Ireland spearing 2007

[paddyc23]

Went early this morning, 8am, weather was still, water warm, saw alot of shoals of bass, one huge mullet somewhere in the 10lbs range, but didnt go for it as old mullet does´nt taste as nice as younger one´s, saw few small grouper and the odd eel poke its head outta the rocks, i was mainly after bass today, i shot 5, two got away, as i need to put barbs into my trident so only one at the moment has a barb, so they rattle themselves free, lost a sargo of about 1lb in the rocks also, again bcos of barbless tips, but i did manage to shoot 3 nice-ish ones for the pot, so its BBQ tonight, i go again later at 7pm after i hacksaw some barbs into my trident tips...got some photos:

 

[ronnybiggs]

its not very deep there , 5 or 6 m max. The small ones come over for a look straight away but the big ones seem to wait a bit before deciding its safe (that might be why they've lasted long enough to reach that size). If you ignore the small ones completely and stay motionless for half a min to a minute eventually they will saunter over to check you out.

8lbs plus! that's nice. haven't seen anything like that there.

what kind of depth are you talking about?

maybe i'm not sitting still enough!

 

[paddyc23]

Does any know the world record for spearfished mullet and bass, any how does one go about registering in as a world record

 

[paddyc23]

Ronnybiggs, thats the same with (lubina) bass here, if you stay motionless for a min or two they usually come and see what you are, plus you can direct them using your hands, if they go left put your left arm out and they go right, etc.., cant say thats the same with any other fish ive come accross, they usually shoot off, if you move slightley there gone, bass seem more interested in you, and especially the big ones they come very close to you if you stay completly calm and relaxed and still

 

[paddyc23]

Went out at 6.30pm, bit of a ripple on the water, alot of fishermen out on the rocks where i was spearfishing, saw one double figure bass in a cave but couldnt get shot off as the opening was too small and i had a trident on so didnt risk loosing the fish or injuring him useless, also saw one double figure mullet, must of been a granddad it was so big easily 8lb, very slow mover, didnt take shot as the old ones dont seem to taste as nice as the younger 1lb-3lb one´s, so left it go on its way,...does any one know the record for spearfished mullet....I did get one nice mullet just under a pound and a small bass about the same size as the one at the bottom of the picture i sent in earlier, which will make a nice fish dish tonight, griddeled fish, veg etc.. wen i get bk from internet cafe,...Im going again tomorrow morning about 8am, 7am ireland, seems to be the best time especially for bass, shoals of bass...So will upload photos if catch tomorrow....All the best ,good luck

 

[paddyc23]

Hi again, does anyone know a cheap resonable priced underwater video camera that i could purchase over the net please

 

[Old Man Dave]

Paddy never mind what the world record for bass is, you need to check the minimum size for bass in your area. It is at least 36cm in the UK. Some of the bass in your pictures look awfully small :naughty.

Dave

 

[Spaniard]

Have to agree with OMD on that one, let them grow up a bit before you shoot them.

 

[sunfish]

I was thinking that too. Here in Ireland the minimum size for bass is 40cm but I think 50cm is more realistic. The little ones you see in shops here are farmed fish as its illegal to sell wild ones.

 

[abusingelves]

they're some seriously small bass. i'd say watch out for the law, as there must be a minimum landing size.


definitely no records!

 

[paddyc23]

I personnally think that the spanish dont really give a toss about undersize fish, especially wen i travel to every port in spain and see wat the fishermen keep while fishing, them bass are big compared to wat ive seen kept, and also wen i chat to the local fishermen in boats, you should see what floats around the harbours, I think those bass are a good size, ive caught many that size spinning on the rocks, and spearfishing and none of the fishermen have said anything bad, and the polica local also, they actually say nice fish, now i wouldnt take anything smaller, bcos i do agree with persivering the fish, and i only shoot the ones that will feed me and my family, nothing else

 

[Spaniard]

The problem is mate that if you kill a fish before it has had a chance to breed then you affect the future population for that species. That is why there are minimal catch sizes so that you potentially only catch fish that have had a chance to re-stock the population. Bass in particular is a very slow growing fish and experts argue that even the 36cm limit in UK is too small which is why the 40cm limit is bandied about. The Spanish generally don't give two f***s about the sea and the impact their fishing practices have on it, I have first hand experience. Don't turn into one of them.

 

[sunfish]

Went to belly rock, off rabbit island, near Glandore yesterday. When I first paddled out there the tide was still running and I got it second drop of the anchor. There were a good many pollack to be seen every dive. I held off from shooting for an hour but saw no big ones so I shot a couple of 4lb and 4.3lb. By now the tide was low and the current gone. As it started to pull in the other direction I paddled back to the island to try a spot on the island where I got a 9.5lb fish two years ago. I got a fish of 5.3 lb first dive then carried on for over two hours but still saw nothing big.

 

[paddyc23]

Know bother spaniard, will only shoot the bigger ones from now on, unfortunatly its hard to see what is a 40cm bass from under the water and throw tempered glass goggles, but will try to mesure up the ones for the future

 

[paddyc23]

went out dis morning at 8am, weather over cast, little swell, didnt see much fish, shot one mullet of about 1lb, so got out after that...Went in again at 5pm, weather had cleared up, viz etc, didnt see alot of fish, i was teaching my sister how to dive and read a fishes movements and some light target practice, i used the mullet from earlier, its head, sank it on bottom, and she shot at that... Just as we were on the way out i saw this huge tail first of all i thought it was a darada, but as i dived down i saw that it was a huge "sargo" fairly slow moving, it went left ,then right, then left and thats wen i shot, perfect just behind head, in gill plate, i didnt realise the size of the fish until i went to retrieve it, two hands under gills to bring it to the surface... it just fitted into my net bag....I weighed it with my dad and i weighted 3.3lbs, its massive, biggest sargo ive ever seen, unfortunatly my flash disc isnt working along with my phone, i think its spanish equipment, so ive taken pics of it with my sisters phone but will have 2 wait until i can load it onto this so ye can have a look, with that does anyone know the world record spearfished sargo....My mums baking it tonight for the four of us, i love sargo beautifully sweet fish, like bass

 

[ronnybiggs]

Location: Clare surf mark
Date: Saturday 15th, 4 - 5pm
Tide: Flooding tide , high tide ~ 7:30pm
Weather: Fresh westerly breeze
Equipment: Spetton AMI II 75
Results: Blank!

Dragged the family out for a typical Irish beach picnic, huddling together behind a rock to avoid being sandblasted, trying to pour lemonade in the middle of a gale, no sunshine whatsoever. After building a few sandcastles with the nipper there were goose pimples and blue lips all around, so the missus decided to finish the picnic off in the car, and I managed to negotiate enough time for a short swim to see if there was anything out there.

The surf was badly formed and breaking all over the place so it was bad news for the surfers, but I was hoping to see some bass as I swam out through the breakers at the southern end of the strand. Viz was pretty good (4-5m) but there were no fish to be seen bass or otherwise. Its possible that it was too soon after low tide, or that I should have swum further south towards the rocks. Or maybe it’s just not a hotspot anymore who knows, I didn’t see any anglers anywhere so they obviously knew something that I didn’t.

All was not lost though as I had just retired my old 2mm dyneema spearline after several years service and replaced it with new cressi 1.5mm line so I got a chance to test the new rig out. Think I preferred the old stuff as it was less likely to tangle. In the car on the way home spotted plenty of anglers congregating at a well sheltered spot with seemingly deep water so I’ll be back there at some stage to check it out for sure.

 

[Cavan AL]

Hey guys, was off in Lahinch for the weekend. Surf was very strong, so we had to find calmer places, traveled south and came across a TINY pier with a slipway near Doonberg. Visability was about 4-5m, seen nothing for 1 hour, then spotted a dark shape swiming from my left to my right, then could see the form of a seabass, thought I was'nt going to get a shot as my gun is 100cm and the fish was moing to my right fast, but then he slowed down and stoped, spear went straight true him onto the line. Its my biggest bass to date. Estimate 6lbs. (Its already been gutted in the Picture!)

Oh, and the surf was awsome!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sunfish]

Paddy, to look for world records the website can be found if you google iusa.(International Underwater Spearfishing Association). Their registration rules are very strict requiring photos with a tape measure, official checking of the scale etc. etc.
The medfish website have a more informal hall of fame and their record is over two kilos. About 4.5lbs I think. 3.3lbs is an awesome sargo in anyones book though.

 

[donnachad]

Very nice bass AL, what depth were you at?

 

[foxfish]

Visability was about 4-5m, seen nothing for 1 hour, then spotted a dark shape swiming from my left to my right, then could see the form of a seabass, Estimate 6lbs. (Its already been gutted in the Picture!)

Hi Cavan I dont think I have said hello yet? Nice Sea bass! is that the same as a Bass? I cant see the pic though?