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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.
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Hi Guys
I've been lurking here for a while and am thinking of taking up spear fishing as you all seem to report alot better fish regularly than I ever catch from the shore! Just started savings my pennies to get a wetsuit to cover me as I don't have enough blubber to keep me warm enough! Magpie's offered me lots of advice on gear and oldmandave on hunting down sole so I'm keen as mustard to get in the water soon!
Why do they cut the gills out foxfish?
I've been lurking here for a while and am thinking of taking up spear fishing as you all seem to report alot better fish regularly than I ever catch from the shore! Just started savings my pennies to get a wetsuit to cover me as I don't have enough blubber to keep me warm enough! Magpie's offered me lots of advice on gear and oldmandave on hunting down sole so I'm keen as mustard to get in the water soon!
Why do they cut the gills out foxfish?
Had another marathon dive tonight. Managed to get in the water at 4pm and was out at 7pm. Wanted to make the most of these big spring tides before they cut right back. Was disappointed the other day to have worked so hard for a brill/turbot with no result, so decided to try again at another venue.
Today I wasn't going to go so far out but I know a headland with deepish water, a strong tide run and a gravel sea bed. Parked the car and walked "up tide" along the shore. Went in and swam straight out to the edge of the tide rip and found reasonable, but misty, vis at about 20-25ft. Had timed it right as the current was fishable and I knew it would ease toward the low tide. Worked the edge of the tide moving in and out along the 25ft depth line and gradually drifting down tide. Took a while to get my rhythm but soon I was cruising down and working the bottom with good consistent bottom and recovery times.
To be honest it was a bit barren but I took a pollack and then an hour or so into the dive I found a brill. Unfortunately it was only a couple of pound in weight. Not much more than the small ones you can find on the sand in the bays. However despite its relatively small size it was a proper "offshore" gravel bank brill. Shame it wasn't 8 lbs though.
The next hour saw me working the most tidal and deepest area but the bottom has changed a lot. The big gravel waves are currently little ripples and all I saw was a huge electric ray which probably went 20lbs. At one point as I was recovering on the surface between dives, 3 large bass made a pass about 8 ft beneath me. Fantastic sight but as I dived on them they scarpered. Oh! well, yet more fish left for "another" day.
Made my way back inshore after over 2 hours of concentrated diving and had a look in my mullet hole. No fish were in the main hole but I went round to the back entrance and shot a big one of 4+lb just as it was leaving.
Feeling a bit knackered as I type this but can't imagine what I'd do if I couldn't get out there every now and again.
.
Dave
Today I wasn't going to go so far out but I know a headland with deepish water, a strong tide run and a gravel sea bed. Parked the car and walked "up tide" along the shore. Went in and swam straight out to the edge of the tide rip and found reasonable, but misty, vis at about 20-25ft. Had timed it right as the current was fishable and I knew it would ease toward the low tide. Worked the edge of the tide moving in and out along the 25ft depth line and gradually drifting down tide. Took a while to get my rhythm but soon I was cruising down and working the bottom with good consistent bottom and recovery times.
To be honest it was a bit barren but I took a pollack and then an hour or so into the dive I found a brill. Unfortunately it was only a couple of pound in weight. Not much more than the small ones you can find on the sand in the bays. However despite its relatively small size it was a proper "offshore" gravel bank brill. Shame it wasn't 8 lbs though.
The next hour saw me working the most tidal and deepest area but the bottom has changed a lot. The big gravel waves are currently little ripples and all I saw was a huge electric ray which probably went 20lbs. At one point as I was recovering on the surface between dives, 3 large bass made a pass about 8 ft beneath me. Fantastic sight but as I dived on them they scarpered. Oh! well, yet more fish left for "another" day.
Made my way back inshore after over 2 hours of concentrated diving and had a look in my mullet hole. No fish were in the main hole but I went round to the back entrance and shot a big one of 4+lb just as it was leaving.
Feeling a bit knackered as I type this but can't imagine what I'd do if I couldn't get out there every now and again.
.Dave
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foxfish said:GET TOGETHER
I was thinking about next saturday, anyone up for a social fire at the bottom of my garden, bit of food & drink? All welcome
Sounds like a great idea. On a work do in Herm all day, and I can't even slope off around Hermetier to find something for the barbie! The trouble and strife's away in the UK ( not diving!) but I should be able to farm the kids out and come along. Will there be any fish on the menu at all?
Cheers
Colin
Welcome Guern, you might be right about catching more diving than fishing? Dont forget some of us have had a bit of practice though. Anyhow ask away any questions you have.
Well done Dave, hope your ears hold up.
Sarnia I am a bit short of fish at the moment, I may have to raid the freezer? I was hoping for a bit more response, my fires are normally well received!
Well done Dave, hope your ears hold up.
Sarnia I am a bit short of fish at the moment, I may have to raid the freezer? I was hoping for a bit more response, my fires are normally well received!
Attachments
Well managed a brief (3/4 hour in the water) dive this evening @ cup and saucer. Didn't catch, but then again didn't expect to had a sh1tty day @ work so just great to get in the water for a bit. Big shoal (20+) of mullet in the shallows.
I must admit that I'm really really enjoying getting back into diving. Its funny though because I thought I could just jump in and be straight back into it, I've been surprised how much I had forgotten and how hard work it is at times. (ears have been hurting but getting better)
Having said that it was/is magical gliding silently through the shallows with the silvery surface of the water......... I'm turning soft!!!!
Andy
ps anyone night diving later this week? Foxfish am busy sat night unfortunately your fire looks great. Dave, nice catch sounded hard work though, good for you.
I must admit that I'm really really enjoying getting back into diving. Its funny though because I thought I could just jump in and be straight back into it, I've been surprised how much I had forgotten and how hard work it is at times. (ears have been hurting but getting better)
Having said that it was/is magical gliding silently through the shallows with the silvery surface of the water......... I'm turning soft!!!!
Andy
ps anyone night diving later this week? Foxfish am busy sat night unfortunately your fire looks great. Dave, nice catch sounded hard work though, good for you.
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Sorry foxfish, I'll have to decline as well. And it doesn't look as though I'll be doing any diving this weekend either. 
Another great report OMD - not surprised you were knackered. My feet/legs are aching from being in briefly on Sunday (but that may be due to doing a cliff run in the morning).
portinfer - my suit's nylon camo outside, cell inside.
Does anyone ever go out early morning (I mean 6ish)? I'm thinking that this may be the easiest time for me as I can be back doing the normal family things or even work at a reasonable time.
Another great report OMD - not surprised you were knackered. My feet/legs are aching from being in briefly on Sunday (but that may be due to doing a cliff run in the morning).
portinfer - my suit's nylon camo outside, cell inside.
Does anyone ever go out early morning (I mean 6ish)? I'm thinking that this may be the easiest time for me as I can be back doing the normal family things or even work at a reasonable time.
Hi guys, thought Id jump in and say hello,been watchin the forum for a couple of weeks now and decided none of you are gonna bite so thought Id chat. Im a born again spearo never having strayed from my beloved West coast (Rocquaine/Perelle is my haunt) but I must admit I am absolutely fascinated by your stories on night dives, they sound amazing. I went out on Sunday (back of cup and sauce) great viz saw loads but nothing I fancied shootin.Its flatties I long for but never been lucky. Do you boys carry on all year round or what, end of Oct seems late enough for me. What a brilliant forum, Rob.
Crumbs we are busy tonight, Hi Rob & welcome the more the merrier. I lived down the west for quite a few years. You dont need to travel far to catch flats, in fact Oct - Nov is a good time. You can find last winters post under Guernsey summer fishing, try the search button.
[ame="http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?p=564906#post564906"]Guernsey summer fishing - Page 13[/ame]
[ame="http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?p=564906#post564906"]Guernsey summer fishing - Page 13[/ame]
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I'll be there if its still happening Foxy, maybe another day when more could make it would be better though.
Yeh I'd be up for a night dive Andy, should be ok any night this week now.
We've got quite a few new members on here now, have any of you ever given a spare wishbone to a spearo who'd broken his out in the middle of rocquaine? If so, that was me! Cheers!
PS. Wharro Guern211!
Yeh I'd be up for a night dive Andy, should be ok any night this week now.
We've got quite a few new members on here now, have any of you ever given a spare wishbone to a spearo who'd broken his out in the middle of rocquaine? If so, that was me! Cheers!
PS. Wharro Guern211!
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Hello Guernsey from West Wales.
Guys a little off topic i know, but just like to enquire about early morning sessions and tides over there. Down in west wales morning tides just dont work for me, i hardly ever see fish much before midday.....any one have any light to shed on this.....is it the same over there?
Love this thread great advice, tips and reports i think visit is defo on the cards for next year....
Keep up the good work
ben
Guys a little off topic i know, but just like to enquire about early morning sessions and tides over there. Down in west wales morning tides just dont work for me, i hardly ever see fish much before midday.....any one have any light to shed on this.....is it the same over there?
Love this thread great advice, tips and reports i think visit is defo on the cards for next year....
Keep up the good work
ben
You guys might be interested in the attached aerial photo. I have pretty much the whole island. I started work on a website a while ago using these pictures as guide for walking right around the island on the beach (another unfinished project!) fyo the pictures were taken afternoon of 28 september 1990.
OK magpie when do you want to go? Tides look better toward the end of week. Thursday is good for me. OMD? anyone else?
Andy
OK magpie when do you want to go? Tides look better toward the end of week. Thursday is good for me. OMD? anyone else?
Andy
Attachments
Nice Pic Andy, I've the fortune of having the Digimap setup here. Its great, totally zoomable ariel photos of the island from 1996, 2001 and 2004 in pretty good quality, all at different states of the tide. I use it for scoping out fishing and diving marks all the time. Unfortunately its all copyrighted and they wouldn't be happy if I started posting pics from it on the internet!
Righteo, thursday sounds good. Lows at 6ish so halftide up. Anywhere you fancy trying? I was thinking of Vazon middle reef but open to suggestions. You got a torch?
Oh and Ben, no imput on morning dives from me, sorry, I like my bed too much!
Righteo, thursday sounds good. Lows at 6ish so halftide up. Anywhere you fancy trying? I was thinking of Vazon middle reef but open to suggestions. You got a torch?
Oh and Ben, no imput on morning dives from me, sorry, I like my bed too much!
Guern211 said:
The Spanish do something similar, if the fish are not going to be processed straight away, they believe that the gills impart a bitter taste to flesh. It make sense in a way because if you make fish stock you always remove gills to stop a bitter taste to the stock.
In case anyones interested (or their Mrs has locked the bathroom cabinet!) I've just been into Boots and picked up a 500ml bottle of their basic conditioner for only 28p.
Best thing is it doesn't have much of smell to it, some of the others I've tried have made me feel queezy!
Best thing is it doesn't have much of smell to it, some of the others I've tried have made me feel queezy!
Reckon you should try a bit of pilchard oil instead, nice and slippy and should help attract the fish closer!!
For eveyone other than Magpie who already knows, just got a PB rockie on the rod at 5-12. Returned for the specimen competition next few weeks. Secret location but completely unspearable before you ask!!
For eveyone other than Magpie who already knows, just got a PB rockie on the rod at 5-12. Returned for the specimen competition next few weeks. Secret location but completely unspearable before you ask!!
Would be a bit dangerous though... Not one for me that's for sure!! Not with all the shirvy I've thrown in there in the past!! And the risk of some more coming in on top of you!! Reckon it would be good to collect lead though. heavy ground to one side so must be a few down there.