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Guernsey 2008
- 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.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Yeah OMD know what you mean as i watched a dinner sized bass 'limp' out of sight. lesson learned for me to hold the fish tight even if it well on the spear :-(
I realise that the float was nothing but hassle last night - how do you guys attach your stringers on the belt so that you're not impaling youselves with the spike?
quote]
Jonny I think it's been discussed elsewhere, but the general advice is to get the fish on the stringer ( e.g. through the gills) before sorting out the spear etc. I've found this can lead to tangles of the various lines though, which may not be ideal at night... OMD can help with the stringer rig, but generally the idea is to put a steel ring on your belt and loop it round and into the ring. Someone on another thread did query whether it was advisable to cross this over the belt buckle, but better to put it on the same side ( if you follow me). Nice dive and video.
Lighting for video
Due to the sensitivity characteristics of digital cameras, shooting under artificial lighting is tricky. As I've experienced before, and as evident in Tom's latest production, illuminating the scene with torch beam leads to an intense hotspot set against a background of gloom.
Something I've experimented with, which may be of use and interest to others, is to place a diffuser in front of the torch. It spreads the light much more widely than the regular focussed beam. I used a disc of plastic diffuser, cut from a regular strip-light diffusing panel, then friction-wedged into the rubber snout of the torch.
The down side is that it makes it more difficult to spot stuff at a distance because you no longer have a penetrating beam.
I'd like to experiment also with physically linking the camera and light so there's less flapping about of the illumination source. A simple bar, affixed to the camera's tripod mount, extending maybe 2ft to the side, where the light will be mounted on a swiveling joint to allow for aiming. This will also reduce back-scatter and give a more pleasing, form-profiling side light effect.
Just a few thoughts that I hope will be of use. I'd like to be shooting more but as I've only been out about 4 times this year... (!)
God bless
[m]
Due to the sensitivity characteristics of digital cameras, shooting under artificial lighting is tricky. As I've experienced before, and as evident in Tom's latest production, illuminating the scene with torch beam leads to an intense hotspot set against a background of gloom.
Something I've experimented with, which may be of use and interest to others, is to place a diffuser in front of the torch. It spreads the light much more widely than the regular focussed beam. I used a disc of plastic diffuser, cut from a regular strip-light diffusing panel, then friction-wedged into the rubber snout of the torch.
The down side is that it makes it more difficult to spot stuff at a distance because you no longer have a penetrating beam.
I'd like to experiment also with physically linking the camera and light so there's less flapping about of the illumination source. A simple bar, affixed to the camera's tripod mount, extending maybe 2ft to the side, where the light will be mounted on a swiveling joint to allow for aiming. This will also reduce back-scatter and give a more pleasing, form-profiling side light effect.
Just a few thoughts that I hope will be of use. I'd like to be shooting more but as I've only been out about 4 times this year... (!)
God bless
[m]
Interesting Marcel. It's something I've been thinking about. You can get ok video as long as you use the area outside the main beam to illuminate the subject, but thats far from ideal.
I've been thinking about some form of removeable diffuser so you can search normally but slip it on when you find something. Maybe some sort of flip up arrangement...hmm, hang on, I've got some of these at home:
Uttings.com
Don't think they're quite wide enough but I'm sure with a bit of bodging....No use for the UK style torches of course, but for the LED ones it might just work.
I've been thinking about some form of removeable diffuser so you can search normally but slip it on when you find something. Maybe some sort of flip up arrangement...hmm, hang on, I've got some of these at home:
Uttings.com
Don't think they're quite wide enough but I'm sure with a bit of bodging....No use for the UK style torches of course, but for the LED ones it might just work.
Ideally a torch with a variable focus would do the job, i.e. like a maglight, so that you can widen the focus when needed. But the idea of using a side-mounted light is better as it reduces backscatter as Beardy said. I have a base section of a fishing rod that i have started trying to mount the camera on, i think if i go the other way around and mount the light on it then it might work better...
Nice piccies and movie. I have night off tonight - typical - falling tide scenario again. I personally would like to catch some flatties during the day though.
On diffusers my son uses all ssorts of things including an ice cream tub lid (the translucent type) and empty margarine tubs
On diffusers my son uses all ssorts of things including an ice cream tub lid (the translucent type) and empty margarine tubs
6pm Jonny.
Just found that my butler creek flippy scope cover fits PERFECTLY over my torch! You beauty. So all I need to do is cut a circle out of the flippy cover and glue a suitably transulcent bit some something in its place and I've got an instant full beam/diffused beam conversion.
Any suggestions? I need it to let as much light through as possible whilst fully diffusing the beam. Margarine tub would reduce the light level too much I think.
Just found that my butler creek flippy scope cover fits PERFECTLY over my torch! You beauty. So all I need to do is cut a circle out of the flippy cover and glue a suitably transulcent bit some something in its place and I've got an instant full beam/diffused beam conversion.
Any suggestions? I need it to let as much light through as possible whilst fully diffusing the beam. Margarine tub would reduce the light level too much I think.
tom should have been more specific my son uses the vitalite lids they are more translucent.
Diving AFTER the pub? Might end up as a one of those 'seemed like a good idea at the time sketches?
Diving AFTER the pub? Might end up as a one of those 'seemed like a good idea at the time sketches?
What about ice cream tub? Pretty clear for light to pass though but not too solid? Or lid from one of those tackle boxes with sort of clear lids will have to show you later when I find you (if you haven't gone by the time I hobble round and if I remember)...
Great vid Magpie
I'm very jealous - the season is well and truly over here (though with this incredibly wet summer we've had virtually no viz anyway). Was busy getting married in August so didn't get in at all.
i have got a nice bass vid from my stag weekend in Pembrokeshire that I'll put up on the Welsh forum when I have a minute.
I'm very jealous - the season is well and truly over here (though with this incredibly wet summer we've had virtually no viz anyway). Was busy getting married in August so didn't get in at all.
i have got a nice bass vid from my stag weekend in Pembrokeshire that I'll put up on the Welsh forum when I have a minute.
My first report during a brief break in fishing is here: http://forums.deeperblue.com/huntin.../66969-sea-angling-spearos-17.html#post734453
Wonder how OMD is doing. There's a monster swell down south.
OMD is having a VERY frustrating time. In last night but that in itself was a task. There were anglers on the rocks, anglers on the slipway, anglers on the beach and I suspect none of them would have been pleased with the arrival of a night spearo in "their" patch. Eventually found a lone corner and went in. Five minutes of surfing in no vis and came out. Another search and more anglers later (must be a competition or something) and another tight squeeze between the casting angles. Poor vis but fishable and I managed to spear 3 red mullet all much the same size. Weighed one at 1lb 1oz, so one on the board for me .
Today went for a day dive targeting a big plaice. I knew the spot but vis was dire. Six foot max. One and a half hours of diving in 20 foot depth and literally crawling on the bottom for nothing seen. Then just about to make it the last dive when I'm down crawling along the bottom and I look left. My hand on the sea bed is 6 inches from the nose of a plaice. It's a horse, a jumbo, a monster, 6lb if it's an ounce. The head is 2 inches thick, the eyes like marbles and the orange spots glow in the green gloom. I'm on top of it in 3 foot vis when I reverse my grip on the muzzle of the gun and drag the point of the spear over for the stab. Yes, yes, yes, I'm going to get it ...... No, No, No, ... it swims off a fraction before I can get it and disappears instantly into the gloom. This becomes one of my worst fish loss moments ever :vangry. I was gutted.
I've caught plenty of big plaice and lost a very few but a few none the less (< 1:100 probably). I don't blame myself, the vis was bad and I was so close to the fish that I spooked it. Never the less that has to be one of my most frustrating moments diving ever. After so much effort to fail by a second or so :rcard.
Conditions are not good plus the loss of that big plaice and I think Cobo is gonna be well ahead by the end of this weekend. However I'll give it a go and maybe the vis will be better in round 2.
Dave
.Today went for a day dive targeting a big plaice. I knew the spot but vis was dire. Six foot max. One and a half hours of diving in 20 foot depth and literally crawling on the bottom for nothing seen. Then just about to make it the last dive when I'm down crawling along the bottom and I look left. My hand on the sea bed is 6 inches from the nose of a plaice. It's a horse, a jumbo, a monster, 6lb if it's an ounce. The head is 2 inches thick, the eyes like marbles and the orange spots glow in the green gloom. I'm on top of it in 3 foot vis when I reverse my grip on the muzzle of the gun and drag the point of the spear over for the stab. Yes, yes, yes, I'm going to get it ...... No, No, No, ... it swims off a fraction before I can get it and disappears instantly into the gloom. This becomes one of my worst fish loss moments ever :vangry. I was gutted.
I've caught plenty of big plaice and lost a very few but a few none the less (< 1:100 probably). I don't blame myself, the vis was bad and I was so close to the fish that I spooked it. Never the less that has to be one of my most frustrating moments diving ever. After so much effort to fail by a second or so :rcard.
Conditions are not good plus the loss of that big plaice and I think Cobo is gonna be well ahead by the end of this weekend. However I'll give it a go and maybe the vis will be better in round 2.
Dave
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