Dorset spearfishing 2014

[Highlander]

It all depends on the weather. You cannot say for definite what will be better. The vis could be buggered next week or so going on the recent activity from Ex Hurricane Bertha still having adverse affects. It's not too much of a drive between Osmington & Portland at all, just take it as it comes. If you are in Portland then it's either the east or west side depending on the wind, tide, swell, but be careful of the currents as they do flow quick. I am no expert on Portland by the way so I'm surf others may post what will be better.

 

[bogeylea]

Hello good people of Dorset.
I'm camping just outside of Osmington this weekend and if the conditions permit will be spearfishing Fri, Sat and Sun to take advantage of a weekend away.
I was wondering if you'd mind sharing an opinion as to whether I'd be better off diving around Portland or on the coast south of Osmington, east of Portland? Not after any spots just want to maximise my time not driving about in between dives when I should be spending at least some of the time with my mates who I have not seen for years (they do not dive). Any advice appreciated.

Just been windsurfing down at Ringstead and its brown 0 viz and with the wind forecast for the next few days I think there's slim chance of any viz at Osmington this weekend unfortunately. I would think best chance of viz would be preston end of weymouth bay, the nothe or portland harbour.

 

[cesar]

Hi Highlander
coming back from Cornwall on friday,unfortunately wedding commitment on sat and back to work on monday
Frid night I could go for swim!!
Hopefully better weather then
Dai Asbo: Osmington is good and easy and very safe,above is right,vis???,if W wind is strong then Portland harbour,newtons cove are good safe options,church ope cove is good too
Good luck

 

[speerolee]

asbo

the winds are staying from the west quadrant for the week. so leaves you with only a few options.

ringstead and ossmington will be fudged right up.

portland harbour

church ope cove

newtons cove

Weymouth bay

or a tad further the other way.

Lulworth cove

poole harbour

swanage.

 

[Highlander]

Cesar, I may pass you going in the opposite direction, as I'm in Cornwall for about 5 days, will have to beThursday next week. Was camping overnight at Golden Cap & it was blowing a hoolie. My tent survived the battering Saturday night, but my mates was a complete wreck & I heard a crack then a scream & they had to bug out at 4 in the morning. I followed at 7.30-8 as the ground was getting sodden & no longer holding the tent pegs. I was awake about 3hours overnight, however Oliver slept all the way through it, oh to be 4.

 

[Dai ASBO]

Thanks for the info gents, very helpful and much appreciated.

 

[Kuya]

The Run at Mudeford this evening.

No spearfishing in the Bay for a while.

 

[SurfnSpear]

Cesar, I may pass you going in the opposite direction, as I'm in Cornwall for about 5 days,

I've passed on your reg to the boys...your bunk is ready and just deciding on what charge to stitch you up on

 

[Highlander]

I've passed on your reg to the boys...your bunk is ready and just deciding on what charge to stitch you up on

I'll show you how to do a full days work, teach you how to cook & all for a small price of laying my weary head down on some firm pillows.

I'm looking at popping into the local SA shop for some Biltong.

 

[speerolee]

Just out of interest...

I pretty much only get in at night so rarely have much to do with the general public. Most public are absolutely fascinated and amazed to see us exiting the water at 2am with torches and stringers of big bass (more than 3). The only negativity ive picked up is from the odd miserable angler; who will mutter bad words once he thinks your out of earshot.

day divers have encounters with beach goers, smimmers, surfers, scuba boys, boats, fisherman, WAFI 's, kayakers, dog walkers.......us night stalkers pretty much come and go 'unseen'.

so do you day walkers have any negativity aimed at you? or are other water users genrally ok??

 

[bobandsausage]

Just out of interest...

I pretty much only get in at night so rarely have much to do with the general public. Most public are absolutely fascinated and amazed to see us exiting the water at 2am with torches and stringers of big bass (more than 3). The only negativity ive picked up is from the odd miserable angler; who will mutter bad words once he thinks your out of earshot.

day divers have encounters with beach goers, smimmers, surfers, scuba boys, boats, fisherman, WAFI 's, kayakers, dog walkers.......us night stalkers pretty much come and go 'unseen'.

so do you day walkers have any negativity aimed at you? or are other water users genrally ok??

In Sussex only ever had good vibes (especially from drunk/ high people on Brighton beach), apart from a tackle shop owner in Bognor who told me it was "cheating". However, I have been asked a few times "what are you going to do with those fish?" err....

 

[speerolee]

yeah just seems to be rod and line anglers; friendly enough...but always an 'undertone'.

there's an old boy I see on a chesil beach spot, he always cracks jokes "oh god it's you ba$*#rds again, come to take all my fish...p!$$ orf!" then chuckles to himself....nice guy, but you know he hates me. I throw him a few bass and point him on the wrecks and he's happy enough.

 

[speerolee]

A pic Just to test the water...and see if this forum is back on track?

my best night dive of last month. 2 spearos, my catch on the left my brothers on the right.

The smallest bass is 3lb 10oz..the other 2 are 10lb and 11.5lb.

1 hour walk of death down a cliff face to an almost inacessible spot. in the water for 6 hours covering 5 miles of untouched coast line.

ignored over 30 big mullet and countless bass under 4lb probably seen over 100 fish that size.

we were selective and picked off the bigger fish. the walk back was absolutely killer.

 

[speerolee]

my big bass was spotted from the surface in 6m of water between boulders. only looked 5lb from the surface, dived down without breathing up and realised it was a double, it saw me and cruised slowly behind a rock so I very stealthily followed.....but it kept going and just showing me it's tail! so I decided to risk it by swimming off to the left around a boulder to get in front to ambush it. it paid off and I managed a square on shot, dropped my gun and swam after it.......in all this exitement I forgot my need for air!! luckily I was only 6m down, but a harsh reminder of the dangers!

 

[diver9]

Just out of interest...

I pretty much only get in at night so rarely have much to do with the general public. Most public are absolutely fascinated and amazed to see us exiting the water at 2am with torches and stringers of big bass (more than 3). The only negativity ive picked up is from the odd miserable angler; who will mutter bad words once he thinks your out of earshot.

day divers have encounters with beach goers, smimmers, surfers, scuba boys, boats, fisherman, WAFI 's, kayakers, dog walkers.......us night stalkers pretty much come and go 'unseen'.

so do you day walkers have any negativity aimed at you? or are other water users genrally ok??

Lee,

As you know I spend a lot of time Kayak fishing and have been doing it a long while so I can honestly say as a spearo that the worse people are uninformed, inexperienced kayak hirees and the companies who dont inform them what and Alpha flag is!. Never had issues on kayaks or spearing with anglers day or night as I try and treat them as I would want and in all honestly I try and avoid their swims, even if it means I have to move.

Always get the emets coming over to talk both when spearing and when kayak fishing but it is usually ill informed interest.....even had one tell my son speargusns were illegal......until he found I used them. I think in part it is the equipment....cammo wetsuit, knives, guns, floats and bags etc on spearing and it is the drysuit, radio, personal locator beacon, gps and fishfinder with the kayak - I think they never see this and are genuinely interested. Most of the issue I have are with some of the people who use the tackle shops although the people who run this are A OK and have no issues...I think jealousy at having to stand ont he shore while we go out ot see by whatever method and return with fish...usually.

I have to do most of my spearing int he day although am going back to doing more night forrays and again it tends to be genuine interest.....usaually from the bl**dy seal!

I am needing a new knee in the next few years so my walks along cliffs in the dark have to be well known to me and exploring can be a pain. The injuries and 17 operations on my legs have resulted in me being very short for my weight!!

All the best

 

[speerolee]

Just treated myself to a pair of Rob Allen pure carbon fins

I have been spearfishing for over 20 years, during which I have tested many blades, plastic, fibreglass, carbon and glass mix, pure carbon, long, short, medium and mono etc..

For me pure carbon hard blades are the most suitable for my dive style; swimming inng distance in tide, overweighted etc..

of all the pure carbons I've tested these are by far the best. extra light blades with comfy pockets. the blade itself is very responsive; extra width and lenghth with rails running the full length really help. The build quality is fantastic.

I gave these fins a real test swimmimg from langton herring to abbotbuty stretch of chesil beach and back!!! also tested them to 16m.

 

[ashly122]

Hey guys. Finally on some much needed holiday time. Any vis Dorset to Portland?

 

[ashly122]

Looking at heading to the Portland area tomorrow, is it worth the hour and abit travel??

 

[cesar]

Please guys any vis report from Poole to Portland??.Ash+ Scott+ me planning to dive tom

 

[21raven21]

Anyone around for a dive tonight ? Im going our regardless. Wont have phone signal to check so pm me and i will reply around 5 ish

Cheers Ben