Dorset Spearfishing 2013

[Highlander]

Aye that was Scoobaru ( Matt ),Cesar and myself. Was nice to dive with Cesar for the first time

So got in for a dip last night. Turned up at the first spot with Matt which turned out to be no go. so driving around for about an hour found a small amount of viz. Was around 2m milky to not being able to see halfway down your gun.
Anyway swimming about I had a really good feeling about tonight after my last few blank dives missing a few bass.
Popping my head up to check I was still going in the right direction I noticed Matt rolling about near the shore thinking he was in trouble I quickly swam over to him only to be confronted by him holding his spear with.... A bass. Felling pleased but a bit gutted I swam on with the viz being really really patchy. Then my moment came swam over a patch of stones on the sand and sat there minding its own was a BASS. After listening to everyone's advise I followed pretty much all of it, lining up the gun then a deep breath and BOOOOM, my first bass. As Matt was close to me, like a child let out a little cry of joy, he thought I had shot myself in the foot. Carrying on the same happened again another bass on the stringer. Was so happy felt like a child on Christmas Day morning. Well happy to get my first bass. They both turned out to weigh exactly the same. 2.7lb. Not massive but will feed the family for one evening . View attachment 37256View attachment 37257View attachment 37258View attachment 37259

Cheers for all the advice everyone has given me helped a lot.

Nice one another Bass cherry popped, congratulations. I wish I got out last night but family duties beckoned.

 

[21raven21]

Wanna dive somewhere between swanage and Bournemouth next few days anyone know what the water is like ?

 

[moomin]

Wanna dive somewhere between swanage and Bournemouth next few days anyone know what the water is like ?

Not sure what it is like at the mo but the week ahead looks pretty settled, it should be a goer by middle of next week, there is talk of some monster sole being caught Bournemouth area so I'm looking to get in if it's clear enough next week. Were off out tonight to see if we can hustle something out of the milky water! I'm still after my 1st squid but will settle for a 10lb bass! Lol

 

[portland spearo]

Ah brilliant, good effort mate.
First bass this time of year is great given the vis and temp!

 

[21raven21]

Yeah was well chuffed with the result. Next target is a 5lber. .

 

[portland spearo]

Amen to that Raven! Time in the water...

 

[speerolee]

another quick 5 hour dip, 4 mile swim and 3 mile walk
vis was 0-3m...but lots of bigger fish about tonight. resulted in a good haul of big bass and mullet. biggest mullet was 6.8lb and biggest 2 bass just under 6lb and another at 5lb with a few 3s and 4s.

cold and hard work walking 3 miles cross country with a 14 kilo fish necklace! !

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[21raven21]

Epic mate.

 

[scrumpy]

Good good haul lee. We're you Dorset way or nearer to me? If you we're fair play to you mate in finding any viz.
Hats off.

 

[speerolee]

up this end not far from preston mate. looks like vis all next week mate

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[scrumpy]

Going to have to get up next season mate or this way when your down, for some serious fish finding! that amount is worth serious mileage. Freezer would be full all year round - there is only one bass magnetic!!
Thought hope cove / thurlestone would offer shelter from NE wind Friday night but massive swell coming in and the bay is back to usual unsettled period. Will keep going though.
Speak soon bud. Lee

 

[Bass-tard]

Hi guys,

I'm looking to get into spearfishing but want to make a few dives without gun to see if I can handle the freedive aspect before I invest in a gun. I've done a bit of snorkelling in the past, and have a 5mm wetsuit but I've never dived in England! Where are the best places for a beginner to go around Weymouth? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[scrumpy]

Hi guys,

I'm looking to get into spearfishing but want to make a few dives without gun to see if I can handle the freedive aspect before I invest in a gun. I've done a bit of snorkelling in the past, and have a 5mm wetsuit but I've never dived in England! Where are the best places for a beginner to go around Weymouth? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Not being funny but look at the above two threads by spearolee. Fish and area! Say no more mate

 

[Bass-tard]

Fish and area! Say no more mate

I don't understand! Can you clarify?

 

[21raven21]

Can you see the other peoples comments in this feed ??

 

[moomin]

Hi guys,

I'm looking to get into spearfishing but want to make a few dives without gun to see if I can handle the freedive aspect before I invest in a gun. I've done a bit of snorkelling in the past, and have a 5mm wetsuit but I've never dived in England! Where are the best places for a beginner to go around Weymouth? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

The wetsuit you have............is it a normal zip up the back surfing one, if so you won't last 5 mins. 2 piece open cell suits are what you need. I've just invested in a Picasso 7mm one, it's great, better than any cressi suit I've had before. As for location, lulworth cove is pretty safe and a good place to practice a bit of diving, as the middle of the cove is around 8 - 10m in depth. Watch out for boat traffic in and out of the cove, always dive with a surface marker bouy.

 

[Scoobaru]

Hi guys,

I'm looking to get into spearfishing but want to make a few dives without gun to see if I can handle the freedive aspect before I invest in a gun. I've done a bit of snorkelling in the past, and have a 5mm wetsuit but I've never dived in England! Where are the best places for a beginner to go around Weymouth? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

To be honest you've probably chose a bad time of year to start spearfishing. The water temperature will start dropping off, the vis will decrease as the bad weather comes in and the fish will become more scarce.

For diving in the uk generally you do not need to dive deep. It is more important to learn about your local dive spots, tide strength and direction as well as what fish are available and their habits aswel as suitable locations to find target species. Once you know your local spots, time in the water will help you relax (most essential part of spearfishing) and this will enable you to see more fish and bigger fish.

Through the spring and summer any wetsuit will be more than adequate for spearfishing for a few hours at a time. Those of us who dive through the winter mostly dive at night, this is not really suitable for a beginner.

I'm sorry this probably isn't what you want to hear but many spearos will be hanging up the suits for the winter now. If I was in your situation I personally would read through the older posts on here to learn about dive locations near to you. Then take time to learn as much as you can about these venues like underwater features, tidal movement and entry/exit locations.

Just out of interest where do you live/plan on diving?

Matt

 

[speerolee]

well.....the bass always gets the last laugh ... what is it with the spines that sting like a bitch????

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[21raven21]

Another little session. First spot 1m viz, and 2nd spot about 4m viz in places was epic. Within the first 20 mins of being in the water. A nice mullet swam towards me. Lined him up......boom top of the head out the gill plate . Would not die tho, normally I will stick my knife in the top of their heads to kill them but it wasn't happening so put him on the stringer and carried on.
I then saw a nice little silver eel half eaten floating on the surface. Hiding behind some weed and a rock I waited for a few mins to see if anything would come back to it. Nothing. All in all 1 fish seen all night 1 fish taken . Was a nice size. 4.8lb

 

[mikehale83]

jumped in for a couple of hours off Church Ope on Sunday just after high tide. Vis was affected by chalky water running off the west end but also the general weed and debris floating about. due to the chalkyness to the west headed out the east end an dsaw nothing then went for a mullet bash over in the milk. Lots of good size fish but the vis was in their favour as they were on me by the time I saw them and then the shot off. Couldn't get a night dive in but looks as tho thats the way to go still!! Lee, without giving too much away, were you in where we looked a few months back or the oposite direction?!?!