Ireland spearing 2008

[abusingelves]

now you're getting the viz i was talking about!

30ft + !

i should be able to get out tomorrow evening.

send some of those mullet up my way, haven't seena single one!

 

[johnnybuoy]

Ill be making a trip out again fairly soon sunfish. conditions and tide must be perfect though so ill keep on top of it and let you know. ill try and keep it to a weekend. your more than welcome to come along.

 

[sunfish]

Ill be making a trip out again fairly soon sunfish. conditions and tide must be perfect though so ill keep on top of it and let you know. ill try and keep it to a weekend. your more than welcome to come along.

Cheers Baldyfish.
Went today for a last crack at the bass before the Irish closed season (15 May to 15 June).
I started at a rocky spot on the coast. The Easterly breeze had a bit of a chop going and although the rough water was manageable, the vis was ruined.
I swam round to the mouth of the estuary and let the tidal rip carry me in. Visibility was much better now and I soon had fish. There were quite a few about but since the bag limit's 2 fish, I like to get one then wait to see if a big one turns up. My 15lb fish of the month chose to stay hidden today. This one weighed 4.6lbs.

 

[foxfish]

Well done mate - perfect eating size.

 

[donnachad]

Well done sunfish! I got out again today and glad i did, the last day of fishing for a month. Spotted this one in the shallows 4.5 lbs no guts.
He'll be on the barbi in an hour. I've been out nearly everyday since friday and didn't see a bass until yesterday and missed him completely(a very itchy trigger finger). So a good outing today, found a new spot close to kinsale. It's got a island just offshore that gave shelter. I'd like to try there when the seas are calmer.

 

[foxfish]

Well done mate - perfect eating size.

 

[foxfish]

Any more rofl

 

[wascally wabbit]

Abusingelves,
I've found the mullet in Galway, there are loads in the big lagoon near Barna. I was out there at high tide today, and must have seen about 50 fish (all mullet no bass).

I found a nice spot where I could lie in weed at the surface, and watch them sheltering in a little eddy. I only took one, but if I'd had a proper freezer at home I could have filled it!

Some nice big ones too, I took home a grand fish of just under 2 feet, and there were definitely bigger ones than that.

 

[abusingelves]

is this where you're on about wascally?


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if it is, i'd watch out for the windsurfers!
as well, i'm not 100% on the quality of the water there.

there is a serious current through there whith the tide, if you want to try a drift there some time, give me a shout. would be a bit of craic.

 

[Heron]

Hi to everyone on this thread! I'm new to spearing so hopefully i can learn a thing or two from your experience and maybe give something back too. I just bought myself a Riffe on ebay which i'm waiting delivery of but already i'm thinking it's too long/powerful (shoulda done a bit more research) but it wont stop me from trying it anyway. It's a Riffe C3 as far as i know but it's been upgraded too. 51" stock, two 5/8 bands and a 5/16 (7.9mm)shaft. Any suggestions on using lighter band/s and shaft and where's the best place to source or maybe i'd be better off with a smaller gun.... ?? all suggestions welcome.

Mick

 

[foxfish]

Welcome to db Mick, that is quite a big gun & a very heavy spear. The most common gun used in the UK would be 30"-36" with a 1/4" spear. (750mm-900mm - 6.5mm) Double bands are not popular either, a single 18mm band being the normal choice. However when you get a bit more experience you can try it out on those big tuna that are occasionally seen off you coast.

 

[donnachad]

Alright Mick, welcome to db. That is a big gun your getting, with the vis we get here it might be too much. As Foxfish said a smaller gun with a single band works well not just in the Uk but in Ireland to . I myself use a 75 cm gun which works fine most of the time but maybe a 90 cm would be better as sometimes I dont have the reach i require.

Denis.

 

[wascally wabbit]

Yeah Abusingelves thats the one. I reckon its definitely a spot for early mornings or quiet weekdays, as there might be windsurfers and kayaks around - its not right to be spearing around people. However when I was out there was absolutely no-one around.

I went right to the opening of the inlet on an incoming tide. At the start I went out into the current and clung onto some kelp - wow, it was like being in a wind-tunnel! Kept seeing fish whizzing past, but obviously too fast. But just to the side there is a little eddy where I found them all hiding, and I had my pick of the best!

On the outgoing tide you have the opposite, as they all wait just outside it. There are also a fair few outside in the shallow water just under the drumlin, along with some huge mussel beds!

Yeah I'd be up for another dive there sometime. But the next thing I want is a nice spidercrab. I'd also like to find a couple of flatfish sometime and maybe even a ray.

 

[abusingelves]

Heron, that's a whole lot of gun you've just bought.!

i use a 100cm and i found it a bit long for starting out. now its fine as i'm used to it. that gun would be sound for tuna as foxfish said. (and albacore on the spear might be a reality in the near future)

wascally, that's where i thought it was alright. have to get out to see that current. my experience of flatties is that they are found by accident unless the force is strong within you!
ray i haven't seen, but i do know they are there. on the ray front, i'd always keep in mind that there aren't that many of them.

 

[foxfish]

As Foxfish said a smaller gun with a single band works well not just in the Uk but in Ireland to .
Denis.

And, or, the Channel Islands.

 

[johnnybuoy]

hey mick.
big gun but its the same as anything else.......you'll learn to fish with it. use only one band and it reduces complications. i think yours is 130cm if my conversion is correct. i have used a 90cm since i started and find it very effective. you may find the 130 awkward but nice reach and easy to hit fish. its all about getting used to your gear. good luck with it.
johnny.

 

[sunfish]

Hi Mick, I think you'de be better off with a 90cm gun but now you've bought the big cannon you may as well hang onto it. As Foxfish said, it would be very useful if you decide to go offshore, at some stage, for Albacore or some other tuna.
In conditions of clear visibility it could also be useful for taking very long shots at other fish. Using only one band could mean a slow shot and short range with such a heavy spear. I don't have the experience of such guns to say for sure. If you do try it with one band, remove the other one first. If the spear catches a loose band, it can be catapulted back into your face.
If you go looking for a lighter spear I think the online store, "Apnea", in Jersey has some Riffe gear.
If you decide to look for a Euro gun, the 90cm ones are around 150 to 200 euros new.
Such a long gun will be unsuited to hunting bass as it can't be manoevered quickly enough without scaring off the fish. Also, in low visibility, you won't see the end of your gun.
Good luck with your spearing whatever decisions you make.

 

[bass hunter]

Is anybody going out around Dublin this weekend?
Was out a few times over the last few weeks around north Co. Dublin but I did'nt see any fish around.I was thinking I might try around Dalkey,see if it's any better over there.

 

[Heron]

Hi to everyone on this thread! I'm new to spearing so hopefully i can learn a thing or two from your experience and maybe give something back too. I just bought myself a Riffe on ebay which i'm waiting delivery of but already i'm thinking it's too long/powerful (shoulda done a bit more research) but it wont stop me from trying it anyway. It's a Riffe C3 as far as i know but it's been upgraded too. 51" stock, two 5/8 bands and a 5/16 (7.9mm)shaft. Any suggestions on using lighter band/s and shaft and where's the best place to source or maybe i'd be better off with a smaller gun.... ?? all suggestions welcome.

Mick

Thanks for the heads up lads, i'll let you know how i get on - maybe make a few changes. I'll also consider a euro 90cm depending on my success or lack of with the cannon:martial

 

[johnnybuoy]

richie,
been diving 8 years now an have never seen fish near the dublin area. i always thought it sucked when it came to sealife up there. try heading down south or west. if your down cork direction ill gladly fish with you.
johnny.