South Devon 2013

[Trelawney]

I finally managed to get out for a dive today and to take advantage of the so-so weather. We headed to a spot near Wembury, hoping for some viz as its quite sheltered.
We left the WAGs wrapped up on the beach, and headed out into the big blue (grey). It felt great being in the water as it was a lot warmer than the air temperature! Viz varied from 2-4m at most. Flat calm too. Walking out through the shallows, we kept standing on small flounders. Expecting good things we were disappointed, we only saw one of any size out deeper.
After 30 min of hunting, Rowan saw the one and only mullet tail disappear into the gloom. So noses to the deck and hunt lobsters instead.
Between us we found six bugs. Four were really too small, one was in a very deep hole, and the last one was tricky, but do-able. 20 min of teasing and prying later we finally get it out, only to find it's berried! She went back into her hole, and we swam to shore. I picked up a nice brown crab on the way back in, so that made up for the lobster.
Walking back to the car, Alix got bitten on her foot by a Dartmoor pony, which was very funny.
We bumped into a spearo starting the long walk to the water. I dont know if you're on here, but I hope you got something for your efforts.

 

[foxfish]

LOL love the pony bit....

 

[denian]

Tell her she's suppose to hunting fish not ponies!LOL.Well done for getting out .

 

[tribs]

Hi All,

In on sunday with North1. Not much to report. Large wrasse and plenty of diseased pollack. saw one decent silver but the tide on the point was horrendous and we couldnt stay. Vis was 1m ish and milky. Cold day too but good to get the boat in.

tribs
out

 

[Dai ASBO]

Managed a quick Torquay dive at lunch yesterday. Vis much better than expected - very low tide and not that much life about. Still plenty of mullet (took one) and came across a brown crab that I couldn't retrieve from its hide out. Pleasant dive all in all, nice to be back in the water after the best part of a month due to the conditions recently. Vis was 3-4 meters in parts.

 

[Trelawney]

The wreck off Torbay is open for now diving now.
http://www.thediveforum.com/wreck-diving/1613-new-wreck-off-torbay.html
23m to the seabed and 10m to the superstructure. Should be a fun dive if you can get before the scuba boys.

 

[Dai ASBO]

Thanks for the info, am sure a few of us will find our way there soon enough!!

The wreck off Torbay is open for now diving now.
http://www.thediveforum.com/wreck-diving/1613-new-wreck-off-torbay.html
23m to the seabed and 10m to the superstructure. Should be a fun dive if you can get before the scuba boys.

 

[scrumpy]

Anyone got viz report for thurlestone way?
Went in on Friday at a couple of spots close to thurlestone massive swell and no viz. Strange as NE winds so expected it to be quite sheltered. Web cams showing calm conditions but can't face that drive again, without something to show for it. Checked a couple of spots in the bay but as expected very choppy.

 

[scrumpy]

In after late shift swam about for an hour nothing more than small pollock seen. Out moved to next spot clambered down the cliff face, thinking one slip and you'll be here til morning mate or longer. Time now 1 am started moving between the giant boulders checking lots of gullies, lots of just takeable brown crabs with a few larger ones. Had left the float behind due to the climb down and back, will be back with goody bag, I think. Took a squid from a group, took only one as previous cooking attempts haven't gone well. Come on Jamie Oliver do me proud.
Followed a shoal of mullet taking 3 one after the other. No bass seen and water feeling cold, now 2.30 so home time.
Thought there might have been a few bass around, will hopefully be in next week.
Anyone else been in?

 

[speerolee]

nice one lee....I 'almost' crossed the border the other night; glad I didn't as the sea was full of 7lb bass!!!
back in again tueday night to chase the two doubles that got away

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[scrumpy]

Not been in much with viz so patchy. Hard hitting the water at almost midnight. Hopefully going to try Monday eve as it goes dark and try few spots and still be out at a reasonable time.

 

[scrumpy]

Got in last night, out going tide, strong current so not ideal.viz pretty poor 1m max and lots of debris/broken off kelp.
Anyway as you can see a new PB for me at 5.4lb. Took 2 smaller but missed the biggest of the night, swimming with the current this huge head appeared from the gloom and proceeded to cruise past me unfortunately going the opposite way. As I struggled to turn in the current a flick from the huge tail and it was gone. Took the 5lber just after thought at first it was about 3lb after seeing the size of the other one!
At a guess 8-9 or even double figures, huge head.
Will be back but on a high tide and preferably not a NE wind even though it was only slight
Not sure of the Dorset pose!!

 

[AlB]

Hi all, been in a few times recently in the south hams, not seen much apart from a jumbo mullet that i didn't even get a shot off at, where are people finding the bass??? Depth of water, tide state rough location? Any help appreciated as i haven't blanked three times in a row for a long time lol!!!

Also been given a free northern diver fusion x3 torch today, just opened the packaging and it seems really nice but is it any good for spearing or just looking for crustaceans in dark holes?

 

[AlB]

Seems people are catching only at night ?

 

[scrumpy]

Is it just me being stupid. Easy. Or can you not now send a PM to someone, other than by conversation where I guess anyone can read?

Alastair I'm no expert but I have put the hours in this summer especially on night dives. I got fed up coming back empty handed after 2 hour drives. The family love fish and it's great being able to feed them, especially fish you wouldn't or couldn't afford.
If I can work out how to send a PM on this new site, I'll send you a few tips I've picked up from spearolee. Over the winter look back over the Dorset thread as he's posted at various times the best practice when it comes to night dives.

 

[AlB]

Is it just me being stupid. Easy. Or can you not now send a PM to someone, other than by conversation where I guess anyone can read?

Alastair I'm no expert but I have put the hours in this summer especially on night dives. I got fed up coming back empty handed after 2 hour drives. The family love fish and it's great being able to feed them, especially fish you wouldn't or couldn't afford.
If I can work out how to send a PM on this new site, I'll send you a few tips I've picked up from spearolee. Over the winter look back over the Dorset thread as he's posted at various times the best practice when it comes to night dives.

Thanks scrumpy, much appreciated! Ive had a hard year with a divorce and little cash, lots of heartache with women (lol) and fighting to see my children, and no time 'spare 'so every dive has been hard fought to make the time back from work…! Having said that i have had a pretty poor year, learned lots, dived deeper and longer, but not had the catches I've had previous years, and after a bleak spring and early summer was hoping that the bass would hang around a bit longer! I seem to only have had bass in really shallow water at high tide (daylight), same for the flatties up sandy gullies in the warm water, although i missed a sitter of a double figure beast in 4m of clear water, and it was head down in a hole and stationary!!! (after 3 days 'holiday' spearing based at pentewan with a kayak) and that was the only bass seen the whole time! i think it was shock of seeing it! After that and a nip from a grey seal nothing was seen! The only thing I've done ok on is shell fish - i found two scallop beds and a wild oyster bed but only took a few as they weren't that well stocked.

I do tend to stick to my local and regular haunts in the Plymouth area though, i think they are all a bit fished out as they are quite popular, and think i need to start exploring new spots but having the confidence to try new places when time is short seems to put me off - perhaps I'm being a tad pathetic but there is nothing like swimming a reef you know well, and have caught well on before…! I might start to get scientific and keep a dive diary lol!!!

 

[Trelawney]

Hi Alastair.
Night diving can be hit and miss, just like day diving. Sometimes you go out and don't see a thing, other times, you're tripping over the fish.
There are plenty of threads on night diving, some of the best to read are by Old Man Dave.
This is a good time of year to go night diving, as it gets dark early, but the sea is still warm. If you want to join us one evening, send me a message.
Cheers,
Chris

 

[Trelawney]

[quote, Anyone else been in?[/quote]
We got in last Saturday evening to a sheltered bay just outside Plymouth after work. We fished the rising tide at 10pm until 11:30. There were lots of big fat flounders coming in and some medium bass in 4-5ft of water. We took two bass each and left the flatties for another day.

 

[AlB]

Trelawny, would be great to have a buddy on my first night dive, I've got a ND Fusion x3 torch would that do???

When do you think your heading out next? Flatties sound good!


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[Trelawney]

Yeah, it should be fine. You don't need to go deep anyway, about 5-7 ft max, usually much less. I'm thinking of going out on Sat night after work, about 9pm.
I'm waiting to see what the weather is doing and to hear back from my regular buddy as he'll probably want to come along.