Guernsey 2009

[Mr. X]

Super flattie catches OMD - I need to get some lessons from you on flattie spotting/catching. I've started looking out for them more recently but no sign yet -- I tend to stay near rocks/boulders and reefs rather than sand though.

Nice haul of scallops Magpie.

 

[azapa]

all you guys posting fish.. and we are having a stretch of bad weather/vis down here.

the winters are best, some really still clear (20M+) days. Sprinmg time (now, here) is weird tides, bloom, and crappy viz.

Here's a nice one i snagged on my last dive of a session a couple of weeks back, 6Kg and almost 18m deep. Luckly (not skill) it was a head shot and came out of the cave without a fuss. No torch being used recently.

 

[Andy.Round]

On spotting flatfish I took this photo to show my wife, family and other non-divers the immense amount of skill required in spotting flatfishrofl

New camera and case on order.

 

[Magpie]

Great shot Andy. I'd love to see more pics like this of daytime flatties, helps show what to look for.

 

[budleigh spearo]

great pic i need to look harder for them then lol

 

[portinfer]

Right, Mo if you are reading this then STOP LURKING and join ! Be good to hace some west coast reports from you ...

Come on Mo you know it makes sense !

Consider yourself outed as a lurker
Ed

 

[Magpie]

You can talk these days Ed! :t

Would be interested to hear about your trips Mo, whoever you are!

 

[foxfish]

I would like to invite all the lurkers (even sausage!) I think there must be at least 10 signed up Guernsey residents that have yet to post.
We would love to welcome you so come on guys get posting?

 

[loops]

Hi guys, Has anyone been diving on brechou lately.... l had some big bass there in august... hoping to head up to herm and north gsy on sunday any big pollack up there??
cheers loops

 

[ep_haury]

Today, close to the hotel where I was staying, I looked upon the Channel Islands.

Oh, not the real, proper Channel islands that you know, love, and live on. But those other so-called Channel Islands, the ones off the coast of California. I was staying in Ventura, California (near Los Angelas), on the way to the wedding of my cousin in Ojai (that’s O-hai. The J to “H” is a Spanish language thing), and I was staying on the harbour where the ships go to take visitors to these so-called Channel Islands. (I’m not even convinced that these islands lie within a proper channel. And both the visitors center as well as the University of California Channel Islands are on the mainland. What kind of self-respecting Channel Island would make it impossible for visitors to their visitors center to actually be visiting the islands at the time?)

When my family placed an order for Sue Daly’s Channel Islands DVDs, she asked them knowing they were American, if they really wanted DVDs about the English Channel Islands, since most Americans who order from her really want videos about the Californian Channel Islands.

Those islands are no comparison, really. The California islands have goats, lots and lots of goats. The English Channel Islands have Magpies, fishing foxes, and old men named Dave. And ormer!! I can tell which is better.

One day, I hope to look upon the real Channel Islands, but today I had to settle for this substitute.

 

[Old Man Dave]

One of the greatest books written about spearfishing features the Californian Channel Islands. It's called "The last of the bluewater hunters" by Carlos Eyles.

I believe that there is still some good spearfishing there and some of the local area DB members fish there.

Dave.

 

[ADM]

I would like to invite all the lurkers (even sausage!) I think there must be at least 10 signed up Guernsey residents that have yet to post.
We would love to welcome you so come on guys get posting?

I've noticed quite a few familiar names floating about as well.

The boys on here are pretty friendly even if you don't dive (or much). I've not been in ages as I have no need for food at the moment and spearing things is rather terminal. Might have to get a camera and go mark speculating though. Look for the feature Maggers was telling me about today and see if I can see some of the creatures I have hooked and lost down there at the same time. Shame the viz is so poor. Give me signs of decent viz and I might venture in, doubt the wetsuit still fits though!! :friday

 

[Jonny250]

C'mon mo! whoever you are... always enjoy some good fishy reports...

I brought the new toy accross the pond yesterday (portland-Gy); great weather and tides, so no excuses. i had some concern about fuel - the boat has a 135litre tank, but with a spare 100 litres there was not going to be a real issue. we refuelled off the casquettes and then zoomed on in to peter port. it felt good to be on a full tank with guernsey on the horizon!

so, out today mackie bashing (well we got 6 at "Mart's place") so will have some bait for tomorrow... i'm working on good spots for boat-based spearo dives, but suggestions are welcome . there are a few banks on the south coast that i think should go...? and loops you mentioned brechou... sounds interesting..?

Here's some pics of yesterdays crossing:

 

[Moz]

Right, Mo if you are reading this then STOP LURKING and join ! Be good to hace some west coast reports from you ...

Come on Mo you know it makes sense !

Consider yourself outed as a lurker
Ed

Well many thanks to Ed for outing me as a lurker. Returned a year or so back having lived in UK for 10 years. Main reason for moving back.....bristol was too bloody far from the beach. Dived alot with Charlie and to some extent Ed in my formative years.
Apologies for lurking on the forum lack of vis and more a distinct lack of fish over last couple of weeks on the south coast has meant few reasons for submitting a meaningful first post.
Anyhow Sunday morning report is a bit better.
9am and the south coast vis is definitely improving. 2 mid size bass spotted but nothing taken
11am over to northern end l'eree for high tide. A few sitings of small bass one which I'll now call lunch

Cheers
Mo

 

[Jonny250]

hi Mo, welcome aboard DB! well done on the bass

 

[Old Man Dave]

Welcome Mo.

After a few no luck daytime bass days last week tides came good for some night work. Went with ED on Friday but the new spot we tried was not a good idea. Ed got a bass and I saw a mullet and that was it. Went last night for a quick solo and saw one decent bass which I speared to break my 3 to 4 week famine.

Out scoobie-doing today with my dive buddy John. A really great day with lovely weather and a dead neap tide. Not a lot of fish but no shortage of variety. managed sole, brill, plaice, cuttle, scallops, crab, pollack and wrasse. The last 2 on the rod. No mackerel or bream but i think brother foxfish had caught them all before a close encounter of the jaws type sent him scurrying for home. Let him tell that story.

Dave.

 

[portinfer]

Great Mo ! You joined Meant to give you a call for a dive but you can ask Will why I didn't next time you see him - like an unleashed maruading jcb...

As for Mart's encounter ... does this mean we're gonna need a bigger boat ?! Or just more line on the reel and a large avoidance of night diving in 'Shark Alley' ?!

Yes, the Friday dive with Dave... too many reefs and a bit of chop, not enough fish - even at night. I wonder why it is so barren at the moment ? Seems like day or night no-one is really seeing that much at all....

 

[podge]

Jonny that looks like a real smart new toy you’ve got there mate, any more photos?
Dave you’d have won any species comp this weekend, well done sir.
SSSHHHHAAAARRKKKK, Mart tell us the story,????
And yes welcome Moz and well done on the Bass lunch.

 

[Andy.Round]

Nice pics Jonny, looks like you had a good trip. How long did it take? Boat looks great, from what I hear they are well built and very solid. I sailed past the Casquets end of last month when it was SW force 6 and a very different picture! I looked at the live data from channel light vessel Friday lunchtime which was showing 8 knots Northerly so thought you must be hving a good one.

There are loads of places to spear especially round Herm and the Humps. Can be good fun playing in the tide as well as long as you have a boatman to follow you/pick you up.

I have been struggling to find time to get in the water recently. Why do family commitments always seem to coincide with the best tides and weather for spearing?

In desperation I awoke early yesterday morning and was in before sunrise. I stayed for 3 hours, what a beautiful morning the water was absolutely flat calm. Didn’t take anything but saw lots of smaller fish including 2 plaice which were undersize (I wasn’t even looking for flatties) and 3 small lobsters. Completley fluffed a decent Bass. Also saw a large conger hiding in a hole, but I was a long, long way out at the time and not near any rocks to haul out on and didn’t fancy the long swim back either.

 

[foxfish]

Yep we had a shark follow a string of mackerle up only a mile off shore...really scared my mate!!
Welcome Moz..
Glad you had a good trip jonny - & a few macs.
We were fishing the same mark & had a good catch of fish with some nice sized bream.