Guernsey 2006

[Mr. X]

Welcome back Dave. Just missed the airport troubles. The suit sounds like a great deal.

I have been told there are plaice at a couple of places I visited. At one I was told pretty much where to go on my next visit (just beyond where I had gone & left a bit!). Sounds like they are likely to be deep, hard to find and buried though. Probably safe from me!

 

[Old Man Dave]

Foxfish and me popped in for a quick dive this afternoon. Big spring tides and strong NW winds made the west coast look unsuitable so went east coast.

Big tides mean flattying so went an hour before low. Vis was patchy but fishable. Did a lot of diving for 3 small plaice. Still small ones are the tastiest. All were uncovered in 15 - 25 ft. So hope for you yet Mr X.

Mart had a small plaice and a scallop. However he saw bass and bream. Don’t think they were gilthead, just the normal black bream (or possibly couches). Still this is gilthead country!!!!

Dave

 

[Magpie]

I was in east as well, and I thougth big tides were meant to mean bass?
Was at my normal spot where I always see, and miss, plenty of bass but saw a grand total of one group of three schoolies and that was it Viz wasn't great like you boys found.

I did find my way out onto a big merl/sank bank but couldn't really investigate it properly as the tide was pushing too hard. Definately think there'll be something burried there though. It's a hard place to dive though, either go on a big tide where its about 6-7m deep but hard to stay on it in the current, or go on a smaller tide when there'll be less current, but it'll be 8-10m, which is the far edge of my range...I'm thinking of dragging some kind of anchor out there on a float to use as a base to rest up without finning against the tide.

Hey ho

 

[portinfer]

Tom - that is my strategy (the anchor) - I use a window sash weight on 10m of rope and then the float - works well - using floating rope. THinking of upping this to 20m though - for diagonal length rather than any heroic depths ! Sarah mentioned that you might be up for an afternoon dive... planning on going somewhere south with Miles at low water whenever that is - today or maybe tomorrow... maybe we could dive together ? I'll give you a call.

I think I know the place where the bank / sandy area is - plenty of tide for sure and I have seen bream around there (at least I am thinking of a large patch that needs investigation just outside a reef and an island but you could equally mean somewhere totally different !)

Plenty of sole around and of a larger size too ....

 

[Magpie]

Yeh, that sounds like the spot mate, if the island that its near gets covered at high tide with just a marker showing.

Definately up for a dive tomorrow low yeh, souths probably the place to go with the wind like this. Give us a call.

 

[foxfish]

Here are a few pics of our smaller Islands that I took today when out in Dave's boat. We took some archaeologist to Jethou & while they were busy we dug up a few clams. The Black Watch was moored up outside St Peter Port.
Can any non Guernsey members name the famous people who own & live on the small Islands?

 

[portinfer]

Mart & Dave - looks like a great trip - all those razors must make for good eating - either for you or the bream I met someone who was a gardener there - seems to be a lucrative employment .... but the day runs from 6am til 6pm. Well done on the scallop too Mart - I have yet to get my scallop wings (nor lobster... nor turbot... etc )

Ed

 

[Magpie]

If you want to get some scallops freediving try off the bathing pools towards Moulinet, found a couple of decent size ones there myself a few weeks ago, just watch out for female coxed rowing boats!

Those are some chunky clams in with the razors!

 

[Magpie]

In yesterday with Ed, Miles and Sarah. I saw nothing but considerable murk and a cuttlefish. Similar story for Miles, but Ed had a small bass.

We went south to try to find some relief from the wind, but viz was awful, would have been a nice dive otherwise, out from Saints, surprised not to find any flatties considering the amount of ground prodded and the amount of fish shaped holes in the sand.

Fancy going again after work tomorrow but does anyone know were the viz is good enough to see more than a few metres at the moment?

 

[Draenog]

Foxfish and Beardy

Thanks for the numbers - will give you a ring when I get there. I should be arriving Wednesday night (security chaos at Gatwick allowing) so I'll probably give you a bell on Thursday.

I'll pack my lamps, looking forward to a night dive (if the viz has recovered by then??).

Went to Pembrokeshire at teh weekend - stiff northerleys meant the viz wasn't good but a mate took me to a sheltered spot and we had a lovely session. Saw my first trigger fish which was exciting - followed it for a bit and it got irritated and clacked it's beak at me - I backed off a bit as I've heard they can give a nasty bite.

 

[Old Man Dave]

Been sorting out some old photo's that might interest a few of you.

[ame="http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?p=606889#post606889"]Guernsey Day Trip[/ame]

Dave

 

[Draenog]

Hi guys

Just looked at the forecast for the next few days - looks pretty wet.

What does rain do to the viz over there? With all our rivers here the run-off turns the sea into brown soup. Is it the same over there, or does the lack of rivers save you from that?

 

[Old Man Dave]

Was in tonight and vis was fine. Rain is no problem, just strong wind.

Me and Foxfish went on a flatty then bass hunt. In at 5pm with low tide at 6pm. Idea was go look for flats an the last hour of the falling tide and then follow the bass in with the tide as it rose. Tides are getting small as they neap back from the big springs.

Went west and pleasantly surprised by half decent vis, well 15 to 20 foot anyway. Mart wanted to look shallow as he'd had sole in this shallow spot recently. My nature is usually to blast out deep or at least to the edge of the tide. However stuck with my brother as this was a fun dive not a competition. Glad I did 'cause not long after reaching some suitable ground in only 5 foot I poked a lump that returned that rubbery feel up the spear. Buried sole. After showing Mart I dispatched it and we continued on. We eventually reached about 15 foot deep which is where I usually start looking. I had another, bigger sole and I spiked a smallish blonde ray (for Mart to eat). Nice to work shallow for a change. Certainly easier on the ears and shows you can catch flats close in.

Time to head back through the bootlace weed. We both saw bass and the occasional flash of a spear disappearing into the distance on my left indicated Mart had fired his Mamba. Boy don't those guns shoot. I managed to hit a small bass at range using my new R&D Hybrid gun. Was pleased with that. We'd spent too long on the flats so time to call it a day. Between us we had a nice bag of flat and round fish. Another good day.

Met Magpie in the carpark and he had a couple of bass, so looks like things are on the up. .

Dave

 

[Mr. X]

Great report OMD. Re. flatties - is it worth checking the sand & single of the main slope of shore line/beach, or are they normally further away from shore on sandbanks & such like? From your report, it sounds like may be it is.

I've started looking for flatties, a little half heartedly, while swimming over sandy/gravel patches, usually from the surface. Sometimes I see a lighter patch -- which, when I dive down so far has usually been a buried rock. Looking at your pictures, seems like flatties will usually not be detectable from the surface...seems like you need to be pretty close & probably prodding with something (spear/knife/spike/...).

 

[Magpie]

For myself I decided to do a big lap of the reef, just measured my route on my mapping system, total length 2.5km.

Set off, pleased to find some decent viz. Managed to guess the way the tide would be running round the back so had a free ride for 100m or so, checking behind rocks as I passed and low and behold found a bass sheltering behind one, which them accompanied me on the rest of the journey.

Carried on through the weed, seeing a few more similar sized ones, but left them to grow bigger. Out into a sandy bay for some sand proding. On one dive my peripheral picked out something circling me, looked up to see a mullet, but hang on, doesn't look right, too pale and thin....and yep, gold spot. Hadto shoot from the hip because of how I was holding the gun to prod with, and missed, but thats the first definate golden grey I've seen.

Carried on over a reef outcrop and across another sandy bay, with yet more unsucessful prodding, before crossing into the main sand/gravel area to prod my way home.

A couple of acres of prodded sand later and all I'd found were lots of chancres in their holes, and at least 4 other divers, none of whom seemed to fancy a chat.

Getting back to near my starting point I noticed one of the divers getting out was packing Ice, so guessed it was OMD, and looked down to see another bass in the weed. Turned out to be a bit smaller than I thought, but will go well on the barbie.

Least I hit something this time!

 

[podge]

Gentlemen as usual great stuff from Guernsey.
Not that I’m in any way jealous and add to the fact that I’m land locked at the moment just about finish’s me off.
Keep the reports coming gent’s its the only thing keeping me going.
Paul

 

[foxfish]

Interesting report Magpie, I spotted your red float (although I didn't know it was yours at the time) on the right side of the causeway as we were getting in on the left.
Immediately on entering the water I mambaed a GG, (Dave was still putting on his fins) I have recently added another wrap to my gun, the spear flew straight though the mullets head & buried itself 6'' into the sand 10' away! As Dave said it was nice not to dive so deep for a change & the area is very pleasant resulting in a chilled dive. My brothers ability to find his beloved flatfish resulted in a good catch but I only spotted a single sole mark! On the way back in we saw another divers float (white inflatable) but made no contact with the owner.
There has been a distinct lack of bass for the last few weeks but I am happy to say we both saw a few in the weed, in fact Dave shot one & I shot a thick lip.
There is a interesting conclusion to this story as I had promised a fish filleting lesson for one of my non fishing friends. Arriving at his house with a mixed bag including: two types of mullet a bass a ray & two sole, I think he may of felt a little daunted? Anyhow after the filleting I prepared a selection of goujons in the frying pan in anticipation of some blind tasting for my friend.
Undoubted winner, Golden Grey second Thick Lip third Bass & last Sole!

PS dont forget to watch spearo Dave on the F word tonight 9pm

 

[Magpie]

Was the ray not entered in the competition? Must admit I wouldn't know what to do with one.

Very interesting though!

 

[foxfish]

The ray is resting in the fridge, it will require two days for the ammonia to disperse.

 

[podge]

Anyhow after the filleting I prepared a selection of goujons in the frying pan in anticipation of some blind tasting for my friend.
Undoubted winner, Golden Grey second Thick Lip third Bass & last Sole!

Yo Foxfish,
Mullet every time much better than the rest.
And for me anyway the soul would have came second I love um as you say goujons are the way forward for our flat tasty friends.