Guernsey 2006

[Old Man Dave]

All this new blood and all the questions??????????? Well "come one, come all" I say ( or was that what the bishop said to the actress?). I digress, the main advice I'd give to anyone is read up on deeperblue by using search function and then arrange to meet some experienced spearo's. You'll learn a lot that way and then choose to do your own thing or join others for some social diving. Sometimes it is tempting to buy any old gear but in the long run it's better (and cheaper) to get it right first time.

In general for local spearing a 5mm "spearfishing" suit is what you need. Budget for £120. 5mm socks with full foot long bladed fins (like my Omer Ice 3's) is the proper job. Budget for £15 for socks and £50-120 for the fins (Ices are about £80 with 3 year warranty) You can use open scuba fins and hard sole boots but eventually you will want to go for the long fins. Get a 90cm single band gun like the Beuchat mundial or Cressi Comanche fo about £70. Get a small dagger type knife not a scuba sabre. Cost £10 - 15 from quayside marine or Micks or on line. Small, thin and sharp are the criteria. Low volume, wide field of view masks are best. £20+ from Squeaker or on line. Almost any "simple" snorkel works. Rubber weight belts are best. We DIY these for a few pounds. Speak to me nicely for bullet weights or use scuba "H" weights. Floats (SMB's), fish spikes etc, etc, etc.

Finally, again, look to contacting one (or all) of us and we'll show you our gear and if you ask nicely try to get a go with some spare gear before you spend your hard earned cash.

Phew! Hope that helps.

Was gonna write about Fridays boat trip and todays Welsh flavour dive but that will have to wait. Been a very busy few days as It's been my sons 21st birthday, so I wont be buying any gear for a while :waterwork ££££££££££:waterwork .

Dave

 

[Sarnian]

Hi Mart - good to hear from you, and thanks for the advice. I know the standard rubber guns are best for accuracy and quietness, but I was put off by a friend who said I might want to try pneumatic as he nearly took the tips of his fingers off! What about your Mamba - it seems to do the biz OK? Don't fancy trying to load the 110cm version though ( do you have to be 6ft 6?). If someone wants to take me through loading a band version when we meet up I might be persuaded!

I have been lubricating ( as it were) - the Apnea people advised me to use a drop of fairy liquid in plenty of water, but I found shower gel better. Will try the tips about conditioner and warm water.

I'll take your advice and keep ploughing through the info on this forum in the meantime - this thread alone seems to have everything in it!

Cheers

Colin ( p.s. Dave are you Ian Le Maitre's colleague?)

 

[Old Man Dave]

Yes that's me.

 

[Sarnian]

Hi Portinfer - re Les Amarreurs, I've got a friend who always gets a bass when he goes there. I went last weekend and saw quite a few when the tide was at about 2m and coming into the channel to the left of the mast ( as you look out). I then went into the bit which leads around to the pier and although it was only about 2ft deep there were plenty there too! Just waiting till I get a better gun as Foxfish suggests. I found Les A good at higher tide around the pier for mullet too - though you get neckache because they're in such shallow water!

Cheers

Colin

 

[foxfish]

Sarnian, I wouldn't swap my mamba for any other gun I have ever used. They take a bit of getting used to but well worth the effort. Band guns are tryed & tested but not as smooth or powerful for the same length. My mamba is a joy to fire even if I dont hit every thing I aim at! However most spearos own a few guns & I am no exception. This winter I will be looking at building a few sleeves to fit the mamba like the one I am using. Maybe slightly smaller & improving the sight line. If you want to join the "dark side" I can help you though the learning process & possibly supply a sleeve?

 

[foxfish]

You can find info on this thread about shallow water fishing, you will need more weight to avoid neck ache. The bass seem to be (slowly) returning to the shallows. Shallow water is quite a specialist form of hunting & my favorite, I will be concentrating on the bass in a few weeks time.

 

[portinfer]

Wow ! Alot of activity on this thread Good.

Tom - will be going sometime during the week for a SHORT night dive (must get better at getting out on time ) - keen to try new places but equally can show you the old fav's if you like - really easy on that one. If you don't have an underwater one I can lend you one (Ikelite PCa one - very small etc) and you can see how my new LED one behaves too if you like. Not sure what the tides are doing or anything else much either at the moment ... was expertly poisoned at a bbq last night ... but hopefully be ready for diving from Wednesday on - give me a call on Tuesday to fix something up if you want ?
Ed

 

[portinfer]

Colin - the Mambas are good - we all have 90cm ones and they take some getting used to but that would be the same with any new gun.

Depends on ca$h ... but you could get an ali band gun like Dave mentioned (got my brother a 90cm Cressi Comanche last year and it works well - cheap and cheerful) or a wooden gun (Totemsub / Abellan sub / Giman sub) - these are all a bit more expensive but I have a preference for wooden guns ... or something like the Mamba.

Maorisub (makers of Mamba and all things dark) also make adaption kits so that you can modify an existing gun - there is a heap of info over on Medfish about modding Cressi Asso pneu's with the Mamba system - they also have some insane pix of pneu. canons that require yacht cranks to load them but I guess that could be overkill for 3 pound mullet in 2 ft of water

If money is no option I would buy a 90cm Mamba or a 90cm Totemsub Pelagos or Guizzo with a reel depending on material predilection...

Shallow diving or deeper aspetto ? I like a 100cm gun for deeper aspetto and an 80cm gun for shallow stalking (both wooden).

All Dave's advice on gear in general is spot on - def go with long fins etc - the Ice look good in the water and Tom has a pair too - looks freaky seeing someone motor along with apparently no fins !

Take it easy - looking forward to next Sunday and the Italian invasion. Lock up your bass !

 

[Old Man Dave]

I'm up for some night stalking this week but probably not Tuesday as will be boat diving if weather permits. Also have spare torch (no rechargable batterries though) if anyone wants to try.

Ed you sure Beardy didn't put something into that red mullet he gave you to slow you down. Now there's a thought prehaps we could feed fabio one of those .

Dave

PS Where's Spicer these days?

 

[Sarnian]

For Sale
-------------

Mamba 90.... sadly it is time to free up some cash and sell the Mamba 90. If anyone in Guernsey is interested then let me know. It is in very good condition and has been used just a few times. Comes with spare O-ring kit and pump. Currently rigged to load relatively easily and shoots a good 4m range.

Hi Portinfer
Just catching up on all the posts in this thread and I suppose it's too late now, but are you still selling the Mamba?

Cheers

Colin

 

[Sarnian]

Sarnian, I wouldn't swap my mamba for any other gun I have ever used. They take a bit of getting used to but well worth the effort. Band guns are tryed & tested but not as smooth or powerful for the same length. My mamba is a joy to fire even if I dont hit every thing I aim at! However most spearos own a few guns & I am no exception. This winter I will be looking at building a few sleeves to fit the mamba like the one I am using. Maybe slightly smaller & improving the sight line. If you want to join the "dark side" I can help you though the learning process & possibly supply a sleeve?

Hi look forward to seeing your toy! Not sure what you mean about sleeves though - what do they do exactly?
Cheers
Colin

 

[foxfish]

Have a look at page 36.

 

[Magpie]

Struth! Whats happened here! We're going to have to get some sub-threads just for us lot if it carries on like this!

Can't remember if there's any questions that need answering! One thing though, someone was worried about the finger problem with band guns.

I got a 90cm Commanchee and did have occasional problems with the wishbone slipping from the spear notch on loading. This was partly due to poor technique on my part and the wishbone/notch not quite fitting together right. It did bruise my finger quite a lot when it happened, and would have been a lot worse if I didn't have my 5mm gloves to take the brunt of it. BUT, since I got my dremel out and made the wishbone and notch fit snuggly together it hasn't come out once, and thats probably 20 trips now.

Ed, on wednesday low tide is at 1.42am (thursday) so it'll be mid tide falling to 2.1m. Wind is supposed to be flat, still, calm, that that'll no doubt change.

I'll be in touch tuesday then.

 

[portinfer]

Colin - sorry mate ! I saw reason and have decided to keep it... But like I say one way might be to get a Cressi Asso of your desired length and then get the Mamba kit - alot of info on the Maorisub site and videos so you can see the 90 and 110 in action. I think that I would get a 7mm spear in hind sight as I beleive it would load easier and still have plenty of poke at reasonable pressure (ie 6.5mm spear bends more than 7mm...) - sod the balance I have decided ... (At least until I have time to come up with a cunning idea to pass by "Mart the Mamba sleeve pimping guru" got some ideas... got some thoughts ...)
The 90 and the 110 are shorter than standard guns and the M90 is about a metre long I seem to remember. I bet if you line up a M110 with a Comanche 90 the M110 will still be physically shorter.

Tom - game on mate - the poisoning is subsiding and I think that Wednesday night could be fun Not sure about the whole 1:42am thing though .. more of a morning person - plan to meet at 9pm for a 9:15 start ? Will call to work out location and I think Dave is coming too if we can prise him away from his beloved boat.

I'll check magicseaweed.com for the swell prediction....

________________________
Edward

 

[Sarnian]

Struth! Whats happened here! We're going to have to get some sub-threads just for us lot if it carries on like this!

Can't remember if there's any questions that need answering! One thing though, someone was worried about the finger problem with band guns.

I got a 90cm Commanchee and did have occasional problems with the wishbone slipping from the spear notch on loading. This was partly due to poor technique on my part and the wishbone/notch not quite fitting together right. It did bruise my finger quite a lot when it happened, and would have been a lot worse if I didn't have my 5mm gloves to take the brunt of it. BUT, since I got my dremel out and made the wishbone and notch fit snuggly together it hasn't come out once, and thats probably 20 trips now.

Ed, on wednesday low tide is at 1.42am (thursday) so it'll be mid tide falling to 2.1m. Wind is supposed to be flat, still, calm, that that'll no doubt change.

I'll be in touch tuesday then.

Thanks Magpie and I was the one with the query about taking fingers off. Not being funny but can't someone make a gun that works properly without having to modify it - Ok if you're handy doing stuff like that, like Old Man Dave and Foxfish. Or is it a question of you get what you pay for? Looked at the Maorisub video of loading the Mamba and I must admit it looks even trickier to load - perhaps the shorter ones are easier. ( The smallest I saw for sale at Spearo was 90 cm, but the Maorisub site seems to list a 70 cm.)Take the point about gloves, and I have got some 3mm ones, but knowing me I'd probably snag the glove tips instead! The wife says I'm a woos, and compared to her I probably am - for those of you that know her!:ko

Cheers
Colin

 

[Sarnian]

Colin - sorry mate ! I saw reason and have decided to keep it... But like I say one way might be to get a Cressi Asso of your desired length and then get the Mamba kit - alot of info on the Maorisub site and videos so you can see the 90 and 110 in action. I think that I would get a 7mm spear in hind sight as I beleive it would load easier and still have plenty of poke at reasonable pressure (ie 6.5mm spear bends more than 7mm...) - sod the balance I have decided ... (At least until I have time to come up with a cunning idea to pass by "Mart the Mamba sleeve pimping guru" got some ideas... got some thoughts ...)
The 90 and the 110 are shorter than standard guns and the M90 is about a metre long I seem to remember. I bet if you line up a M110 with a Comanche 90 the M110 will still be physically shorter.

Tom - game on mate - the poisoning is subsiding and I think that Wednesday night could be fun Not sure about the whole 1:42am thing though .. more of a morning person - plan to meet at 9pm for a 9:15 start ? Will call to work out location and I think Dave is coming too if we can prise him away from his beloved boat.

I'll check magicseaweed.com for the swell prediction....

________________________
Edward

Thanks anyway Portinfer - interesting about the kits - although at 100 Eur. I'm not sure it's worth adapting my little Beuchat 60 - if it's not too small anyway. May as well fork out £165 for the proper job, depending how I get on with the different types people have kindly offered to let me try.

So what do we think for the long weekend? Low-ish tides around 2-3 pm, swell 3-4ft, wind 10-14mph NW ish. An Easterly spot perhaps but will it be churned up?

 

[Sarnian]

Struth! Whats happened here! We're going to have to get some sub-threads just for us lot if it carries on like this!

Can't remember if there's any questions that need answering! One thing though, someone was worried about the finger problem with band guns.

I got a 90cm Commanchee and did have occasional problems with the wishbone slipping from the spear notch on loading. This was partly due to poor technique on my part and the wishbone/notch not quite fitting together right. It did bruise my finger quite a lot when it happened, and would have been a lot worse if I didn't have my 5mm gloves to take the brunt of it. BUT, since I got my dremel out and made the wishbone and notch fit snuggly together it hasn't come out once, and thats probably 20 trips now.


Ed, on wednesday low tide is at 1.42am (thursday) so it'll be mid tide falling to 2.1m. Wind is supposed to be flat, still, calm, that that'll no doubt change.
I'll be in touch tuesday then.

Yeah ... perhaps we should set this up as a separate website!

Another thought - my 15 year old son goes jumping off Big Bill at Pembroke, and some snorkelling, and he reckons that area would be good for spearfishing. He also reckons he's seen a big old octopus that lives in a reef there! Has anyone tried around there - it certainly seems a potential area, with lots of tall kelp and stuff. I also heard it was good for crabs with the old bicycle wheel net ( I tried once with one I made but no luck - does anyone have any tips ?) . The wall by the castle also used to be popular for crab netting, and there also looks like a good spearfishing spot around the rocks half way along ( off the ladder if you haven't got a boat?)

 

[ADM]

The website thing is easy to do, just need a domain and some free software like on my forum to get it going... Depends how busy it gets on here!!

 

[Magpie]

I think I was just unlucky, most people have no problems with the wishbone slipping.
Besides, I like the fiddling around making the thing work better (hopefully) or worse (more likely, the some recent mods which made it fill with water and sink!). Its not neccessarily you get what you pay for, there was someone who had slippage problems with one of these posh wooden jobs, and I know people with the cheapo beauchats who are fine.

Good spot for crabbing with the wheel is off the Wells (Crab Wells) to Portinfer, no, not Ed. Had loads there like that when I was a lad.

East coast is always stirred up unfortunately, still good spearing to be had though.

And finally, if you go spearing near the castle watch out for them rowing skiffs, I got twatted on the bonce by a an oar a couple of months ago! :vangry

Ed, glad you're on the mend, yep, I've no interest in 1am either! 9 is much more sociable!

 

[Andy.R]

Hi All

Back from an interesting hols in Southern Brittany. Went in a fair bit. Broadly similar to here, a few different species. lots of red mullet most noticabley as well as loads and loads of cuttlefish. Caught a couple of sole and lots of clams (small white ones called tellins lying on the sand, really tasty) No bass. Plenty of oysters and mussels on the rocks for the taking. Lots of french spearos in the water, though didnt see them catch anything.

Treated myself to a new 5mm one piece suit and a pair of milleniums. WOW..... what a difference from the jetfins!

Playing catch up at work so won't be in till weekend, prob sat afternoon if anyone wants some company?

Andy