Shore dive. It was to hopefully help my painful back out going for a swim. It didn't but it didn't make it any worse. Seen a few big shoals of mullet and I wasn't looking, kind of bumped into them on my way in from out on the sand looking for plaice. Took 2 and got out while the back was still holding up. Seen lots of sandeels in close.
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South Devon 2016
- Thread starter Trelawney
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 90 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.
Forgot, I saw 2 "minnow", like little 14cm bass lures, scuttle by yesterday. I wondered if a bass or Pollock had spooked them as they swam right past me at speed but could not find anything.
Saw Eddystone on the map and it made me wonder if you were about Shiny.
Diving has helped ease some of the stiffness in my back, neck and shoulder muscles.
Saw Eddystone on the map and it made me wonder if you were about Shiny.
Diving has helped ease some of the stiffness in my back, neck and shoulder muscles.
Rain stopped play today. That's it for this week for me. Nice to dive again, try some new gear (need more lead for new wetsuit, +700g was not enough!) and to visit a new location (Hope Cove). So much for my intention to dive less early in the season and to instead make more of June, July, (Aug. of course,) Sept. and Oct. when the water has had a chance to warm to more fish friendly temperatures.
BTW Traffic around Paignton was surprisingly very heavy Thursday afternoon ~3.30pm(pre-Good Friday holiday?) and as we headed home on Good Friday around midday on fairly quiet roads (A30/A303) 
, the traffic headed into Devon was horrendously backed up for practically the entire route - and with no obvious cause, except heavy traffic. 
Should probably have dived on "change over day" (Friday in this case), as I have sometimes in the past, as the weather was great and opportunities like that are few and far between. However, we were all physically tired, at least one of the party was ill and running a temperature and I didn't relish packing wet gear that would need to be flushed & dried yet again once home (lame excuse).
, the traffic headed into Devon was horrendously backed up for practically the entire route - and with no obvious cause, except heavy traffic. Should probably have dived on "change over day" (Friday in this case), as I have sometimes in the past, as the weather was great and opportunities like that are few and far between. However, we were all physically tired, at least one of the party was ill and running a temperature and I didn't relish packing wet gear that would need to be flushed & dried yet again once home (lame excuse).
First dive of year planned for tomorrow afternoon, new suit, new socks and new gloves to try out.
Here's my plan:
Get changed - freeze my cotton socks off.
Get in and freeze my nuts off whilst seeing no fish.
Get out, get changed and freeze my ass off.
Go home happy to have done so.
Here's my plan:
Get changed - freeze my cotton socks off.
Get in and freeze my nuts off whilst seeing no fish.
Get out, get changed and freeze my ass off.
Go home happy to have done so.
Hello
I plan to move to South Devon (Exeter area) from Dorset. I am thinking about putting myself and family in the Exmouth area (where I first lived).
Property, schools etc. have the greater weighting, however spearfishing marks may have some influence on where we place ourselves. For spearfishing I don't mind driving an hour or so to get to a mark.
From a spearfishing perspective is Exmouth a bad idea? I see a little east from there (ie round the corner) there may be some spots away from the mouth of the river with perhaps better vis.
I will be heading down this way again early next week and will try and have a recce down there.
I plan to move to South Devon (Exeter area) from Dorset. I am thinking about putting myself and family in the Exmouth area (where I first lived).
Property, schools etc. have the greater weighting, however spearfishing marks may have some influence on where we place ourselves. For spearfishing I don't mind driving an hour or so to get to a mark.
From a spearfishing perspective is Exmouth a bad idea? I see a little east from there (ie round the corner) there may be some spots away from the mouth of the river with perhaps better vis.
I will be heading down this way again early next week and will try and have a recce down there.
Not a lot to say but thought I'd write up a dive report from last Friday. Choppy conditions in Torquay but managed a few meters vis in parts but nothing around as expected. A couple of wrasse darted off as I dived over them but otherwise no life seen. String weed in growth but a way to go. Was good to get back in and test the new kit -all of which have turned out to be good buys. Polosub suit is fantastic - couldn't be happier. Also tried Epsealon 'sniper' gloves (5mm) which were great too and 5mm Omer socks (skeleton I think). Didn't dive to any depth, only 4 meters max probably, but will need some more weight to the belt.
Simon - don't know anything about the Exmouth side other than what I will have read on here - which isn't much and to be honest I have no curiosity to venture that way. For me South Hams / Plymouth provides the best selection of areas with proportionately better chances of vis. You'd still be within a relatively ok drive but only if you're willing to bomb down the A-roads and then navigate the narrow lanes. I have a spearo friend who lives in Woodbury who regularly joins me in South Hams dives - he doesn't seem fussed by the distance. Good luck with the move and decision making!!
Simon - don't know anything about the Exmouth side other than what I will have read on here - which isn't much and to be honest I have no curiosity to venture that way. For me South Hams / Plymouth provides the best selection of areas with proportionately better chances of vis. You'd still be within a relatively ok drive but only if you're willing to bomb down the A-roads and then navigate the narrow lanes. I have a spearo friend who lives in Woodbury who regularly joins me in South Hams dives - he doesn't seem fussed by the distance. Good luck with the move and decision making!!
Dai- good to see a report. I needed a couple of extra kilos with my new suit too, they are very buoyant..!
Simon, I've never been to that side of the Exe, but I have been told that Budleigh is the closest place to get vis. Apparently there are a few reefs a bit further out from the shore. Between Budleigh and Sidmouth looks like it could have some good spots. I Believe Beer can be quite productive but I'm not too sure about vis.
I've previously dived off Sidmouth and around Branscombe. It's definitely diveable, only limitation I believe is the visibility. The sandstone on that part of the coast clouds the water after rainfall. Since it's a bay there's limited shelter from the prevalent south westerlies, so best option is to wait for a northerly.
In other news, caught my first fish of the year last Friday. South Hams, male bull huss at 12.5lb.
Vis was only about 2 meters, since I was so close to it I figured I'd just grab it as I would a dogfish(not that I bother with them any more). Massively underestimated how big it was and spent the next 10 minutes trying to maintain my grip without being bitten, felt like such a rookie! Finally managed to get it onto the stringer and then called it a day. Was so exhausted after my battle with it.
In other news, caught my first fish of the year last Friday. South Hams, male bull huss at 12.5lb.
Vis was only about 2 meters, since I was so close to it I figured I'd just grab it as I would a dogfish(not that I bother with them any more). Massively underestimated how big it was and spent the next 10 minutes trying to maintain my grip without being bitten, felt like such a rookie! Finally managed to get it onto the stringer and then called it a day. Was so exhausted after my battle with it.
Ladram Bay is an east-facing (& therefore somewhat sheltered from prevailing SW winds) beach about 10 miles or so west of Beer. I would call this area East Devon rather than south Devon though (has to be Devon though, with all that red soil!). You park in a caravan park which has a cafe & shop. There are sea stacks just off shore. Haven't dived there yet just kayaked but it looked promising. South of Ottery St. Mary?).
Another spot just west of Beer, round the corner is Branscombe. It's a little exposed and I haven't dived it yet but I plan to at some point.
Another spot just west of Beer, round the corner is Branscombe. It's a little exposed and I haven't dived it yet but I plan to at some point.
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I imagine that anywhere that is cursed with red cliffs is also cursed with shit vis.
Having spent a fair bit of time diving around Dawlish and Teignmouth (also with red cliffs) I can say it generally takes a week or two of settled weather for any vis over 2m. It's a shame, there are some beautiful spots when the water is clear. Damn muddyredcliffs!
Having spent a fair bit of time diving around Dawlish and Teignmouth (also with red cliffs) I can say it generally takes a week or two of settled weather for any vis over 2m. It's a shame, there are some beautiful spots when the water is clear. Damn muddyredcliffs!
Kuya, I live in Exeter, i dived Ladram, sidmouth, seaton, beer all can be productive on there day. The best spots and always my first choices are sandy bay and budleigh. I will send you a PM with some more detail soon when I have more time.
My first of the year. Woohhooo!
Dived close to Babbacombe yesterday 4-5m vis. Lots of bait fish, but I didn't find anything else. Uncomfortably cold. Too cold after an hour. Numb hands and face.
Dived close to Teignmouth today. 2-4m vis. A few bait fish, and a few mullet. That's where I took this one. Cold but bearable. It was nice to have the sun. I tried a few dives, slowly taking the dinghy further and further out diving over sand, until I was among the markers for the nets. I was hoping to find some cuttlefish but no joy. I guess it's still a bit early for them.
Strong easterly wind forecast for tomorrow and after, so I guess the sea will go back to brown again. Boo.