that must be a bugger transporting that on long walks! i struggle enough with all my gear and i don't really have all that much so i think im going to invest in a better backpack. putting my fins on a bungie cord and then hooking it onto my bag works perfectly for long treks though.
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Dorset Spearfishing 2013
- Thread starter misterlizard
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
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Kuya - I reckon I might have been on the chainferry at the same time as you yesterday. Took my MTB across yesterday for a rattle around the Heath. Saw the same guy merrily snorkelling away about 6ft from the ferry.
Does anyone spearfish around the ferry? With all the piers and areas of slack water it looked doable... Though would be pretty stupid at busy times of day.
Trying to explore Purbeck myself (new to the area) and finding that access is a bit of an issue! Went to Kimmeridge on Saturday... Epic failure. "No no no! No spearfishing here!" Had no idea it was banned there.
Ah well. It wouldn't be fun if it was always easy.
Does anyone spearfish around the ferry? With all the piers and areas of slack water it looked doable... Though would be pretty stupid at busy times of day.
Trying to explore Purbeck myself (new to the area) and finding that access is a bit of an issue! Went to Kimmeridge on Saturday... Epic failure. "No no no! No spearfishing here!" Had no idea it was banned there.
Ah well. It wouldn't be fun if it was always easy.
Yes we must have been on the same ferry. The guy was just hovering there very close in - wearing a surf wetsuit I think. Some people spearfish in that area but mainly around the corner I think nearer the hotel and the groynes.
For Kimmeridge I haven't got in down there yet.. if I did I would just venture east round the cliffs and hide the gun. They have a marine conservation center down there with a live seacam and a snorkel trail. Apart from underneath Swanage Pier it must be one of the most inappropriate places a spearfisherman can visit along that stretch. I think a loaded gun was dropped in the bay some years ago.
When I have trained myself for longer breathholds and deeper dives, I plan to fin out to the Blackhawk wreck in the bay and freedive it at some point.
In that area, I am more likely to head over to 'Worth' and work my way westwards along the Kimmeridge Ledges from that direction - my float changes everything I can use it almost like a kayak now in terms of where I can get to with the added bonus that it straps on my back.
For Kimmeridge I haven't got in down there yet.. if I did I would just venture east round the cliffs and hide the gun. They have a marine conservation center down there with a live seacam and a snorkel trail. Apart from underneath Swanage Pier it must be one of the most inappropriate places a spearfisherman can visit along that stretch. I think a loaded gun was dropped in the bay some years ago.
When I have trained myself for longer breathholds and deeper dives, I plan to fin out to the Blackhawk wreck in the bay and freedive it at some point.
In that area, I am more likely to head over to 'Worth' and work my way westwards along the Kimmeridge Ledges from that direction - my float changes everything I can use it almost like a kayak now in terms of where I can get to with the added bonus that it straps on my back.
Yeah that guardian does look interesting - So you lie on it and fin away? You obviously rate it, does it deflate down into a fairly storeable size though?
I do still just traipse into the water and then swim to wherever I'm going. Calf cramp can frequently be the limiting factor for me when I'm out.
The Backhawk wreck would be interesting - Do people spear it often? I tried just now to place it using its co-ordinates but google maps makes it appear to be about a mile offshore?
I'd actually thought about a trip down to chesil and the Royal Adelaide. It sounds like a very doable wreck from the shore.
I do still just traipse into the water and then swim to wherever I'm going. Calf cramp can frequently be the limiting factor for me when I'm out.
The Backhawk wreck would be interesting - Do people spear it often? I tried just now to place it using its co-ordinates but google maps makes it appear to be about a mile offshore?
I'd actually thought about a trip down to chesil and the Royal Adelaide. It sounds like a very doable wreck from the shore.
I don't think people spear the black hawk.. it's a popular dive mark.
The guardian does pack down to a storable size.. however, given it takes time to inflate and prepare I just leave mine inflated. It doesn't take up much room. Finning from it is ok.. I have recently started using 500g ankle weights and it's transformed it in terms of efficiency when paired with my Cressi Pro LD fins.. I choose these fins as they are soft for longer distance work (they are quite wide so rub against each other if I am not careful).
If calf cramp is a problem maybe the fins you have are not suitable for you. I also get it from time to time.. could be my fins. First season spearing for me so a lot of the gear I first bought has been changed for something more suitable for me. A lot of the stuff we buy we can't properly evaluate until out on the water.
The guardian does pack down to a storable size.. however, given it takes time to inflate and prepare I just leave mine inflated. It doesn't take up much room. Finning from it is ok.. I have recently started using 500g ankle weights and it's transformed it in terms of efficiency when paired with my Cressi Pro LD fins.. I choose these fins as they are soft for longer distance work (they are quite wide so rub against each other if I am not careful).
If calf cramp is a problem maybe the fins you have are not suitable for you. I also get it from time to time.. could be my fins. First season spearing for me so a lot of the gear I first bought has been changed for something more suitable for me. A lot of the stuff we buy we can't properly evaluate until out on the water.
Viz 2-3m at Southbourne today. Managed a small brill and that was it.
Since last night 2 boats were very close inshore over where I usually dive. They were there till the morning sweeping up fish and putting nets out. I will probably concentrate somewhere else now.
Since last night 2 boats were very close inshore over where I usually dive. They were there till the morning sweeping up fish and putting nets out. I will probably concentrate somewhere else now.
There are a variety of pots and buoys here at sunny Southbourne. The dan buoys (floats with a tall pole) with the large black flags closer in are nets - I saw them being put out this morning. The orange buoys are either nets are pots.
If you stay close in (not too far out from the yellow swimmers 8knot buoys) you will be ok. I try to stay away from commercial fishing gear... however I like going out into deeper water (about 10m) where they mostly are; if I try and avoid them the current and wind means I can get pushed closer to them. I think the trick is to just see which way you are drifting and adjust position accordingly. I ended up diving about 10 metres away from a net near one of the marker buoys -but it was ok as I was parallel to it.
Most of my fish have come quite close in (including the brill) so it can still be fished even with all that gear in the water... what is not nice is seeing many fish being hoovered up here. The sea is a big place but the commericals often come very close inshore; especially during this time of year for the sole and other flatfish.
If you stay close in (not too far out from the yellow swimmers 8knot buoys) you will be ok. I try to stay away from commercial fishing gear... however I like going out into deeper water (about 10m) where they mostly are; if I try and avoid them the current and wind means I can get pushed closer to them. I think the trick is to just see which way you are drifting and adjust position accordingly. I ended up diving about 10 metres away from a net near one of the marker buoys -but it was ok as I was parallel to it.
Most of my fish have come quite close in (including the brill) so it can still be fished even with all that gear in the water... what is not nice is seeing many fish being hoovered up here. The sea is a big place but the commericals often come very close inshore; especially during this time of year for the sole and other flatfish.
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Had a marathon trek from Lulwoth Cove yesterday to Mupe Rocks carrying all my gear in the heat yesterday. Vis at Lulworth was 1 metre but 2 to 3metres at Mupe although still cloudy. Got in an hour before low tide. Managed to get a Bass and a Mullet but had a few misses as well. Not sure I would do that trek again though.
On a separate note I did an aida 1&2 course at Freedive UK at Newquay earlier this year and was glad I did. Although I have been spearfishing three years I am self taught through trial and error. The internet has been a great help as has Deeper Blue. I recently bought Ian Donald's underwater foraging book which has very easy to read and understand information about freediving and spearfishing. I wish I had this book when I started out as it would have helped and I can recommend it to any one starting out.
Anyone use ankle weights out there and do they help? I am thinking of getting some.
On a separate note I did an aida 1&2 course at Freedive UK at Newquay earlier this year and was glad I did. Although I have been spearfishing three years I am self taught through trial and error. The internet has been a great help as has Deeper Blue. I recently bought Ian Donald's underwater foraging book which has very easy to read and understand information about freediving and spearfishing. I wish I had this book when I started out as it would have helped and I can recommend it to any one starting out.
Anyone use ankle weights out there and do they help? I am thinking of getting some.
Nice report JPP thanks for being so forth coming with the info. Mupe Bay is on my to visit list. I've walked up there a few times in the past, but taking my gear with me is an entirely different proposition.
Depending on the conditions I had plans to take the current out of Lulworth and drift down towards Mupe, however that would be on the flood and the viz maybe better on the ebb...
I ordered underwater foraging 2 days ago plus another free dive book. Glad you rate it, I thought it looked good from the preview pages at Amazon and look forward to getting my hands on it. I am just starting out so hope to speed up the learning curve with items like these.
I have just started using ankle weights... for me I can't go back to not wearing them. When I used a weight belt and vest, my legs were often higher up in sky dive position when I was on the bottom... crossing my legs, facing current, helped but now I have these weights the problem is solved. Also, my fins (Cressi Gara LD pro's) were not so good for surface finning until I wore the ankle weights - now they are much better. The ones I ordered were 500g each - lead shot in a pouch. They are very comfortable to wear and I don't feel weighted down at the ankles when walking with them on.
Best Divers Ultrasoft Ankle Weights. Accessories Weights, Scubastore.com, buy, offers, dive
- think they have gone up a bit in price.
I am conscious that walking with all my gear could give me back problems later on so I'm trying to get the weight distributed the best way now.
Depending on the conditions I had plans to take the current out of Lulworth and drift down towards Mupe, however that would be on the flood and the viz maybe better on the ebb...
I ordered underwater foraging 2 days ago plus another free dive book. Glad you rate it, I thought it looked good from the preview pages at Amazon and look forward to getting my hands on it. I am just starting out so hope to speed up the learning curve with items like these.
I have just started using ankle weights... for me I can't go back to not wearing them. When I used a weight belt and vest, my legs were often higher up in sky dive position when I was on the bottom... crossing my legs, facing current, helped but now I have these weights the problem is solved. Also, my fins (Cressi Gara LD pro's) were not so good for surface finning until I wore the ankle weights - now they are much better. The ones I ordered were 500g each - lead shot in a pouch. They are very comfortable to wear and I don't feel weighted down at the ankles when walking with them on.
Best Divers Ultrasoft Ankle Weights. Accessories Weights, Scubastore.com, buy, offers, dive
- think they have gone up a bit in price.
I am conscious that walking with all my gear could give me back problems later on so I'm trying to get the weight distributed the best way now.
I used to use ankle weights but after adjusting lead between a vest and belt feel I have a better/more comfortable balance without any fin up trouble. I guess its what works for each person.
Managed a quick hour southborne vis was ok 4-5m but with a light sandy bottom with no features it hard to tell some times .no flatys seen lots of sholes of bait fish couple of small spider crabs.one fish to talk of chasing sand eels bream looking but spotty never seen one before.looked around grion 51 big rocks and fishermen had The most life but all small wrass Pollock and smelt I think. Lots of people about paddle boarders kayaks fishermen loads of surfers but no surf?and people making the most of a nice summers eve.no water movement at all ?I was expecting to be getting out a mile or two down the coast!Think the flat fish may of been further out or about on a different tide state but I was only out for an hour or so.did get grotted by fishing line on rocks !
Denian, close inshore it's generally not teeming with fish life down here. I usually spot the flatfish when my face is literally inches from the sandy bottom. The brill I had yesterday was only 12 inches away from my face . I am finding the ray a bit easier to spot from a distance than the plaice, sole etc. You must have hit the water when the wind had dropped and the current flatlined... it was a very still evening. Generally speaking the current picks up when you are at least 200 -300 yards out.
I wouldn't consider Southbourne a premier spearfishermans venue, but it's on my doorstep so can use it for training.
I haven't gone in there yet, but if you get in again whilst you are down here the lower reaches of Christchurch Harbour would be worth a try for mullet and bass. The section nearest the sea is not restricted, although the rest of the harbour is off limits.
I wouldn't consider Southbourne a premier spearfishermans venue, but it's on my doorstep so can use it for training.
I haven't gone in there yet, but if you get in again whilst you are down here the lower reaches of Christchurch Harbour would be worth a try for mullet and bass. The section nearest the sea is not restricted, although the rest of the harbour is off limits.
Since the cliff collapse durdle door/lulworth has virtually become impossible to dive with all the chalk in the area... Took the boat out on sunday and the chalk ran pretty much from mupe to white nothe. Dont think the big tides helped thou.