Speargun Set-up UK

[Aquamacca]

Hi All,
I've recently come over from Aus and am setting up a new gun. I've bought a Cressi Comanche 100 and wanted to set it up for UK waters. Does anyone have any recommendations for type of line to float and lengths. Back home I use a modified sea hornet 110 with 30 m's of ski rope to a large ronstan float as I'm generally after Mahi Mahi and Kingy's. The benefit of the ski rope is it's buoyancy so it doesn't get tangled. I'd appreciate and advice from british spearo's. I'm based in Plymouth if there's anyone looking to hook up for a dive.

Cheers
Giles

 

[Janner]

Hiya mate, to be honest allot of us tend not to use floats and float lines really. (although i do use one when there is allot of boat traffic) The fish we shoot are normally big enough to drag straight to the surface without having to play them. Although if it is a big fish or a poor shot i just let go of my gun and wait for the fish to hole up and then dive down and grab it.

Im off to France in a week or two and then off to Oz for a year in June myself, where abouts in Oz are you from?

Cheers Ian

 

[jimy286]

I used to only use a float to when there was a load of boats but now i always use one.

I like it as i know i cant lose my gun if i ever want to drop it when i need both hands.

There is a post around maybe by podge or are DIY specialist theMilkman on how to make your own float line that is grate/cheap for the UK.

 

[Aquamacca]

Thanks heaps for the info, back home we also use the floats to hang your catch off, that way the sharks tend to go for it first which gives you a heads up. I'm originally from Coffs Harbour which is about half way between Sydney and Brisbane but have lived in Manly, Sydney for the last 11 years. There are some stunning dive spots around there with some nice fish around. How long are you headed to Aus for?

 

[Old Man Dave]

Welcome Mac. I'm afraid Plymouth UK is going to be just a tad different from Oz.

Your 100 cm gun is longer than most use in your neighborhood. Most people are using 75cm's or max 90cm's. The visibility is often poor in fact so poor you will hardly see the end of a 100cm gun. However, there are good days - occasionaly. Fish are fairly small and need quick shots with a light manouverable gun. The commanche is a good gun for this although as said 100cm is a bit long.

Floats or more acurately SMB (surface marker bouys) are widely used. You can hang your fish from them plus nets, spare guns etc. but mainly they show your position to boats, windsurfers, jet skiers etc. Because of this you need a flag on your bouy. That's the blue and white code "A" flag meaning "diver down - keep clear". A few experts use a dive float you can lay on and fin along usually called a dive hunter.

Line is mainly one of two options. One, a fixed fairly stiff line that wont tangle. Unless you are a deep diver and/or boat diving 30metres is too long, by about twice. Plastic coated clothes line is a good choice or 6mm to 8mm polypropolene rope will do. Second option is a winder which allows you to adjust the length of line in the water and thus use just the right amount of thin line. Heavy mono or light nylon/dacron is popular. Without a winder loose line will tangle.

3 options for end of the line attachment. Fix it on your belt, fix it on your gun, have a drop weight on the end and carry it in your hand. There are good and bad point to each method. Can also depend on the conditions and type of fishing your doing. If you fix it to your belt or gun consider what happens if the line is caught on the seabed or even snagged by a boat.

Me, as I have better viz 70miles south of you here in the Channel Islands I use an inflatable float a line winder and a drop weight.

Have fun but stay safe.

Dave.

PS for species of fish check out some UK catches in the Hall of Fame - click on the link below.

 

[Aquamacca]

Thanks Dave,
It sounds like the set isn't to dissimilar to back home, just lighter weight. We rarely use alpha flags but do use solid Ronstan floats just incase we get swept out and need some buoyancy. Shame about the vis though. I've been trying to find on the internet what the regulations are on lobster as well. At the moment I'm assuming it's the same as Aus... no hooks/snares/spears/breathing apparatus and a bag limit of 2 per diver.

 

[Old Man Dave]

UK lobster is different to Australian lobster. The Oz lobster will be what we call crayfish. Our crayfish are deep water, usually over 30metres. UK lobsters have claws as in big claws and unlike crayfish which live in the open or in shallow caves the lobster lives in small deep holes. Thats deep as in deep holes not in water depth where in fact they can be found very shallow. Lobsters are blue when alive but go red when cooked. Crayfish (more correctly spelt crawfish although pronounced crayfish) are same colour as in Oz ie red and same as in USA where they are known as rock lobster.

Regs on lobster are anything goes. You can scuba, spear, noose, hook, sell your catch or whatever and no limit except a size limit. You do need a commercially registered fishing boat if afloat and sell your catch but no regs re selling when swimming from the shoreHowever, that's the national positiuon there can be local bye-laws with local restrictions. Need someone local to help you there.

Dave

Check out lobster in the index of the Hall of Fame (link below) and also european crawfish and NZ crayfish.

 

[Old Man Dave]

Just a few further points. Re shellfish. There are lobsters and the virtually impossible to catch crawfish but there are 2 species of crab. The brown crab is present all year round and in summer there is the spider crab. All make excellent eating. Size. condition and sex of crabs effect there quality so you might need a little help sorting that. Scallops are a large bivalve mollusc found part buried in the sand. Use the search button to look for posts containing the words scallops or crab and you should get some idea.

Good luck

Dave

 

[scottwilson]

Hey aquaMac good to meet you today mate. Plymouth can get good viz ( to us anyway) 10+

the spot we dived today when you saw us was a bit cloudy but around 7 - 10 meters in the gullys and over the reef ,just a little fishless at the moment but they'll be back.

Float wise, I use an atoll or a spetten torpedo float and for longer distance trips to outer reefs I use the dive hunter probably the best float Ive ever bought and of course the rib

gun wise its got to be a 90 As you saw today I use the commanche 90 with a reel, I like the reel as I dont have to let go of the gun, in bad viz the last thing I want to do is let go of the gun.

Plymouth has many good spots . some of the beaches have webcams so its worth giving them a look.

www.magicseaweed.com for swell charts and wind direction


Happy hunting

 

[Aquamacca]

cheers Scott,
Yeah, I have to say it looked stunning out there. Thanks for the info on the floats, I've got a trip planned to Greece later in summer so think I'll get something for that and just use it for here as well. Magicseaweed's a good site, I use it quite a bit for surfing. I'll keep my eye out for some more sweet days.
I'll see you out there.

 

[Mr. X]

...
Regs on lobster are anything goes. You can scuba, spear, noose, hook, sell your catch or whatever and no limit except a size limit. You do need a commercially registered fishing boat if afloat and sell your catch but no regs re selling when swimming from the shoreHowever, that's the national positiuon there can be local bye-laws with local restrictions. Need someone local to help you there.

Dave

Hang on Dave, I don't think that's true for mainland UK. Different fisheries have different rules. There are minimum landing sizes in the Dorset area & Spearo Dave mentioned nooses are forbidden in some(/all?) areas. There are also some v-notch restrictions in some areas. I will try to find the wheel house chart URL with the minimum sizes -- different fisheries have different rules though, for example Cornwall sometimes holds itself to a higher standard.

e.g.
http://www.castandcatch.com/minimum.htm
http://www.swsfc.org.uk/byelaws.htm (e.g. http://www.swsfc.org.uk/byelaws.htm#3 )

 

[Old Man Dave]

I think I am right in that that is the national UK rule/law and I mentioned minimum sizes but as I said this can be altered by local by-laws so he need to check that out. However in the absence of local "extra" restrictions you are free to catch lobsters how you like as long as they are size..

Dave

 

[Mr. X]

Hi OMD, sorry, yes I was in a rush when I posted that & missed your comment on minimum landing size & local bye laws. I was also trying to find the ol' South West Fisheries minimum landing size "Wheelhouse chart" pdf file, with the pictures, that I used to link to but have not been able to locate it again so far (progress!). While looking I came across something on one of the Cornish links (which wouldn't load at the time) which said that you shouldn't take notched lobsters but was unable to read the whole article. I think notching has been discussed in the passed but I don't recall any details.

Re. my noose comment. I'm pretty sure Spearo Dave posted on this before, so it might be Cornwall specific(?). That said, I notice that noose-based crab/lobster traps (basically a small wire cage for bait with several snares attached, designed for use with a fishing rod or hand-line) are readily available from eBay among other places.

Finally found the link (Google failed - it must be deteriating, found it using DeeperBlue's fab search engine & my old link!):

Minimum Landing Sizes - Southern Sea Fisheries Wheelhouse Chart PDF file
http://www.southernsfc.org.uk/mls/wheelhousecard.pdf​

I notice it says (with no further explanation):

"Lobster/Crawfish
It is an offence to retain on board or land a lobster or crawfish which has a notch cut
in its tail or which has a mutilated tail."​

What's the reason for notching? (Is it something to do with egg-carrying females?)

Oh & here's a link posted by Spearo Dave for Cornwall: Cornwall County Council - Byelaws
Section on "berried" (egg carrying presumably) lobster & crayfish: Cornwall County Council - Berried Lobsters and Crawfish
Section on v-notching: Cornwall County Council - Protection of V-Notched Lobsters
Section on size: Cornwall County Council - Lobster
Section on For Profit Permit: Cornwall County Council - Lobster, Crawfish and Crab Fishing for Profit Permit Byelaw
Couldn't find anything on noose/snare there though.

[BTW If you find Adobe Acrobat to be slow, unreliable or rather virus like in its behaviour, there are several alternative pdf viewers around that are faster & less hassle. FoxIt for example, is fast & simple with apparently more functionality.]

 

[Old Man Dave]

We have a few "local" reg's as well. No diving for crawfish (crayfish) or ormers and some limits on lobster. All these were a result of pressure (very bigoted and uninformed pressure) by commercial fishermen to "protect" their interest against divers. Still, such is life and we learn to live with it. Also there is a lot less misinformation about nowadays and no new anti diver laws have been formulated for many years. However it's very hard to get rid of the ones we have. A few years ago an independant expert report on local fisheries recommended diving for crayfish be allowed. It was not acted on as it was too politically sensitive.

Dave.

 

[Mr. X]

Interesting. I wonder if a more constructive relationship between professional / recreational fishermen is possible/desirable? With high fuel prices & dwindling fish stocks, in shore fishing is likely to remain contentious. After all, several forum members have been or now are professional fishermen, including yourself I believe OMD.

 

[Old Man Dave]

Sold my commercial licence 3 years ago. Purely pleasure fisherman now.

Dave

 

[jimy286]

Funny you say that.

I have just been given the offer of commercial spearfishing. BUT..... im not sure of the hole thing.....Kind of feel like it is against my nature. Ye i have work commercial fishing before and loved it but commercial spearfishing?????

 

[scottwilson]

wouldnt be my cup of tea that i must admit

mass slaughter of fish for financial gain isnt my thing.

Its one of the reasons I havent signed up to compete in comps yet , comps arent financial gain I know but at the moment its quantity that wins and I havent come to terms with that yet.......... but im working on it

 

[Old Man Dave]

How about commercial; scallop diving? Got to be a million times better than dredging.

Dave

 

[dave]

However in the absence of local "extra" restrictions you are free to catch lobsters how you like as long as they are size..

Dave

Not true I am afraid, it is illegal in the UK to use a "spear or like instrument" to take shellfish

cheers
dave
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