Guernsey 2007

[Magpie]

Dave: You're mad

Andy R: You're lucky (and bloney flounder too!)

Andy M: You've got all night!

Atomichaggis: Interesting, but its more a problem with what they do when you grab them, sounds like I just need to stop being a bit of a poof! Tasted lovely just now, never had lobster before, surprised how sweet it was.

 

[atomichaggis]

Atomichaggis: Interesting, but its more a problem with what they do when you grab them, sounds like I just need to stop being a bit of a poof! Tasted lovely just now, never had lobster before, surprised how sweet it was.

They are calmer if they can't see You. You need a catch net/bag ready(same hand as the light) and with your free hand grab a safe spot and straight into catch net in one movement. works even better in pairs.

Tastes even sweeter when You see the price of em in shops.

 

[ADM]

Maggers, I know it's dark all night but that's the problem, I'm a go it alone sort of chap and have a cheap torch, never been in after dark and want to start at dusk to see how I get on, dusk doesn't last long. Better that than a confused, lost little puppy out there somewhere in the dark... I'm bad enough on dry land!!

I know, I'm a wimp!! Still catch more on the rod than on a spear but hoping to change it now I have some time.

 

[crazyman]

hi
well went in twice to day once over the high tide to try the new gun (cheers tanky) and saw a couple of small bass and mullet but nothing worth shooting at:hmm,
then had an idea to go for my first ever night/dusk dive to see what it was like (with someone watching on the headland). i wasnt realy expecting to catch any thing as didnt know what to look for but some how ended with two decent sole on my stringer, saw lots of small ones as well and some squid not bad for a 45 min dive.
bring on tommorrows bbq

sam

 

[Sarnian]

Well done Andy - and in the daytime too! I found it hard enough to see them at night, even when pointed out to me!
Well done too Dave. My son saw someone come out of Ladies Bay at high tide with a decent bass - 5lb or so, so I suppose it's just a case of picking the right tide and spot.
Magpie - well done with the lobster, I'm amazed you haven't eaten it before. I thought about shooting crabs or lobsters too, if they're too deep also ( I don't really do the diving bit). But doesn't the hole make them go all mushy when you cook them?
I went out before the low yesterday, north west, but nothing quite as exciting. One smallish bass, (one of a pair)two reasonable mullet and a large wrasse.

 

[Magpie]

Well done Sam, another night dive convert, and one with a decent gun too, not that you'd need the mamba at night though.

I've got no problem picking up spiders and chancres, I know they can't get me, just didn't know the same about the lobs!
Don't go mushy when you grill them Col.

I'll just grab the bugger next time I see one then, thanks Ahaggis.

 

[Andy.R]

Took the boat out today, went in the direction of Herm. Went to one of my secret plaices (in a former life I was assistant manager in the Hotel and lived there for 2 years) Like so many spots its seems these days very little about. Saw a 3 small plaice and a few cuttles but very little else

Nice dive though. and nice family day out

That sole yesterday was a big fish, and was well buried, it was one of those where you dive down and something just looks not right in the sand.

Nice one Sam. the night diving is good fun.

Colin a bass, 2 mullet and a rocky is a good catch.

 

[Old Man Dave]

Another day and something different again. Usually out with the tanks in my boat on Sundays but mate John was "unavailable" at short notice today so went spearing instead.

Decided the tide was big enough again to go flatty bashing. Went back to the site of last weekends big plaice. Out in the tide again but not quite so far. Went a bit later to try and minimise on the current, although this meant diving deeper. It almost worked.

Half an hour in and just getting ready to go for it across the tide stream and ..... the blade on my Ice fin snapped. Managed to pick the broken piece off the bottom and stuff it in my crab bag. Could I still make progress with 1.5 fins? Apart from a tendancy to go round in circles it seems I could. Pissed off that I might have to go home early I just went for it.

Across the main tide run I fished the outside edge. Still too much tide but just fishable. Stemming the flow takes your breath away so it was short bottom times and lots of kicking with 1.5 fins. Down tide, a bit later and deeper the current eased. I had managed to spear 2 decent plaice 2.5lb and 3+lb. Both were uncovered but hiding under weed. Same as the 2 last week. Maybe I just wasn't seeing the buried ones .

Another hour and it was currentless but too deep so I wonkily finned my way back.

Always something different.

Dave

 

[Sarnian]

Took the boat out today, went in the direction of Herm. Went to one of my secret plaices (in a former life I was assistant manager in the Hotel and lived there for 2 years)
Colin a bass, 2 mullet and a rocky is a good catch.

Andy, I never knew that! I got to know Herm quite well as we used to rent a pitch on the family campsite all season and spent weekends there whenever we could. Did a bit of fishing in Belvoir, the north point of shell beach and opposite Saddle Rock. The tide that runs around the north of shell beach can be ... interesting. Wouldn't like to be in swimming when it starts running!

It was a nice change to be struggling back up the beach with about 10lb of fish - added a bit of weight to my belt too!

Tried again at the same spot today and shortly after getting in, saw a decent bass shooting away from me ( as they do!) not in the kelp beds but over the shallow rocky bit. Swam across to Rousse as I was speaking to a rod dangler last night who told me he knew of worm-drowning friends who had been catching gilthead around there. Saw nothing though.

On the way back in ( about 2 hours after low) I looked around the shallows in the sand and saw a smaller bass which I shot at and missed. It swam around while I was re-loading , long enough to get a second shot which nailed it! Saw another spearo heading out as I was leaving - didn't have chance to see who it was but had an orange-tipped snorkel.

p.s. nice catch again Dave!:king

 

[foxfish]

I have been in Sark for the weekend & it seems there has been plenty of action in the last few days that I have been away! Great to see lots of catch reports for a change.
As most of you know I do love Sark & this time was no different from my normal enjoyable experience. There were a few interesting points of note - one night the hotel had two locally caught sole for sale. One was 1.75lb = £25.00 & the other 3lb = £40.00!!!!! As it happens the people on the next table bought the smaller one however they were from Jersey!
On a none spearfishing point there was a angling comp taking place throughout Sat night finishing at 10am Sun. About 170 fish caught, mainly bream but some big triggers as well (3lb +) We also saw a buzzard several peregrines, kestrels, sparrow hawk & one unidentified bird of prey.
No cave excursions this time due to the tides but I was tempted to dive the 300' off the point of the Hogs Back.
PS Andy what years did you work at the White House?

 

[Magpie]

Dave's found his flattie form, Col only needs two goes and Foxy likes it high!

Been out the end of the Hogs Back above Derrrrrrrrible myself and it is surprisingly tempting to jump eh! (especially if you're a crapaud who just paid that much for an average sole!!!):duh

 

[Sarnian]

Nice one Derek - one of your best yet!rofl

 

[Andy.R]

Herm, I worked there in 1979-1980 (I think! It was the last year of Simon Wood running the Hotel and the first year of Andrew Forbes)

It was hard work and long hours, but the split shifts meant I could get out snorkelling most afternoons. Vermerette on low springs used to be good for flatties as did Rosaire. The little bay inside gate rock is a nice dive (I pulled out 5 sole there once) would make a great night dive with a boat anchored in the bay over low tide. The bay is edged by what is an underwater sand dune to the south into the percee passage.

The chap who ran the mermaid (Dennis Parkes?) used to dive and one night we salvaged a cabin cruiser which hit the rocks off rosaire. We (with the help of others on the surface) put strops and empty barrels on the boat at low water and floated it in to the steps as the tide rose!!

Fun times indeed

I also remember Mike Rogers? amongst others (Foxen's??) bringing flatties to the kitchens to sell

 

[Old Man Dave]

I also remember Mike Rogers? amongst others (Foxen's??) bringing flatties to the kitchens to sell

Me and Mike started the commercial flatty business. We were the first ones to realise the potential of catching brill and turbot. That was many moons ago when Mike had hair and I was young.

Dave

 

[Magpie]

Have you been in touch with anyone about your Ice yet Dave? They're supposed to have a 3 year warranty eh. Would be interested to hear whether they abide by it, can't remember where you got yours, either the french one or Apnea...

 

[Andy.R]

Interesting Dave ......I remember being 'gob smacked' early one evening when he brought in something like 20-30 fish (mainly plaice) that he and his mate had caught that afternoon!! (We used to catch a few and take them to the Marina, Absolute End and Nautique for beer money, but nothing like the amount I saw that day)

And yes I did quizz him where!! I think the reply was 'out there' with a sweep of the hand in the general direction of Guernsey rofl rofl

On Herm and fish, I also remember one evening when the inner harbour went black with whitebait. All hotel staff were sent down to water with nets, buckets dustbins etc. All frozen down and on the menu for months after There were some good catches of Mackerel and Bass from the shore at the same time.

Nice montage Derek, although you really should get out more, I hear disco diving is big.

Bad news on the ice's Dave.

 

[derek foxen]

Nice montage Derek, although you really should get out more, I hear disco diving is big.

[/QUOTE]

Tried the 'DISCO' thing Andy but found my zimmer frame a handicap!
Which reminds me of when Dave and I did the SCUBA training about 40 years ago with Peter Peskey and Rex Champion as instructors. First activity was to retrieve Peter's crutch from the bottom of the Gents' Pool [you may remember Peter was crippled by 'the bends'].
I understand he has made a lot of money in Australia as an architectect.

 

[Andy.R]

Was Rex Champion, Bert's Dad? If so he helped teach me (Bert that is) in the Froome & Rowland hay day.

 

[Old Man Dave]

Omer ice fins are supposed to be guaranteed for 3 years. Am gonna email Scubaland Fr. and see if I get any joy. Not holding my breath (good diver pun ). They may be cheap but i have my doubts about them. When a spear I ordered got lost in the post they wouldn't reply to my emails and when I phoned it was "No speaky English".

Meanwhile I get to try some expensive carbons that are on loan from Spaniard. Thanks Juan. Put his Sporasub blades in my Omer foorpockets. Very easy to do and they fit perfectly. Amazing that different manufacturers have an agreed standard. I was told this was so by Ed who has an assortment of blades and footpockets but had never actually examined them myself. Basically fin blades go cheap plastic, omer ice (expensive plastic), glassfibre (a la Ed) and finally carbon. Different shapes, angles and stiffness make for different performance. Carbons are mega expensive (£200?) and are designed more for deep diving than surface work but will see how I get on.

Dave

 

[Magpie]

Cor la, you've done alright out of that! I'm always tempted by carbons...What stiffness are the blades you've blagged from Spaniard?