Sussex Spearing 2012

[artiz]

Bit of further info and hope I'm not patronising anyone here but those downward shots are always difficult to judge, regardless of experience or gun for that matter. You have no point of reference - In the heat of the hunt looking down through the ocean the fish may either be large or small and also 5 meters away rather than 2. So you may have injured him or you may even have just tapped him on the shoulder? Notch it up to experience but also take the preventative measures I mentioned. It's your enthusiasm and ability to learn (& we are all still doing that!) that counts not scoring or missing?

 

[BarnacleBoy]

Just to clear a few things up....

There was no dolphin, there were no fish and I'm definitely not falling for the mermaid story either

Looking forward to another dive soon...well, when this weather clears up!

Great write up - love the dive reports...

 

[spearoeddy]

Yeah, great reports and I'm totally jealous of that sole, still searching for my first one.

I never neem to have much luck with flatties whilst some people pick them up like they're everywhere! Might get my eyes tested.

I was out of the country on holiday (free diving with the requisite 30m visibility) last weekend when the viz was better.I was kicking myself this morning watching the waves hit the harbour wall sending spray 25ft in the air.

Well done on taking advantage of the conditions, I'm jealous!

 

[bobandsausage]

I know, the weather's so frustrating...near gales are set to continue into the weekend. It'll take ages for the water to clear... It's probably scared the mermaids away too BarnacleBoy...

Eddy - sorry mate, it's hard to have sympathy when you've been diving in crystal waters! But if things clear up we'll have to go out at night and pick up some flatties.

 

[spearoeddy]

Thanks bobandsausage, I'll take you up on that once it all clears up.

I'm down in Cornwall so I'll be trying out the delights of the local visibility here later.

I had a good dive yesterday evening but managed to miss both shots I had at bass. I was in around 8m with about 4m viz and found myself in a shoal of bass all around the 2-3lb mark. I was pretty excited about it all because there were hundreds (only the second time I've been in a big shoal of bass). I thought I'd hang on to see if any big fish were lurking behind but after a bit I ran out of air, took a shot and missed! I need to work on my aim!

Still, hopefully some joy later!

 

[Yellowdevil.cz]

As always, great report Bobandsausage, you've got talent to play with words
Thanks for the Cuttlefish Nick (as I've lost mine) :duh
All those flat fish were great ... Although I'm still not quiet sure with identification.
Here is link with some specs of different flat fish:
Flatfish types

As in Pict attached, those 4 darker ones seam by shape closest to Flounder?
( Brill is dark in collour, but fin closer to mouth)
And the one with red spots could be also Flounder (they have many colour variations), or maybe even small plaice?
Well, ... hmmm

 

[bobandsausage]

Eddy - I'm seriously jealous - let us know how you get on!

Jay - nice photo mate - a serious seafood medley you've got going on there

 

[foxfish]

some of you might like to look here http://forums.deeperblue.com/deeper...nnounce-uk-member-meet-2013-a.html#post894755

 

[spearoeddy]

Well,

Furnished with new specialist knowledge on finding flatties (Thanks Barnacleboy, much appreciated) I headed back out into the seas the next day (Friday).

I found myself with quite good viz (6m) and dived lots of gulleys around the 8 - 10m mark in the hope of finding these elusive flatties. Sadly none were found but I'll get the idea soon!

There was quite a wave in the bay but I had explained I wasn't coming out of the sea until I had got something for supper.

There were endless wrasse and a few pollack floating around but it was over 2 hours of quite deep diving before I spotted my first bass. He was about a 3 lber which came in to check me out. I could have taken a slightly long shot but I thought he'd turn and come closer. He didn't!

After a bit I found a nice area where the kelp joined flat sand and hid in the kelp where I missed a mullet. It did me the injustice of swimming back and checking out the spear which is something I have only had from bass in the past!

Over 3 hours now and no joy so I made the long swim to the other side of the bay to see if I could find the massive bass shoal of the previous day.

I couldn't.

Finally after over four and a half hours knackered and demoralised I headed home and went to bed with no supper.

I guess its a bit disappointing but on a weekend where very few fish were shot on the south coast I was probably lucky to be spearfishing in decent viz. When you've managed to get the conditions right, all your gear right, your breathhold right and get yourself in a place with the right fish which is staring down the barrel of your gun in some ways it doesn't matter if you hit it or not because you're 90% there. Sadly, that doesn't help supper.

Its gonna be a week or two until I get to rectify the lack of fish but I did have a good dive!

 

[BarnacleBoy]

8-10m - They're quite some depths you're doing. Tell me you're not doing them alone?!?!

 

[bobandsausage]

Hi Eddy, good effort on getting out there this week and finding both viz and fish! I totally feel your pain re the taunting mullet... I had a session-from-hell in July when I kept missing monster mullet who would then idly turn in to inspect me from closer quarters while I frantically re-loaded, only to casually give me the shoulder and disappear off slowly into the gloom.

I've only been night-diving a few times, but to be honest have found it very productive for flatties, often close in at little depth. Maybe Foxfish or one of the Dorset uber hunters could give a more seasoned view on this?

 

[Highlander]

Hi Eddy, good effort on getting out there this week and finding both viz and fish! I totally feel your pain re the taunting mullet... I had a session-from-hell in July when I kept missing monster mullet who would then idly turn in to inspect me from closer quarters while I frantically re-loaded, only to casually give me the shoulder and disappear off slowly into the gloom.

I've only been night-diving a few times, but to be honest have found it very productive for flatties, often close in at little depth. Maybe Foxfish or one of the Dorset uber hunters could give a more seasoned view on this?

I'm no night diving expert, however my first dive a week ago was quite productive with 2 x 1.5-2lb bass, 3 flatties & 1 gurnard. This was all in very shallow water of about 1-1.5m. Got the bass when in about 1m when I was retuning to shore to sort out my mask mount torch.

The next night wasn't great as I was in about 5-8m initially and didn't see anything much until I swam under a pier and into the shallows again where I saw some ray, large cuttle and some flatties. Came away with a cuttle and a flatty.

So all in all I would stick to the shallows for the time being & stab the flatties from the surface.

Hopefully that may help.

Scott

 

[BarnacleBoy]

Last time I tried a stab, the flattie got away (swam as I jabbed). How close do you get the spear tip to the fish before the jabbing moment?

 

[Highlander]

Last time I tried a stab, the flattie got away (swam as I jabbed). How close do you get the spear tip to the fish before the jabbing moment?

Not sure really, maybe half a foot to a foot. Just guess really. You just need to jab down quickly & forcefully & make sure the flopper goes all the way through the fish & into the sand otherwise when you pull out, the flopper will not 'flop' open & hold the fish to the spear.

 

[foxfish]

I have found the most effective way is not to actually stab them from a distance but simply push the spear through the fish from point blank range.
Flatfish that are buried or even partly covered in sand will not swim away because they are relying on their camouflage but with active fish it might be better to shoot them!
I am not a great believer in shooting flatfish because I fear it is dangerous should the spear either hit a rock under the sand or not completely leave the gun & cause damage but plenty of people do shoot them!

Re the night diving - I consider this expect of my hobby as a way to catch fish but not even remotely sporting.
That is only my personal opinion as the fish you dazzle with the torch are sitting targets that are shot with the use of technology, not hunting skill or watercraft!
I do go night diving a few times a year though as it without doubt a very productive way to kill fish.

 

[BarnacleBoy]

OK, cool for the tips guys. On the only flattie I've had, I stabbed it and then dived down and pushed it up the spear as I'd heard of the flopper not coming out and so losing the fish (injured). I'll give that a go next time.

 

[bobandsausage]

Thanks for the tips gents. Err, Foxfish, can I borrow your torch? The bass that I've spotted at night have been much too wary!

 

[BarnacleBoy]

No, it's the mermaid that are wary when you shine your torch on them Nick.

 

[bobandsausage]

No, it's the mermaid that are wary when you shine your torch on them Nick.

:naughty

 

[BarnacleBoy]

I'm sorry...I just couldn't resist!