Dorset spearfishing 2014

[scrumpy]

WOOD3154

Most regular postings on here are now also posted on Facebook within a semi closed group. Anyone can request to join and share general topics, advice, Viz reports and secret spots!!!!

Seriously the reason for the group is to allow people to openly discuss general thoughts and share spots, without the fear that you will turn up at a given spot to find a dozen spearos exiting the water. I fell foul of this a couple years ago after showing my catch on Deeper Blue with the Word ‘Thurlestone' mentioned in the report, even though most of the fish were taken further along the coastline. The very next day we turned up for a dive to find 8 spearos in the water, Whilst we sat on the beach having a bite to eat and deciding where to dive as clearly Thurlestone was a no go area, we sat open mouthed, gobsmacked, embarrassed and ashamed to be fellow spearos. Can’t even bring myself to think of them as Spearos if I’m honest, seeing them leave the water with clearly undersized bass, not many mind you, tiny Pollock and worst of all loaded guns. Stern words were shouted from us as horrified holidaymakers and beach users looked on. The phrase ‘the ground to swallow me up’ was in the forefront of my mind.

I am by no means an expert spearo, or even a good breath holder but will pass on tips, advice and spots to people I feel I can trust, even though most I probably will never meet. Some of this experience has been gained like so many before me by research and dive after dive, more often than not returning empty and frustrated. Other info has been passed to me by fellow spearos – Spearolee being my main mentor. I now appreciate this was all part of my learning the art to hunt.

I still enjoy reading Deeper Blue but I want to read about the above and not about someone who opens up a new topic for general discussion and then gets a cob on when people disagree or have differing views to him. Yes I am talking about Arrowloopboy.

The spearos I know personally respect the environment and the ones that don’t, I have no time for.

Rant over.

 

[Broseidon]

^^^^^

I think DeeperBlue is amazing but one problem it has is that TOO much content is accessible to non-registered users and there is no option for members to have private areas - this is the exact reason there are closed Facebook groups like "Kernow Spearfishing" and "Uk spearfishing without the aid of daylight " popping up and being consistently advertised on the forums.

These Facebook groups should really worry the DeeperBlue staff because the people running them and posting in them are, lets face it, the main content creators this forum has. How interesting would the Dorset thread really be without people like Lee posting great catches? If a site drives away the core community that creates it's content - what does the site have left?

I know that a lot of spearo's can't be bothered with DeeperBlue any more as it's too public and gives far too much open exposure to spearfishing which is, to many, is a polarising sport. As has been mentioned by a number of ex-DB members, DeeperBlue draws far too much attention to what, for a long time has been a niche and under the radar hobby.

I'm worried that in a couple of years time, the UK and Ireland section will have become a place for arm-chair spearos to bicker with each other and for noobs to beg for spots... the real spearos will be posting somewhere else, behind closed doors.

Do I think anything will change, probably not as to be honest, I'm not really sure how much DeeperBlue listens to it's members...

 

[Broseidon]

WOOD3154

Most regular postings on here are now also posted on Facebook within a semi closed group. Anyone can request to join and share general topics, advice, Viz reports and secret spots!!!!

Seriously the reason for the group is to allow people to openly discuss general thoughts and share spots, without the fear that you will turn up at a given spot to find a dozen spearos exiting the water. I fell foul of this a couple years ago after showing my catch on Deeper Blue with the Word ‘Thurlestone' mentioned in the report, even though most of the fish were taken further along the coastline. The very next day we turned up for a dive to find 8 spearos in the water, Whilst we sat on the beach having a bite to eat and deciding where to dive as clearly Thurlestone was a no go area, we sat open mouthed, gobsmacked, embarrassed and ashamed to be fellow spearos. Can’t even bring myself to think of them as Spearos if I’m honest, seeing them leave the water with clearly undersized bass, not many mind you, tiny Pollock and worst of all loaded guns. Stern words were shouted from us as horrified holidaymakers and beach users looked on. The phrase ‘the ground to swallow me up’ was in the forefront of my mind.

I am by no means an expert spearo, or even a good breath holder but will pass on tips, advice and spots to people I feel I can trust, even though most I probably will never meet. Some of this experience has been gained like so many before me by research and dive after dive, more often than not returning empty and frustrated. Other info has been passed to me by fellow spearos – Spearolee being my main mentor. I now appreciate this was all part of my learning the art to hunt.

I still enjoy reading Deeper Blue but I want to read about the above and not about someone who opens up a new topic for general discussion and then gets a cob on when people disagree or have differing views to him. Yes I am talking about Arrowloopboy.

The spearos I know personally respect the environment and the ones that don’t, I have no time for.

Rant over.

I can completely relate to this, I and few others used to openly discuss spots in the North Wales thread, simply because there were no spearos in North Wales. In 5 years, I'd never seen a single person spearing. One spot had been fishing well and had been mentioned a couple of times over the week - I went down on the Saturday day and wow - 7 spearos in the water... all trying to fish the exact same spot - I was shocked.

Not as shocked as when I saw them exiting the water brandishing tiny pollock and wrasse, with the odd idiot having taken a few tiny, female spider crabs. This is the exact type of idiot that I'm talking about:



And yes, that is a catch bag full of tiny, dying wrasse...

 

[scrumpy]

Why oh why would you think that is worthy of posting on you tube. Remember watching that soon after posting and thinking 'WHAT A TOSSER'
Hopefully he will read these comments and flog his gear, if he hasn't already.
The one that stands out for me was a polish guy, coming out the water with a stringer full of fish at Meadfoot. Every type and size
The guy was really chuffed with himself and showing off to fellow beach users, the problem was the twin cylinders on his back.
I think that time the word 'KNOBHEAD' came to mind.

 

[Stephan Whelan]

So folks - this Facebook discussion has just been brought to my attention by Foxfish.

Firstly I'm very disappointed to hear you think we don't listen to your feedback - this is the first time I've heard a suggestion of private groups and no one ever really emails or PM's me with suggestions. We also have a suggestions forum and pretty much everyone knows I'm the owner so can email or pm me.

So anyway back to the issue at hand.

Facebook has been slowly eroding forums over the years and is very much a threat to our existence. However it is also engrained in people's behaviour now and is unlikely to go away.

Private groups are actually a feature on the forums but not one we really publicise. I'm on y mobile so can't get the details to you but will do so when I get back. I will also see of there is any additional functionality that can be added.

My generally view is we will introduce functionality that is useful and people want but ultimately a lt of people are attracted to Facebook as it has become a core part of their lives and forums struggle to keep up. However open groups on Facebook are suffering from a lot of spam and the linear forum of conversation is also frustrating people so I personally believe forums will become in fashion again at some point.

As far as a new set of spearos joining - that is how the sport grows. It's an age old problem and one played out on here every few years. The problem is unless you attract new people to a sport that sport will eventually become extinct.

Let me get back to everyone on private groups later.

 

[speerolee]

just to get back on track. ....and of course show off here's my highlights of July 2014

 

[speerolee]

July was a difficult month, hindered by the lack if vis....but a few fish into double figures to be had. bass seem to be 5-8lb as avarage size...very few grey mullet about, but millions of small red mullet; I managed a good one last month. july was also pretty good on the lobster front
just started seeing gurnards and black bream...hopefully some john D's and triggers now

 

[spearo Clark]

The above not to your liking foxfish!

 

[foxfish]

What is wrong with you mate? what have I done to upset you? why are you making sarcastic comments?
I really don't understand your remarks?
I try my best to keep things on this forum running as smoothly as possible what is your problem?

 

[spearo Clark]

Nothing wrong with me, I am absolutely fine, enjoying spearfishing reading posts and leaving likes!

 

[Wood3154]

WOOD3154

Most regular postings on here are now also posted on Facebook within a semi closed group. Anyone can request to join and share general topics, advice, Viz reports and secret spots!!!!

Seriously the reason for the group is to allow people to openly discuss general thoughts and share spots, without the fear that you will turn up at a given spot to find a dozen spearos exiting the water. I fell foul of this a couple years ago after showing my catch on Deeper Blue with the Word ‘Thurlestone' mentioned in the report, even though most of the fish were taken further along the coastline. The very next day we turned up for a dive to find 8 spearos in the water, Whilst we sat on the beach having a bite to eat and deciding where to dive as clearly Thurlestone was a no go area, we sat open mouthed, gobsmacked, embarrassed and ashamed to be fellow spearos. Can’t even bring myself to think of them as Spearos if I’m honest, seeing them leave the water with clearly undersized bass, not many mind you, tiny Pollock and worst of all loaded guns. Stern words were shouted from us as horrified holidaymakers and beach users looked on. The phrase ‘the ground to swallow me up’ was in the forefront of my mind.

I am by no means an expert spearo, or even a good breath holder but will pass on tips, advice and spots to people I feel I can trust, even though most I probably will never meet. Some of this experience has been gained like so many before me by research and dive after dive, more often than not returning empty and frustrated. Other info has been passed to me by fellow spearos – Spearolee being my main mentor. I now appreciate this was all part of my learning the art to hunt.

I still enjoy reading Deeper Blue but I want to read about the above and not about someone who opens up a new topic for general discussion and then gets a cob on when people disagree or have differing views to him. Yes I am talking about Arrowloopboy.

The spearos I know personally respect the environment and the ones that don’t, I have no time for.

Rant over.

That's always an issue and isn't confined to spearos. Open water swimming has similar issues, for example. It's a risk you take when trying to attract new members and short of taking newbies with you on dives (something not many are keen to do), how else are we supposed to find details of placed to hunt? It's almost like the age old 'I won't give you this job because you don't have experience', yet the only way to gain experience is to have the job in the first place.

I really enjoy spearfishing, but it's only really enjoyable if you can catch something worth eating. If you can't find somewhere to catch decent size fish, well, you might as well just take up snorkelling

Sent from my GT-I9295 using Tapatalk

 

[Broseidon]

That's always an issue and isn't confined to spearos. Open water swimming has similar issues, for example. It's a risk you take when trying to attract new members and short of taking newbies with you on dives (something not many are keen to do), how else are we supposed to find details of placed to hunt? It's almost like the age old 'I won't give you this job because you don't have experience', yet the only way to gain experience is to have the job in the first place.

I really enjoy spearfishing, but it's only really enjoyable if you can catch something worth eating. If you can't find somewhere to catch decent size fish, well, you might as well just take up snorkelling

Sent from my GT-I9295 using Tapatalk

I'm sorry, but this is just a terrible attitude to spearing. Why do you think that you, or any other novice spearo has the right to demand spots from experienced spearos who have put in tens, maybe hundreds of hours in the water to find decent spots that produce fish?

I never share spots unless I know and respect the person asking. I've taken novice spearos out, it was one of the worst spearing experiences I've ever had. Never again!

When you take up spearing, read the forums and learn - no-one owes you anything. I'll always be one of the first to help a novice out and give advice but if you expect people to spoon feed you their hard earned spots, maybe you should stick to snorkelling...

Edit: Sorry if sounded this sounded a bit harsh, maybe a rum too many before bedtime - it brings out the key-board warrior in me

 

[Pointandhope]

Bro, I think you've hit the nail on the head there, albeit a lump hammer! As a firsts season newbie myself i think it's reasonable to glean advice on kit etc and get some viz reports from this forum, but getting exact locations publicly posted is not going to happen. I can see that diving only 2-3 times a month is going to take a couple of years to piece together a basic picture of how the marks fish on differing tides and conditions, as I've dived a couple of spots 3 times each and as yet no pattern has formed for me. Therefore protecting spots that a lot of graft has gone in to is going to be important, word will still get out even if its ill informed. As I hiked up a cliff a few weeks back with a few nice mullet I passed several hikers, one woman I heard said to another in her party as I moved away from her " crickey, that's a lot of sea bass" and another family wanted to look at the fish to which the father said " nice silver sea bass there" me-" no, thick lipped mullet" him- "nope, they're sea bass".
He probably told someone somewhere that I saw some fellas with loads of big sea bass at...

 

[scrumpy]

I have to agree with Bros you have to put in the research and hours. I’ve been spearing now for about 5 years but involved with the water since birth basically! The first couple were very hard, all spots have the ability to throw up some good fish, it’s just a case of perfecting your diving. Unless your diving the Ness beach, Teignmouth that is!
I remember diving with a buddy in the most amazing setting around Salcombe, out he would come with various bass, mullet, plaice and all I would see would be the odd wrasse or Pollock. The difference between us was the way he remained calm, controlled his breathing and hardly made a ripple when diving down, also the 2 minute breath holds. Where as I was fighting to reach the surface after 30 seconds.
Research Google maps and look for isolated areas, saying that I’ve taken good bass with Chav boy racers cruising as they call it, up and down the prom.
Learn from every dive as the rest of us have done, but don’t get disheartened.
When I dive at night I always dive alone, it is something I am comfortable with and prefer, it is also a nightmare trying to arrange dives with shift work and kids.
I want to focus on my search for fish and not be looking where my buddy is or more importantly which way his gun is pointing!
Personally I would find it very hard to be in the water with a newbie with changing sea conditions and the general unknown about how someone is going to react to unexpected situations, whilst having a finger on the trigger.
I say this because we all started out as newbie’s.
I would advise you to find a secluded beach or safe headland and explore, enjoy the experience and practice breathing techniques. If fish come your way then it is a bonus.
The guys who I know locally, have always passed on that anything shot is eaten. Even dreaded wrasse!!!
The Guys on here will pass on info but expect you to do a bit of research, which I am sure you are doing.
If I can help send me a PM and 'llI do my best

 

[diver9]

I have to agree with Bros you have to put in the research and hours. I’ve been spearing now for about 5 years but involved with the water since birth basically! The first couple were very hard, all spots have the ability to throw up some good fish, it’s just a case of perfecting your diving. Unless your diving the Ness beach, Teignmouth that is!
I remember diving with a buddy in the most amazing setting around Salcombe, out he would come with various bass, mullet, plaice and all I would see would be the odd wrasse or Pollock. The difference between us was the way he remained calm, controlled his breathing and hardly made a ripple when diving down, also the 2 minute breath holds. Where as I was fighting to reach the surface after 30 seconds.
Research Google maps and look for isolated areas, saying that I’ve taken good bass with Chav boy racers cruising as they call it, up and down the prom.
Learn from every dive as the rest of us have done, but don’t get disheartened.
When I dive at night I always dive alone, it is something I am comfortable with and prefer, it is also a nightmare trying to arrange dives with shift work and kids.
I want to focus on my search for fish and not be looking where my buddy is or more importantly which way his gun is pointing!
Personally I would find it very hard to be in the water with a newbie with changing sea conditions and the general unknown about how someone is going to react to unexpected situations, whilst having a finger on the trigger.
I say this because we all started out as newbie’s.
I would advise you to find a secluded beach or safe headland and explore, enjoy the experience and practice breathing techniques. If fish come your way then it is a bonus.
The guys who I know locally, have always passed on that anything shot is eaten. Even dreaded wrasse!!!
The Guys on here will pass on info but expect you to do a bit of research, which I am sure you are doing.
If I can help send me a PM and I do my best

Guys,

I totally agree with the comments and this seems to have started a bit with me asking for information as myself and the family are staying at West Bay in August......what was most important to me (as I had already done the Google maps) was to find areas that were a definite no no due to tidal or other safety issues.

I too have seen ambush spearos flocking to areas that have been listed on here and mentioned to mates over the ast 30 odd years spearing......some of them very well known and I learnt a lot from.......saying nothing publicly.

In short I do not believe that spots should be handed out but perhaps advice of iffy areas may help prevent issues in the fuiture.

Apologies for kicking up such a problem on the forum

All the best

 

[denian]

Just down at Avon beech with family looking at needles on Island of White and hengistbury head over muddy ford mouth it's a RNLI open day with lots going on strong south westerlys seas a crap colour and a bit choppy think its low tide .nice tho !

 

[Broseidon]

Guys,

I totally agree with the comments and this seems to have started a bit with me asking for information as myself and the family are staying at West Bay in August......what was most important to me (as I had already done the Google maps) was to find areas that were a definite no no due to tidal or other safety issues.

I too have seen ambush spearos flocking to areas that have been listed on here and mentioned to mates over the ast 30 odd years spearing......some of them very well known and I learnt a lot from.......saying nothing publicly.

In short I do not believe that spots should be handed out but perhaps advice of iffy areas may help prevent issues in the fuiture.

Apologies for kicking up such a problem on the forum

All the best

No need to apologise at all! My comment was not aimed at you or in reference to your post - you seem like an incredibly clued up and polite spearo. Asking for safe spots to take your son when diving a new area is common sense, I hope someone local helped you out!

I just took a mild, rum-induced, exception to someone suggesting that novices should be given spots and that without this help, no-one would know where to dive.

Maybe (most probably) I'm just being a git but having seen so many UK videos appearing over the last couple of years of tiny fish being shot and sealife being generally abused, I wouldn't share a spot on a public forum - I'd happily help someone via PM though.

I hope your time in Dorset goes well!

 

[speerolee]

TBH I don't really have 'Spots' I live on top of the mendip hills in somerset!
I have google maps, expierience has taught me to look for a certain type of ground abd preferably somwehere way off the beaten track.
I try to get wet 2-3 times a week and pretty much never hit the same spot as I get bored. I also cover silly amounts of ground and not afraid of tide and and very remote places.
I travel to Dorset lyme regis to bournmouth/poole, devon- beer plymouth....westward ho to illfracombe...Cornwall south and North coast. I would say I've pretty much swam the SW coast line...but still miles left to explore...foreplanning all the time for the next dive.
So all said I am happy to point people safely to obvious spots like the cobb at lyme, west bay arm, portland harbour, weymouth bay, newtons cove, chesil cove, ringstead bay, etc..etc...etc.. they are no secrect, easy to find and relatively safe.....and often will bust out a double figure bass or a GH bream.

So many great spots out there...The avarage person likes easy accsess and prefer to hit a spot that had an amazing catch report the previous day,,, so no threat to me. I think the most inacessable, longest walk, longest swim, never touched by commercials and most likely never speared! ...then I'm exited!

in a nutshell....common sense to be applied when sharing info, an expierenced fellow spearo on holiday, tgen put him on a good safe spot that is known, you can offer to meet up and take them to a better unknown spot to mske their visit worth while; they're hardly going to be hitting every week.

As for newbies I put them on portland harbour / sandsfoot beach as it's fairly safe and easy acsess with consistant vis...or even newtons cove.

last night I swam pretty much the east side of portland 9pm till 2am, very tidal, sechluded long steep cliff walks and silly distance swim and somewhat dangerous! so wouldn't recommend it.

 

[diver9]

No need to apologise at all! My comment was not aimed at you or in reference to your post - you seem like an incredibly clued up and polite spearo. Asking for safe spots to take your son when diving a new area is common sense, I hope someone local helped you out!

I just took a mild, rum-induced, exception to someone suggesting that novices should be given spots and that without this help, no-one would know where to dive.

Maybe (most probably) I'm just being a git but having seen so many UK videos appearing over the last couple of years of tiny fish being shot and sealife being generally abused, I wouldn't share a spot on a public forum - I'd happily help someone via PM though.

I hope your time in Dorset goes well!

Thanks for that

I also kayak fish and when you are upwards of 2-3 miles offshore the tidal planning and wind directions are very important safety issues so I am always mindful of tides and runs although I ususally find it is the locals who know the rip points.

I am lucky that I live so close to the sea but saying that I do not always have the chance to travel far because of young family - in fact a beach not 12 miles away which was a childhood special spearing location was only visited by son and myself for the first time in 14 years- however this year has been special with my 14 year old son graduating up from snorkelling to proper spearing so we can travel and experience new ground together as well as with old mates.

Cheers again

 

[spearo Clark]

Reports of mackerel in numbers along chesil hopefully lots of bass on there tails