South Devon Report 2006

[Jez]

First dive of the new year last Saturday at Anstey's Cove in Torquay. Viz was 2-3m, lovelly sunny day and nice to get back in the water. Only saw one 8lb wrasse skulking in a cave under the old quarry there. Poor fella must be really lonely as I didn't see anything else, not even a pollack (which the spot always seems to have. No shellfish worth considering. I guess its just part of getting to know your spots all year round.

Spent just over an hour in the water but got out more through boredom than the freezing water, a 5mm suit seems to be fine at the moment. Anyone else had any luck, perhaps down in Cornwall?

[fearthespear]

Hi Jez

Have'nt been out in the last few weeks but will probably take a dive this weekend. I know it's not Cornwall but I'll let you know how it goes anyway! There are plenty of flatties around Portland at the mo...

[spearheads]

i have been spearfishing a few times at ansteys cove but not any more because all i ever see is pollock. Now i go to oddicombe beach along the rocks loads of bass and mullet there in the summer. Or petitor beach thats my favouite place to go but its also a nudist beach but they dont mind over people coming down to the beach.

[Jez]

Thanks for the tip Spearhead. I've always kept away from Oddicombe, I've fished off Babbacombe pier in the summer and the place is always buzzing with watercraft. It does look like a lovely dive with good fish potential. Hope Cove works for me on mullet and bass front, bit of a hike down the headland though (although if makes it more of a mini-adventure ).

Maybe we could go dive sometime? As I've said, the fish seem rather thin on the ground at the moment. I understand that flat fish are somewhat in season at the moment though but I've not yet found any ground that has them yet without a boat (apart from my lovely 4lb plaice which was in the wrong place at the wrong time last summer!). I might pop over to Wembury way on the weekend to check it out, its supposed to be good and should reasonable viz given the wind at the mo.

[spearheads]

Dont think i will be able to stay in long. My suits a windsurfing suit they are different to over surfing suits as its got thin layer of plastic (dont know the real name)so water runs of it. it does not obsorb any water into the suit. If i get a divers hat i will probly stay warmer for longer. The suit is 5 mm but not on the arms and legs. Probly wont be diving again untill early summer.

[Jez]

See you in the summer maybe then? I only started last summer in a 5/3 surf suit but did the right thing and got custom spearo suit from Dave at Spearo in Cornwall.

[Jez]

Made my first trip to the Louis Shield at Thurlestone (South Hams) this morning. Bloody freezing getting changed but fine in the water. Offishore winds all week ensured the viz was pretty good for the time of year 5-7m. A very pretty dive with lots of rock and sand gullies covered in kelp, sea anemones (excuse spelling) and the like. Saw an edible crab but too small for the pot. Also saw a small shoal of sand eels so I headed to the bottom to wait and see if anything larger was following. No such luck, no proper fish seen at all but the ground looks excellent and I can't wait to revisit in the spring/summer when the fish return.

I've never dived a wreck before and I wasn't too bothered about finding it but it found me. It's so close in you can't miss it. I got a really spooky feeling when I happened upon it, can't explain it really but I felt like I wanted to leave as soon as I got there. Maybe I'd be more brave if I had had some company. It was only in about 4m of water at low tide.

May have to get the fishing rods out soon, doesn't seem much hope of bagging anything with the gun at the moment. Talk about desperation!

[colinpryce]

Just picked up this thread on a cold sunday in January stuck indoors looking after my kids who have the flu!
Mind started to dream of summer evenings gliding over shallows on south Devon coast.
I too had little success in Torquay area this year .Live near Wembury and am always impressed by how beautiful wrass look in evening sunlight.
Just for info, a lot of locals think Wembury has some sort of ban on spearing as it's a National trust/marine protection area inshore so keep a low profile to save any unwanted attention.
Roll on the summer eh? Maybe see you lads out there.Col.P.

[Mr. X]

Hi,
I will be staying near Lyme Regis in April. Any suggestions for spearing spots? Anybody interested in spearing? Would also be interested in going out in a day boat rod fishing -- any recommendations for harbour/boat/company? [I only have light spinning gear -- slightly souped up for light beach work - and some homemade handlines...so boats that supply rods or handlines]. It sounds we will have access to a private beach ... which looks quite promising from the satellite pictures (clear water, weed, sand ...some rocky bit not far away).

I am hoping to have a tandem kayak for the trip -- although I have not had much luck getting one yet. (If you see any for sale down there please let me know).

[colinpryce]

HI,not very familiar with lyme regis area but when i went there lastsummer i went to a village called Bere nearby which has a beach with potential for spearing.There are also fishing boats for hire at bere as well as being a pretty and quiet part of the coast.
Enjoy your stay and try the cider!!
Col.P.

[Mr. X]

Thanks for the tip Col. Apparently there are several Beres in Devon & Dorset...but I am wondering if you mean Beer, this place: http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/beer.html

http://multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?c...idn=&lang=&db=

I rarely drink but a glass of West Country cider sounds like an excellent idea .

[Mr. X]

Thanks for all the tips & suggestion guys -- and will obviously respect confidentiality of PM'd suggestions. Looks like there are a number of places worth visiting -- will only get a chance to visit a few. We have our kayak now too. Fingers crossed -- I am ready for the return of the fish. Just one more piece of unfinished business to take care of....

[Jez]

Would love to see the new Kayak Mr X. Are you going to customise it in someway?

[Mr. X]

Go faster stripes? It will probably be pretty bare bones initially -- I haven't got the time/money/energy at the moment to do much beyond rigging an anchor, getting a roof rack, making a lifting bar, getting some sort of cart sorted, waterproof bag for the phone & maybe stick a lure on the back (thanks Pav!). [Despite all the promotional photos, my tandem did not include a fit looking young blonde lady in the front seat...pity, I could have foregone the cart & lifting bar ].

[Jez]

Got back in the water today at Hopes Nose, Torquay. The beach was nice and warm. Wish I could say the same for the water!

Viz was 2m with the odd patch of 3m. Not a sausage in sight (fish I mean ). Not sure if the inshore trawler/dredger thingy working the Nose scared them all off, it sure was noisy under the waves .

Maybe I'll give it two more weeks. I hope this SW airflow will bring some warmer water our way and encourage a few things to start breeding and making some fish food.