Guernsey 2013

[grantl]

perhaps the presence of seals means there are fish around, or maybe the presence of a seal means the fish have swimmed away???

We have lots ( too many?) seals in some of the areas I dive, particularly within range of the Farne Islands where up to 4000 Grey Seals live.

This may be different in other areas but you can tell if a seal or seals are around as the fish become very skittish and even good Pollock often stay under the cover of kelp rather than swim in the open.
If its just an individual that moves on it still takes a good while for the fish to settle down. If its a few of them hanging around you'll really struggle to find very much.
I've never had a problem with them apart from the odd bit of posturing/ showing their teeth but they don't worry me too much and they can be fun to swim with but not if you're after fish.
It never fills me with much confidence when I see them, in fact I would rather go elsewhere if I see them before I get in because they really decrease any chance.

 

[jerseymike]

i had a funny seal encounter a couple of years ago - nearly zero vis and i was on the bottom - saw a shadow pass over and thought maybe a huge fish... next thing i knew i had a seals face literally in my face, eye to eye, nose to nose, we both reacted equally fast - me heading for the surface, no idea where the seal went. laughed about it afterwards, shame i didnt have the presence of mind to keep calm and carry on...

perhaps the presence of seals means there are fish around, or maybe the presence of a seal means the fish have swimmed away???

Hi Jonny, Seals are not always friendly!. Seals have tried to steal my catch twice. Most memorable was when I caught my PB bass, I was pulling it in when a seal took a fancy to it and tried to catch it. I hauled it up and pinned it to my chest, but the seal was determined and was swimming and rolling upsidedown underneath me. It wasn't a fluffy cuddly sort of seal either, it was a bloody big thing with bloody big big yellow fangs and a deeply scarred angry looking face. I wasn't going to give in though.............but decided I should leg it, so, hanging on dearly to my bass I set off at full tilt for the shore, fins frothing. The seal stayed with me until, I got to about 6 foot of water and it was only then that I had the opportunity to deal with the bass (which was a stunning 12.75lb). I have not been bitten by a seal, but when boat diving, mates have had their fins nipped. Would not like the idea that a bull seal mistakes you for a nice lady seal either!rofl

 

[sidders]

Hi foxfish and magpie, got a c-skins 5mm wetsuit with seperate hood and my gears all pretty cheap wanted to see how I liked it before spending loads, turns out I like it lots . Well I'm 5.10 and above average weight but working on that, will not be looking to do any really deep stuff till im a bit more confident so will be sticking to the shallower stuff for now. Is there anywhere local to get decent gear or is t'internet best. Cheers guys any help/advice appreciated.

 

[foxfish]

The best shop is about 25 miles away in jersey but you can get bits & pieces over here from Micks fishing supplies, the dive shop by the model yacht pond & Quayside.
I buy most of my kit from Apnea in jersey check out the shop here Apnea

 

[Macmackeral25]

Hi can any one recommend a dive spot for spider crabs in fairly shallow water ? Many thanks any help welcome

 

[foxfish]

Pembroke, on the left hand side.

 

[Jonny250]

Had an epic swim around the back of lihou today. had to get my skates on to keep clear of anglers and because the tide was against me!
had a few proper dodgy moments in strong tide [starting to sound familiar!] but otherwise it was a long hard swim with just a few special fishy moments. crossing the causeway in mid flow was exciting!
start and finish piccies:

 

[westcoaster]

Lihou looks great Jonny

Sunning it for the week in Majorca (23 degrees) hopefully the chill will have disappeared out of Guern land when we get back

 

[Yeti]

........whilst we are experiencing seasonally 'mediocre' weather at the minute up here :hmm......

 

[Spirit]

Hi can any one recommend a dive spot for spider crabs in fairly shallow water ? Many thanks any help welcome

Rousse

.......

 

[foxfish]

I see some good catches of plaice & spiders on Facebook ... it's a shame you guys don't post on the forum anymore!

 

[foxfish]

Lots of plaice being caught by the profession boats & there is the 10.5lb one landed a few days ago my a scallop diver with his knife!
I know the diver & the witness so pretty sure the fish was weighed accurately but whether it was a true plaice on a cross breed I cant say.

 

[Macmackeral25]

Thanks for the help guys still trying to land a flattie which is proving to be hopeless , had a dip yesterday but proved fruitless got In at amra spent 2 hours in the water and saw next to nothing ! But how ever there is plenty baitfish in the water saw many sand eels and roslet , any one had any results ?

 

[Jonny250]

mac - lots of baitfish and sandeels for sure save up, book a freediving course, go running [miles] and get even fitter... you can do it, keep trying...
yesterday i was diving my favourite flattie spot and blanked on flatties again... 10m dives over and over for zero's. great fun though, because i love the drops...
what an epic weekend.

 

[Macmackeral25]

Yeah going to keep trying haha , one day I'll get one hahah

 

[jerseymike]

Lots of plaice being caught by the profession boats & there is the 10.5lb one landed a few days ago my a scallop diver with his knife!
I know the diver & the witness so pretty sure the fish was weighed accurately but whether it was a true plaice on a cross breed I cant say.

Wow, 10.5lb plaice....are there any photos?

 

[foxfish]

Apparently there are but I have not seen them, the fish was sold to the local fishmonger.

 

[Jonny250]

last weekends fishing vid:
lots of drops and a few fish of the Guernsey West coast.
Pollacks 2.2 lb, Bass 3.5 Lb, Mullet 4lb.

The Gopro Wide screen effect makes them look miles away but they were between 1.5 and 3.5 metres from the end of the spear. Going to change the gopro to narrow FoV and try that next time...

Please go HD for best viewing:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu7gdaV2nMc]Spearfishing Guernsey - YouTube[/ame]

 

[foxfish]

Here you go fro in shorts, this is what I wanted the giant steel washer plate for.... my new lobster cooker!

 

[Magpie]

Where's the vid gone Jonny? I missed it!