Guernsey 2009

[ADM]

Checked my gun today and the rubber bands don't look safe to be stretched under pressure, slightly frayed where they screw to the gun.

So being a complete speargun numpty, what do I need to buy?? The gun is (I think) and Beuchat Mundial 90 (from Micks fishing). Lots of talk about different size bands in mm terms, assume that's the thickness. What size do I need for a very infrequent user just to shoot the odd fish, likely bass or flats if I see them, close range really as I tend to hunt weed in the shallows.

And no Maggers, I don't think arming me with the dark side would be a good plan for the safety of all within range of the spear.

I have a BBQ order for Sunday for some bash with the missus workmates and I get to bring the fish, tey wanted macks but they seem to be patchy and it's low tide when I can fish on Saturday so I don't know that that's the best plan. Maybe shooting stuff would be better but then knowing me, I will catch more fish on the rod than the spear... Decisions decisions...

 

[Old Man Dave]

Change rubbers every year Andy. Once a year is enough unless you abuse them by letting them sunbathe too much. It's cheaper to order on line but postage on one set of rubbers will not be worth it. Micks keep standard 16mm diameter rubbers correct length for a 90cm gun. Take the rubbers or gun in to check if really unsure. The rubbers are just a screw in fit. Cost less than a tenner I reckon for the 2 rubbers (set).

I use a beuchat 75cm for my night gun and have shot plenty of bass and flats both night and in the day as well. The 90 is a bit better yet. Great beginners gun, accurate and not much recoil. They don't shoot 10ft but you need a mamba for that.

Dave.

 

[Old Man Dave]

Half past midnight and just back from a night dive. Oh God! Work tomorrow or rather today!!!

Had a great dive. Vis was good and absolutely flat calm. Plenty of night life down there and a few fish worth taking. Saw a dozen small but legal bass and took a couple of the biggest ones while letting the rest swim on. Was keen to get a big one as everyone else seems to be able to but no large fish seen. Did get my first sole of the year though, about a couple of pounds and left another smaller one.

So, time for bed said Zebadee.

Dave.

 

[Jonny250]

Nice one Dave, hope you got some ZZZzzzz's! out again tonight?

 

[Old Man Dave]

Eating the last of my plaice and most of my mackerel for tea. My wife is eating bass and plaice. Need to stock up again so Jonny - yes

Dave.

 

[Andy.Round]

Have hardly been in at all recently, been doing a lot of sailing though so not all bad. Some good catches I see.

Managed to find time to get in today over the low. Luverly 20c in places so was almost too warm, viz pretty good also although seemed to deteriorate as the tide started coming in.

Missed a big bass in the shallows, I swam over the top of him and we both just froze, couldnt get the gun round in time, never mind I found this chappie hiding under a rock (just under 3lbs) also found 2 others 1 too small and the other right in the back of a hole.

Wife is away for 2 weeks from monday so I'll be playing catch up, diving morning noon and night if I can!!

Also saw this colony of sea squirts

Andy

 

[Jonny250]

Nice one Andy, looking forward to some fishy reports over the next fortnight...

 

[portinfer]

Kidnapped by Italians yesterday.
Out from Bordeaux (how many Italians does it take to launch a boat ?!) and off to the humps, couple of dives there in a couple of places but not much around (except a mullet and a shed load of large spiders). Off to the Brayes for some current diving (live boat) in a couple of spots then in to check Fort Doyle depth and lose my hat (thanks Mart ) - couple of drift dives outside of Pierre and then down to Fermain to try some high water scalloping... not my fav pasttime but the others managed to get some in 15m while I was content to get down there and have a look around. Deepest I've dived so good to practice with 'buddies'. Fermain is sheet for diving in the summer... so many boats and despite having 4 in the water with bouys and a flag on the boat still had plenty of boats buzzing us - quite ominous to hear a large engine overhead when you are 15m down....
Anyway - feel like I've done 7 rounds with Tyson. Back to building now for a break
Ed

 

[Andy.Round]

Went in again today in one of my favourite spots. There were shoals of Bass, really there were, however, most too small and out of range, but great to see nontheless. My gun is still rigged for night diving with only one wrap, thats my excuse anyhow

Saw a 4x4 towing a small rib at perelle with 2 guys in cammo suits and a police car with flashing lights!! Was that the Italians? and were they being stopped because they had caught too many fish?

Might try my secret high tide spot tomorrow

 

[Sarnian]

I went further west than usual to a big rocky place this morning. After cruising through a few weed beds, I came out of one into open water. Sitting motionless in front of me was the biggest bass I have ever seen! Easily double figures - it was like a salmon! I had time to line up a head shot, fired - and missed! :waterworkI'm not sure what happened as I was sure I would hit. It may have bounced off its skull, or perhaps my Mamba is losing pressure again. Or of course it may have been crap shooting! I wish I'd at least have been filming. Saw another small bass in the shallows on the way in, too far away, otherwise nothing.

For the record - in an hour before low at 11.20, tide 2.9m, onshore breeze. Fish seen 20mins after getting in.

 

[Old Man Dave]

June FOM Poll. Please vote. http://forums.deeperblue.com/uk-ireland/83462-june-fish-month-poll.html

Dave.

 

[ep_haury]

Another question.

When you dive (sure many/all of you are wearing some sot of headgear) but what can you hear in the water? Any noise from the biologics? And if you do hear things, how fast do you have to be typically before the sound of the water rushing past your head drowns all that out?

 

[Magpie]

You hear lots of clicks and crunches. One of the loudest sounds you regularly hear is wrasse crunching on crabs and other shell fish. It really is quite loud.

Speed, no idea, but then our heads are always encased in neoprene so it'd no doubt be different for a mermaid.

 

[sunfish]

Sound travels better and faster underwater. To the human brain it's so fast that it seems to arrive in both ears simultaneously, making it impossible to judge what direction it came from. Maybe merfolk would have evolved brain software to cope with that. I don't know if other sea mammals have.
Fish can detect sounds/vibrations extremely well as they have organs called "lateral lines" along each side of their body. These are richly supplied with nerve endings and make fish able to judge direction of sound/vibration to a tee. In a technique called "aspetto" spearfishers dive to the bottom then remain dead still, waiting for fish to come and investigate.
As for biologics, shrimps and sea urchins both make mass clicking sounds. Ones own heartbeat and bloodflow can also be heard.
Water rushing past ears has a variable effect, depending on the nature and volume of the sound. eg. a cruise liner or container ship can be heard from miles away.

 

[Jonny250]

And its freaky frightening when you hear the high pitched sound of a high speed prop (eh Tong!).

 

[Trelawney]

The worse one (for me anyway!) was a bit before the speedboat. The spot is about 1km away from the Brittany Ferries dock, and one was just setting sail while we were diving. I have never heard so much noise underwater in my life. You could feel the shockwaves hitting your body. The sound was similar to being in a bin with a dozen pneumatic drills hitting the outside.

 

[Magpie]

Be that as it may, it ain't the ones you hear that get you (Tong excepted), it's the bloney silent rowing boats and yachts that clonk you round the back of the head when you're oblivious to them bearing down on you! :blackeye

 

[Fro-in-shorts]

I'm about to be off on holiday with my folks for 2 weeks on their boat port hopping down the Northwest coast of Brittany, and i've noticed that they become markedly less hostile towards me when supplied with a regular stream of lobster, bass and other tasty sea treats, does anyone know what french law says about spearfishing, and grabbing the odd lobster?

 

[Andy.Round]

Sometimes the sea is noisier than others, and as other have said all sorts of strange clicks and bangs. I'm sure I have heard a 'thump' when you scare a large rockfish and it swims off with a flick of the tail.

I had the privilige of diving in the Carribean a couple of years ago and that is a whole different kettle of fish so to speak. The reef is a very noisy place with all sorts of noises (parrot fish chomping on the coral amongst other things)

Any how back to the present, I think taht the only place I'll be diving this week is in the hot tub!!

 

[Andy.Round]

I believe you are suppossed to have a permit/licence for spearfishing in France, I've been often and never been questioned, in fact am of to S Brittany for last week july first week august with my gear.