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Guernsey 2006
- Thread starter portinfer
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 90 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Well done Tom and Mart. Heard tell all three flatties were well buried. Prodding is the way to go, especially with sole in daytime. You're lucky to see a buried sole and even if you do, think how many you might have missed. So again well done chaps.
Dave
PS was out in my boat today and didn't do so well on the flatties myself but got a "few". That was until I pulled the one 25 hook trot I'd set. Ahem! 12lb turbot. Think i'll give up diving and become a worm drowner.
.
Dave
PS was out in my boat today and didn't do so well on the flatties myself but got a "few". That was until I pulled the one 25 hook trot I'd set. Ahem! 12lb turbot. Think i'll give up diving and become a worm drowner.
.
Sounds like fun Magpie, got to get the rods out for a flattie actually, Normally start catching them off the shore about now.
My website is down at the moment but then everything to do with Fasthosts (including their own homepage) is down so I can't send or receive emails that way until further notice, also can't get at the forums, even the ftp is down
My website is down at the moment but then everything to do with Fasthosts (including their own homepage) is down so I can't send or receive emails that way until further notice, also can't get at the forums, even the ftp is down
Thanks for posting the pics tom...we had a great dive & a great catch.
My big plaice was lying in pretty shallow water over the gravelly bottom & only partly buried, to be honest I did not hit him very well as my spear was very close to the edge of his mouth! As Tom said I had to wrestle the beast because he was pretty lively.
So we continued our swim out towards the tide & at the very edge I spotted the other plaice, completely buried this time, I took more time & nailed him fair & square between the eyes.
Maybe, for me the highlight of the dive was Toms first sole & a good one at that but missing a really big bass was pretty memorable too!
Today I decided to check out the same spot, I have just got home & I am still excited about the dive.
I was really hoping for a bream, I swam straight out to the edge of the tide without wasting energy diving on the tempting flat sand. Quite deep for me out there but I was getting down OK, on about my fourth dive during decent I spotted a half buried fish. Swimming closer I realised it was rather large in fact probably the largest flat fish I have seen while diving in Guernsey. The partly covered Blonde Ray became increasingly more detailed as I approached. Amazing creature & positively huge!
I swam up for much needed air, my main thought was how the hell am I going to swim back to shore with that bloody thing. It was a struggle to swim back up tide but I managed & dived back down to review the situation. The ray didn't seem to notice my presence so I gave it a prod SH......T it lifted out the gravel & it was only then I truly realised just how big this critter was. Bursting for the surface I looked down as the ray shot off at a rate of knots. WOW that was fun. :t
My big plaice was lying in pretty shallow water over the gravelly bottom & only partly buried, to be honest I did not hit him very well as my spear was very close to the edge of his mouth! As Tom said I had to wrestle the beast because he was pretty lively.
So we continued our swim out towards the tide & at the very edge I spotted the other plaice, completely buried this time, I took more time & nailed him fair & square between the eyes.
Maybe, for me the highlight of the dive was Toms first sole & a good one at that but missing a really big bass was pretty memorable too!
Today I decided to check out the same spot, I have just got home & I am still excited about the dive.
I was really hoping for a bream, I swam straight out to the edge of the tide without wasting energy diving on the tempting flat sand. Quite deep for me out there but I was getting down OK, on about my fourth dive during decent I spotted a half buried fish. Swimming closer I realised it was rather large in fact probably the largest flat fish I have seen while diving in Guernsey. The partly covered Blonde Ray became increasingly more detailed as I approached. Amazing creature & positively huge!
I swam up for much needed air, my main thought was how the hell am I going to swim back to shore with that bloody thing. It was a struggle to swim back up tide but I managed & dived back down to review the situation. The ray didn't seem to notice my presence so I gave it a prod SH......T it lifted out the gravel & it was only then I truly realised just how big this critter was. Bursting for the surface I looked down as the ray shot off at a rate of knots. WOW that was fun. :t
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Interesting that the 2 main channel islands are so different.
In Guernsey we have shed loads of mullet, always have. I am sure that most days I could shoot a minimum of 10 mullet if I so chose. Some days you see hundreds, mostly in shoals, but if you really go looking for them then then there are places where shoals of big ones congregate and double figger numbers are shootable with many fish in the 3 to 5lb range. Truth is very few people hunt mullet over here.
This year seems better than the last few for bass and flatties which are our main quarry. A good experienced spearo can manage several of each most days. Even the spiders are better than the last 2 years which were very poor. Crab and lobster are also about and pollack and wrasse are abundant. However some of these take experience to catch and those that don't are not hunted much. If you try by targeting them then decent catches of fish like pollack and wrasse are easily achieved.
Rays are different altogether. Jersey I understand have lots of inshore ray mainly as they have different common species. Our only common ray is the blonde which is usually found out deep. The small eyed and undulate rays so common in Jersey are very rare here. Never seen a thornback in 40 years fishing.
Last year I caught a few rays freediving, all blondes but the best only went about 6lb. Foxfish's big blonde is rare inshore and should be a cherished memory. In my commercial days I caught hundreds up to nearly 40lb with the tanks and hand spear. They're a real handful. Now I let them swim on in peace although they are very good eating. I released a 20lb+ blonde unharmed from my trot last saturday.
Dave
In Guernsey we have shed loads of mullet, always have. I am sure that most days I could shoot a minimum of 10 mullet if I so chose. Some days you see hundreds, mostly in shoals, but if you really go looking for them then then there are places where shoals of big ones congregate and double figger numbers are shootable with many fish in the 3 to 5lb range. Truth is very few people hunt mullet over here.
This year seems better than the last few for bass and flatties which are our main quarry. A good experienced spearo can manage several of each most days. Even the spiders are better than the last 2 years which were very poor. Crab and lobster are also about and pollack and wrasse are abundant. However some of these take experience to catch and those that don't are not hunted much. If you try by targeting them then decent catches of fish like pollack and wrasse are easily achieved.
Rays are different altogether. Jersey I understand have lots of inshore ray mainly as they have different common species. Our only common ray is the blonde which is usually found out deep. The small eyed and undulate rays so common in Jersey are very rare here. Never seen a thornback in 40 years fishing.
Last year I caught a few rays freediving, all blondes but the best only went about 6lb. Foxfish's big blonde is rare inshore and should be a cherished memory. In my commercial days I caught hundreds up to nearly 40lb with the tanks and hand spear. They're a real handful. Now I let them swim on in peace although they are very good eating. I released a 20lb+ blonde unharmed from my trot last saturday.
Dave
On the mullet subject we have loads here in Dorset.While in Dorchester today waiting for the missus outside another clothes shop i was looking in an antiques shop window at a large stuffed pike and there next to it was a stuffed Thick Lipped Grey Mullet of 14lb 2 ozs caught in wales in 1976.Whats the biggest mullet you get in Guernsey??
Ooh, bloney ray eh! Nice work Foxy, you did say they'd been known round there the other day.
Really want to get that bream don't you! Guess you'll have to work on that leg strength though Thinking about it what about taking some form of anchor with you and waiting in the tide for the bream to come to you?
Glow worm. The bailiwick rod caught record is 11lbs 14oz from up in alderney. Double figure fish whilst not common are regularly captured up there. Not sure if a double has been caught from guernsey itself but they'll certainly be around here to that size. Fish up to 5lbs are a common sights.
Loops, I can confirm they're everywhere, shoals have been on most marks for months.
Really want to get that bream don't you! Guess you'll have to work on that leg strength though
Thinking about it what about taking some form of anchor with you and waiting in the tide for the bream to come to you?Glow worm. The bailiwick rod caught record is 11lbs 14oz from up in alderney. Double figure fish whilst not common are regularly captured up there. Not sure if a double has been caught from guernsey itself but they'll certainly be around here to that size. Fish up to 5lbs are a common sights.
Loops, I can confirm they're everywhere, shoals have been on most marks for months.
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Hi Dave , we have thornback rays in fact we have all types of rays in jsy. We are now getting loads of bass, but they seem to be on our north and east coast.We also don`t get that many gilt head beam...Hopefully weather will get better for the weekend going to hit our northwest coast in the boat...
Andy
Andy
Hi there everyone
I found this site a couple of weeks ago and have really enjoyed reading your posts. I can identify most of the sites you mention and recognise some of your names. I used to scuba and spearfish a lot many years ago and last year decided to get back into it.
Thought I would dust off my suit, pump up my old gun, get my tanks tested , reg serviced and indulge in a spot of flattie bashing and west coat spearing.
Well even though was probably 15 years ago I last went diving I could still get my old technisub 7mm wetsuit on. Its just I couldn't (daren't) move once in it!!! You could call it a snug fit!
The trusty jetfins and weight belt were the only bits of kit left which were of any use.
I bought a new suit and the other bits and bobs last summer and went snorkelling a few times towards the end of the year and caught a few flatties and a couple of crabs.
This year I took my tanks down to be tested and my reg to be serviced....... Ally tanks are no longer used, so that'll be a new tank then and my reg? Lets just say I bought a new one as well!
I cannot though find my trusty gun. (It is one of the original Spiro pneumatic ones with the handle and trigger in the middle bought from Lou? downstairs in Fletchersports in about 1974)
Are guns much the same, or does anyone have any recommendations? I tend to favour the stalking in the shallows approach for bass and mullet so am looking for something light and maneuverable.
I look forward to sharing posts with you all and maybe catching up for a dive or two?
Andy
I found this site a couple of weeks ago and have really enjoyed reading your posts. I can identify most of the sites you mention and recognise some of your names. I used to scuba and spearfish a lot many years ago and last year decided to get back into it.
Thought I would dust off my suit, pump up my old gun, get my tanks tested , reg serviced and indulge in a spot of flattie bashing and west coat spearing.
Well even though was probably 15 years ago I last went diving I could still get my old technisub 7mm wetsuit on. Its just I couldn't (daren't) move once in it!!! You could call it a snug fit!
The trusty jetfins and weight belt were the only bits of kit left which were of any use.
I bought a new suit and the other bits and bobs last summer and went snorkelling a few times towards the end of the year and caught a few flatties and a couple of crabs.
This year I took my tanks down to be tested and my reg to be serviced....... Ally tanks are no longer used, so that'll be a new tank then and my reg? Lets just say I bought a new one as well!
I cannot though find my trusty gun. (It is one of the original Spiro pneumatic ones with the handle and trigger in the middle bought from Lou? downstairs in Fletchersports in about 1974)
Are guns much the same, or does anyone have any recommendations? I tend to favour the stalking in the shallows approach for bass and mullet so am looking for something light and maneuverable.
I look forward to sharing posts with you all and maybe catching up for a dive or two?
Andy
Welcome to retro-spearing-land. I also remember mid-handled pneumatics, nice orange nemrod ones!!!! I reckon there's plenty of guernsey spearos here who will help you along and they all seem to use different guns so you won't get any sense out of them rofl rofl The new airguns (Mamba kits) are worlds away from the older pneumatics but rubber guns are essentially the same for the waters you will fish in. Get Foxfish to show you his mamba or Ed his woodie!!!!
Welcome to the thread Andy. I know nothing about retro spearing cos I've only taken it up this year!
With regard to guns it depends how much you want to spend really. You can get perfectly functional band gun for a very reasonable price, try the deeper blue shop from teh link above (which has very good prices) or www.apnea.co.uk (which althought its a crapaud shop is still good
) I use a 90cm rubber gun and its seemed perfect for the shallows to me. The Mamba pneumo guns are more powerful for the length, but cost more, as do the posh wooden jobs.
Looking forward to hearing about your adventures mate.
With regard to guns it depends how much you want to spend really. You can get perfectly functional band gun for a very reasonable price, try the deeper blue shop from teh link above (which has very good prices) or www.apnea.co.uk (which althought its a crapaud shop is still good
) I use a 90cm rubber gun and its seemed perfect for the shallows to me. The Mamba pneumo guns are more powerful for the length, but cost more, as do the posh wooden jobs.Looking forward to hearing about your adventures mate.
Andy.R said:
Andy welcome back to the peaceful world of the spearo I fish mainly around Dorset with the occasional trip to Devon or Cornwall.
With regard to a new gun at the moment I use a 75cm venom from Spearo Dave and I can not fault it.
Although after posting on DB and being brain washed by Foxfish
I have gone for a 90cm Mamba which I am led to believe are the mutts nuts.Whatever you go for I hope you enjoy your spearfishing as much as I do.
Welcome Andy.
That gun sounds like a jaguar. If you bought it from Lou Lihou then that was a while ago. Lots has changed in the last 15 years but diving and spearfishing is still diving and spearfishing. The most important element is still the skill of the diver.
Technology has really marched on, be it the internet, the car you drive or the CD you listen to etc. Diving is no exception. Yes, alloy tanks are out - I had to scrap 5 :waterwork . Loads of scuba divers use dry suits and no longer use ABLJ's or even STAB's but "fly" around with Tech Wings
. Jet fins are now old hat and "foot pockets" and "carbon blades" are the happening finny thing.
Anyway none of this really matters but if you're interested there is hours of fun reading on this site. Have you looked at last years thread it was called "Guernsey summer fishing"? Some good stuff on that, try a search if you haven't.
Gun wise both Micks fishing and Squeaker will sell you the likes of a Beuchat mundial 90 rubber band gun for about £60 - good price. You could order a bit better band gun like a commanche 90 from the internet for a bit more - £80 maybe? You could go one further and buy a mamba 90 high tech air gun for about £150 and beyond that are wooden guns like Ed's pelagos 100. Personally I'd get the Beuchat mundial 90, not because it's a great gun but it's a good solid starter and about a million light years more suitable than your old jag. Depends on how flush you are.
By all means post questions on this thread but if you need more detailed info you can also send Private Messages (PM's). I certainly could bore you for hours with my ramblings .
Dave
That gun sounds like a jaguar. If you bought it from Lou Lihou then that was a while ago. Lots has changed in the last 15 years but diving and spearfishing is still diving and spearfishing. The most important element is still the skill of the diver.
Technology has really marched on, be it the internet, the car you drive or the CD you listen to etc. Diving is no exception. Yes, alloy tanks are out - I had to scrap 5 :waterwork . Loads of scuba divers use dry suits and no longer use ABLJ's or even STAB's but "fly" around with Tech Wings
. Jet fins are now old hat and "foot pockets" and "carbon blades" are the happening finny thing.Anyway none of this really matters but if you're interested there is hours of fun reading on this site. Have you looked at last years thread it was called "Guernsey summer fishing"? Some good stuff on that, try a search if you haven't.
Gun wise both Micks fishing and Squeaker will sell you the likes of a Beuchat mundial 90 rubber band gun for about £60 - good price. You could order a bit better band gun like a commanche 90 from the internet for a bit more - £80 maybe? You could go one further and buy a mamba 90 high tech air gun for about £150 and beyond that are wooden guns like Ed's pelagos 100. Personally I'd get the Beuchat mundial 90, not because it's a great gun but it's a good solid starter and about a million light years more suitable than your old jag. Depends on how flush you are.
By all means post questions on this thread but if you need more detailed info you can also send Private Messages (PM's). I certainly could bore you for hours with my ramblings
.Dave
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Youre right it is/was a jaguar. I was rooting round at home last night trying to find it again, came across my old jetsuit ( totally perished) and a few other goodies including another technisub pneumatic gun, but not the jaguar ;-( Guess I'll have to go and give Squeaker more of my hard earned!
I am of to France for annual hols in a couple of weeks so may have a look around there. I know a really good diving/ fishing / hunting shop near where we are staying, if I can wait that long!
Still a bit early for flatties inshore I guess? Although I do remember early one july when I pulled out an 18lb turbot in waist deep water from the sunken forest, so might go and have a prod around at the weekend. Maybe have a crawl around the bottom off Albecq
The tides are good for us 9-5 ers for after work next week as is the forecast so hope to test out a new gun.
I'll read up on the 2005 thread and thanks for the advice
Andy
I am of to France for annual hols in a couple of weeks so may have a look around there. I know a really good diving/ fishing / hunting shop near where we are staying, if I can wait that long!
Still a bit early for flatties inshore I guess? Although I do remember early one july when I pulled out an 18lb turbot in waist deep water from the sunken forest, so might go and have a prod around at the weekend. Maybe have a crawl around the bottom off Albecq
The tides are good for us 9-5 ers for after work next week as is the forecast so hope to test out a new gun.
I'll read up on the 2005 thread and thanks for the advice
Andy