South Devon report 2007

[paddythefrog]

Re. wrasse, they also eat small mussels (stomach content check), not sure how they break them up though (teeth in the throat?). I also recall reading of them taking lures (Mike Ladle website, for example) -- I also read somewhere that one winter was particularly hard for them, after which they were taking anything and everything.

Re. solo spearing. I also spear solo - very difficult to find folk willing to go out regularly, esp. early in the season, so far from the sea. It also makes diving on family trips feasible. However, I actually prefer it & I stay pretty shallow (after all, most of the big fish I have seen have been less than 6 feet deep) and usually pretty close to the shore. Less splash & fuss too -- also no chance of shooting the other guy; I'd feel pretty bad if I shot somebody but I'd feel even worse if they shot me! (Ian Rogers has an interesting story in his book about the flash of his mask being mistaken for a fish). See the spearfishing injuries thread for other stories of woe (short guns seem to be involved in several of the injuries). Diving alone is not ideal but perhaps not as black & white an issue as it is sometimes presented with regard to safety.
[Caveat lector: You need to weigh up the risks & benefits for your own circumstances, background, fitness, health, behaviour, etc. Best to err on the side of caution.]

The Wrasse charge at the rocks with mussels on them and the impact of their teeth/mouth on the mussel makes it explode and they eat everything then crap out the shell -- quite an amazing sight the first time you see it. I'm not sure which was more shocking, when I saw them charging at the rocks, watching the mussels explode upon impact or the noise it made.

As for diving solo, we've been there before but personally been doing it for the best part of 12yrs now and will continue to do so since a) it's never very deep b) any buddy is useless unless you have the vis to have one on the surface while the other is down and your buddy can see you and never takes his/her eyes off you. c) I hate it when someone else scares away the fish d) it's tough finding a buddy on the same level as you -- my 2 current dive buddies can't get anywhere near as deep as me and one of them is a bit too splashy in the water.

Guess I'll throw in the france report while I'm at it sure:

Had my first outing of the season last week (last week of legal scallop fishing here) and we went out to Pleneuf/Val Andre (left of cap d'erquy). Vis was fantastic, we both had our main course in scallops within 30mins at low tide then went onwards looking for the fish but instead we stumbled across 4 lobster holes by complete fluke! 2 of them also held respectably sized congers. Only one of the lobbies wanted to play but he just wouldn't come out of his hole

Dived the low and rising tide, spotted a nice shoal of a dozen odd bass circa the 3-3.5lb mark but my gun was unloaded as I was concentrating on swimming and getting back to shore at this stage. Back off tomorrow to try again for the fish. We took home a nice feed of scallops, the 2 congers and one or two spider crabs -- which seem to have arrived a little early, alongside the bass. I've never seen bass here so early in the season.

 

[spearheads]

Yep i have got myself a D3 and the compass that clips on the strap.

Did anyone get in the water today, or did i put every one off going in.rofl

 

[scottie3030]

i ordered a d3 wednesday, thought it would of come by now looks like itll be here monday! got to go shopping with the girlfriend tomorr cant wait to be dragged around the shops :head rather poke myself in the eye with the speargun

 

[Jez]

Yes, I went in at Ansteys cove. More swell than I had anticipated but the water looked ok so got in at high tide (pretty big tide by the look of it). Viz was variable from 2-4/5m in places. Couldn't try close into the rocks (normal spots for bass) cue to the swell. Well, I did actually but what with the high tide and plankton/kelp bloom it was too murky.

Didn't see an aweful lot, some sandeels is all. The water seemed crystal but for the kelp goop, no silt or anything. Only stayed in for an hour. The water seemed a degree or so colder than over at Thurlstone last week and the swell made be a bit queasy. I think I need training to get breathold ability back up to scratch but at least I stretched my legs. Went for a 10 mile hack on the mtb later too

 

[spearheads]

Jez did you see any Pollock?. I did have a look of the top of walls-hill and saw that swell coming into the bay.
The winds are looking better all of next week but not sure about the swell.

Just looked at babbacombe webcam, going to give it go.

 

[sasheo]

Not really on topic, but does anyone know any good spots near exeter for mackerel fishing? Im fishing from the beach/rocks with spinners.

Thanks
Chris

 

[spearheads]

Dived oddicombe, one bass and a new Pb Pollock from this spot.
Viz was 3/4 meters but as the tide dropped so did the viz.
Lots of dogfish swimming about also there were 5 dogfish all in the same hole.

 

[scottwilson]

good going spearheads.Is there still parking down in oddicombe

 

[spearheads]

you can still park there, untill the 1st may.

 

[Jez]

No pollack at Ansteys but then I wasn't looking in the usual spot for them under long quarry point.

Dawlish breakwater at high tide can work for mackerel or Exmouth Docks I've heard

 

[Pekka]

Not really on topic, but does anyone know any good spots near exeter for mackerel fishing? Im fishing from the beach/rocks with spinners.

Thanks
Chris

I have seen people at Budleigh Salterton for Mackerel fishing.. apparently at 7pm it starts.. I have only seen them there underwater few times..were too small for me to shoot..

Pekka

 

[Robbo66]

Paddy,
Normally Windsurf off Pleneuf VA, never speared there. Are you off far left at the island in front of Golf course ?
Speared for 10 years around Erquy from shore & rib....unfortunately found it pretty much fishless at all depths. Good for the odd crab/conger/lobbie & scallops. We've family in Rennes & a place in Erquy. Beau Pere teaches apnea etc on a Wednesday night in St Georges (piscine).

Rob

The Wrasse charge at the rocks with mussels on them and the impact of their teeth/mouth on the mussel makes it explode and they eat everything then crap out the shell -- quite an amazing sight the first time you see it. I'm not sure which was more shocking, when I saw them charging at the rocks, watching the mussels explode upon impact or the noise it made.

As for diving solo, we've been there before but personally been doing it for the best part of 12yrs now and will continue to do so since a) it's never very deep b) any buddy is useless unless you have the vis to have one on the surface while the other is down and your buddy can see you and never takes his/her eyes off you. c) I hate it when someone else scares away the fish d) it's tough finding a buddy on the same level as you -- my 2 current dive buddies can't get anywhere near as deep as me and one of them is a bit too splashy in the water.

Guess I'll throw in the france report while I'm at it sure:

Had my first outing of the season last week (last week of legal scallop fishing here) and we went out to Pleneuf/Val Andre (left of cap d'erquy). Vis was fantastic, we both had our main course in scallops within 30mins at low tide then went onwards looking for the fish but instead we stumbled across 4 lobster holes by complete fluke! 2 of them also held respectably sized congers. Only one of the lobbies wanted to play but he just wouldn't come out of his hole

Dived the low and rising tide, spotted a nice shoal of a dozen odd bass circa the 3-3.5lb mark but my gun was unloaded as I was concentrating on swimming and getting back to shore at this stage. Back off tomorrow to try again for the fish. We took home a nice feed of scallops, the 2 congers and one or two spider crabs -- which seem to have arrived a little early, alongside the bass. I've never seen bass here so early in the season.

 

[daveduvet]

had my first couple of dives this season, yesterday at Ansteys cove at about 4pm and today at odddicombe. Didn't take my speargun just went for a look around. Pretty poor vis but picked up a nice spider crab and a bag full of mussles which I have just eaten after turning them into a rather nice Thai red curry! Saw a little dog fish but thats all.
I was looking for scallops but didn't see any! does anybody know how far out you need to be for scollops in this area??

 

[James T]

Dived oddicombe, one bass and a new Pb Pollock from this spot.
Viz was 3/4 meters but as the tide dropped so did the viz.
Lots of dogfish swimming about also there were 5 dogfish all in the same hole.

Spearheads - how big was the Pollack? How deep was it? I want to try for some large Pollack this year.

 

[Huw]

Spearheads - how big was the Pollack? How deep was it? I want to try for some large Pollack this year.

Yep, same questions!!! Any pics?

Huw.

 

[spearheads]

Sorry no pics someones borrowing my camera for a few weeks.
Pollock was not deep 5/6 meters, its was 4-1/2 pounds not my biggest Pollock, but the biggest from this spot.

Bass was in a shoal of about 6.

Dave the scallop are near the wooden bridge, ( next to the yellow buoy)
If you keep going round the corner from the bridge there are edible crabs and lobsters in the big boulders.

 

[Old Man Dave]

My PB Pollack from 40 years of spearing is a pathetic 4.5lbs. Even that I had to make a special effort by deep diving a low water spot at high tide to catch them (I had a few). This was my one and only serious attempt to catch a large Pollack.

Although big Pollack are present in the Channel Islands they are a deep water species. We get loads of one to two pounders, usually in 20 to 30 foot mainly near the edges of reefs and often in the tide. Personally I much prefer these size fish for eating and am not fond of the texture or lack of flavour of larger ones.

If I wanted to get a big one I’d look to a boat dive in deeper water with some tide. I have seen fish in double figures when exploring a wreck while on scuba. Some of them were coming near the surface and the wreck was only in 50 foot but it was a way offshore and a boat would be essential.

Dave

 

[Spiderman]

Dived Oddicombe and Babbacombe around high tide today. Vis at Oddicombe was non existent due to algal bloom.
West of the pier at Babbacombe there was 3m or so in places. Only saw one bass (probably about 4 or 5 lbs) - it was holed up in a small cave and came out straight towards me at speed before I could get a shot in.
Apart from that there were a few tiny pollack around and some spider crabs including a couple of decent sized ones, but not having a pan big enough to cook them in I left them alone.
Saw Scottie and his mate swimming from Babbacombe towards Oddicombe hoping for better vis - I'm guessing they were disappointed.

 

[spearheads]

Sounds like i didnt miss out on much i almost went down this afternoon but i was guessing there would be very little viz because it was low tide.

I cant be bothered with spider crabs anymore, to much hassle.

Anyone else at bognor this weekend.

 

[scottwilson]

I cant make bognor, was going to go and watch the day but my little car would never make it. will be doing thurlstone though