Guernsey 2006

[Magpie]

I saw a seal last year out but the fort by the fairy ring when I was fishing, got within about 10m of it. Strange black zombie eyes.....Would love to see one diving though.

Thoughts of the mamba have certainly been crossing my mind Foxy...

 

[Old Man Dave]

Only ever used this type of articulated wishbone for the last 10+years. Never known them to break. "Ordinary" wire ones break all the time. DB shop or the French site, about £5 I think.
Dave

 

[foxfish]

I came across a seal last year while fishing the bootlace in the Humps. I was in my boat when a huge male seal came so close I could smell him! To be honest I was glad I was not in the water, he was huge!!!

 

[Magpie]

That's EXACTLY the sort that came with my cressi gun Dave, it broke by the end coming off the plastic cap. I've got the file out on the one the kind chap gave me at the moment, hope he does find his way onto here so I can get him a replacement.

I must admit I was a bit apprehensive when I saw that one last year, I was up to me tits in my waders so couldn't have moved very quick if it "came for me"! It kept diving down then coming back up in the same spot after a few minutes.

 

[spicer]

Foxfish,

What size Mamba do you have? I was looking at the 110?

Cheers

Chris

 

[foxfish]

Foxfish,

What size Mamba do you have? I was looking at the 110?

Cheers

Chris

Yeah well you are a big bloke, I have problems loading my 90.:martial As I use the Mamba in the weed I think the 90 is the way to go. If you are serious about buying a air gun, there are other options you could take. As the Mamba kit can be fitted to many types of compressed air guns, some with adjustable power via a lever on the side of the gun. It may pay you to post on the main forum to find out more? However if you decide to go the same way as Ed, Dave & myself & buy a standard Mamba I would suggest you go for a 7mm spear & get it factory pumped up to the max!

 

[Old Man Dave]

Ah! yes Tom, that can be a weak point. Actually the pic I posted is not the sort I use. If you get the ones where the wire is made captive by being flattened on the end then they can break the plastic (despite the little washers). That's the one in the previous photo.

Two options; first get one with ali caps not plastic, as in this pic below. Second get one with threaded ends on the wires and a nut and bolt. Best option would be to get both in one wishbone. I've been using the beuchat plastic cap but threaded wire ends and am still on the same wishbone after 10 years. Maybe I'm just lucky.

Dave .

 

[spicer]

Thanks for the advise Mart. Think I will go for the 90. Where did you order yours from?

Cheers

Chris

 

[Mr. X]

...get a Mamba!

Sounds like you are enjoying your new Mamba Foxfish - any feedback (how does it compare to your band gun)?

BTW Magpie, re. wishbones, I bought several spare RA Dynema wishbones recently. Really simple (& low mass/drag?) & reasonably priced (in packs of 10).

http://www.sumora.com/accessories.php

You'd probably need to polish your spear slots as the notches are a little different on the SA spears. You can also get them with double Dynema (stronger/spare) or [ame="http://forums.deeperblue.net/showpost.php?p=550495&postcount=8"]stainless steel cable [/ame]too. Mind you, OMD's 10 years of use would be hard to beat! [Interesting [ame="http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=62034"]wishbone thread[/ame]. Even tells you how to polish your spear slots. [ame="http://forums.deeperblue.net/showpost.php?p=550495&postcount=8"]Huan's post [/ame]seems to favour articulated over stainless RA wishbones tho'.]

 

[Magpie]

Thanks for the info Dave and Mr X, lots to think about. I've reshaped the slot and wishbone now and it fits a lot better, still going to be a bit scared of loading it though

But back on the horse, anyone want some company low tide tomorrow? Was thinking of trying Fontenelle Bay but open to suggestions.

 

[loops]

Hi guys went night during the week on the east coast of jersey for 3hrs. My Mate Chris had 3 plaice 1 just over 4lb. I shot a 4-5lb bass but it ripped off after tangling on the frame work of the oyster beds. . only bass l`ve seen this year. . taking rib out tomorrow to hit the west and north west coasts hoping to find some big bass.
Happy hunting loops

 

[loops]

Hi guys went night during the week on the east coast of jersey for 3hrs. My Mate Chris had 3 plaice 1 just over 4lb. I shot a 4-5lb bass but it ripped off after tangling on the frame work of the oyster beds. . only bass l`ve seen this year. . taking rib out tomorrow to hit the west and north west coasts hoping to find some big bass.
Happy hunting loops

 

[foxfish]

The Mamba takes a bit of getting used to, loading is a totally different exercise compered to a band gun, but the power & smoothness exceeds any of my other guns. I am still learning about its performance but I can imagine the 90 will be my most used gun once I have tamed the beast!
My 750 roller gun is still awaiting the ordered bands, so I cant compare with that design as yet.
I dont know if a single gun would ever completely suit my style of fishing. In a typical dive, I may encounter many environments & depths, witch in turn may suit many types of gun, I think the land based hunters term this as rough shooting. The mamba has the power & is short in length, but the trigger, is not good, no feel, & the sight line is none existent!
In conclusion I would say every spearo should at least try one.
Chris I got mine though Ed (one of a four unit order) but Spearo Dave has them in stock. (not cheap, especially when ordered with a spare spear )

 

[spicer]

Thanks Foxfish. I took the important step of doing all the measurements for an elios last night so will see what they get back with.

 

[portinfer]

Chris - I can guarantee that they email you to 'control' the measurements ! (ie check them all again).

Not sure if you have looked at the elios videos on the site for measuring - very important to get them right.... also Marea sub and Polo sub are making good suits and might have a better choice of camo if that is the route you are going (and they come free with a red bandana and bowie knife).

The Mamba's are good, the balance is horrible ! The sights are horrible ! but but but they have awesome range and little or no recoil (unless you have them at a zillion bar like Mart ).

I think that the 110 Mamba would be large and hard to load...

Like Mart I have a healthy fear of my Mamba .... alot of power .... But to be honest I would stick with your gun for a season and try to borrow a range of guns that is the best way of finding out what is good for you.

A 'better' gun will not necessarily mean more fish ... better technique and so on will though and these take time to develop (says he still learning ).

I like wooden guns personally - I know Beardy has been disparaging about them but they are weighted/balanced correctly and have good range with excellent accuracy - my totemsub pelagos is the most accurate gun I use (of three ! yeah I know not much experience with guns - the pelagos also come in a 90cm length which I think would be very hard to beat as an all round gun for Guernsey. It won 'underwater target shooting gun of the year' in Italy....)

Hope that helps - Ed

 

[Old Man Dave]

Nice day today. Who said any day you ain't gotta work is a nice day? Oh yeh! it was me. Much too nice to hang around home so despite a gusty west wind went spearfishing, down west. I expected some swell but it was flat calm and as it turned out nice vis.

Spent an hour going "indian" in 2 to 6 foot over the low tide. Only saw half a dozen fish. Stoned a nice little bass with a shot from 1 foot range having completely stealthed a shoal of 3 fish. Felt good. The old touch is returning. Some of my inaccuracy problems have gone due to a bit more practice and a lot less range. You gotta get in close then you can't miss. Maybe.

Still aren't many fish about though. The other fish I saw were 2 x mullet and a big rocky. One of the mullet must have gone 5 maybe 6 lb. Whopper!

I think some of the others ("The Others", are you watching Lost?) went today. Wouldn't be surprised to hear of a few fish.

Off in the boat tomorrow for a mackerel session on the rods and then booked in to babysit so no diving for me. Shame as the forecast is excellent.

Dave .

 

[Magpie]

Sarah and me went up to Fontenelle, viz wasn't great but fishable.

No bass seen, nice spot though, will spend more time up there over the summer. Usual pollack and rockies and no gun missfires thank god.

Saw some interesting jellyfish as well.

Got out and looked back to see another spearo working the bay, he got out soon enough and turned out to be Namron who's been on here in the past, he reported the same though.

Thats probably my last dive for a fortnight

 

[foxfish]

Well done Dave, there will be no stopping you now.
I have been working on my boat recently but luckily my bro understands my need for fresh fish & kindly donated his bass to my stomach. Might go tomorrow?

 

[SurfnSpear]

Shot Dave....:martial

 

[portinfer]

A couple of mil low Dave ! Just kidding ... excellent shot

Off to try a spearfishing session from the kayak today ... if the fog clears a bit - just checked the water in Grand Havre and looks crystal in the shallows....

Any one else interested in seeing me tip all my gear into the briny then feel free to come along to the little slip at Grand Havre (by St Mary's church/sandy lane) at 1:30 or see me out behind the knife at about 2:30 ... any takers ? Always good to have another pair of hands to retrieve dropped gear

Had a cracking dive yesterday - another case of 'matrix bass' though .... bullet time.... Like to see them dodge the shaft from a mamba today though

Ed

(oooo - water is warmer too at 13C )