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Poll - Night caught fish in FoM/SH?
- Thread starterJonny250
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Yes, because we will never be able to distinguish with any certainty from a picture.
Ha and I only started night fishing late last season, so hoping to try it a bit more this one.
Ha and I only started night fishing late last season, so hoping to try it a bit more this one.
How can you discount a fish caught at night........
Day or night if you get in the effort is all the same. In my humble opinion.
Day or night if you get in the effort is all the same. In my humble opinion.
Out of interest, what are the problems people have with night fishing?
If the issue is the lack of a sporting shot as the fish are asleep at night, should we discount fish caught in the day that are lying up in kelp or under a boulder?
If the issue is the lack of a sporting shot as the fish are asleep at night, should we discount fish caught in the day that are lying up in kelp or under a boulder?
Last edited:
dave, I dont think anyone has a 'problem' with night spearing [well i dont, check out my youtube] but the original question was asked about whether to include it in the context of a competition, i.e. the fom/Sh. As mentioned on the other thread [see below] if your collecting fish for food [like collecting mushrooms], then that's for each individual, but in the context of entering a fish in the fom or Sh then the question was raised about whether there could be a conflict of intentions. I think that is why i was asked to put this poll up.
The other aspect is probably that there are more species active at night, so it is possibly easier to catch [for example] a red mullet if you night spear than if you dont. Similarly, it is probably harder to find a sole during the day than at night. However perhaps this point is similar to the comparison of boat/kayak dive versus shore dive.
We have increased the minimum sizes and introduced a [slightly complicated] score system to try and minimise any 'taking one to get one in' aspect, and i think the discussion of night Vs day was just an extension of that thought process. As i say, i dont think anyone is having a dig at night fishing, i hope not anyway
http://forums.deeperblue.com/spearo-board/97277-night-spearfishing.html
I do a hell of a lot of night dives all year and during the summer I do day and night dives.
With the exception of flatfish and red mullet, I have never come across a sleepy or inactive fish at night, whereas during the day I have found countless sleepy bass holed up or just sat in kelp.
The fish do tend to move a bit slower at night, but will not swim towards you (with exception of the odd kamakazi mullet) during the day I find the fish 'zoom' around a bit more, but will come in at you to investigate if u hold position and stay still......then 'boom'.
I have often come across immense shoals of silver fish during the day vs single or paired up fish at night.
I would say the advantages of night dives are: 1) You can, if very stealthy; sneak up and follow behind loan bass 2) see more flastfish and red mullet.
Disadvantages: 1) late nights 2) very very very long swims 3) colder 4) fish rarely come to you 4) impaired vision making usual tasks difficult 5) no free hands to squeeze your nose etc... due to torch.
Day dives advantages: 1) you have better vision 2) usually less ground covered, thus no marathon swims 3) you can hold bottom, tuck in and lure fish to you 4) I find lots of holed up bass 5) bigger shoals 6) you have a free hand 7) usually warmer.
Disadvantages: 1) difficult to swim up to a fish 2) you generally have to have a better breathe hold as u often need to dive deeper and hold out. 3) less species about
Personally I love the thrill of night diving, for me it creates more of a challenge than day dives and I love nothing better than seeing a huge bass light up in my torch beam; sends my heart racing every time.
The above comments are merely my own opinions based upon my extensive night dives over the past 2 seasons compared to many years of day dives.
Great poll.
With the exception of flatfish and red mullet, I have never come across a sleepy or inactive fish at night, whereas during the day I have found countless sleepy bass holed up or just sat in kelp.
The fish do tend to move a bit slower at night, but will not swim towards you (with exception of the odd kamakazi mullet) during the day I find the fish 'zoom' around a bit more, but will come in at you to investigate if u hold position and stay still......then 'boom'.
I have often come across immense shoals of silver fish during the day vs single or paired up fish at night.
I would say the advantages of night dives are: 1) You can, if very stealthy; sneak up and follow behind loan bass 2) see more flastfish and red mullet.
Disadvantages: 1) late nights 2) very very very long swims 3) colder 4) fish rarely come to you 4) impaired vision making usual tasks difficult 5) no free hands to squeeze your nose etc... due to torch.
Day dives advantages: 1) you have better vision 2) usually less ground covered, thus no marathon swims 3) you can hold bottom, tuck in and lure fish to you 4) I find lots of holed up bass 5) bigger shoals 6) you have a free hand 7) usually warmer.
Disadvantages: 1) difficult to swim up to a fish 2) you generally have to have a better breathe hold as u often need to dive deeper and hold out. 3) less species about
Personally I love the thrill of night diving, for me it creates more of a challenge than day dives and I love nothing better than seeing a huge bass light up in my torch beam; sends my heart racing every time.
The above comments are merely my own opinions based upon my extensive night dives over the past 2 seasons compared to many years of day dives.
Great poll.
Hats off to you! there is a lot of thought gone into that previous reply. Personally I think if you've gone to the effort of night diving, with all the extra risks & equipment required. Plus dispatching, getting the fish on the stringer & reloading etc etc. Your fish has every right to be considered. Also the hassle of changing back at the car in the small hours smelling of wee. Or is that just me?
Bass in Ireland can be caught by hand at night they're so sleepy.......done it but he got away though once he noticed what was going on.
It's a shame the English ones aren't quite so obliging I've come across plenty that don't hang around!
Well I just voted no despite the fact I fish a lot at night due to family commitments. I have not entered the FOM comps before but intend to this year if I get any fish! That said anything I personally enter will be a day fish regardless of the poll outcome, purely for me as I love day dives more than anything and value a nice fish from the day higher if only from a personal enjoyment perspective. Despite my vote I imagine the easiest and fairest solution is to ensure all submitted fish are accompanied by a report of the catch. That way the voters will decide which is surely the point anyway?! Those who don't value something caught at night as highly can choose not to vote for it.
Lol no secrets with me... But one or two spots I insist people only go when with me... Share the love!
I am not anti night diving but I too voted "NO" to including it for competition on the basis of my own experiences of both day and night diving. Night diving can be very enjoyable, addictive and exciting, and it is also very tempting, particularly out of season to help get those few early or late fish, but it also tempting if u generally don't have too much luck in the day time! I find it is so much easier at night to get near your prey and they don't spook so easily either. There is often no need to dive at all, just swimming through the shallows can produce really nice fish. It can be as easy as potting rabbits in car head lights. For that reason, I now mainly dive by day, as species dependent, this generally provides me with a greater sense of achievement. So, in a nut shell,...........I too would prefer to see only day caught fish allowed in this competition, primarily because in my view night diving is so much easier, and by allowing it creates an uneven playing field, particularly against those who mainly dive by day.............otherwise......it might get to the point that if we want to compete, we may all have to take up full time night diving! Doubt it! Even though this poll is currently in favour of excluding night dive caught fish........... it is very close............and I am suprised at the number who clearly feel differently to me........... but each to their own and good hunting to all (day or night). PS I think it may be helpfull to some voters, if DB cld make it clear on the poll if fish were day/night caught.
How will anyone know when the fish was cought? If I wanted, I could just say all my fish are caught during the day. I know we must rely on a certain degree of honesty but why not just remove all ambiguity and allow all to be entered.
how would we define day and night? light / dark? what about dusk and dawn?
how would we define day and night? light / dark? what about dusk and dawn?
I'd just say this......if night diving really is that easy and so plentiful, then where are all the other posts with 6-7lb bass??? Surely I can't be the only one on this forum enjoying the fruits of such easy pickings ???????
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Personally i think there shouldnt even b a poll runnig for this. I think if you hav caught the fish then u should b able to enter it. It was never an issue b4. I dont really agree that it is easier at night than day . I belive it takes different skills to do both dives. I enjoy both types of diving. I feel if ppl do vote against night diving then in a round about way they c wrong in the sport we do. We all eat r catch and all follow the same rules . Its the same debate on boat and shore dives and if u did catch a fish from a boat did u use a fish finder and gps??? How ever it is caught if day/night boat or shore all fish should b entered. . It just seems a real shame in the past season there is a debate on night diving. The very man that the fom is in honor of use to do night dives and enjoyed them. This has been said in the past. I belivethat night dives under your belt gives u more sense of saftey as i dont care who u r wen u fist start it is scary as. I see night diving is just another form and possibly the newest form of diving to date on the scale of ppl now doing it. The fact no bathers boat traffic ect to deal with night diving does the sport a favor on ppls opinion that dont know or understand the sport as your not walking past bathers ect with a stringer of fish that hav been speared and leaving yourself in a position to b accused of being barbaric ect. I think all forms of free diving with a speargun should b included without day or night caught bein brought into it. Well thats my opinion anyway. I would also lime to ad that i love my day dives and do fair just as good in both. If i didnt hav family comitments i would day dive all the time
Well said Nobs.
There'll be a poll for use of pump guns next
Totally agree with what you're saying. At night we never come into contact with other water users, neither do the public beach users see us walking up the beach weapons in hand donning dead speared fish.
What u get is a bunch of elite, skilled night dive specialists, not unlike the very skilled boat dive specialists etc... I have the utmost respect for ALL my fellow spearfisherman, be it hunter gatherers, sportman, freedive specialists and so on.
I believe we should all support and respect each others disciplines and keep spearfishing in a positive light and thus recognise and respect what we all do and believe in.
If any of you guys were, have or going to have sucsess within your own disiplines, then I am/will be sending well deserved rep and respecting your catches with great admiration.
I would definitely not be asking for a 'poll' to discredit what you do.
Respect to you all and the best of luck......dive safe
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
There'll be a poll for use of pump guns next
Totally agree with what you're saying. At night we never come into contact with other water users, neither do the public beach users see us walking up the beach weapons in hand donning dead speared fish.
What u get is a bunch of elite, skilled night dive specialists, not unlike the very skilled boat dive specialists etc... I have the utmost respect for ALL my fellow spearfisherman, be it hunter gatherers, sportman, freedive specialists and so on.
I believe we should all support and respect each others disciplines and keep spearfishing in a positive light and thus recognise and respect what we all do and believe in.
If any of you guys were, have or going to have sucsess within your own disiplines, then I am/will be sending well deserved rep and respecting your catches with great admiration.
I would definitely not be asking for a 'poll' to discredit what you do.
Respect to you all and the best of luck......dive safe
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
