Guernsey 2014

[Fro-in-shorts]

I love the precise answer from mart about the octopi, 1962....... Why that year in particular? Was chatting to little s about it, I do loads of cricking and lobstering and sure if they are here I would have found one?

 

[Magpie]

It was a very cold winter, killed the lot off and haven't been seen since. They used to be common enough that people would expect to find a few if they went mooching.

 

[Spirit]

Must have been more than just the cold that killed them off, the deep water temperature doesn't suddenly change too much and they have never migrated back from further south. As other temperature sensitive creatures are still around I would suspect something more like a virus.

 

[foxfish]

You could well be right Andy although I was always lead to believe the winter of 62-63 was when the sea froze over and killed the octopus. There were so many decomposing octopus on the beaches as to cause a health hazard but it was not only octopus as conger and wrasse were also effected!
You would of thought they would of just moved off shore to warmer water!
I have a few old books that might tell something more.....

 

[Jonny250]

been doing a web trawl as its quite interesting; it looks like there are a few caught locally every few years:
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Octopus.htm

and this from Dive Guernsey last year: I've always thought that octopus were extinct in local waters. While up the platte today, I saw one! Along with a couple of smoothe hounds (little sharks), a gigantic blonde ray and a little electric ray...

I saw a really good size octopus in Malta a couple of years ago - fascinating, would love to see one here!

 

[foxfish]

My dad used to keep a pet bullhuss in his store box because it was said the huss would eat any octopus that tried to eat the crab or lobster.
They were so common that folk would patrol the beaches on every spring tide to kill them, the octopus were allegedly enemy number one as they eat ormers!
Although I cant remember them I can remember all the stories my brothers and dad would go on about.
Going back to my earliest memories I can recall searching under any stone that had a pile of shell around it as this was a sure sign of octopus activity but I cant remember every seeing an octopus.
I am sure the stories about the dead conger littering the beaches during that winter have some truth but to what extent I cant say.
I will have to do some revision over the next few days.....

 

[denian]

I saw one up here in the Llyn on the north side couple years ago at Trefor pier see if I can find some pics when I get home.

 

[Rockie]

Caught on rod last night 10lb 6

 

[little sarge]

Nice fish! Great Portland pose too

 

[Jonny250]

its gonna be a very fine day indeed
kayak loaded...

 

[little sarge]

its gonna be a very fine day indeed
kayak loaded...

Save some fish for us tomorrow J.
Be safe and have fun

 

[Jonny250]

a day to remember!

 

[denian]

Very nice Jonny !Do tell us how you got them ?

 

[Jonny250]

here's the story:

 

[westcoaster]

here's the story:

Excellent vid mate, looks like a cracking day and totally spoilt for choice on the Pollack, what size do you think the Bass was?, seeing as he looks pretty big in the vid and the GoPro make them look so small.

 

[Rouge Moullet]

Thanks yet again Jonny. We are very lucky to be able to share what you see. The time and trouble you take over the videos is much appreciated.

 

[foxfish]

Yes thanks mate really good footage

 

[Fro-in-shorts]

Awsome vid jonny, will have to pick your brain about go pros some time.

 

[Jonny250]

its gonna be a very fine day indeed
kayak loaded...
again..

 

[westcoaster]

its gonna be a very fine day indeed
kayak loaded...
again..

Good luck, here's hoping it's fishy as your video