Dorset Spearfishing 2013

[Highlander]

Did you have any luck last night?

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First blank this year. It was abysmal. Saw some small pollack, a lobbie went well into his hole & I couldn't retrieve it. Wax in for about 3 hours & when I got out it was a mill pond. Cesar got some small pollack, bass & a bream & missed x squid.

 

[jpp]

Just looked on the Swanage webcam and it looks clear and calm. Going to make the 2 hour drive to the Purbecks in an hours time. If any one knows that it is not fishable could they let me know in the next hour. Thank you.

 

[Kuya]

Fished Studland Bay tonight, vis was a sandy 1-2m.

Was asked to find a mobile phone which had been dropped from a yacht. Didn't find it but have the GPS coords and the owners email address.. the phone was not high end but the memory card was almost full with family photos of great sentimental value to the owner.. may go back and have a look for it in daylight.

Took home cockles, a clam and a plaice.

 

[mikehale83]

went in off chesil cove, not had much luck there before but had heard a few bass had been taken spinning from the rocks and that the vis was 5-6m. on arrival a few divers were getting out and said there were some good pollock in 10m of water over the sand patches so I spent and hour or so on these. saw a few small pollock but none I wanted to shoot. So gave up on these and drifted round the corner a bit then headed in for some time in and around the rocks. Loads of Mullet, ended up picking off a couple of the bigger ones and then took a pot shot at a big Garfish and nailed it! so now have to think what to do with them? Any ideas not cooked either species before as usually leave them or pass them on to family!

 

[Broseidon]

Any ideas not cooked either species before as usually leave them or pass them on to family!

I'd treat the Garfish as you would mackerel - a nice hot grill would be good.

As for mullet, I've posted about my mullet lust ad infinitum on the N.Wales thread... zzz

My favourite BBQ mullet recipe is really simple - you just need to marinade the fillets in garlic, lemon and olive oil. You can almost treat the flesh as you would chicken - pop them on the HOT grill, BBQ or frying pan and you're done!

The massive, over-riding key is to make sure you prepare the fillets well. It's absolutely essential to skin them and make sure you remove all of the dark flesh - you should be left with two, pure white fillets by the end of it.

Mullet cooks best with lots of heat, you don't want it cook slowly, that's why the BBQ, grill or frying pan is best. As I said, treat it like chicken - any marinade you'd use for chicken you can use for mullet! Just cook it fast and hot with a bit of oil in the marinade. Tandoori mullet is amazing!

Anyway, this recipe is AMAZING, taken from the BBC site - I would VERY strongly advise you to skin the mullet and remove the blood line / lateral line as the flavour is quite strong.

BBC - Food - Recipes : Tandoori grey mullet with cep salad

For the marinade

1½ tbsp ginger and garlic paste
1 tsp black pepper
½ tsp garam masala powder
1 tbsp ground coriander
½ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp chilli powder
2 tbsp vegetable oil
salt, to taste
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp yoghurt ( I use ground almonds instead )
Fresh, chopped Corriander - lots

Fillet your mullet and skin it. Slice into goujons and add to the marinade

Preparation method

Mix all of marinade ingredients together in a bowl until well combined.
Place the grey mullet into a dish, pour over the marinade and rub it into the fish. Set aside to marinate for 30 minutes.

Preheat the grill to high. Grill the fish for 2-3 minutes on each side. Baste with the lemon juice, butter and chat masala.

I bet it would be great skewered and done on the BBQ. I'd serve this with rice, mango chutney and maybe some asparagus

Seriously, if this doesn't convert you to the joys of mullet, nothing will!

 

[Highlander]

I'd treat the Garfish as you would mackerel - a nice hot grill would be good.

As for mullet, I've posted about my mullet lust ad infinitum on the N.Wales thread... zzz

I do like mullet & just treat it like bass, the strong flavour you speak of doesn't really bother me; however the tandoori recipe sounds great & I will look to do that on my next mullet catch(hopefully tonight).

Cheers

 

[Paul M]

Looking at the forecast, I decided to take 3 days off and spend them spearfishing. Start tomorrow morning. I plan to go by inflatable boat to Mupe Rocks and by speed boat to St. Alban's Head. Anyone who would like to join me would be welcome. My mobile: 07783931183

 

[denian]

Possibly down again for a few weeks working in Christchurch. fingers crossed.Try and get some fish this time.

 

[mikehale83]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Hope to get in mid week for a brief evening session. the wife went for a night snorkle at overcomb (though i said it would hev no vis!) and said there was around 40cm vis!

 

[Highlander]

If anyone is interested in what the boat traffic is doing throughout the UK, or the world for that matter, check the link out below:

I found it quite interesting how many registered vessels are operating in our waters from yachts, fishing boats all the way up to tankers.

Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions

 

[ashly122]

Does anyone have any vis reports for bournemouth, poole or surrounding areas?
driving back from work tonight and looking at going for a dip and hopefully one or 2 in the next couple of days.

cheers

 

[Karl44]

I went out around Poole yesterday and the vis was quite poor.

 

[Zimhunter]

Hi all ,
I'm pretty new to spearing in the sea, having lived in Zimbabwe for 24 years and being involved in the safari industry, my lust for the outdoors has led me to the sea.a bit different from the lakes I'm used to, What a culture shock!

All the spearing I've done has been in lakes and a small amount in Mozambique at depths of 20 ft max and in a pair of shorts. Ive had a hard education since .

After watching a few videos on YouTube, i was ready to get a few bass for the missus and I .... Yea , after my first attempt , I quickly learnt a few valuable lessons -
1) all wetsuits are not the same, after a healthy dose of Parkinson's and 20 minutes of uncontrollable shivering , I deduced that a £20 osprey suit is not the way forward !
2)a weight belt is not just to help fat people sink , they are actually immensely useful and stop the fish below looking so smug .my fin bag with a few flat rocks in it soon wiped the smug looks off !! Ungainly but worked for the moment .
3) I'm no longer semi aquatic , 3 min breath holds are no longer( but something to work on )

Ive managed a few mullet so far and only seen a few bass, but I'm getting there, I've only dived in st Austell and beer so far and not really sure yet of ideal terrain .

I'm hoping to make it down with my brother on Saturday ( im based in cheltenham)and was wondering if anyone would be able to maybe give me a few hints as to some semi decent areas , even if its just to chase a few mullet ( I'm siding with the mullet fanciers , ive enjoyed eating the couple ive taken).

I understand the spot secrecy unwritten law , but just a rough idea would be much appreciated, we're looking to go anywhere from Weymouth to cornwall , would anyone know anywhere that via might be ok on Saturday ?

Much appreciated
Sean

 

[ashly122]

Any vis anywhere in Dorset?

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[ashly122]

Took a drive down Weymouth and Portland today, stopped off at castle cove to see what the vis looked like. From the shore it looked great so got my gear on and took the dive, vis was upto 4m in most parts, as I swam round to the left though it started closing in and was milky as that's where the wind was coming in from. Stayed in for about an hour and a half or so, lots of wrasse arouns and a few tiny Pollack. Saw one big fish on my periphery, maybe a mullet around the 4lb mark, I still don't know why I didn't take the shot?? hoping to get at least another dive in before back to Colchester on Saturday. I din't make it down to check the vis at Portland in the end.

 

[Gaz D]

Loads of Mullet, ended up picking off a couple of the bigger ones and then took a pot shot at a big Garfish and nailed it! so now have to think what to do with them? Any ideas not cooked either species before as usually leave them or pass them on to family!

Buy yourself a hot smoker for about 50 quid - it will transform all your fish, especially the mullet (the smoker can even be plonked on top of a BBQ, when you are having one, in the summer months).

.

 

[Gaz D]

If anyone is interested in what the boat traffic is doing throughout the UK, or the world for that matter, check the link out below:

I found it quite interesting how many registered vessels are operating in our waters from yachts, fishing boats all the way up to tankers.

Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions

I use that website for work purposes. It's OK for larger vessels, which transmit on AIS, but not much use to monitor the type of small vessels that cause most problems for spearfishermen - interesting to look at though (if you are into that sort of thing).

.

 

[21raven21]

Hey guys
Just been in this morning after having my operation just too see what it was like and how it would feel. Water was a milky 1.5/3m vis, was lots of activity around so was excited to see what was about.
After swimming around for a good hour and a half, only seeing 3 small mullet 2 very small bass and some pretty big wrasse was going to call it a day, but as I swam over a chunk of weed in front of me was the biggest bass I had ( personally ) ever seen. Lined the shot up and bang.... I missed how how how how how. Was not amused cursing under the water at myself. it was a good 8 lb. I carried on Swimming around trying to be as quiet as I could to see if he came back but I was kidding myself. So I got out .
All in all glad to be back in the water pain free many more dives before the year is finished yet .

 

[scrumpy]

Missed a 8lb+ last month from inches, very very p****d off. Know how you feel mate. Get back in and shoot his brothers!!!!!!!!

 

[21raven21]

Going try and go back and hit the same spot again this week see if I can get him and his brothers .