South Wales / West Wales 2008 ( Gower / Pembroke / Ogmore )

[tecdave]

Had a great few days over the weekend, first was a boat dive out from Milford, loads of good sized Pollack around and got me a pb of 10lb 15oz! would have been over 11lb but was weighed about 2 hrs after it was out of the water!
Lots of other good ones about up to 7lb as well.

On sunday I was back in my usual stomping grounds in west Wales, loads of bass at most depths but no biguns! there were loads of schools of mullet and I took 2 of about 3.5lb each, the viz was really good on Sunday (upto 5m)but a bit dissapointing on Saturday.

Do we have a fish of the month comp going on in Wales!!!?????

 

[ben]

Fish of the month! I really hope not.......

We managed a codling of about 5 or 6 lb on sunday from the boat- admittedly on rod and line. Not many fish around generally though- we struggled to catch 3 mackerel in 4 hours. We did manage a few pollack too and for the first time in ages kept a few for fish pie.

 

[sunfish]

Nice one Dave! I didn't expect to win FOM in July with a fish of only 7lb, but I didn't expect another pollack to beat it either. It's a great fish and I'll vote for it in preference to smaller bass or mullet.
What kind of ground were you diving, how deep and how far off shore?

 

[tecdave]

It was an offshore reef, most dives were around the 15-18m mark, there was a real strong current out there which made it impossible to stay in one place so we drifted over the reef for about half a mile and then got picked up by the boat and droped off up current again. The fish were all holding in the lee of the big 'bommies' and would come in on mass once you had been on the bottom for about a minute. Total dive times were about 1.20 on most dives (pushed a little more on others!) but was hard work in the end due to the tide!

Was strange being in the water the next day as it was only about 6-8m deep with no tide and the pollack were the size of the whitebait that the ones the day before were feeding on!

 

[Mr. X]

Defo strong contender for FOM. Well done! Were you fishing from shore or boat?

 

[sunfish]

It was an offshore reef, most dives were around the 15-18m mark, there was a real strong current out there which made it impossible to stay in one place so we drifted over the reef for about half a mile and then got picked up by the boat and droped off up current again. The fish were all holding in the lee of the big 'bommies' and would come in on mass once you had been on the bottom for about a minute. Total dive times were about 1.20 on most dives (pushed a little more on others!) but was hard work in the end due to the tide!

Was strange being in the water the next day as it was only about 6-8m deep with no tide and the pollack were the size of the whitebait that the ones the day before were feeding on!

Thats exactly why I prefer diving for pollack over hunting bass. Sneak and peak for bass is enjoyable but pollack hunting's more like "proper" diving.
In my area you'll only find bass in shallow water. Sure, they must go into deeper water sometimes but I could count on one hand the number of times I've seen them in water deeper than 3 or 4 metres and the best place to find them is in 1 or 2 metres.

 

[alexlloydthomas]

Quick one - has anyone been down Gowar over the last few days? If so what's the viz like round there? I'm off there tomorrow and hoping to do some spearing

 

[ben]

Not that iv been down there but there is just too much wind and swell for it to be anywhere near clear....my advice- take a rod and line.

 

[Draenog]

Well had great surf at Llangennith last night.

There won't be viz anywhere nearby as ben says.

 

[Mr. X]

Blue Marlin discovered in Wales!

First blue marlin 'caught' in Wales - Telegraph

 

[john141267]

Hi Dave,
Nice fish, how's it going? any chance you're in north wales over the next few weeks? had a good session at Porth Dinaellen a couple of weeks ago with Dario, I got 2 bass around 8 lb plus a couple of schoolies

 

[tecdave]

Funny you should say that.... I am starting a newt translocation in Wrexham on the 26th of this month and will be up for about 2-3 weeks so will have most of the morning and all afternoons off!! I will give you a ring this next week to try and sort some times out.

Nice fish you have there as well John!

 

[sunfish]

Funny you should say that.... I am starting a newt translocation in Wrexham on the 26th of this month

Great cresteds? Smooths or palmates?
Newts were common in my childhood and I still have a great affection for them. It seems sad to me that they're becoming rare so good luck with it.

 

[Robbo66]

Funny you should say that.... I am starting a newt translocation in Wrexham on the 26th of this month and will be up for about 2-3 weeks so will have most of the morning and all afternoons off!! I will give you a ring this next week to try and sort some times out.

Nice fish you have there as well John!

Sounds like tough work there Dave.

 

[ben]

+1

"most of the mornings and afternoons off" love it!!!!!

Dave I do hope you're self employed or that your employer doesn't have access to this forum. I presume that you put the other 7 hours work in during the night?

 

[tecdave]

Yep, will be setting bottle traps and torching most nights with 3hrs work checking bottles, traps and refugia early the next moring, so no I am not taking the mick with the client!! just good to get the days almost free. But yeah not a bad job!!

Sunfish, they are cresties but there is also palmate and smooth on site which will be translocated as well.

 

[Mr. X]

Some 2009 Gower discussions: http://forums.deeperblue.com/wales/82736-spearfishing-gower.html