Ireland Spearing 2012

[NZRegan]

Spearfishing competitions are great craic. Targetting a set species list. Minimum weights. Diving in pairs. Strategy. Certainly not like the blood-baths of yesteryear - much more a challenge of your skills as an underwater hunter.

Besides, there's no point having comps in Ireland, because Rob would win them all

 

[danas]

I would say Yes to competitions in Ireland. I don't see any harm in fish population over cleverly regulated competition. it will bring more fun in to this sport. a single trawler in few hours will do more harm , then 10 years of yearly competitions .
my self and few my friend are planing go to Norway to compete in Kristiansund cup , in October . stay few days extra to have some fun and diving . if u look from local business point . it will bring about 20 - 30 persons. everyone will spend around - 500 euros in it. simple calculation. for a small town or village it will be good . that is my personal toughs. as Rob mentioned above , 1 rod fishermen with 30 small fishes . all competition will bring around 100 fishes and they all will we consumed - where is a harm in that .

 

[fcallagy]

All valid point guys but while I have a problem expressing myself againest a comp logically my gut feeling is a no. I am all for the idea of shoot for the pot but as Rob said shoot for your pot or at least a very close friend as a gift once in a while. I have seen in the past where I was given a gift of fish I didnt want (wrasse) and ended up freezing them ( they could still be there) the guy had shot too many and then justified it by giving them away. If your gonna give me a gift give me fillets. While I see a major opportunity for spearing tourism I dont want to see that in the form of a comp. I think its more down to pr than to actual damage to fish stocks but there you go.

 

[xriswolf]

I've been following spearfishing competitions and great divers like Amengual, Esclapez, Mazzarri since a was a kid. I've read loads of interviews and I can say that these guys are amazing examples of people who love the sea beyond anything else. Umberto Pelizzari has released a number of short videos that can be seen on youtube, featuring great Italian spearos and they all talk with such passion and in a conservationist manner. I think more harm is done by eager newbies and misguided divers. Competition culture improves the level of the hunters and therefore better and more ethical catches. My opinion... Anyways gonna go for a hunt tomorrow around Dalkey around 11ish if anyone wants to join give me a shout.

 

[Derekn]

What a changeable day today was, sunny and still one minute, rain and wind the next. I got out at 6pm for the low tide and headed for a spot I know where bass usually hold up but there was none to be seen. The vis was good at 6-8 metres when I got in but as the tide started to turn it rapidly fell off. The water temp was 15c at the surface and when it started to rain fairly heavy I decided to head back, on the way back in I found this fella hiding in the weed. The battery in my scales is dead but I reckon he was around the 3lb mark, an hour later he was on my dinner plate.

As for the competitions, I don't think we're ready for them in Ireland and maybe won't be again after what went on in the past. I don't remember it but it seems that it might be the cause of spearfishing having a bad name with other groups like anglers. Most of the lads that have come to Ireland from abroad seem to have grown up with it and be in favour of it so maybe it is a cultural thing as someone has already said. I can say though that I'm interested in how Foxfishes event turns out and wish him well for it.

 

[dirkjan]

Pedro,...and all Irish spearos and freedivers,

Please know I have no problems with anyone expressing there feelings and or opinion on any matter.
However let it be said I am not one to mince my words or be vague in any shape or form, ever.....my post was not directed at you per say just bits I had picked up in previous posts and felt it should be discussed in an open forum....no quotes. I was hoping for just this debate...

Further more the announcement by Johnny that the new site was online made me go and look at it. And since both he, Rob and Fergus are involved, I felt I should indorse same. However I was not in favor of the site, for different reasons.
One being: an stepping stone to a spearfishing federation and then in later years international competition.

Again please read carefully the voluntary code of conservation.........
My personal take on that would be,..."any fish shot in any form for sport or competition in Irish waters is a bad thing"
Just because commercial fishery and or rod fishermen might do more damage,
is not an argument. And it is up to us to lead the way!
If one wants sport take up Kickboxing, Kung Fu or even Kendo...

Spearfishing in this country so far has been a country persuit and it should remain in that realm. I have no issue with a man and a dog with his gun slung over his arm, a fella with a fly rod, heading for the river to bring something home for the dinner table.
And I welcome anyone from any country to enjoy these waters, as I have since I first came and snorkeled the West Cork coast with my father in 1973.
That is the image you want people to have when you rise from the ocean with a few fish on your belt.
30 people spending a few pounds in the local B&B, the Pub and the supermarket will make no one any the wiser. But the damage 30 men and woman, some seen as foreigners (me included) will do great damage to the future of your own diving pleasure...Mark my words.

Our community is a small one, we are not Spain, Portugal or England. And we should endeavour to look after what we have.
Remember we are putting nothing back......
I am starting to sound like a tree huger and should leave it at this for the time being. I am not a newcomer to the sea, I have swam in it since I was 3, sailed it since I was 5 and dived in it since I was 14. I am just asking you to respect and enjoy it........and hopefully so will the generations to come.

Dirk

 

[dirkjan]

PS
I would never have taken that lobster ! I would have enjoyed looking at it !
Just what you might call a "Cultural difference........"

 

[plbenza]

PS
I would never have taken that lobster ! I would have enjoyed looking at it !
Just what you might call a "Cultural difference........"

Oh yeah, absolutly...a delicious cultural difference Dirk, I´ll say

 

[chealy]

I finished work around 3:30 so made it to a spot I know around 45 mins later, I have seen plenty of Bass here before but this time it was full of them.
I took an average size one as it was the first fish I saw, then started to come across them in nearly every second gully in schools of three of fours.
It's great to be able to dive somewhere so close and see the numbers we have in Cork, be it Pollack or Bass.

I'd hate to hear about some spearing comp going ahead in the area.

For me I have no desire to spear in a competition, but everybody has different views on the matter and we all have to make our own decisions.

 

[xriswolf]

I'm not in favor of them but neither against them, I just think we really need to have a club or some sort of regular gathering to stick together, and to learn from each other. The forum its great and all but its still not as palpable as the real thing.

Cheers.

 

[bobdonny]

chealy, do you dive at night on your own?

I'm coming back home on sat but weather looks good for an early dive sun morning... Where is good... What ways the wind blowing.

looking forward to posting some fish on these forums

 

[sunfish]

A little more on the competitions:-
The Irish bass population is genetically distinct from that of the rest of Europe. Scale counts show double figure fish to be around 25 years old. That makes them as old as my oldest son and older than my second, both of whom have children of their own. These fish take a long time to replace.
I can't speak for all of Europe but I know that in the UK there are big offshore populations of bass on the Eddystone reef, the Needles and on various wrecks etc. as commercial fishing for them is policed. Shore caught fish can be topped up from the offshore populations to some extent. This isn't the case here. In the years I've spearfished here I've made efforts to find bass off shore with my kayak. When I do find any they're always small shoalies up to 3 or 4 pounds maximum.
It's my honest belief that even with a two fish limit, competitions would reduce the inshore bass population and alter the balance of big to small fish. International competitors do a very thorough preparation, sending scouting parties a week or two in advance and locating populated areas and big fish.
Regarding international rules, the competitions here were held under the international CMAS rules of the time and Ireland were the first CMAS country to introduce conservation rules. The taking of wrasse was banned (an unpopular move) when Ireland hosted the European championships in 1974.
That's all for now, I'm off to Dirkjan's to get wet.

 

[chealy]

Bobdonny : Not brave enough to dive on my own at night, but if your heading out sometime give me a shout as would'nt mind seeing what it's like.

I sent you a mail about where I saw the Bass last night.. I'm at a wedding all day Saturday so not sure how the head will be early Sunday morning, would say it might be a later start for me. I'm finished early most days around 3:30pm if your heading out.

 

[johnnybuoy]

For what it's worth I'm completely against competitions. I never fishes competitions when I was younger as I could never justify killing a fish for the sake of a trophy. Nowadays it goes on species as opposed to weight and all is released except for what u want to take home.
This can't be done in spearfishing. I think that a group of guys killing for bragging rights is just wrong. There is no point. The only enjoyment is the trophy at the end which is a shallow victory IMHO. I'd hate to see this happen again here. Spearfishing just managed to pick up it's shattered reputation.
Great points dirk and Dave.
Rob, the rain has started and the wind is up. Viz looks bad again. I'm away for the week so not able to join.

 

[bobdonny]

thanks... I'll keep an eye on windguru so.
I'm looking at low at 10am on Sunday, prob can't make after lunch chealy.

 

[danas]

so , now it all can start from a house ...

Toilet dive - YouTube

 

[sunfish]

Similar to this one Danas:-
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJrWlHRT-18]''The Worst Toilet In Scotland'' - YouTube[/ame]
Did you notice the fins Herbert Nitsch was wearing Daniel? I've wanted a pair of those for years!!!!! I'm a bit scared to send such a lot of money to Greece at the moment (even if I had it).
Here's a link to them. Stereo Carbon Fins
probably the best fins in the world and they're made specially to fit my favourite footpockets.:thankyou

 

[sunfish]

Nice clear water in this one!
[ame]http://youtu.be/eAy8ejQpXVI[/ame]

 

[plbenza]

Going to West West Cork tomorrow and for the next 3 weekends (regarding the first weekend, going tomorrow, coming back Sunday). Forecast is far from being the best, it did rain a lot last night, water temperature is way cooler than lat year at this time...but still, we will see...! If anyone wants to join me, please send me a pm untill tomorrow at 16:00.

Pedro

 

[vasile]

Going to West West Cork tomorrow and for the next 3 weekends (regarding the first weekend, going tomorrow, coming back Sunday). Forecast is far from being the best, it did rain a lot last night, water temperature is way cooler than lat year at this time...but still, we will see...! If anyone wants to join me, please send me a pm untill tomorrow at 16:00.

Pedro

I wish...