Sussex coast

[Captain J]

really, might go in later then dont know where yet aybody going tommorow.

I'll be down by the pier between 11-12.

 

[jwells1989]

same i am getting down there for about 10:45 -11 because low tide is at 11:00,
i am going all out for the lobsters tommorow,

 

[jwells1989]

anybody go today i went and got 3 flounders and saw a big shoal of garfish and that was it, vis was rubbish, 2 meters max. i saw another spearo and a scuba diver go from a boat tied up on the other side of the pier but they headed straight for the wreck.
i think it was you captain j with your nice new float, did you get anything.

 

[Captain J]

anybody go today i went and got 3 flounders and saw a big shoal of garfish and that was it, vis was rubbish, 2 meters max. i saw another spearo and a scuba diver go from a boat tied up on the other side of the pier but they headed straight for the wreck.
i think it was you captain j with your nice new float, did you get anything.

It was me, but it was my brother's boat. My boat is a Targa 43, it takes too long to get it ready for a quick hours spearfishing.

Anyway, yea vis was really poor. Saw some garfish over the wreck along with shoals of whitebait but nothing else. My firend Geoff was on scuba (not a spearo), he said he saw some flatties under the pier, but nothing else.

If the vis is better today I'll probably try the east side of the marina.

 

[Captain J]

Nothing to report apart from dozens of spectators from the marina arm. Vis was better maybe 4-5m.

 

[jwells1989]

yeah i saw that big shoal of garfish chasing all the whitebait, lots of flatfish around though.

 

[molva]

Hi,


I'm a scuba diver from Brighton who is interested in starting spearfishing (I know you can't use scuba!). However, apart from reading the odd bit on the internet, I've no idea where to start- any suggestions?

Thanks for your trouble.

 

[SurfnSpear]

Hi,


I'm a scuba diver from Brighton who is interested in starting spearfishing (I know you can't use scuba!). However, apart from reading the odd bit on the internet, I've no idea where to start- any suggestions?

Thanks for your trouble.

molva, you can use scuba for spearfishing legally here, it's just that one, your bubbles will scare off any prize fish such as bass, and two, a lot of people obviously prefer the sporting chance given by the use of your lungs and stealth tactics only.
There is everything you need to know right here on Deeperblue to get you started, but once you have the ideas, the only way you will get into it is to gain experience in the water. You know that already from scuba.
Click here for some good tips to start with.
And click here for the actual hunting technique.


Regards

 

[Captain J]

Hi,


I'm a scuba diver from Brighton who is interested in starting spearfishing (I know you can't use scuba!). However, apart from reading the odd bit on the internet, I've no idea where to start- any suggestions?

Thanks for your trouble.

Sounds like you were in a similar situtation to me many months ago at the beginning of the Summer.

I have used scuba to spear fish, but not anymore, although I'll probably still sneak in the odd dive with a gun, but only on deaper dives at wrecks.

Here is my angle on the whole deal.

1) You are severely restricted with regard to time using scuba.
2) Scuba you can spend more time underwater, BUT thats only going to be any good if there are fish about.
3) You'll be able to dive the wrecks which are in deeper water i.e 15m-20m and spearfish. I'm sure in warmer climes it's common practice to freedive and be able to see the bottom to spot fish. As you know not much chance of that here in Brighton.
4) Using a speargun whilst using scuba is very clumsy and of course the bubbles scare the fish (or so people say) - so in retrospect one could argue that its harder than the traditional freedive method.
5) Where to go?? I'd suggest trying the Newhaven arm to start with on a very clear day. (Might have a long wait though). Palace Pier is good for just about all fish and Brighton spearo Jwells has probably notched up more success there than anyone!!)

You'll obviously need a gun, some decent fins, a dark coloured wetsuit and some lead.

I'd recommend Apnea Online Store for a great range of stock and good advice, alternatively you could try Spearguns by Spearo uk ltd finest supplier of speargun, monofins, speargun and freediving equipment .

 

[devondave]

Hi,


I'm a scuba diver from Brighton who is interested in starting spearfishing (I know you can't use scuba!). However, apart from reading the odd bit on the internet, I've no idea where to start- any suggestions?

Thanks for your trouble.

hi, here are a couple of books you might find useful [ if you can find them ] . dive free by ian rodger , acanthus press limited . the spearfisherman's handbook by david way , published by robert hale of london , this one really is a spearos bible . anyway welcome and good luck !

 

[molva]

Thanks for the tips everyone- might see you in the water (I'll be the one with the grin and no fish...).

 

[jwells1989]

hey all i managed to dive 3 time this last week, saw lots and lot and lots of flatfish, wrasse pouting and the usual things. went to the palace pier everytime took some photo and videos that i will put up later. did anyone else go this last week, looks like the wind is back today so no diving at the moment.

welcome to deeperblue molva,

 

[Mr. X]

Spearo books

Great thread - only just discovered it. Great flattie spearing video.

hi, here are a couple of books you might find useful [ if you can find them ] . dive free by ian rodger , acanthus press limited . the spearfisherman's handbook by david way , published by robert hale of london , this one really is a spearos bible . anyway welcome and good luck !

Ian is forum member Blenny -- you might need to contact him direct to get a copy (at a very fair price) [see link or PrivateMail him]: Spearo Books

Also forum member "eric aqua" *in Sussex* has written a book which is also rated by forum members [see link above for more info.]. Eric manages to get very big bass in very poor visibility.

Another favourite & a great one for a beginner is the Len Jones booklet [again, see the link]. I found my copy last week & re-reading it learnt several things that I didn't pick up or had forgotten the first few times. Great book - cheap too. Available from spearo.co.uk, it is written for South Africa but most is applicable here.

... (very determined , as all I saw was some bass of 120cm....Huntfish shared in my joy and also informed me that it was a Wrasse (good size though). I've heard about it not being a good eating fish, but since I killed it , I had to eat it. So back home and in the oven with lemon juice, white wine ,salt, pepper and chopped garlic. I have to say it was not as bad as I thought it may be. Not the greatest of sea fish but certainly not disgusting - a little mushy, but hey if you killed it then you must eat it too.

120cm Bass!? Where???(12cm?)
Wrasse is fine to eat. The big ones (5lb+ Ballan Wrasse) are actually quite good, very firm - like Monkfish & the bones are big and easily removed when cooked. I think the objection to wrasse is partially that they are often (but not always) docile & hang around the same area making them easy targets. Their skin can be quite blue round the lower jaw BUT their bones are not green (heard that a few times, gar fish have green bones I'm told). There are a lot of them about around in shore reefs & shallows. The big ones are all male as they change gender from female to male when they get big. The occasional "one for the pot" seems to be accepted norm.

No mate I know about Giltheads, reds, blacks, Pandora, whites etc just wondered what you call a sea bream? Restaurants have a habit of using the term "sea bass" that confuses me as well...

We have freshwater bream in the UK (very slimey & get quite big - as I am sure Foxfish knows). Many people (including myself until a couple of years ago) have never heard of the sea variety. So perhaps it is to clear up that point.

Re. "sea bass", other countries have many types of bass and we have quite a lot of "forners" visiting & living here (and reading the forum). America has several varieties of sea and freshwater bass, including the huge "stripers" (which probably do get to 120cm), wide mouth, etc., etc.. Also a popular alcoholic beverage in restaurants. I'd rather eat sea fish than freshwater fish- perhaps because of pollution concerns, perhaps others do too?

Mullet sometimes cause confusion too. Our old book of "Freshwater Fishes" includes the Golden Grey Mullet (Liza aurata) and Common Grey Mullet (Mugil cephalus) - and the Flounder. I'd rather eat one from unpopulated sea shore than a river or estuary though.

 

[foxfish]

Great post Mr x - my point about adding "sea" in front of certain fish is a personal dislike!
This practise is quite recent as i have only noticed it in the last 10 years, I blame this annoying addition on tele chefs.

 

[jwells1989]

he i have never really used the words "sea" in front of fish anyway, i usually just say bass or bream.
i agree with you on the flounder i would rather one from the sea shore than from a muddy dirty estuary.
i heard that open water mullet taste a lot better thatn those mullet from the harbours.
got some videos and pictures from the other day.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x173/jwells1989/PICT0016.jpg
quite proud of this photo as it did not come out blurry like most that i take:t

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX-2koI80Ho"]YouTube - flounder swimming under brighton palace pier,[/ame]
this is the same flatfish that is in the photo above. very tame rofl

 

[Mr. X]

Re. Bass, we also had some confusion when I text'd my brother about coming over for Bass. He is something of a musician and thought it might be about a bass guitar (unknown to me, a recent pre-occupation of his). He was only marginally disappointed though - he likes his tucker! Used to drink Bass quite often in the US (as I don't like lager).

 

[foxfish]

I had a double bass once but that was before the trawlers moved in!

 

[foxfish]

Great post Mr x - my point about adding "sea" in front of certain fish is a personal dislike!
This practise is quite recent as i have only noticed it in the last 10 years, I blame this annoying addition on tele chefs.

Last night I dined in one of Guernseys top restaurants, no "sea" bass or "sea" bream but bloody SEA SCALLOPS!
But the lobster is great - BBC - Guernsey - Features - Local Chef Recieves National Praise For Lobster Dish

 

[Morg]

Nice Foxfish.. I love scallops .

Are they hard to hunt for over there?

 

[foxfish]

Morge scallops are very common great big fat ones too, I love to cook them for my friends.