Winter Spearing UK

[Padaxes]

Well a depressing post in the Cornwall thread made me realise that it`s true the summer is nearly over, I was wondering what the prospects are like for winter spearing in the UK? Does anyone do it ? Do the varietys of fish change in the winter months ?

 

[Mr. X]

Well a depressing post in the Cornwall thread made me realise that it`s true the summer is nearly over, I was wondering what the prospects are like for winter spearing in the UK? Does anyone do it ? Do the varietys of fish change in the winter months ?

Cheer up Padaxes. For me, the season really didn't kick off till last week of August last year. Looks similar this year. Was spearing until November 24th last year (got a 4lb mullet that day - the fish are plump & tasty late in the year) - Sept/Oct/Nov were great. I think the big squid showed up around September last year. The bass start leaving when it gets cold, maybe Dec/Jan - ish although there might be some that stick round all year. I think Mike Ladle rod fishes for Bass until November. Cornwall is further south, so you might get an extra week or two if you head down the Lizard(?). Flatties seem to be what the winter divers go for. I think I've dived every month except March (or pos. Feb?). Temperature isn't the problem for me, lack of visibility & fish is.

 

[Padaxes]

Thats what I needed to hear thanks mr X

Ive never seen a squid in english waters in fact I`m ashamed to say I didnt know we got them, do you spear them !?

 

[scottwilson]

you hit the nail on the head MR X late season spearfishing is very productive.

 

[foxfish]

Get yourself a good LED torch & have fun night diving in the autumn months for red mullet & sole.

 

[Padaxes]

Night diving, that idea frankly scares the bejeebus out of me Maybe i`ll have to try it

 

[foxfish]

Cool, I thought "whiffing" was a guernsey word!

 

[Jonny250]

Night diving, that idea frankly scares the bejeebus out of me Maybe i`ll have to try it

get the best torch you can't afford and a short gun.
Thanks to all the good advice on here about kit etc, last year i managed to get out throughout the winter, longest break was probably 2-3 weeks when the storms were in. when theres not lots of fish there still lots going on in the water especially on the macro scale.
Personally in a way i'm already looking forward to the longer winter nights - how sad is that!! but at least i can get home from a night dive and its not morning o clock already!

 

[podge]

Winter’s a great time to spear as there aren’t so many people or boats in or around the areas that are fishy.
That and it’s a flatfish and shellfish bonanza.

 

[Old Man Dave]

You can day dive all year but the winter time is a bit grim. However as Jonny says the longer nights and earlier nightfall just suits winter night diving perfectly. By christmas you can night dive after work and be home in time for tea .

Night diving increases the number of species you can spear. Red mullet and soles are 2 good night targets and it just so happens that Sept to Jan is the prime time to see numbers of them inshore.

Having said all that about night diving then day diving is still good up until xmas although by December the winter storms and falling sea temperature favour the truly hardy (read nuts) spearo's.

My personal approach is to fill the freezer by day diving til Nov and night diving til Jan then take Feb and March off before looking for the early bass and the easter run of plaice in April. Maybe it's old age but 10 months of the year is enough, for me anyway.

Dave

 

[Padaxes]

on that note how long can u store fish in the freezer for ?

 

[agbiv]

Freeze in zip-lock w/ water - 1 year
Freeze in zip-lock no water - 3 months
Use a vacuum pump/sealer - maybe 2 years

The heavier the plastic the better protection from freezer burn & less air less burn. Oily fish like mackeral don't last long. Now if cryo-frozen you can keep below 0' C almost indefinitely.

 

[flyflicker]

Freeze in zip-lock w/ water - 1 year

with water? do you mean surround the fish in water and then freeze?

 

[agbiv]

Right-o to quote you Brits (or Queensmen). Doesn't take much for a quart bag maybe 1-1 1/2 cups! 3/4 L for you EU folks.

 

[Padaxes]

hmm interesting Ive never heard of the water thing before I will remeber that thanks.

 

[flyflicker]

many thanks I will give it a go

 

[Mr. X]

Interesting idea freezing fish in water - tap water rather than saltwater presumably? Interesting figures on storage too.

Cool, I thought "whiffing" was a guernsey word!

Had to look that up: Bass Trolling (interesting tip on using a match stick to "trim" rubber eels). Trolling as they say in the USA (i.e. dragging a lure behind a boat/kayak/...). My favourite technique when kayaking is to let out a troll line and then forget about it apart from an occasional tug & check on the lure: para-cord handline, long mono leader, single unweighted Eddystone eel -- very simple & streamline, rarely snags & easily freed if it does snag. Caught pollock & bass so far.

By the way, the above link recommends ball bearing swivels. I've looked out for these for some time but have yet to come across any. The 6 volume angling encyclopedia repeatedly recommends them, actually dismissing other types as not working! It seems odd that they are so hard to find. Just found these on Google:
http://www.sportfish.co.uk/product/34255/Sharpes_Ball_Bearing_Swivels.html
http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/ball-bearing-swivels/ in the USA has a good selection.

 

[agbiv]

Hey all! I use tap water but salt would work but takes longer to freeze.

For ball bearing swivels try:

Cabelas or BassPro--they mail order out of the USA & have lots of neat stuf (drool, drool)......no dear I'm NOT ordering anything off line! (whew!)

 

[jimy286]

Only do this to whole fish as youl burn the meat on filets... O also the Chlorine in the tap water aint grate

 

[foxfish]

I thought the idea was to stop the fillets burning due to being encased with ice?