Guernsey 2006

[Magpie]

Yeh, there's only one person silly enough to leave themselves logged in eh....

Cuttle was spiked Andy, they sat in a hollow in the sand when you find them, you could try putting the bag behind them and trying to scare them into it but thats a lot more hassle than a 6.5mm behind the head. You couldn't fish the shelf in the spec hunt, you'd need to be on the boulders.

Must admit my thoughts were on flounder but no definate sightings, and definately none above 2 inches.

In the interest of brevity the red mullet and the plaice fillets were goujoned and fried up in olive oil before dousing in butter and lemon juice and pouring over taglieatelle (or however you spell it) with some parsley. Yum yum.

Certainly not an erroneous statement Derek, by 4 years in fact! I do remember fishing from the pier with my old man before the boulder wall was built though.

Yeh, I must admit, carvery dinners on room service are a very good incentive not to leave the sofa!

 

[Andy.R]

Night Dive anyone?

 

[loops]

Hi Guys, l find the best way to put a suit on is using hot soapy water. This enables the suit to slide on easily and it leaves you a thin layer of warm water against your body. Espeacilly good when the sea is chilly. I even put do it to my boots and gloves when l`m winter night diving. If you look Andy R on the jerseyspearfishing site in the article section is shows you the Elios way of putting suits on and off...Haven`t been in for 3weeks our viz is crap
happy hunting

 

[Andy.R]

I've got putting the suit on and taking it off again cracked now thanks. Its actually easier to put on than a lined suit when you use enough lube. Still am struggling with the body of the jacket coming down over the long johns though, seems no matter how much I lube it won't slide. My suit is lined on the outside. I have found that if I roll it up really tight before I put my head and arms on it will then roll down in the right place. I must say its very warm in the water though, even too warm with gloves!!

Latest weather forecast looks better for latter half of weekend so may have to see what its like.

Just taken delivery of my new boat I know its the end of the season, but at least I'll have plenty of time to tinker with it during the winter. It has a decent sized cockpit and large boarding ladder so should be great for diving. Roll on next summer......

 

[Magpie]

Will be interesting to see how an opencell exterior survives spearing over here, the granite isn't very forgiving!

Nice boat, not that I know anything about that sort of thing. Looks very, err, floaty!

 

[foxfish]

Very nice Andy, looks like a Oct??? however you spell it? French design from M&G? Looks about 6mt? outboard or shaft?

 

[Sarnian]

Yes Tom - though I must say she posted it with my permission! So that's where your quote is from - cor we've got some learned blokes on this thread la!

Good advice Loops - I reckon the combination of hot water and hair conditioner ( Boots cheapo) works best. There are of course other ways of warming up the inside of your suit, but won't go there...:naughty . Last time I looked the Jersey site only had pics, which are I think from Elios's site, but their site also has written instructions to go with the pics, which are helpful. How did you get on with taking it off Andy - did you manage the Elios way or give up and use the beaver tail stitch-pulling method?

 

[Sarnian]

Night Dive anyone?

Beat me to it Andy! Took this pic with my phone in Checkers earlier - but in glorious Technicolor! ( Also didn't know red snapper was found in our waters!):hmm

 

[Magpie]

Also shows the wonderful local species "sand"sole :rcard

 

[Andy.R]

Yes Foxfish an Ocqueteau 615 with 90hp Mariner 4 stroke. Second hand 3years old and only 50-hrs on the engine!! Like new throughout but at a better price!! Its called Gypsy, not sure about that, but its suppossed to be unlucky to change the name, so may have to live with it. I've got a mooring in the outer part of the St. Sampson marina where I used to keep my RIB so will probably move it up there for next season. I looked at an inboard version, but they were a. much more expensive and b. on a small boat an inborad takes away most of your storage. I bought it for diving and fishing, plus it has a couple of berths, gas cooker and marine toilet, so trips to France and overnighting are all on the cards. Its pretty well equipped with a decent chart plotter, fishfinder, VHF etc

Tom I've often wondered about the Sand Sole. I know there is a seperate species, but I often think that the ones for sale are just small Dover's. As far as I can tell the main difference visually is the frill of fins around the fish extends much more around the front of the fish on a sand sole. (see pics) I would add it makes me very sad to see such small fish caught commercially.

Reminds me of the time I had an argument in Crabby Jacks when they were trying to pass off Lemon Sole as Dover Sole. I also hate the way that restaurants nearly always called Ray - Skate. Skate is illegal to catch these days, been wiped out by overfishing, its on the 'red' list.

On fishmongers, when I walked past Lucas's the other day I saw that Monty had a big pile of Dover's on his stall with the lable "Dave's Dover Sole" I thought OMD had handed in his licence???

Sarnian I use the jock strap over the head method to get my jacket off. I can't see that it puts any extra strain on the suit, it slips off really easy. As I said the only prob I have is getting the jacket down over the long johns. I'm even thinking of cutting off the long johns into trousers, then the jacket will slide down over my skin on my chest and back rather than the nylon outer lining of the long johns over which IT WILL NOT SLIDE. I can always get a smoothskin vest if I'm cold although my suit is the 6.5mm. Not sure what to do, cutting it seems pretty terminal. I will perservere with it for the minute, it has been designed that way so MUST work. Unless anyone else has any suggestions?

Andy

 

[Andy.R]

Done a bit more digging (quiet at work this morning)

Dover Sole is Solea solea

Sand Sole is Solea lascaris

Have found some other pics which show the difference, plus the aquarium site says of the Sand Sole "Very similar to the sole, but distinguished by bigger nasal openings on the underside of the head - the larger one being similar in size to the eyes. Colouration brownish, speckled with dark spots"

Nerdy bit done for the day. Booked the afternoon off to go and fiddle with my boat, well won't be diving:vangry

Andy

 

[Magpie]

Well whether they're sand or dover they're selling one thing is for sure, they're sodding tiny :vangry. Don't actually know how you're supposed to make a meal out of them.

 

[flyflicker]

Hi guys - I have tried the Jersey lot, but not had any replies

I'm over staying in Jersey in the last week of October and I'm after a spot or two for a dive; is St.Catherines Bay worth a look....

I know I should have choosen Guernsey, but I have friends on Jersey and more importantly my wife says the shops are better...!

Cheers
John

 

[flyflicker]

No it's John for Darzet

 

[ADM]

S*d the sharks, look at this video. I wouldn't be watching for porgies on night dives if i were you... [ame="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7004909622962894202"]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7004909622962894202[/ame]

 

[Sarnian]

Yes Foxfish an Ocqueteau 615 with 90hp Mariner 4 stroke. Second hand 3years old and only 50-hrs on the engine!! Like new throughout but at a better price!! Its called Gypsy, not sure about that, but its suppossed to be unlucky to change the name, so may have to live with it. I've got a mooring in the outer part of the St. Sampson marina where I used to keep my RIB so will probably move it up there for next season. I looked at an inboard version, but they were a. much more expensive and b. on a small boat an inborad takes away most of your storage. I bought it for diving and fishing, plus it has a couple of berths, gas cooker and marine toilet, so trips to France and overnighting are all on the cards. Its pretty well equipped with a decent chart plotter, fishfinder, VHF etc

Tom I've often wondered about the Sand Sole. I know there is a seperate species, but I often think that the ones for sale are just small Dover's. As far as I can tell the main difference visually is the frill of fins around the fish extends much more around the front of the fish on a sand sole. (see pics) I would add it makes me very sad to see such small fish caught commercially.

Reminds me of the time I had an argument in Crabby Jacks when they were trying to pass off Lemon Sole as Dover Sole. I also hate the way that restaurants nearly always called Ray - Skate. Skate is illegal to catch these days, been wiped out by overfishing, its on the 'red' list.

On fishmongers, when I walked past Lucas's the other day I saw that Monty had a big pile of Dover's on his stall with the lable "Dave's Dover Sole" I thought OMD had handed in his licence???

Sarnian I use the jock strap over the head method to get my jacket off. I can't see that it puts any extra strain on the suit, it slips off really easy. As I said the only prob I have is getting the jacket down over the long johns. I'm even thinking of cutting off the long johns into trousers, then the jacket will slide down over my skin on my chest and back rather than the nylon outer lining of the long johns over which IT WILL NOT SLIDE. I can always get a smoothskin vest if I'm cold although my suit is the 6.5mm. Not sure what to do, cutting it seems pretty terminal. I will perservere with it for the minute, it has been designed that way so MUST work. Unless anyone else has any suggestions?

Andy

Hi Andy - re the suit - I think some very experienced people on this thread use the beaver tail pulling method, but I don't know about the long john problem. I wear a rash vest also underneath, otherwise I find the long john straps chafe under the arms (ooohh matron!) but I don't know if that would help with your suit.

Dare I say that at our advanced years, the six pack has become a twelve pack, or even a party seven ( remember those?) and perhaps that is getting in the way but I can only suggest the answer is even more lube on top of the long johns - a good litre of soapy water mixture all over doesn't hurt. Cutting them down would be a shame, although in your case having already the 6.5mm ( effectively 13mm over the torso) probably wouldn't make a noticeable difference unless it was really cold.

Re soles - I seem to remember someone said I think it was Dover were an aphrodisiac? The answer is just to tell your partner/wife/whatever that whatever they're eating is an aphrodisiac, and just wait for the " placebo" effect. ( well that's my theory anyway!)

 

[portinfer]

Well it looks like a cracking day... I really hope some of you go diving and tell us your glory stories ....
Good luck to anyone diving today.
Ed

 

[Sarnian]

Hi Ed

I might try around the knife or around Grand Havre, where it's sheltered from the Westerly, probably flattie spearing as it's such a low one.Had a look before and although there are some white horses further out, hopefully it won't be too bad - but you can never tell until you get in...! Still waiting for a decent gun as you know!

Colin

 

[Old Man Dave]

Keen to know what the vis is like as well. Can't go today but might manage an hour tomorrow (Sunday). If anyone goes before please post some info. Thanks

Dave

 

[Magpie]

You a bit bored Derek? rofl

I haven't been in, need to get in some serious casting practise, but it looked pretty murky round portinfer, not surprising with all the wind lately.

Andy, if you do chop the suit can I put dibs in for any off cuts please