Guernsey 2006

[beardy241]

Went out Saturday with Spicer, spent 3hrs in the water out west.

Saw a few nice Bass loitering around the kelp - missed a few 'dead-cert' shots. Am thinking my gun doesn't have enough power. The fish weren't that far away but I was just left watching the spear drift by and the string sliding off their backs.
And if that wasn't enough, they usually stuck around for a bit to laugh at me too!

Had a dream last night about catching a Lobster. :inlove
(please let it come true)
[m]

 

[Old Man Dave]

I've been thinking about guns recently. Brother mart is always inventing/building/modifying guns and or course I've had some small part in Ed's teak 80 and his new 108.

However with regard to Marcel's comment the answer is get close. I've found my ali 90 is very sensitive to power. With one set of 20mm screw in bands it was powerful but hopelessly inaccurate. It hasn't got a rail and is old but top of the range.Even with new 16mm bands if they are on the back notch the gun is not as accurate as I like. I have a bit of a thing about head shots and I like to get my spear tip to strike spot on. So I really only have a working range of 6 foot but I like to be closer. My idea of a dead cert is to stick the spear in the fishes ear i.e. touching.

This set up suits me. It wouldn't suit aspetto or open water but for stalking weed beds it's fine. Most shots are fired from 3 foot or less and sometimes 3 inches. My 6.5lb bass from Sunday was shot in the head from about 3 foot (a spears length). I would have liked to have been closer but the fish was in open water just above the weed. I got that close 'cause I came around a rock and suprised it. Need quick accurate gun (and quick reflexes).

Despite all this am thinking that a more powerful set up wouldn't hurt but it MUST be accurate and quick to aim. A single 18/20mm band euro style gun with a rail might do the job. Probably a 90cm but maybe a 100cm. On the other hand I should just use my Mamba.

Dave .

 

[loops]

Hi Guys I use a MATC trident on a 90cm rob allen powered by 20mm rubbers. Loads of power and great penatration. I also have one on my night diving gun which is 60cm cressi. Talking of camo suits take a look at the Elios suits they are very gun and comfy.

 

[loops]

Hi Dave, some of us in your sister island use rabi tec rail guns with 18mm bulk rubbers. There`s loads of power and they are very accurate. My mate Dave has a 100cm C4 he loves it.....

 

[loops]

Hi Dave, some of us in your sister island use rabi tec rail guns with 18mm bulk rubbers. There`s loads of power and they are very accurate. My mate Dave has a 100cm C4 he loves it.....

 

[spicer]

Hey Beardy I was wondering when you were going to post those. You can see the results of the three hour dive for me was two nice bass. I used the curiosity of the bass to lure them in closer and that worked well. The first victim was part of a trio that saw me and started to move off. I dropped below a ledge and came up very slowly. Mr bass came to look and I took a pot shot. The second I spotted as I was comming through the weed. I just lay perfectly still and slowly brought the gun to bear. The inquisitive guy just had to see what this was and came to about two feet from my speartip. Nice dive.

 

[Magpie]

I've recently put an 18mm circular band on my comanche (which had 16mm screw ins originally) and I may be wrong but it seems to be a bit MORE accurate like that? I'm definately hitting more, and hitting them where I want to, though that may just be a bit of experience.

I thought it would shoot high, with the band being below the line of the spear, but it doesn't.

Nice skills Spicer, and love them invisi suits! rofl

 

[spicer]

Just some feedback on the recent acquisitions. The Pelagos is an awesome gun. It just feels right and is quite accurate as well as being beautiful (all that wood I am starting to sound like Ed). I just had a bit of a job filing the notch on the spear to seat it properly. Now it works like a charm. The Diveskin suit is ok. There definitely is room for improvement on the finishing as the pads were not placed in the correct positions and the loading pad was not the thicker version that we paid for. We will take it up with Spiros but at least it is nice and toasty and mine fits much beter than the off the rack version. I can actually breathe It is important however to not turn on the invisible mode accidentally as I have not been able to find my wetsuit for the past week in my garage rofl rofl rofl

 

[Old Man Dave]

Have to agree with you about the pelagos, Chris, beatiful looking gun. Do have some reservations about wether it's ideally suited for me though, with my style of hunting ie stalking and flatty bashing, mainly.

Tom I've noticed that with spearguns as opposed to fire arms, when the recoil more the spear goes low not high. I think that this is because as the muzzle kicks up, the back half of the spear gets an upward lift and then the trajectory is low.

Still fancy a euro ali rail gun. Yes Loops the Rabitechs look good (from Spearo Dave?). Isn't the C4 the horrifically expensive one?

Dave

 

[Magpie]

I was thinking more of a higher POI because the band being below the spear would drag the rear end of the spear down onto the speargun body when fired (because it has no rail), thus it would have to rise to exit the muzzle meaning a higher shot.
The difference in recoil is negligible.

 

[Old Man Dave]

It's hard to rationalise exactly what happens when you fire a speargun. My 90 shoots straightish with the 16mm bands but with 20mm mega boosters it's 6 inches left and 4inches low at 6ft range. That's a lot. Gives a heavy kick with those big rubbers but the spear really moves. Not accurate enough though so it's the 16mm 's in use at present. Have bought a 16mm loop rubber just to try as I have read that the slightly offset rubber does counteract the tendency for muzzle lift. Haven’t tried it yet. Tom if you want to try my screw in mega booster 20’s they would fit assuming your Comanche’s a 90.

Been in for a quick dip late afternoon, after work. Conditions are not ideal but fishable. Been looking for an Adrian sized bass and ignoring the rest. Went in yesterday as well. Seen some fish up to maybe 5 lb+ but no real biggies. Too slow for that 5lb+ fish though it was an easy shot. Seen a few mullet and some big wrasse including a huge one today that must have been minimum 7lb.

Thinking of doing something different tomorrow. Anyone been in West and can report on the vis?

Dave .

 

[foxfish]

I went in the west today, good vis. Dived over the sand for an hour or so but no Flatt's. I did see two bream in some green string weed but no chance of a shot. Swam back through the shallows & shot a couple of bass (with the mamba)
Maybe try again tomorrow for them Flatt's.

 

[spicer]

Also went west but it was a bit of a washing machine. The vis was good to medium at times and did see a few biggish bass. Saw my first mackerel (biggie) as well and the usual mullet and wrasse. The movement in the water must have affected my aim as I missed two reasonable shots at 5lb+ bass that I would normally make 75% of the time.

 

[spicer]

The weather has improved a lot and last nights sunset was beautiful Guernsey at its best. Went in today and it was flat calm. Viz was excellent and prolific amount of small fry about. Usual other but no bass not even one despite my best stalking techniques and only one lonely mullet that found its way to my stringer with an excellent shot. But the big question is what has happened to the Bass? Foxy, Magpie OMD have you taken them all? The local fishermen are also complaining that there seem to be no bass about. They say something about the water temperature being very cold still and too little sandeels about. I have seen quite a few shoals on each dive but cannot compare to previous years.

 

[Old Man Dave]

I've been every day this week. 4 day dives, around low tide up, after work and one night dive. I've been trying for a big bass so have been ignoring anything under about 5 lb. Have had fish every day. Most days have had a bass over 5lb but haven't had one over 7lb. Yesterday was typical as I saw about 10 shootable bass but only 2 over the magic 5lb and got one of them. Have also only been trying for head shots but not always succeeding. Some of the shootable bass would have needed body shots to get them. Lots of mullet but they tend to be in small areas rather than everywhere. Have seen a few wrasse but not as many as a few weeks ago and not as many as usual. Also not seen as many pollack but then I haven't really been looking for them.

So Chris my verdict is personally I've been finding lots of bass. I think you just need to try lots of different places but try to stick to the last hour of the falling tide to the first 2 hours rising. Look for remote, undisturbed , rugged coastline and go shallow in the bootlace and jap weed. Try to develop stealthy, slow movements and after about 20 years you'll just be starting to get good . Actually you've made a great start as you have the gear and you have seen and even caught fish. It just takes practice and a little luck.

Good hunting

Dave

PS great night dive but I only managed one sole. However, Ed and I were totally thrashed by Pete who is the king :king of night diving. We are after all only there to carry his fish up the beach :t .

 

[beetroute]

Thanks Dave!

However, I'm going to have to limit myself to larger sole, as it takes ages to prepare them for the table. I wonder how Ed's brill tasted?

 

[ADM]

Hi all,

Got myself a bargain shortie suit today (I am a fair weather swimmer...) from Aladdins cave for £20, they even had them in monster size which sort of fits (i.e. I can get into it).

Have a mask, snorkel and some flippers (technical terms here...).

Are there any fish round that I can go see? Need to get fit/lose weight as well and I guess a bit of a swim in the briny would help me out eh!

Also, I wear contacts and I guess there's no problem wearing them when you have a mask on? I have some prescription lenses for the mask which I got years ago if not.

Any recommendations where to try for a beginner who hasn't been in the swim for a long time (used to be a very strong swimmer but I guess I won't be anymore...)

Cheers

Andy

 

[Magpie]

Well I haven't been out all week Spicer so don't blame me.

Did get in last night with Sarah though, which so far has meant no fish, jinx that she is! After an hour of loads of mullet with a fair few schoolies in with them (like Dave I've gone into decent fish only mode) it seemed like that would continue.

Viz was great by the way, probably the best I've seen.

Anyway, was mooching through some japweed when I saw a large tail move behind one bunch, heading my way, so I lined up on where it should appear and so it did, not a foot from me spear tip. Turned out to be my biggest bass yet, shot at the closest range yet! 6lbs 6oz (which is still no where near my rod best ), happy days

Took a bit of subdueing that fish, it shot a foot clear of the water when shot and this was the first time I had to chase after a shot fish for fear it would rip off the line. But got him safely on the stringer.

Had some fun playing in the tide and spotted another decent fish a second or so after he'd spotted me, then sarah got cold so in we went.

Hey ho, another trip another bass.

Andy, not sure how warm you'll be in a cheapo shorty but if you want to give it a go let me know.

Come on then Ed, Pete and Dave, give us a proper write up! I want to hear about shore spear brill!

 

[foxfish]

ADM good on you for getting some gear together. You could do worse than going to your favorite fishing spots, at least you will get to know your marks from a different perspective. OMD's advice is good, stealth is important & the easiest way to get close to fish. Oversley my brother is experienced & successful using this method but he uses a slightly different tactics than I use.
I move very very slowly & try not to flinch when a fish is spotted. This tactic take discipline & only really comes with experience. My bro move slightly faster & in turn covers more ground.

I have been in twice this week, caught five bass & one golden grey. There seems to be plenty of bass around but I agree, not so many sand eels.

 

[spicer]

I found them this morning :t and this one came home with me. I plan on going out tonight again. I have two weeks leave so will be able to browse around a bit more. This was a good headshot from around three and a half meters. The spear did not go through the head but it was stoned.