Hi scrumpy,bad luck with the bands breaking when your into some fish,i have never had a band break ,getting fish in range is my biggest problem !!! however i do not think bands need care by way of washing etc ,small cuts from barnacles and rocks will damage them,but as with most plastics ,rubbers etc sunlight (uv to be precise ) will cause perishing although we have not had that much sun this year,or last !!! probably best keep a spare set from now on ,come to think of it so will i now !! Do you regularly fish at Teignmouth as i often launch my kayak from there to go spearing but have always gone in Torbay direction / watcombe, maidencombe etc not found a great deal of fish but it is a nice convenient area and sheltered from some wind directions but vis is rarely great.
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South Devon Report 2011
- Thread starter Trelawney
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
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Hi all, long time lurker, but first post..
Have been learning from here and choosing my kit based on recommendations from this forum, and took all for a shakedown last Sunday whilst down in Plymouth. Suit from Spiros was absolutely brilliant! MUCH better than any suit I have used before. Water temp of 15c and stayed in 3 hours with no sign of feeling any cold at all, just milling along the coast at Cawsands, heading out towards the sea. The longer fins made such a massive difference to my old Scuba fins as well..
Anyway, vis was 5m (measured by diving to a bottom at max vis) as recorded on my D4i Suunto (another excellent choice!) which was much better than I was expecting considering the weather. Cawsands was like a millpond, which was why we chose it as it is so sheltered. Couldn't really dive down much as I appeared to have had a slight cold as my tubes were a little clogged and I couldn't equalise properly so did a few dips down to 3.6m and then to 5m max. Getting better all the time- so far best was my last trip at Kimmeridge at just over a minute down to 6m. This year I'm concentrating on the diving, ready to take the speargun with me next year.
Saw quite a few big wrasse, one bass of about 3-4lb but sod all else. Did find a lot of edible crab shells and legs/claws, but no live crabs at all... any idea what is doing this? Spider crabs or wrasse?? Loads of baitfish, but strangely nothing eating them!!
Have been learning from here and choosing my kit based on recommendations from this forum, and took all for a shakedown last Sunday whilst down in Plymouth. Suit from Spiros was absolutely brilliant! MUCH better than any suit I have used before. Water temp of 15c and stayed in 3 hours with no sign of feeling any cold at all, just milling along the coast at Cawsands, heading out towards the sea. The longer fins made such a massive difference to my old Scuba fins as well..
Anyway, vis was 5m (measured by diving to a bottom at max vis) as recorded on my D4i Suunto (another excellent choice!) which was much better than I was expecting considering the weather. Cawsands was like a millpond, which was why we chose it as it is so sheltered. Couldn't really dive down much as I appeared to have had a slight cold as my tubes were a little clogged and I couldn't equalise properly so did a few dips down to 3.6m and then to 5m max. Getting better all the time- so far best was my last trip at Kimmeridge at just over a minute down to 6m. This year I'm concentrating on the diving, ready to take the speargun with me next year.
Saw quite a few big wrasse, one bass of about 3-4lb but sod all else. Did find a lot of edible crab shells and legs/claws, but no live crabs at all... any idea what is doing this? Spider crabs or wrasse?? Loads of baitfish, but strangely nothing eating them!!
Hi Spacemonkey, welcome to the forum.
Nice update on the viz. Its been a bit shocking recently with the late season bloom. Glad to hear its clearing. Cawsands is a great place to start spearfishing, but can get a bit busy with boat traffic during summer and autumn weekends, so a float would be a good idea if diving regularly in the area.
It could be the moulting season for crabs, so that would explain the high number of shells and claws. There are also a few local pot boats from the village, so might be a bit of dead discard too.
Dive safe.
Nice update on the viz. Its been a bit shocking recently with the late season bloom. Glad to hear its clearing. Cawsands is a great place to start spearfishing, but can get a bit busy with boat traffic during summer and autumn weekends, so a float would be a good idea if diving regularly in the area.
It could be the moulting season for crabs, so that would explain the high number of shells and claws. There are also a few local pot boats from the village, so might be a bit of dead discard too.
Dive safe.
True, I did find about 3 pots in various states of abandonment/trapped..
Yeah, Cawsands can be a nightmare in summer with all the grockles, but we normally head to the right, hugging the shoreline as there's some fantastic rocks and underwater gullies to explore, and thankfully the boats keep their distance. I will be investing in one of those Selyvnor floats with a net in the middle soon.
I regularly snorkel in Malaysia, and did my PADI out there last year, but to be honest, I much prefer the freedom feeling of snorkel/freediving, and with the right gear, it's almost good enough diving over here!
In fact, I'm moving back home to Darzet so that I can dive a heck of a lot more in future! I fly-fish in the sea, but am fed up of trying to get the fish to come to me, so now I will get wet and go to the bloody fish! 
Yeah, Cawsands can be a nightmare in summer with all the grockles, but we normally head to the right, hugging the shoreline as there's some fantastic rocks and underwater gullies to explore, and thankfully the boats keep their distance. I will be investing in one of those Selyvnor floats with a net in the middle soon.
I regularly snorkel in Malaysia, and did my PADI out there last year, but to be honest, I much prefer the freedom feeling of snorkel/freediving, and with the right gear, it's almost good enough diving over here!
In fact, I'm moving back home to Darzet so that I can dive a heck of a lot more in future! I fly-fish in the sea, but am fed up of trying to get the fish to come to me, so now I will get wet and go to the bloody fish! 
I dived the spot i get big pollack from,its the first time since January 30th when i had the 10lb pollack from a shore dive here. This time of year you also get bass mullet and most other types of fish you find in close through the warmer months. Today was one of those days when i had a nice mixed bag. Not much seen but what was seen turned out to be good fish. On my second dive i was hunting across the top of kelp,looking down through as i went for a big bass hid away resting up or waiting to ambush its next meal when i noticed what i thought was a wrasse swimming staight at me. The viz was 6/7m so i had no excuss on not realising it was a Red mullet. They just dont swim up to you in clear viz in the middle of the day. I was about 1m above the kelp with about 2m of kelp to the sand and rock. The mullet was a good 3m from the bottom. It took what seemed for ever to line him up and pull the trigger. I didnt want to risk putting this monster of a mullet on my stringer so swam back to the boat and put him in slush ice. I have had big red mullet before over 2lbs,this was bigger.
Next i made my way to the gully i find the big pollack in. I timed it just right with the tide ripping through the gully before it peaks for slack water. I know this route well now,i missed a few in the early days of trying to get big pollack in the gully but now if there is one at home i usually take him home with me. First off i thought nothing home today but after dropping in to the gully i could see a nice sized pollack on the bottom,one kick of the fin and im glidding down towards him head on. My arm is stretched out ready to fire. He's looking at me but thinks i cant see him yet or im not a theat. I good shot through the top of the head and a 7lb 10lb pollacks in the boat(no big hills to climb today lol). I also had a 3lb7oz bass.
I have to weigh the red mullet on a proper set of scales. He was 1.2kg on my set. The british record is 1.248kg.
I need to delete some old pics before i can upload any new pics.
Next i made my way to the gully i find the big pollack in. I timed it just right with the tide ripping through the gully before it peaks for slack water. I know this route well now,i missed a few in the early days of trying to get big pollack in the gully but now if there is one at home i usually take him home with me. First off i thought nothing home today but after dropping in to the gully i could see a nice sized pollack on the bottom,one kick of the fin and im glidding down towards him head on. My arm is stretched out ready to fire. He's looking at me but thinks i cant see him yet or im not a theat. I good shot through the top of the head and a 7lb 10lb pollacks in the boat(no big hills to climb today lol). I also had a 3lb7oz bass.
I have to weigh the red mullet on a proper set of scales. He was 1.2kg on my set. The british record is 1.248kg.
I need to delete some old pics before i can upload any new pics.
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Nick,
Great fish, and great write up too - for a brief moment there I though I was in the water with you!
The trouble with those Red Mullet is that sometimes have a tendency to to eat small fishing weights off the bottom - wink, wink, nudge, nudge
helluva fish - love those red mullet and haven't seen one that big in the UK mainland before. I think Mart gets quite big ones out in Guern but water is warmer there
They have a real tendency to tear off aswell so that is a great catch in day light (see alot more of them at night.)
Beautiful coastal Pollack aswell.
Our GPS boat tracking bug has now been built - I have deployed frogman ricky to stick to the underside of your boat Nick
They have a real tendency to tear off aswell so that is a great catch in day light (see alot more of them at night.)
Beautiful coastal Pollack aswell.
Our GPS boat tracking bug has now been built - I have deployed frogman ricky to stick to the underside of your boat Nick
Gaz when your down this way again i will take you there. James i took you there and if im right in saying you and Ricky dived it on the 21st of September so no tracking bugs on my gel coat thanks.
They do tend to rip off easy. This one had such a big head i could place my shot well in its head. I was using a 70 with a 6.3mm s/s. I dont like to damage the fish to much when they thrash around so i use a light spear in the hope it will move with the fish and not tear to much. In this case i stoned him.
Gaz i couldnt do that (pebbles or shot)i would only be fooling myself. Im sure there is a 3lb one out there some where.
Gaz if i ever weigh any of your fish stomach contents will be checked lol.
Mart its a bit that way down here at the moment with gill nets every where in close after bass.
They do tend to rip off easy. This one had such a big head i could place my shot well in its head. I was using a 70 with a 6.3mm s/s. I dont like to damage the fish to much when they thrash around so i use a light spear in the hope it will move with the fish and not tear to much. In this case i stoned him.
Gaz i couldnt do that (pebbles or shot)i would only be fooling myself. Im sure there is a 3lb one out there some where.
Gaz if i ever weigh any of your fish stomach contents will be checked lol.
Mart its a bit that way down here at the moment with gill nets every where in close after bass.
Hey all, had a couple of night dives last night. Went in at the first spot and there was fairly good vis. Didn't see any bass but managed a mullet, a nice flounder and a good squid - 1lb 14oz it's probably the biggest I have seen and I was pretty stoked on that. Later I went to another spot near Plymouth with Trelawney, again I didnt see any bass but He managed a nice 3lber. A worrying lack of shiny ones - have they moved off or been netted.... I hope not; there's chance of a few more dives this season yet.
Matt
Matt
Dived this morning off the kayak with Dan bolt. After a short drive we arrived at our launch spot to be greeted with swell breaking on the beach which made launching the yaks interesting.
We paddled out in search of viz and were soon in the water. I followed the gullies out and checked the sand patches for the tell tale shape. I soon found my first flounder hiding in gully. I played it safe and dived behind the fish slowly edging forward thru the kelp to the gully. As I was about to stab the shaft in he clocked me and made a run for it, I lined him up and made a poor but holding shot, a short wrestle later I popped him on the stringer. He was a good plump size and weighed in at 2lb 5oz :friday
Dan found a few more which proved difficult to photograph as they were skittish and didnt hang around.
we moved spots, this time I stayed shallow and searched between the rotting kelp on the sand. I could see a tail sticking out a clump of kelp below me . When the kelp moved from the swell the tail followed it.I dived down and followed the tail waiting for the kelp to clear enough so I could see the head, plundged the gun into the kelp and nailed another plump flounder :friday
Again we moved spots where a picked up a smaller flounder and headed back to the beach. Caught a small wave in and called it a day.
was a good day out with great company, didnt see any bass or mullet but im more than happy with the flatties
We paddled out in search of viz and were soon in the water. I followed the gullies out and checked the sand patches for the tell tale shape. I soon found my first flounder hiding in gully. I played it safe and dived behind the fish slowly edging forward thru the kelp to the gully. As I was about to stab the shaft in he clocked me and made a run for it, I lined him up and made a poor but holding shot, a short wrestle later I popped him on the stringer. He was a good plump size and weighed in at 2lb 5oz :friday
Dan found a few more which proved difficult to photograph as they were skittish and didnt hang around.
we moved spots, this time I stayed shallow and searched between the rotting kelp on the sand. I could see a tail sticking out a clump of kelp below me . When the kelp moved from the swell the tail followed it.I dived down and followed the tail waiting for the kelp to clear enough so I could see the head, plundged the gun into the kelp and nailed another plump flounder :friday
Again we moved spots where a picked up a smaller flounder and headed back to the beach. Caught a small wave in and called it a day.
was a good day out with great company, didnt see any bass or mullet but im more than happy with the flatties
Attachments
Hi All,
Forum states that I haven't been on since August 22nd! Life has been hectic with a new job but finally got wet today! A lovely dive to stretch the lungs, empty the sinuses and kick some rust out the legs. Met Jolly from DB as I was getting out-nice meeting you mate.
A nice dive plenty seen but nothing silver until the end when a dozen bass encircled me. Nice experience as they were all about 1lb - 2lb so not worth taking really.
Nice to see but nicer to see swim away.
Viz mixed but water nice for over an hour.
Tribs
Out
Forum states that I haven't been on since August 22nd! Life has been hectic with a new job but finally got wet today! A lovely dive to stretch the lungs, empty the sinuses and kick some rust out the legs. Met Jolly from DB as I was getting out-nice meeting you mate.
A nice dive plenty seen but nothing silver until the end when a dozen bass encircled me. Nice experience as they were all about 1lb - 2lb so not worth taking really.
Nice to see but nicer to see swim away.
Viz mixed but water nice for over an hour.
Tribs
Out
Mate you should have got the picture with a news paper, was it a common old Hunter welly or the much tastier leather lined, full length zip Le Chameau, it would of got my vote
Is this like 'welly porn'?????
Nice meeting you as well Tribs. I managed 3 hours for one small gold spot, it was very quiet out there only saw one other mullet. So i took a fat wrasse which was had for tea beer battered, very good.
Jolly.
Hello stranger i have try to phone you on few occasion with out success got in on wednesday got 3 mullets no big bass to bee seen i am hoping to bag few more before the weather turn on us
Got in today for only the 2nd time in a couple of months. I was surprised how warm the water was. I had 5 bass. The youngest sons girlfriend wanted a couple the other three will be in the freezer. Which is rather bare. I hope the wind changes again soon. I have not used my 7mm suit yet.
A bit of a late report, but nevermind. Work got in the way a bit.
Friday afternoon found me on the edge of Plymouth diving on my favourite reef. It was a low tide, viz was excellent, so I went for a bit of an explore away from the reef to an area I'd never been to. This turned up some big rock pinnacles that were covered in Pollock and bits of shipwreck, so I had a good rummage around. I didn't take any fish, but found a massive 8kg divers weight on the seabed. It was fun swimming back with that!
I met up with Matt Barlow after work on Saturday for a dip. The tide was dropping, with a bit of ground swell, but it was warm! Viz was OK over the sand, and cleared over the rocks, though as Matt said, a distinct lack of fish. We were in for just shy of two hours, and shot one bass. I picked up a decent brown crab on the swim back in too. There were plenty of flounder in the shallows, all about 2lb each, but just couldn't be bothered with them, so left them for the winter.
Friday afternoon found me on the edge of Plymouth diving on my favourite reef. It was a low tide, viz was excellent, so I went for a bit of an explore away from the reef to an area I'd never been to. This turned up some big rock pinnacles that were covered in Pollock and bits of shipwreck, so I had a good rummage around. I didn't take any fish, but found a massive 8kg divers weight on the seabed. It was fun swimming back with that!
I met up with Matt Barlow after work on Saturday for a dip. The tide was dropping, with a bit of ground swell, but it was warm! Viz was OK over the sand, and cleared over the rocks, though as Matt said, a distinct lack of fish. We were in for just shy of two hours, and shot one bass. I picked up a decent brown crab on the swim back in too. There were plenty of flounder in the shallows, all about 2lb each, but just couldn't be bothered with them, so left them for the winter.