nice. Cold? - naa just sorts the boys from the men

dive safe.

 

[flyflicker]

One of the boys here -- I only lasted 50mins. Well done Almost & UK, all I saw was a few scallops and one small flounder. It was a chilling 5c - brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[Mr. X]

MR X, 'Almostafish' and I dived the tide as it was thumping in...

...did you dive before high tide at 10.40am? (I have to ask, the Dorset tides confuse me ). [The period immediately before high tide has been good for me in the past.]