Guernsey 2012

[foxfish]

Hi Mart, I think most mid price euro guns are probably similar in performance(not that I have tried them all) and will bow to your expertise, however, I am suprised u don't like the general handling of the XXV? Only because that is my favourite gun. I have three (in different sizes). They don't make them any more which is a great shame.

I love the 25mm barrel, very manouvreable in all directions and it shoots pretty straight. I use one looped band and it does the business on the size of fish we hunt.

It could be improved by the addition of the new cayman carbon handle (more in line with the barrel and the smaller grip suits my smaller hands), however, the cayman carbon has a 28m barrel, so it doesn't fit!

Hi Mike, yes I quite agree that the "xxxxxxx five million" is a great gun but its just a basic bit of engineering not a real gun at all!!!
What you need is a foxfish special.....

 

[Magpie]

Nice vid Jonny, I'v always liked the deep channel round the back of Homptolle, always good to drift through at pace.

Just a shame it's so rarely clear round that way, I'd have turned round and gone home if it looked like that myself!

 

[Jonny250]

thanks Tom; have you seen much in the way of fish in that gulley when you've been there?

 

[foxfish]

I know that gully like the back of my hand, there is always a shoal of pollock on the North point, then you need to cut into the bay directly behind the island. Here you will find bass & mullet in the string weed, this is also a great lobster spot, then as you exit the bay heading South, just as the tide hits you, this is the bass spot, I have shot hundreds of bass in the precise spot.
In the center of the gully you can find scallops & I have also seen hard corals but not recently.
As you get pulled along, the area develops it several shallow reefs, I hunt around theses then turn back North into the south side of the island where there is a lot of shallow weed. I once saw a free swimming conger in that bay!
The big reef the other side of the gully has some fantastic kelp & lots of holes. The back side of that reef (Herm side) is terrifying but Marko & my brother both fished here for bass & big pollock but I have only visited there once & I am unlikely to go again!
In the lee of this reef (Pierre) there is a strip of lovely sand, I fish there quite a lot from my boat & it is popular for shore fishermen too.

Please note for anyone reading this - this area has very strong tides, there are warning signs at the top of the beach stating this!!
Do not even consider diving around thesse islands until you fully understand the dangers & have a the very least a good level of fitness!

 

[Magpie]

There's chapter and verse for you Jonny, great info.

Always thought the sand patch would be a good night dive but the tides, wind, viz and darkness have yet to coincide.

 

[jerseymike]

Despite rain and fog, popped in 4 a short daylight dive over low water, looking for a turbot, found about 10! Even picked a couple up, but all undersize. Billy bonus was that I found 4 dovers!

 

[jks]

well done mike

 

[jerseymike]

well done mike

Thanks mate, look fwd to boat dive 2mos

 

[Jonny250]

nicely done mike, were they deep? i found a few bass of clonker size, but they saw me first lol..
still experimenting with the riffe and tried a shot with the butt against my chest.. needless to say i wont be doing that again! Precordial thump springs to mind probably wasnt funny but hey ho.
Resuscitation: Praecordial Thump - YouTube 40 second in, makes me laugh every time... sad eh.

i saw a couple of guys in at perelle this afternoon, anyone one here?

 

[foxfish]

Nice one Mike, I went out in the boat today, horrible rain but flat calm!
We caught a few nice fish on the rods including a 3lb plaice & two nice black bream all in L Ancresse bay.

 

[jerseymike]

Nice one Mike, I went out in the boat today, horrible rain but flat calm!
We caught a few nice fish on the rods including a 3lb plaice & two nice black bream all in L Ancresse bay.

Martyn,

Nice to catch a plaice on the rod. Was it deep?

Jonny,

The turbot were all in 6-10m, but unfortunately they were only tiddlers and no big ones to be found! I didn't see any sign of a bigger one either. Will keep trying. These were well buried, and being so small , guestimate 900grm, were very difficult to see. Amazingly, you can pick them up and lift them out of the sand,almost as though they are asleep? Tried the same with a small plaice, a few small eyed, and a couple of slips, but they were much more alert and didn't hang around!

 

[foxfish]

Tickling Turbot !
You are right Mike I think we only caught one the whole of last year!
L, Ancresse bay is very popular with scuba divers & the main fishing area is about 60' at low water.

 

[Matt 2143]

Went in at Petit Bot this afternoon with Poddy_GSY, saw a few mullet (missed all), pollack(missed all), and what looked like red gurnard (looked small so left).
The vis was up to 10m in places but normaly around 6-7m.
overall a good dive despite the lack of fish.

 

[foxfish]

Interesting Matt, perhaps a red gurnard or a red mullet, they are the only two red coloured fish I can think of that live on the bottom.

 

[Poddy_GSY]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a new gun. I'm fairly new on the spear fishing scene, only started in September last year. I'm currently using a 60/65 cm beuchat band gun ( the one with black bands in Matts video at cobo) with 16mm screwing bands and a 17.5mm circular band. My problem is the bit where the line attaches to the gun has almost broken off, so with my luck, spear loss is imminent and inevitable .
I've been looking at different option options, and kind of decided that I'd like either a longer band gun, maybe an 80 or a 90, or a pneumatic gun. Before I buy anything, I'd like to ask for some advice on the advantages and disadvantages on both types, and overall, I'd like some opinions on which to buy?!?
Also, cost may be a bit of an issue, so if anyone had an idea of what kind of price I'd be looking at, that would be great
Thanks, Michael

 

[foxfish]

A 90 cm band gun with a single 18mm band, available from Keyside or Micks for about £70-110 would be a good gun to buy.
Air guns are more expensive but, if you have a £300 + budget then get one!
look at the Apnea shop in Jersey for a bigger choice https://www.apnea.co.uk/index.php?cPath=1_17&osCsid=2b41f2b3141f66e44c702c64eea51231

 

[Jonny250]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a new gun. I'm fairly new on the spear fishing scene, only started in September last year. I'm currently using a 60/65 cm beuchat band gun ( the one with black bands in Matts video at cobo) with 16mm screwing bands and a 17.5mm circular band. My problem is the bit where the line attaches to the gun has almost broken off, so with my luck, spear loss is imminent and inevitable .
I've been looking at different option options, and kind of decided that I'd like either a longer band gun, maybe an 80 or a 90, or a pneumatic gun. Before I buy anything, I'd like to ask for some advice on the advantages and disadvantages on both types, and overall, I'd like some opinions on which to buy?!?
Also, cost may be a bit of an issue, so if anyone had an idea of what kind of price I'd be looking at, that would be great
Thanks, Michael

if the only issue with your beuchat is the line attachment then maybe look at rivetting a clip onto the tube. alternatively you can buy replacement muzzles/ends which would be cheeper than a new gun. If you want a slightly longer gun and see this as a good opportunity, then as Mart says, try micks or Apnea Jersey. Micks do sell beauchat, Apnea have a much better selection. personally i like the Omer gear. They also sell the Riffe Euro's...
Keep up the good work and looking forward to more videos of you guys...

 

[jks]

:friday:friday:friday HAPPY BIRTHDAY jersey mike .have a good one on thursday

 

[ep_haury]

I know what sea anemones feel like. But I don't know specifically about whether jewel anemones (specifically those of Gouliot Cave) feel any different than others. What's it like to touch them when they're in the water. What about when they're in the air? I've found pictures and species description, but that only tells some of the story. Any other details I should know about them in those two states?

 

[jerseymike]

:friday:friday:friday HAPPY BIRTHDAY jersey mike .have a good one on thursday

Thanks John, can't believe i made it this far! PS Thanks for not mentioniing fifty!