Newbie question

[chealy]

Hi
Just thought I'd say hello to everyone on the site as I have been reading thorugh the threads over the last few months and had my first spearfishing sessions over the weekend.

I live in Cork so was out Nohoval way on Friday with lots of fish around but missed everyone! just a question, would most of your shots be from above or while you dive?

Also does anybody have a spot where i might get a few scallops for me and the misses...

Many thanks
craig

 

[devondave]

http://forums.deeperblue.com/ireland/89481-ireland-spearing-2011-a-52.html
Welcome to db.
Shooting from above can be tricky, especially if there is a bit of swell, also less of a target.
Best to aim just behind the gill plate from a horizontal position, bigger target and less swell.

 

[sunfish]

Hi
Just thought I'd say hello to everyone on the site as I have been reading thorugh the threads over the last few months and had my first spearfishing sessions over the weekend.

I live in Cork so was out Nohoval way on Friday with lots of fish around but missed everyone! just a question, would most of your shots be from above or while you dive?

Also does anybody have a spot where i might get a few scallops for me and the misses...

Many thanks
craig

Hi Craig, if you're hunting shallow water for bass or mullet you'd normally shoot from the surface. If you're in water deeper than two metres and fishing for pollack etc. it's best to dive first then either:-
a) swim carefully and slowly, looking in kelps and gaps and freezing if any fish appear swimming towards you or
b)lay still and/or hidden until a fish appears and swims into range.
To get flatties you swim along a metre above a sandy bottom looking left and right. They may be laying on the sand or may be partly hidden by sand or loose weed. Either way you stab them rather than fire the spear.

Nohavel cove isn't a great place for bass. The other side of the harbour is generally better for bass/mullet. I could direct you right onto fish but the Cork lads would probably lynch meroflrofl. The scallop spots are the same. Hard to find and easily spoiled. As a general pointer for the scallops you need to be either a bit East of cork or out in the West of West cork. There are some closer places but the scallops there are thin on the ground and mostly deeper than 30 or 40 feet so they're hard work.
http://forums.deeperblue.com/beginner-hunting/65300-dummies-guide-spearfishing-part-i.html
Try the above thread for very good advice. The author is South African but the advice is good for anywhere in the world. Good luck with it.

 

[chealy]

Cheers for the advice, i figured as much with giving out details on various locations but thought I might chance my arm, same as the surf spots..

I never saw any Bass out in Nohoval just lots of Pollack, Mullet and a big Wrasse, will have to put the man hours in.. seek and ye shall find

 

[bobdonny]

Scallops east of Cork?? maybe in trawlers Seriously? Do have you seen them? I've done a fair bit of research on them and my firend at the marine biology dept does some research on them also. He agree's the sort of pinacle environment in the W/SW of ireland helps create thermoclines which help with scallops cultivation.

The closest we have is cork harbour, I have a tip off for an area at the mouth of the harbour. I went for a quick swim nearby and I found plenty of razors so I think scallops could be in the area... but further east I don;t think there is the shelter or themoclines...

Chealy, bassically, from Cork harbour straight through to waterford is littered with bass... You can go to any beech or reef and put in some time and you will see them. I say put in some time, because you are still probably making noise and scaring them before they come into sight.

If its a new gun it will prob be falling lower than you think so try to offset your aim and you should be in the fish.

Let us know if and when you are planning a trip to east cork. If we are around we can give you a few tips and get the ball rolling. The action kicks off in a week or so after the bass ban.

Edit: there are some scallops between cobh and spike and also down the west end of Cobh by cuskinny but there is also a toxic dump in Spike... however.... scallop dredgers used to dredge infront of cuskinny.... not sure when the last time was?

 

[chealy]

Thanks for the info lads..
I was out over the weekend and managed to shoot a couple of Pollack and a dogfish, never eaten Dogfish before but will try it sometime this week as don't want to kill something I'm not keen on eating. Also got some nice crab on Friday evening.

No Bass yet what with the closed season but will take a sometime soon.

cheers