South Devon report 2007

[spearheads]

Sarge that was me you saw at meadfoot.

The water was very dirty, but still managed 3 Pollock 1 mullet and a bass.
.

Your gun sounds alright but a bit long with the current conditions.

 

[spaghetti]

As the tide droped the viz was under a meter and my 75 Gun was to big!.

Matt, have you ever tried a 60? Amusing piece of kit!
If you haven't yet, you might carry one of those extra-short ones under your float and if the viz turns to minimum you can draw the 60 as a last resort.
I use it with a 5 pronger (but on tender fish like bass it's easy to "break" them) and when water is very murky I play aspetto on the bottom aiming towards the surface: the brightness of the sky above the water helps to recognize the darker shadow of fish passing by above you. Tricky tricky .

 

[sarge]

Hi Spearheads. I thought it was probably you. But thought better of running down the beach shouting "spearheads is that you!" Was watching you for a while. Thought you was on to some thing good as you hung around the same place for a while.

 

[jwells1989]

hey huw, it was a black bream, i have seen a few of them around lately but that was the first one i have shot this year. i have been finding them trcky to hit, probably because they are a resonably small target,

have you been in lately,
josh

 

[spearheads]

spaghetti i have a 65 sea sub asso for really bad viz.
I dont use a pronger, just a standard single barb.
The aiming towards the sky light sounds intresting worth a try next time.

 

[sarge]

Caught my first fish yesterday evening. Went in at Ansteys at low tide. Vis was still not too good, maybe a couple of metres. Having read what you guys do in past posts i thought i would put it into practice. Didn't realise the fish would be so curious as to what i was. Before too long a small shoul of bass came darting in to check me out, took me by surprise as i wasn't expecting them to come to me! Still managed to get one of them. Also had two pollack as well. Having done scuba diving for several years i was surprised how the fish were more at ease with me in the water when freediving. I know its because of all the noise but still surprised me. Originally i was going to use my gun with my scuba gear but since trying it out first freediving i don't think i will bother. Just like to thank you guys that post on here for helping me out with your posts about how you do it.

 

[scottwilson]

HI Sarge im glad to hear youve decided to spearfish without scuba. Freediving is the best way to go spearfishing and theres a lot of people who have very strong views on using scuba

Mate I wish you all the best and Im sure everyone on the forum will do everything they can to help you nail those fish

Nearly bought a Cressi sub commanche 90 for £89 today but im not sure as the im not completely happy with the cressi ive got now. the trigger sticks and iv lost quite a few fish cause of it.

 

[Doc]

My trigger did that for a bit till I realized I had the crimped loop too small so it was jamming the spear in place. just make the loop at the rear larger and it should be fine
Its a great gun mine is the carbon version so very light.

 

[spearheads]

Have you removed the safety on the gun? i did this on my Excalibur but caused the trigger to stick so i put it back in.

Or the mono might be to thick.

 

[scottwilson]

the trigger goes half way in then sticks and I have to jiggle the spear about in order to get it out again which is a right pain in the @rse as I have to unload the gun first. The guy in the shop says its just an entry level gun and Ive seen the same complaint made on other forums.

As the commanche is more expensive I was hoping the build quality would be better.

Spearheads the trigger and grip are sealed and I cant get in to fiddle about ( not a bad thing ) so the saftey is still in the gun and the mono line 1.4 which ive only had on for about 2 weeks and the gun has stuck for about 3 months now. my current gun is only a 60 im going for a 90 and the commanche is really tempting

Anyone get in today?

 

[Doc]

and old sailing trick to free up gummed up mechanisms was to immerse it in coke (cola variety!) overnight. worth a try

 

[spearheads]

That sounds like a good excuse for a nice new gun lol.
Im selling my excalibur 90 for £50 in your intrested. Its in perfect working condition apart from some "hair" scratches.

 

[scottwilson]

Got back from a drive out to Shoalstone and spoken to 2 guys who just got out the water ( anyone on the forum?) and said the viz was bad so im gonna give it a miss till Saturday i think

 

[sarge]

Thanks for the welcome Scott. I went in again yesterday at Ansteys hoping to carry on with my good luck. There was quite abit of swell and the viz was less than a metre at times. Only stayed in for a few minutes as i couldn't see a thing. I'm sure some of you more experianced spearios would have still managed to have a bag full of fish at the end of the day! I'm still at the stage where i have to see the fish first!! I'll get to the next level one day just have to develop my dolphin sonna ability that you guys seem to have.

 

[tribs]

Dived Budleigh yesterday again in my new camo suit from Spearo and what a difference! i could have stayed in all day, i didn't feel the cold at all compared to my normal shorty wetsuit. Saw some fish but they were beyond the range of my gun but i felt i should have been able to get them from where i was, about 8 gun lengths away? Is that too far or is my gun underpowered? Your thoughts please.
Was thinking of buying a Gabbiano 90 (i think i spelt that properly?) heard they are the business

Tribs
Out

 

[foxfish]

Tribs, nice sounding suit, max range with a very powerful gun like a mamba would be about 4mts. I try to get within 1 mt if possible but prefer 6'' from spear tip.

 

[Doc]

the trigger goes half way in then sticks and I have to jiggle the spear about in order to get it out again which is a right pain in the @rse as I have to unload the gun first. The guy in the shop says its just an entry level gun and Ive seen the same complaint made on other forums.

If you dismantle it and check the face of the metal cam which holds the spear back itll have a few marks on it use wet and dry to burnish them off also with the cressi the slot oftem gums up so a bit of W&Dry on a wooden skewer cleans that off as well. the cam sticks on the pin sometimes. Easy to do just push the pins out to dismantle it.

 

[Doc]

My 8 year old has been pestering me to take him out so I dug out an old gun bought in turkey on hols and let him out with me . had to keep control of the handle to stop him shooting me but was amazed we saw anything with him thrashing about with his little fins but saw 2 bass 3 mullett and some wrasse. he missed them all but I bagged a nice bass from the surface plonked it on his spear and off he went to show mum. He ate it all last night.

What a fun afternoon

 

[Jez]

Heading to Budleigh this evening for a dive if anyone's around. Tribs? Hope to get there by 5, in the water by 5.30. High tide is at 1630 or so so hopefully the current will be starting to back off. Well, that's the theory anyway.

 

[scottwilson]

Doc I dug deep in the pockets and bought a nice new shinny commanche 90

WOW what a massive gun, I am so used to my 60.

Im off to Thulstone 2moro morning hope to to be there by 6am , will be taking the camera with so will post pics. The guy at the dive shop said the viz should be better than torbay so fingers crossed.