Dorset Spearfishing 2013

[speerolee]

Went for another little dip last night. After swimming around for an hour only seeing schools of pollock and a few tiny bass. Seen a good 4/5lb bass. Shot booooom. Ohh no it ripped off gutted. Only to be then shouted at from two guys on shore shining torches.

Me " what do you want. "
Two men " were the police. Had repots of two guys in suits with guns. ".
Me " just a speargun. "
Police " can you get out "
Me " no. ". Want me to swim all the way back. Be a proper pointless dive. Would be to cold to get back in "
Police " umm alright go about what you were doing. "
Me " I will "

Swam around a bit more nothing seen got out.

I would have blinded the feds with all 3 of my D06 torches.

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[speerolee]

socks and gloves...
guys, what's your thoughts on the warmest gloves and socks?
I use 5mm open cell gloves from o three and as for socks I use 5mm picasso or 5mm ones from 0 three not sure the name? anyways I still get numb hands and feet mid winter

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[Jaca]

3 fingered gloves at least 5mm thick and open cell inside (i used them in norway in winter when there was -1°c in the water). About socks. I had once 6mm open cell mares socks. But i bought them in norway many years ago and I don't think they are avaliable in uk. Use boots on top of socks and strapped flippers.

 

[Broseidon]

Who needs 1000 lumens anyway?!!

I use a 2,500 Lumen torch with a very tight beam - I was fishing in gin clear water earlier this year, I could see clearly 30+ feet in all directions. If you've got a tight beam, a very powerful torch will help you fish a much larger area simply by allowing you to see further. It'll also help you to cut through bad viz.

 

[Kuya]

socks and gloves...
guys, what's your thoughts on the warmest gloves and socks?

I used these in February..

my hands didn't get numb although I wasn't in the water for an extended period time (up to about 2.5hours I think)
Typhoon Titanium V Stretch... 5mm.. reasonable priced just under £20.
(http://www.bigorangewatersports.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12_21&products_id=179)

Some reviews here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B001THZPRG/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

For the feet I use SEAC 7mm socks... they keep my feet warm enough, however you have to be careful when pulling them up as there is open cell neoprene around the ankle.
http://www.spearfishingstore.co.uk/...currency=GBP&gclid=CNG_7Z7DkbsCFUzHtAodzBcA-A

I may order some new socks soon, I am not expecting them to last more than a season.

 

[speerolee]

http://freediveireland.com/shop/socks?product_id=85 just ordered these

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[speerolee]

xtar B20 torch. an excellent cheaper alternative to the D06 @ £32.00. however only rated to 2 meters, for me me I rarely go deeper at night so not a problem for me. it is rated at 1000 lmns but I find it a touch dimmer than the cree xml u2 but a tad brighter than the t6 within the D06 torches also has a slightly more spread beam.

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[speerolee]

Here's a pic of the xtar B20 hot spot compaired to the D06. B20 is on the left.

and a pic of the torches. the B20 is very light and compact. it has a push button at the rear as opossed to the slider on the D06. also has 4 brightness setting and a strobe; you cycle through this via the rear push button.

battery life is good as I get 2.5 hrs on full brightness using the xtar 3400 ah battery.

as you can see from the pics, there's not much in it when comparing brightness

 

[speerolee]

blade test.

also been experimenting with blade types re: plastic verses fiberflass vs carbon (hard).

I concluded that my hard carbon fins ate by far the most efficient for long distance swimming on night dives.
softer fiberglass blades were defo easier on the legs...but they just done have the ability to maintain a good steady speed when swimming hard fir 3 hours to get home after a long hunt.

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[Rubber Duckie]

xtar B20 torch. an excellent cheaper alternative to the D06 @ £32.00. however only rated to 2 meters, for me me I rarely go deeper at night so not a problem for me. it is rated at 1000 lmns but I find it a touch dimmer than the cree xml u2 but a tad brighter than the t6 within the D06 torches also has a slightly more spread beam.

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Thanks Lee, have a D06 U2 in the post!

 

[simoxxl]

Hi
I use XTAR D26 torch with XTAR 18650 3400mAh battery and it gives me 2:15 on full blast, so if you buy this torch with XTAR 26650 4000mAh Battery you should get over 2.5 hours on 1000 lumens or much more on lower setting which is enough for a night dive. Don’t buy any cheap batteries.. I can only recommend this torch as I think is better than D06, just look at the spec...

 

[Highlander]

Hi
I use XTAR D26 torch with XTAR 18650 3400mAh battery and it gives me 2:15 on full blast, so if you buy this torch with XTAR 26650 4000mAh Battery you should get over 2.5 hours on 1000 lumens or much more on lower setting which is enough for a night dive. Don’t buy any cheap batteries.. I can only recommend this torch as I think is better than D06, just look at the spec...

Hi Si, I posted a few days on here regarding the press switch issue. Seeing as we have a fellow UK spearo on here with knowledge of the 'Whale', what are your experiences with this, the increase in lumens & time use per dive is great.

I can see that we can eliminate the switch press issue by removing the 'O' Ring from the switch, but what of the possible corrosion issue underneath; or do you not perceive this as an issue, as we mostly keep them on all the time from a night dive point of view & may not get any sea water ingress due to operation of the button at the surface?

Any additional info would be great, as I am sure there are a few here would find this useful with a potential to purchasing the D26.

Many thanks

Scott

 

[Trelawney]

I use a 2,500 Lumen torch with a very tight beam - I was fishing in gin clear water earlier this year, I could see clearly 30+ feet in all directions. If you've got a tight beam, a very powerful torch will help you fish a much larger area simply by allowing you to see further. It'll also help you to cut through bad viz.

Hi Bros.
What torch are you using?

 

[Kuya]

Got in at Southbourne for an hour... just as the ebb was starting.. didn't go too far out due to the stronger tides this cycle. Vis was about 1 to 1.5 meters once 100 yards from the shore. Didn't see anything (didn't expect to during the day).

Felt the cold a lot more this time... was wearing a 5mm suit with pants (no long johns) and a thin vest. Next time I go in will put on my 7mm to compare the difference.

 

[Broseidon]

Hi Bros.
What torch are you using?

It's a Xeccon D3X matey - I don't think you can buy them any more. It's a big weapon and cuts through the murk like nothing else. Below is a comparison I made between the D3X and the PrincetonTec LED, which is a great torch in its own right - both pictures have the same exposure. The Xeccon is like a portable sun.

 

[simoxxl]

Hi Si, I posted a few days on here regarding the press switch issue. Seeing as we have a fellow UK spearo on here with knowledge of the 'Whale', what are your experiences with this, the increase in lumens & time use per dive is great.

I can see that we can eliminate the switch press issue by removing the 'O' Ring from the switch, but what of the possible corrosion issue underneath; or do you not perceive this as an issue, as we mostly keep them on all the time from a night dive point of view & may not get any sea water ingress due to operation of the button at the surface?

Any additional info would be great, as I am sure there are a few here would find this useful with a potential to purchasing the D26.

Many thanks

Scott

I haven't tried to use D26 deep, only at night diving with max depth of 2m and never had any issues turning it on or off, the switch works for night dive great, u turn it on and it will switch to default 600lm mode, u press again, it will give you full power on 1000lm and next two press will give you lower light mode, switching off is easy, just hold it for two secs and is off, or there is also lock feature, u twist the switch and then you can't press it anymore unless you twist back again, hope this help.

The main advantage vs. D06 would be the battery life and ability to use 26650 type of battery which u can get in 4000mAh version, i reckon it will last 4-5+ hours on 600lm light mode... or 2.5+ hours in 1000lm

 

[Broseidon]

The main advantage vs. D06 would be the battery life and ability to use 26650 type of battery which u can get in 4000mAh version, i reckon it will last 4-5+ hours on 600lm light mode... or 2.5+ hours in 1000lm

Decent battery life should be a consideration, my big torch takes 3 x 26650 batteries rated at 4,500 mAh - last time out I found the torch auto-switching to half power mode after about an hour which was annoying - it runs out after about an hour and three quarters. Pain. In. The. Ass!

 

[Kuya]

Got in at Hengistbury at dusk. Only stayed in for 10 minutes! Very poor vis, and quite a swell running. My 7mm suit kept me much warmer than my 5mm compressed I wore the other day.

 

[speerolee]

Jumped in with Allen no the Devon border. Visit was poor 1-3m but still millions of fat mullet about; which we left and plenty of plump bass up to 7 pounds, we took 4 each. I lined up on a 'proper job' bass and somehow completely missed??? That was the only jumbo donkey we had seen...so gutted. I want to get one last double in this year.

Last year the silvers completely thinned out to just the odd mullet and school bass by late September! But I've still seen vast amounts of bass comparable to summer dives.

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[ashly122]

Has any one got a any vis reports for Bournemouth, swanage, Weymouth areas? been away for about 2 months and would love to get in soon as on leave for a few weeks now.