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South Devon Report 2012

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 90 days.
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Plenty around at the moment mate. I found a small reef on a patch of sand no bigger than 10m by 2m. Its full of crabs. I took 2 from there on Saturday along with a lobster. Will drop you off there next time we are out. Mind you you will have to brush the congers out the way first. Its full of them to!!
 
In the Western Morning News yesterday was a report from Dorset ( Lyme Regis ) that an angler ,5 miles off shore has caught an Atlantic Bonito ( Tuna family I think ? ) the weight was not specified ,but I would guestimate 5- 10 lb ,with a pretty ferocious looking set of teeth !
 
Bit of an epic dive yesterday, got dropped off with a pick up point 4 hours & 4 miles away. NW & calm sea state I expected good viz but as I stuck my head under I was met with sheer disappointment with 1m milky viz, transport now departed no choice but to push on. First 2 hours hardly saw a fish, a few Pollack but only about the 1lb mark. Patches gave me 2m but still milky, saw a couple of flashes shoot pass me but nothing able to take a shot at.
Dropped down into a few gullies and finally meet with a shoal of Pollock, remaining still saw 2 shadows approaching through the gloom, hooray bass took 1.
Down again same gully mullet on the stringer, bottom stirred up so time to move.
The next gully I dropped into opened up into a cave of kelp, could sense something in their with me. Saw what looked like a tail of a dogfish so grabbed it to have some fun, shit!! No dogfish but a bullhuss it arched it's head to try and grab me, letting go it proceeded to turn & shoot out of the hole we were in. Unfortunately for me I was in the way, Welcome to a Bullhuss kiss!!! Mask/snorkel knocked off & slightly dazed sat on a partially uncovered ledge for a few moments.
Bit further down saw a couple small bass that I left, then moving fast to my left was a good 5lb bass. Swinging round took a shot at max length, fish on but going crazy. Swam over but as I went to grab it, the bass managed to come off the spear & disappeared into the gloom. Frustrated at losing the fish & leaving it injured, have been thinking ever since would a reel have got me that fish. I just feel I could've played it a bit to wear it out, any of you guys had similar & did the reel make a difference? Be nice to know.
By now it was 30 minutes & good mile + swim to collection point, just as I kicked for home a mullet around the 4lb mark, emerged from the kelp and a flick of the tail was gone!

A frustrating dive if I'm honest, 2 nice fish taken but could've been so much better. Picked up a couple decent spider crabs but decided it was too far to carry even with my goody bag.

This has made me realize that I need to consider a kayak or preferably a small inflatable to get me to these areas. Need to research over the dark months of winter.

Let me know guys on your feelings on the reel issue.

Scott/Terry just finished 8 day stretch & back Friday for 6 more, weather looks like it is turning with S/SE coming in. I’ll get in touch next week at some point about meeting up.

Both fish 3lb mark, Good fishing all.

Lee
 
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Went in at Heybrook Bay yesterday ,heard good things about it ,so thought I would give it a try,nice weather, calm warm sea, vis was good 5-6 metres ,lots of stringweed,kelp, rock gullies and sandy patches so looked promising ,however it was utterly barren of fish (apart from a few wrasse ) no small pollack that are usually about wherever I go . I went in on a falling tide which is not the best time I know but was very disappointed ,my first blank for a while !!
 
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Got in yesterday and had just two fish, 1 bass 1 mullet. So I decided to get in again today and same result. Should have used my 90 gun as bass just out of range for my 75. That's OK though.

May go again tomorrow. I think I will have to try my 7mm suit, I have had it a year or more and only used it once as it was constricting. I saw 3 other spearo's yesterday when I got out and they advised me that the suit should give after a few wears.

MB
 
Scrumpy well done on your zero vis fishing! sounds like you had an interesting trip.
I dont think a reel would have made any difference - with our sorts of fish you dont get to play them - they would just tear off anyway. do you have your gun attached to a float line? that would allow you to take a breather if necessary before dropping down to sort the fish out. unlucky with that one but i dont think there's much more you can do??
 
Lee I will PM u my mobile mate and we an hook up for a dive. im waiting for my new M2M suit to arrive as the old top ive had for 4 years finally died on me.



Sent from my GT-S5830 using Tapatalk 2
 
Second go at a report. Dived to day in the hope of finding a bream. None seen just lots of mullet instead. I missed several point blank shots at them today,my shooting was way off. No bass seen either. A long trip out and just a few mullet so not a good day. I decided to try a small reef on the way in,one i tried to do 2 days ago but on arriving found i had left my wet suit top at home. My mate was with me and i offered him to dive it on his own but he said not to worry,he would want to sit in the boat if he had left his top behind. I had to go all the way home for my top then dive closer to home because we had missed the tide. I said to my mate it happened for a reason.
Two days later im back on my own. Its a small reef surrounded by sand,a hot spot for flatties which i havent dived since August 2011. First off i hunt the reef for triggers then hunt the edged where the sand meets the rocks for plaice. I followed a sandy gully into the reef,it narrowed as it went turning from sand to gravel then to rock as it raised slightly. I followed it up up until i was facing a large overhanging rock. I looked into it to see what i thought for a split second was a conger but quickly realised it was a big old cod. I fired before i had chance to think about it and for a second i thought i stoned him but he soon came alive and went for it. I finned hard to keep up,the spear was in my hand,i could feel it ripping through him. I only had a small barbed spear i use for flatties on. I managed to get under him and push the spear hard,forcing it back out the other side of the cod. I then give hime the customary bear hug and made for the surface where i got my fingers firmly into the gills. I now felt the fish was secure and mine. A quick swim to the boat and he was in the cooler. No more seen on the reef other than a small plaice.
If i had remembered my suit top 2 days ago the chances are my mate would of had him. So every thing happens for a reason. I sent him a pic and a note to say where i had him. He was well happy!!
It was my first ever cod and he hit the scales at 12lbs
 
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Well done Shiny. I think that's the first picture of a cod I have seen posted on the forum. Nice report too. The coup de grace reminded me of the scene in Gladiator (which we watched last night) where they try but fail to execute the General.
 
Scottie got a cod last year.

But thats a beast nick... I'd be quite happy with that on a rod never mind the spear!
Outstanding work!

Edit: I'll pop it into the HOF soon
 
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