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Dorset Spearfishing 2013

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I know that the land slide at durdledoor killed the vus it that area....but has it effected as far as mupe bay and Kimmeridge area?????
Does anyone have any vis reports for east off lulworth, but not as far as swanage.

Thanks

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I think kimmeridge area has had some pretty good vis as my neighbors are always snorkeling in that area and recently they've said the vis has been great.

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Thinking about buying a pneumatic gun for 2 reasons... have heard they are faster to reload at night and they pack a punch at a shorter length compared to a band gun, so perhaps more suitable for low vis. I currently have an 85cm band gun and I am very happy with it. However, there is a breakwater area I wish to fish where I think the vis is very poor most of the time - 1 meter or less.

I am thinking about a pneumatic gun.. I noticed that the shortest Cressi SL with reducer is a 55... am torn between this and the 75... given I want another gun for very close shots is the 55 a good idea? - if I go ahead I will get a dry barrel kit for it.

Posting in this thread as some Dorset spearos have pneumatics.
 
I've been in at Durdledoor twice in the last month and both times it's been fine, vis of 2-3metres or so. On the second occassion during the swim milky white cloudiness did start spoiling visibility - I could see it coming in straight off the chalk from the landslide.

Trying to remember conditions but I think I got in at around the hightide point, wind was SW I think on both occassions but was predicted to change direction during the second dive... my point being I think that wind direction was the factor that brought the sediment across.
 
Thinking about buying a pneumatic gun for 2 reasons... have heard they are faster to reload at night and they pack a punch at a shorter length compared to a band gun, so perhaps more suitable for low vis. I currently have an 85cm band gun and I am very happy with it. However, there is a breakwater area I wish to fish where I think the vis is very poor most of the time - 1 meter or less.

I am thinking about a pneumatic gun.. I noticed that the shortest Cressi SL with reducer is a 55... am torn between this and the 75... given I want another gun for very close shots is the 55 a good idea? - if I go ahead I will get a dry barrel kit for it.

Posting in this thread as some Dorset spearos have pneumatics.

Not an observation of pneumatics per se as I don't have one, but it strikes me that the shorter Cressi might be a better idea for specifically using in lower visibility. I own a 75cm band gun and it's relatively slow to move laterally through the water. A shorter gun would improve your maneuverability which is a more important factor at low vis maybe?
 
My 85cm band gun is a bit slow to track too. I think one concern with the 55cm gun is that it may not be balanced properly - a bit muzzle heavy perhaps? however, I haven't tried one and at that length it may not make a difference.
 
My 85cm band gun is a bit slow to track too. I think one concern with the 55cm gun is that it may not be balanced properly - a bit muzzle heavy perhaps? however, I haven't tried one and at that length it may not make a difference.

Others have much more experience than me, but I bought a 70cm pump gun earlier this year. It's great in bad viz (shorter than an equivalent 70cm band gun) and much easier to track but I do find it muzzle heavy and have to make a conscious effort to aim (and frequently forget to and then miss...) - I find the band gun much more instinctive in that way.
 
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Quick two pennies worth on band v pneumatic.

I tried a 70 Cressi SL for a few months but found my accuracy was royally off. I had real problems removing the spear from the fish also. My usual method of spear extraction is to push the spear all the way through the fish, turn it round and push it back through the hole point first. This is not possible with a pneumatic because of the line slide, making it a real pig to get a spear with two sprung floppers back through a rib shot fish. Some might suggest removing the spear tip but I don't think it's a great idea unless you carry pliers with you.

I much prefer my Comanche 60 with G20 rubbers for low vis/rocky fishing. A fantastically basic yet balanced gun.

I agree, the pneumatic is quicker to reload but if you get a fish on your turnaround time is double that of the band gun. There is also the option to leave a stone shot fish on the shooting line and reload for the shot on that second, bigger, bass that only showed its face when you shot his buddy. Can't do that with a pneumatic.

Just my opinion though.....

Chris

Ps. Spearolee. Love your work buddy!
 
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Had my worst dive yet this season last night. List my snorkel and a fin, walked 5 miles swam 4 miles for 1 bass :(. Vus was crap.

But I grabbed some live rock for my marine tank :) so not all loss.


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Had a great session down at Hengistbury this morning. Caught a few pollack but was good to be in the water. Saw a huge shoal of mullet go past me (looked like they were on their way to France). Also saw pout, brill, wrasse, jellyfish, bass, sandeel, baby squid and lots of other bait fish. Met another highly aggressive velvet swimmer crab.... I made a lobster snare but didn't bother switching the gun to get it. I took a brown crab but put it back before I left as it was a bit on the small side.

Lots of boats were speeding in the area what with the airshow on - couldn't have fished where I was without the flag up on my float.
 
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But I grabbed some live rock for my marine tank :) so not all loss.

Nice tank. I decided last week that I was going to setup my small nano tank as cold water marine - it's been sitting here empty for about a year! Each item that goes in there will be a souvenir from that session - found a hermit crab today that was in turbo mode.. would have taken it back if the tank had been up and running.
 
I only ever use my SL70 these days as it is powerful, accurate, and easy to reload. And removing fish is very simple too, just untwist the spear tip, slide the fish off, and spin the tip back on again.

Got in for 30 mins just before sunset at an old favourite spot of mine and found these two lovely bass. And my friend Will, who has been spearfishing less than a year so far, got a lovely 6 pounder! :friday

photo.jpg
 
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Nice one Tom :).

Chris, it's a shame you don't get on with the pneumatic guns, but you did give it a good bash! Guess they're just not everyone's cup of tea.

As for accuracy, with a banded gun you point the spear at the fish and with a pneumatic, you point the gun. When I first switch over to a banded gun I miss my first shot as it bounces over the top of fish as I'm aiming the barrel as a pneumatic gun.

As for removal, I sometimes unsrew the tip, especially if I head shot a big bass over 7lb. But if it's a flesh shot I just pull the spear through and quick release the shooting line. You can mod the slider so that it passes through the fish easier.

Chris, give me a shout if you want your gun going to a new loving home...cash waiting !

Just ordered some new tips for mine along with a new snorkel :)

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Have a 5am get up for a session at 'Worth' tomorrow morning. JPP, I am in the same boat, not sure what the vis is and I have a fair weight in gear to take down.

Fishing the tide down. The weather has been quite settled here recently. As the vis is 'ok' in Poole Bay at the moment, I am hoping it's even better in the Purbecks.
 
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