Spearfishing

Alice · 18 June 2006, 09:44

I don't know how many of you guys go in for a bit of spearfishing? I've been at it for a while now, and having just up-graded my gun, I'm getting some good results. Yesterday- 3lb Bass, 1 1/2lb Pollack and a 1lb Cuckoo Wrasse (the latter for fishcakes). There are plenty of Spider crabs around at the moment. I tend to hang a keep-net off of my surface marker bouy to store the crabs in which saves returning to the shore/boat everytime I snaffle one.

Nos4r2 · 18 June 2006, 12:28

You eat Wrasse? I thought they were inedible?

Kernow Buoy · 18 June 2006, 13:10

Goongumpus boys will eat anything that even smells of Fish !

Downhilldai · 18 June 2006, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice

I don't know how many of you guys go in for a bit of spearfishing? I've been at it for a while now, and having just up-graded my gun, I'm getting some good results. Yesterday- 3lb Bass, 1 1/2lb Pollack and a 1lb Cuckoo Wrasse (the latter for fishcakes). There are plenty of Spider crabs around at the moment. I tend to hang a keep-net off of my surface marker bouy to store the crabs in which saves returning to the shore/boat everytime I snaffle one.

Sounds like you could have done with that gun last bank holiday weekend?

MarkWildey · 19 June 2006, 09:20

Alice

Used to fish for Wessex Spearfishing a few moons ago. I bought my first RIB so that we could fish several places during the day until I stopped geting out of the boat.

Did you fish at the Bognor comp recently?

Cheers

Mark

Alice · 19 June 2006, 17:14

No, i didn't know that there was such a thing as a spearfishing comp. Reckon i'd have been in the silverware with this weekends haul. Been reading Antonio Carlucci for a good Bass recipe. 'Spose I could ask Mrs. Sticky for a recipe, although she'd try and make a cake out of the thing!

slimtim · 19 June 2006, 17:56

alice...what do you need to do this, how much does it cost, where do you get the gear and how do you do it?!

Me mate and I want to try it down freshy bay on the IOW...catch ourselves some bigguns.

Alice · 19 June 2006, 21:42

Careful, I could bore for West Sussex on this subject.

1. A decent gun over 60cm no more than 75cm. Mine is a Beuchat Mundial, Cressi Sub and Sporasub are virtually indentical.
2. Obviously, mask,wetsuit,snorkel and fins.
3. Weight belt, i use 3 yellow dive weights. This gives me equal bouyancy to offset the bouyancy in me and my suit. It makes it easier to dive and stay down. You must leave enough breath on each dive to swim to the surface. It sounds obvious, but when diving without weights you'll surface without trying and it requires no effort, with weights it takes a bit more effort. Hovering a couple of feet off the bottom is great.
4. A keep net. Returning to the boat/shore with every catch is a drag.
5. Surface marker bouy. Unless snorkling tight to the rocks/shore it makes sense, I tie the keep net to it also.
6.Knife. With the string from the marker bouy and the recovery line on the gun around you, if you get snagged, you wanna be out of there pretty quick.

That's about it, find a good spot, about 15ft of water, where the sand meets the rock/weed is good as you can see the fish moving in and out of the weed. In thick kelp it's hard to spot them If the water is too deep and the vis is not great, you'll have to constantly dive to spot fish ,which rarely leaves enough air to line up a shot.
The rest is practise.

Downhilldai · 19 June 2006, 21:50

So what sort of money are you looking at for a decent weapon?

MarkWildey · 19 June 2006, 21:50

Alice

The bass is a nice size but the others are a little too small to be counted. Wrasse are typically not included in comps as they are not really eating material and are very easy to catch.

If you came back with a couple of 10 pound plus bass and some nice pollock or mullet then you might raise an eyebrow at the weigh in. There are some very good fisherman at Southsea and Sussex clubs.

Tim, try http://www.spearo.co.uk/. Dave's site has some hints and tips and I'd give him a call to chat about what you want to do as there's some obvious pit falls to spearfishing

Cheers

Mark

Alice · 19 June 2006, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

So what sort of money are you looking at for a decent weapon?

A gun £70-£90. The surgery that Andrea mentioned, about £4k.

Downhilldai · 19 June 2006, 21:59

So you've been getting quotes then??

Alice · 19 June 2006, 21:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkWildey

Alice

The bass is a nice size but the others are a little too small to be counted. Wrasse are typically not included in comps as they are not really eating material and are very easy to catch.

If you came back with a couple of 10 pound plus bass and some nice pollock or mullet then you might raise an eyebrow at the weigh in. There are some very good fisherman at Southsea and Sussex clubs.

Tim, try http://www.spearo.co.uk/. Dave's site has some hints and tips and I'd give him a call to chat about what you want to do as there's some obvious pit falls to spearfishing

Cheers

Mark

Cheers. Yeah Wrasse are crap and a 10lb Bass is a rare beast around rocks during the day. Mullet are game sport in open water, not great eating though. Contrary to popular belief, Pollack are good eating. The trick is to keep them in the fridge for 2/3 days before eating. Trust me, I used to own a fish business.

Alice · 19 June 2006, 22:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

So you've been getting quotes then??

No, an unfortunately blessed mate was telling me about it, as if i was interested? Oh no, no no no.

MarkWildey · 19 June 2006, 22:07

There's some nice flat fish and ray fishing at Bognor. A few ( 15+ ) years ago at the Bognor comp one of the guys caught a thorn-back ray which them wrapped its tail around him. He managed to get back to the shore before the swelling started.

Also a mate and I were fishing down in Devon ( can't remember where ) and he caught a trigger fish, which we'd never seem before. He had his fish keep on his weight belt. The trigger fish bit through his wet suit and bit him on the arse

Mark

Remember now : Bigbury

Downhilldai · 19 June 2006, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkWildey

....a thorn-back ray which them wrapped its tail around him. He managed to get back to the shore before the swelling started.

The trigger fish bit through his wet suit and bit him on the arse

Mark

This game sounds a bit dangerous to me - I'll stick with my mackerel feathers.

Alice · 19 June 2006, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

This game sounds a bit dangerous to me - I'll stick with my mackerel feathers.

What, instead of the surgery!? Must be a Welsh thing.

"Fancy getting the 'mackerel feathers' out tonight love?"

Downhilldai · 19 June 2006, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice

What, instead of the surgery!? Must be a Welsh thing.

"Fancy getting the 'mackerel feathers' out tonight love?"

Or:
'I've got my rubber suit on and my shiny weapon is in my hand with the rubber stretched tight. Tighten my belt, so I can dive into the kelp.....'

Alice · 19 June 2006, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Or:
'I've got my rubber suit on and my shiny weapon is in my hand with the rubber stretched tight. Tighten my belt, so I can dive into the kelp.....'

Rib an' all!!

Nos4r2 · 19 June 2006, 23:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice

Mullet are game sport in open water, not great eating though.

Why? Every one I ever caught tasted gorgeous-just some people wouldn't eat them because of their diet.