-
Welcome to the DeeperBlue.com Forums, the largest online community dedicated to Freediving, Scuba Diving and Spearfishing. To gain full access to the DeeperBlue.com Forums you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:
- Join over 44,280+ fellow diving enthusiasts from around the world on this forum
- Participate in and browse from over 516,210+ posts.
- Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
- Post your own photos or view from 7,441+ user submitted images.
- All this and much more...
You can gain access to all this absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today!
Guernsey 2007
- Thread startergbo200
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 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.
go ahead caved up fish, make my day..the loading it thing is easy, NOW at least. Funny though when I got it it was impossible. I'm sure its just a nack thing. Just like a chainsaw.. same thing, you need that quick aggressive "you will start" type initiation and it works, but pass it to a first timer and it never does......
I have been bending spears lately on the rocks... Maybe Foxies gauge idea would end up saving me money at 20 dollars per shaft..
Wow
What a dive. I went in just as the sun was setting. I stealthed through the weed and saw a couple of smallish mullet. Then out out out where the water gets deeper. Not yet dark, but a beautiful evening, almost like summer!!!
What was that moving on the sand? A small sole and another and another and another. I have never seen so many, even as I was coming out of the water in waist deep there were 3 within sight! Sadly for my tummy they were all small.
What is that now on the sand? The familiar diamond shape and orangey spots, a plaice .... at last. However he (or she) is too small ( I measured the overhang of the spear on my gun and its about the legal size) During the rest of my dive I saw 10 or so others, but all of the same size (or maybe it was the same one following me around?)
I saw a small ray swimming in mid water and shortly after a larger one which just had to come home with me. I also saw red mullet (and took one)
Then just as my 2 hours was up Lo and behold a lobster walking across the sand, he is cooking as we speak
As I came in I saw the most amazing sight. I came ashore in a little sandy bay and there were fish (aqt least a dozen) jumping clean out of the water in a depthe of about a foot!! Bass, small ones, one hung motionless in front of me then dived down shot up and out of the water.
Brilliant dive, the stars were wonderful and the phosphoresence in the water was way cool.
The best bit is the lobster means the wife lets me go again tomorrow!!
Colin, my advice is get a torch on nights like tonight you have no idea what you are missing.
Happy and contented Andy
What a dive. I went in just as the sun was setting. I stealthed through the weed and saw a couple of smallish mullet. Then out out out where the water gets deeper. Not yet dark, but a beautiful evening, almost like summer!!!
What was that moving on the sand? A small sole and another and another and another. I have never seen so many, even as I was coming out of the water in waist deep there were 3 within sight! Sadly for my tummy they were all small.
What is that now on the sand? The familiar diamond shape and orangey spots, a plaice .... at last. However he (or she) is too small ( I measured the overhang of the spear on my gun and its about the legal size) During the rest of my dive I saw 10 or so others, but all of the same size (or maybe it was the same one following me around?)
I saw a small ray swimming in mid water and shortly after a larger one which just had to come home with me. I also saw red mullet (and took one)
Then just as my 2 hours was up Lo and behold a lobster walking across the sand, he is cooking as we speak
As I came in I saw the most amazing sight. I came ashore in a little sandy bay and there were fish (aqt least a dozen) jumping clean out of the water in a depthe of about a foot!! Bass, small ones, one hung motionless in front of me then dived down shot up and out of the water.
Brilliant dive, the stars were wonderful and the phosphoresence in the water was way cool.
The best bit is the lobster means the wife lets me go again tomorrow!!
Colin, my advice is get a torch on nights like tonight you have no idea what you are missing.
Happy and contented Andy
Hi again from the Northern Isle guys.
Getting back into the water after too long a break, but have been keeping up with your exploits on here.
Just got some new omer millennium fins from good ol' ebay for £25!
My lad had a few dives in Clonque bay when he was back for the summer. Saw some nice bass and a huge gilthead which are pretty rare up here. Now he's back in Guernsey and will be continuing his exploits down there as opposed to doing coursework etc for Grammar!
One thing I want to mention is that a license is required for a speargun up here, and I'm told the police have already stopped a local spearo and asked for his (which he had got).
So if you are thinking of visiting it would be wise to get one, £26 for 3 years.
Getting back into the water after too long a break, but have been keeping up with your exploits on here.
Just got some new omer millennium fins from good ol' ebay for £25!
My lad had a few dives in Clonque bay when he was back for the summer. Saw some nice bass and a huge gilthead which are pretty rare up here. Now he's back in Guernsey and will be continuing his exploits down there as opposed to doing coursework etc for Grammar!
One thing I want to mention is that a license is required for a speargun up here, and I'm told the police have already stopped a local spearo and asked for his (which he had got).
So if you are thinking of visiting it would be wise to get one, £26 for 3 years.
You want a cheap torch Col - well you wont get much cheaper than this - DIVING TORCH
& they work very well!
I went in with Derek last night & as Andy reports very nice evening, beautiful star lite night & very clear water. We saw ray, cuttle, red mullet, tiny squid, plaice, sole & lots of little unknown creatures of the sea.
Unfortunately for one sole who is most likely dead now as it managed to wriggle off my spear! I did kill a small plaice & I did consider another nice sole but I was not expecting the thing to swim off as I dived for it.
Derek was spectating (no gun) so he came out with only the experience but I dont think he was too disappointed.
Those little LED torches are so much better than the ones we had been using, probably no comparison to what some of you guys have but easily good enough for us shallow water dudes.
That is only the second time we have been night diving & I think maybe Derek has the right idea! I would never describe spearing those flatfish as "sporting" It was fantastic to see all those night time creatures but for me spearing blinded, confused easy prey is about food on the table nothing like day time diving!
& they work very well!
I went in with Derek last night & as Andy reports very nice evening, beautiful star lite night & very clear water. We saw ray, cuttle, red mullet, tiny squid, plaice, sole & lots of little unknown creatures of the sea.
Unfortunately for one sole who is most likely dead now as it managed to wriggle off my spear! I did kill a small plaice & I did consider another nice sole but I was not expecting the thing to swim off as I dived for it.
Derek was spectating (no gun) so he came out with only the experience but I dont think he was too disappointed.
Those little LED torches are so much better than the ones we had been using, probably no comparison to what some of you guys have but easily good enough for us shallow water dudes.
That is only the second time we have been night diving & I think maybe Derek has the right idea! I would never describe spearing those flatfish as "sporting" It was fantastic to see all those night time creatures but for me spearing blinded, confused easy prey is about food on the table nothing like day time diving!
Thanks for that Martyn. Torch on order! Sounds like excellent conditions at present, and a chance to dust off my 60cm pneumatic and hand spear! With any luck the torch may arrive by Friday? My children really like flatfish so this would be a good way to add to my spearing experience.
Martyn I 100% agree with you on the lack of sporting chance for the fish with night diving. I treat my catch as food for the table and try and be selective, plus species like red mullet are nocturnal and can only be targeted at night.
Night diving is not that easy though. Last night there was what felt like a tug on my bobber line...aaaargh (the brain works overtime) as I turned round to look either my gun or my hand cast a shadow over the sand, which out of the corner of my eye, for a fleeting second looked like a dark shape swimming through the water..... I nearly soiled myself!!
Was thinking seeing these small plaice last night that when the bay I was in gets netted (as it does) they will probably end up being caught irrespective of their size.
Night diving is not that easy though. Last night there was what felt like a tug on my bobber line...aaaargh (the brain works overtime) as I turned round to look either my gun or my hand cast a shadow over the sand, which out of the corner of my eye, for a fleeting second looked like a dark shape swimming through the water..... I nearly soiled myself!!
Was thinking seeing these small plaice last night that when the bay I was in gets netted (as it does) they will probably end up being caught irrespective of their size.
One question mate, what point is a bobber at night?
Surely just one more thing to get tangled in. Key at night I find is to keep everything simple.
Anyway, lots of disco action by the sounds of it, good stuff boys. I'm in tonight and possibly tomorrow too, and mainly after cuttles for bait though. Anyone seen an abundance anywhere? (Pm's fine if you want to keep your spots away from prying eyes!)
Yes, a very good night dive last night. Ed and I went east and were treated to calm seas, good vis and fantastic starry sky. Excellent phosphorescence as well. If you switched your torch off and swam with your gun in front of you it looked like the starship Enterprise going into warp - amazing.
I know what Mart means about "sporting" but it's all relative. Night diving is not that easy and I just treat it as different rather than compare it to daytime. Ed and I spent 2 hours swimming pretty far out and covering a lot of ground. We came across a net (scary) and we struggled with some strong fish in the dark. My torch ran out of power and I was lightless and confused (situation normal).
Fish or rather sea-life was as amazing as always. Loads of red mullet (all a touch small), some small soles and plaice and the usual assortment of pout, cuttles, smelt, crabs, rays, etc, etc, etc.
Catch wise Ed got a nice bass almost straight away, then I got a couple of soles before stalking and spearing a near 7lb bass out over the outer reefs. My best bass this year and my biggest night time catch ever. After that I saw a nice bream of at least 2lb but it left the scene before I worked out what was happening. Later on I got another bass of a couple of pounds and missed a bit bigger one. Ed finished off with a red mullet to add to his 4+lb bass.
Great dive. Tonight? Tomorrow? Bring it on.
Dave
I know what Mart means about "sporting" but it's all relative. Night diving is not that easy and I just treat it as different rather than compare it to daytime. Ed and I spent 2 hours swimming pretty far out and covering a lot of ground. We came across a net (scary) and we struggled with some strong fish in the dark. My torch ran out of power and I was lightless and confused (situation normal).
Fish or rather sea-life was as amazing as always. Loads of red mullet (all a touch small), some small soles and plaice and the usual assortment of pout, cuttles, smelt, crabs, rays, etc, etc, etc.
Catch wise Ed got a nice bass almost straight away, then I got a couple of soles before stalking and spearing a near 7lb bass out over the outer reefs. My best bass this year and my biggest night time catch ever. After that I saw a nice bream of at least 2lb but it left the scene before I worked out what was happening. Later on I got another bass of a couple of pounds and missed a bit bigger one. Ed finished off with a red mullet to add to his 4+lb bass.
Great dive. Tonight? Tomorrow? Bring it on.
Dave
Attachments
Last edited:
One think I can recommend is a small star light taped on top of your snorkel, it made spotting Derek very easy.
I guess hunting at night will always be a bit controversial in my eyes, seems to be taking advantage of already diminished fish stocks. Of course every one to their own & I have always been a bit of a conservationist.
Another issue is the danger factor, NETS, FOG, SHOOTING YOURSELF, TIDES, GETTING LOST, TORCHES BREAKING ECT ECT.
Andy I think I saw maybe 20 sharks last night !!!
It was good fun though.
I guess hunting at night will always be a bit controversial in my eyes, seems to be taking advantage of already diminished fish stocks. Of course every one to their own & I have always been a bit of a conservationist.
Another issue is the danger factor, NETS, FOG, SHOOTING YOURSELF, TIDES, GETTING LOST, TORCHES BREAKING ECT ECT.
Andy I think I saw maybe 20 sharks last night !!!
It was good fun though.
I agree on the keep it simple, but in my mind my bobber helps keep me safe and doesn't complicate my diving.
Diving at night has a risk. Get caught in the current, get a bad cramp, get swept away. Injure yourself. Get caught in a net. At least a bobber gives you some means of emergency bouyancy and is easier to see than a cammo head in the water.
I use it to hang any fish on plus I carry my goody bag on it along with a spare knife and at night a spare torch. In my mind the occasional tangle in your feet (actually I rarely get a tangle) is no worse than carrying fish on your body
I never used to use a bobber, but have now got used to it and it has become to me as natural as putting on a seatbelt in a car. My winter project is to build a custom one wih waterproof compartment for miniflares and an integral line winder.
Martyn that wasn't a shark I saw it was sammy the seal who was after my ray, followed by me!!!!
Diving at night has a risk. Get caught in the current, get a bad cramp, get swept away. Injure yourself. Get caught in a net. At least a bobber gives you some means of emergency bouyancy and is easier to see than a cammo head in the water.
I use it to hang any fish on plus I carry my goody bag on it along with a spare knife and at night a spare torch. In my mind the occasional tangle in your feet (actually I rarely get a tangle) is no worse than carrying fish on your body
I never used to use a bobber, but have now got used to it and it has become to me as natural as putting on a seatbelt in a car. My winter project is to build a custom one wih waterproof compartment for miniflares and an integral line winder.
Martyn that wasn't a shark I saw it was sammy the seal who was after my ray, followed by me!!!!
Hi Andy - glad to hear you're feeling younger! I agree about floats ( though I haven't tried a night dive yet). Also, my conscience is clear about unfairly depleting fish stocks, as I haven't done much depleting at all this year!
I don't suppose anyone has a spare torch to lend me until mine comes?
I don't suppose anyone has a spare torch to lend me until mine comes?
Cheers Mart - do you know how much? Can't get there now today.
I've got a little Shakespeare waterproof head torch, but probably meant for fishing in all weather, not underwater,and not very powerful. Might be useful for additional light though. When you mentioned the star light Derek had, do you mean one of those little one use fluorescent ones you put on lines for night fishing? I was imagining him looking like the fairy on top of the Christmas tree!( no offence Derek!)
I've got a little Shakespeare waterproof head torch, but probably meant for fishing in all weather, not underwater,and not very powerful. Might be useful for additional light though. When you mentioned the star light Derek had, do you mean one of those little one use fluorescent ones you put on lines for night fishing? I was imagining him looking like the fairy on top of the Christmas tree!
( no offence Derek!)