South & West Wales

[sailingphil]

yes but I'm new to it so looking for some good spots.

 

[ashbish]

Nice! Yeah I'm going to head down there this year, any viz updates would be much appreciated!

 

[Radman]

Quick scout about the pembs coast this morning, waiting for the winds to ease off a bit. But vis is looking excellent. Havent been in yet but looking at 5-10M estimated from the coast path looking down. Cannot wait to get in.

 

[mogsychief]

Did it look like there was any plankton blooming?

 

[Radman]

Not yet. Perhaps still a bit too cold. Bass starting to be caught on rod & line now. Actually looking out window wind has eased off so i should have gone out this evening. Maybe tomorrow. Around st brides bay there were gin clear patches today. I usually find it harder to catch when its like that but love being out in it.

 

[Radman]

Had a dive in st brides bay this morning. Good vis, 4m ish. Better in patches and a bit worse about 3m+ down. Plenty of big wrasse seen, spider crab on the move. No bass or pollock seen. Was my first dive of the year so breath hold was poor, and technique lousy so may have scared anything off. Felt cold in 5mm. Stayed in for an hour or so.

 

[Radman]

Cracking dive this eve. Loads of life about. Took flounder and a big crab. gin clear vis in patches. No worse than 3-4m in the murkier parts. Beautiful dive. Would have stayed out longer but needed to get the crab back.

 

[mogsychief]

Cracking dive this eve. Loads of life about. Took flounder and a big crab. gin clear vis in patches. No worse than 3-4m in the murkier parts. Beautiful dive. Would have stayed out longer but needed to get the crab back.

 

[mogsychief]

Nice crab. Was this in St brides? Anyone know if the viz is any good in South or west pembs at the moment?

 

[Radman]

I was at tenby south beach earlier and it looked pretty good around there. I picked this crab up in st brides bay. I think its pretty good all around the coast just now. Big shoals of sand eels swimming about, crab on the move. Lots of pollock. Bass cant be far away.

 

[mogsychief]

Went in at West Angle this morning. Viz about 4mtrs - not bad for next to the estuary. Lots of wrasse. Some quite big. Nothing else. Went down south Pembs this afternoon. Viz looked great from the coastal path but when I got in it was dreadful. The viz was blown by significant algae bloom. Some big barrel jellyfish about.

 

[mogsychief]

Here's the two extremes of viz I got in Pembs yesterday

 

[ashbish]

Cracking dive this eve. Loads of life about. Took flounder and a big crab. gin clear vis in patches. No worse than 3-4m in the murkier parts. Beautiful dive. Would have stayed out longer but needed to get the crab back.

How do you go about cooking the spider mate? I've heard there are certain parts that you shouldn't eat?

 

[Radman]

How do you go about cooking the spider mate? I've heard there are certain parts that you shouldn't eat?

personally i kill it by pushing a screwdriver through the flap underneath then immediately put him on a rolling boil. About 15 mins and he's done. The meat inside the shell is around the joints for his limbs. Often that will just pull out when you pull the limb out. Rest of meat is in the claws and legs. If you are not sure leave the stuff inside the shell as it can be pretty toxic. Tastes great. i think probably the nicest meat in the sea. But it is a bit of a work up getting at it. I recommend eating it outside as you have to smash the legs and claws open, and its quite messy.

 

[ashbish]

Awesome, thanks! I take it you prefer it to lobster and brown crab then?

 

[Radman]

yes i think so. Definitely nicer than brown crab. similar but noticeably sweeter, but just alot of work to get at. At least with lobster the tail meat is easy to get to. I like them all to be honest. I only take a spider if i see a big male, in good condition. Some of the older ones ive seen have been good size but with damage to claws, so meat probably passed its best.

 

[ashbish]

May seem a silly question, how can you tell a male from a female? Something to do with that flap underneat?

 

[Robbo66]

Excellent PR once again from us Welsh...fishermen have found spearguns...init.

http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2015-...imself-using-illegal-speargun-to-hunt-salmon/

 

[Radman]

May seem a silly question, how can you tell a male from a female? Something to do with that flap underneat?

the males are the ones with big claws. females only have small claws, so not really worth catching to eat.

 

[mogsychief]

Excellent PR once again from us Welsh...fishermen have found spearguns...init.

http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2015-...imself-using-illegal-speargun-to-hunt-salmon/

Shocking. You can spot these p*&*ks a mile off. They come up to you when they see you coming out of the sea with your gear. "Where'd ewe get ewe harpoon from butt? I fancy 'aving a go!" I usually ignore them and wouldn't trust them with anything sharp or pointy