Guernsey 2006

[foxfish]

Well I might not be able to dive but I have been busy. I pulled the first plug out of my mamba sleeve mould. Still a prototype but getting there

 

[ADM]

So it' you who's nicked them kiddies car style trolleys from checkers. My nipper's been asking where they had all gone :rofl:

 

[Andy.R]

Well got the suit on (sort of) and off again. Blimey it s a different ball game from a lined suit. The only problem I had was getting the jacket down over the long johns, its a snug fit!!

The weather seems pretty quiet today and forcast for ligt winds this evening. HW @ 10:00pm if anyone up for a night dive?

Andy

ps Foxfish the gun looks pretty mean, like a double barrel shotgun!! When are you hoping to get back in?

 

[Magpie]

Cor and you being a gun person I thought you knew never to point a weapon at someone, loaded or not, even if they are your elder brother! :t

Nice work foxy. How much extra bouyancy does it give? Doesn't seem like you'd get as much as the original?

Andy, the suit will get easier with practise mate, and you'll see why its worth the hassle in the water.

I won't be diving much for a week or two. Moving house, well moving into temporary accomodation for a couple of months anyway, so my stuff's going to be all over the place.

 

[Spaniard]

Cheers guys. I think i will buy some gloves for next year. My buddy wears just one glove at a time; so that he has one hand to grab the speared fish with, and a hand free for trigger work etc.

I think that i will go with 3mm then.

Thanks for your responses.

Huw.

For Summer months a cheap and workable option is to buy gardeners gloves; they are heavy duty enough to last a season and not too thick.

 

[podge]

Well I might not be able to dive but I have been busy. I pulled the first plug out of my mamba sleeve mould. Still a prototype but getting there

Mart the Mamba looks great.
Hope your ears improve quickly mate.
Paul

 

[Old Man Dave]

Went in late afternoon to look for a few flatfish on or just after the low tide. Went in Rousse/Ladies bay as there were no windsurfers (for a change). Excellent vis but one of those dives when I had a whole string of hassles. However, eventually, after an hour of wasted time, got my act together and did some serious looking. Working in 15 to 20 ft I managed to pull out 5 plaice. No monsters but perfect eating size. 4 were well buried and one was on top. 3 of the buried ones I prodded lumps and the other buried one I spotted its eyes. Not exactly my best ever catch but 3 the other day and 5 today is maybe a sign that this will be a better year. Now and for the next month or so is traditionally prime flatty time.

Andy can't go tonight but if the weather holds maybe in the next day or two I'll be up for a night dive. Charge my torch tonight.

Dave

 

[portinfer]

Mart - good sleeve - have posted for you on Medfish - cheers Ed

(Nice catches one and all - seems like I'll have to break out the plaice gun again for my yearly one-plaice-wonder score )

 

[Andy.R]

Well done Dave great catch.:king

I went in tonight, was thinking Ladies Bay, but got held up at work so went nearer home.

Tried out the new suit, WOW I would liken it to the first time I wore a dry suit. Unbelievable, not trickles of cold at all I was almost too hot. I put on an extra 2kg but still too light.

Saw loads and loads of small mullet in the thong weed and a longnose cruised past. I'm sure I saw more fish than normal - must be the cammo

Had a nice dive though and that garfish was a great sight (and yes I did try a shot!)

Can't do tomorrow night for a dive, but thurs or fri would be good.

Andy

 

[Sarnian]

Went in late afternoon to look for a few flatfish on or just after the low tide. Went in Rousse/Ladies bay as there were no windsurfers (for a change). Excellent vis but one of those dives when I had a whole string of hassles. However, eventually, after an hour of wasted time, got my act together and did some serious looking. Working in 15 to 20 ft I managed to pull out 5 plaice. No monsters but perfect eating size. 4 were well buried and one was on top. 3 of the buried ones I prodded lumps and the other buried one I spotted its eyes. Not exactly my best ever catch but 3 the other day and 5 today is maybe a sign that this will be a better year. Now and for the next month or so is traditionally prime flatty time.

Andy can't go tonight but if the weather holds maybe in the next day or two I'll be up for a night dive. Charge my torch tonight.

Dave

Nice catch Dave - it's almost worth making a long handspear (telescopic?) and going in with that! Not sure exactly where you were though. I heard from a Crapaud I work with that over there they go flattie hunting by walking down the beach (i.e. uncovered) with a spear in each hand, stabbing in the sand as they go. Apparently you have to get the co-ordination right so you don't end up in A&E with a spike through each foot! Don't know if it's true or just a Jersey urban legend - can anyone confirm? Could we do it over here on a low spring?
p.s. nice work Mart - just a thought-if you made the sleeve out of transparent material you wouldn't have to paint it in camo too!:hmm

 

[Andy.R]

Years ago when I used to dive of a lot I kept a detailed log book. I came across the book yesterday evening while looking for something else, and found the attached press clipping in it!

Andy

 

[Old Man Dave]

Just thought I'd add an extra to yesterdays dive report. I saw 10 or 12 large male spiders out in the open. I don't eat crab, though I take the odd one and give them away. I can't remember seeing this phenomenon before. Seen little females like this but hese were all BIG males and a couple were real whoppers. They were a bit "weedy" and slow moving, not bright red and aggressive like early season ones but assuming they are good to eat then there was a lot of crab meat crawling around the bottom.

Andy, you had a couple the other day, were they full and did they taste okay? You'd need a big pot for the two biggest I saw as i reckon they were 4lb+.

If anyone likes big spider they can PM me and if I see some I'll grab them, although I probably won't go deliberately looking for them.

One last point about rays. There certainly are a lot of small rays about and they bury soooooo well. I keep prodding them and then my heart leaps with the thought "buried flatty" only to find it's a little "butterfly" ray. Bloody pain they are. Still nice to see some species thriving. Afraid the netters have killed off all the big ray so not sure wether these little ones will make it or not. lets hope they do.

Dave

 

[Sarnian]

Hi Dave

Your inbox appears to be full ( perhaps with a flood of people taking up your offer for spiders!) but bear me in mind too!.

Cheers

Colin

 

[Andy.R]

The spiders I caught the other day had recently cast their shells, as i discovered after I had cooked them. they were OK but watery. I'll check more carefully in future.

As for spider its my absolute favourite you can keep lobster and chancre its the business to me. Any you find would be gratefully received (why do you think I leant you a goodie bag?)

Andy

 

[derek foxen]

Years ago when I used to dive of a lot I kept a detailed log book. I came across the book yesterday evening while looking for something else, and found the attached press clipping in it!

Andy

Thanks for the reminder Andy.I'd pretty much forgotten the details of the specimens I was lucky enough to find.At my age I've forgotten most things.On the subject of plaice ,and long after I had any interest in record-claiming, I did manage to pick up an 8 pounder in Port Grat.

 

[Old Man Dave]

I've never caught a really big plaice. My best ever was 7lb 14oz with the tanks. Snorkeling I don't remember one over 7lb (might have forgotten though) but have had more than a few 6's. Always surprises me that I haven't had a massive one. Over the last 40 years, especially the years commercial flatty diving with the tanks I should have had one giant amongst the literally thousands I've caught. I have seen others catch them. Several 9's and even a 10.5lb-er.

Did hold the British sole record at 6lb 9oz for 15 years though. Plus I caught 2 more over 6. Two of these 6's were freediving one with the tanks.

Dave

 

[crazyman]

my new imersion sute has just arrived to day so i will be able to carry on diving when the sea temp drops

ill just have to work out how to get it on first which should be fun

 

[Sarnian]

my new imersion sute has just arrived to day so i will be able to carry on diving when the sea temp drops

ill just have to work out how to get it on first which should be fun

Hi
I've got an Imersion and the most important points ( from bitter experience!) are: lubricate ( hair conditioner in about 1 litre of water each time-Boots is cheapest - now 28p Tom!) and see the apnea /Imersionwebsite re getting the jacket on - in particular pulling the second arm up - you have to see the diagram. As for getting it off, I couldn't get on with their recommended method, and it seems to be easier just to flip the beaver tail over your head and pull it off. Alternatively, get diving buddy / wife/ partner, etc. to pull it off you!

 

[Old Man Dave]

Managed to get in at 4.30 this afternoon. Went north (Fontenelle) with the idea of looking for bass just after low water. There was a 3 foot swell - yuk! No vis in the shallows so it was out deep for the flatties. Vis was a smokey 15 to 20 foot but the tide had turned so I had to swim against it on the outside due to starting off at the wrong headland :head . Any how it was hard work with the vis, tide, swell and depth all being negative factors. Stayed in about one and a half hours and covered most of the outside edge, plus some middle ground. Only saw (and caught) one fish, a 2.5lb sole. No real sign of much bait or freeswimmers (pollack, bass etc). Rather dead but a good workout and at least I had one fish to take home.

Dave

 

[Draenog]

Hi Guerns

I'm near the end of an amazing holiday in Crete. I've been snorkelling more than I've been on dry land (helped by the brilliant discovery that with the tiny fins I bought my 5 year old son he can not only swim, but snorkel - and he loves it). He's been out with me to about 3 or 4m!!!!!

There's loads to see out here, especially on my grown up trips out deeper and actually getting down to the bottom. I've taken loads of pics - but theyre disposable cameras, so no idea how many will come out. I'll do a full species list when I'm back, but highligts include grouper, octopus, barracuda, moray and bream by the bucket load.

Just got back in from a night dive, but must admit it wasnt great - being miles away from anyone, on my own and with big sharks here in the Med I wast just forcing myself to stay in - got spooked and couldn't bring myself to go out deep. Shame there isn't anyone else up for it here. Did see the biggest bass I've ever seen though.

I'll do a full trip report when I'm back (certainly wont be doing any more snorkelling in Swansea this year - the viz is bound to have gone for the winter)

Adam

Oh, and by the way I'm sad to report that that kayak video from a couple of pages back is a fake.........sorry