Dorset Spearfishing 2006

[glowworm]

Seemed only right to start a new thread for this year.

[flyflicker]

First dive of the year!

Just back - vis awful, but almostafish and UKSpearo had five flatties between them.

Water temp was a chilling 9deg and getting changed was bum numbing!!

While I was getting changed I vowed to myself that I would wait for warmer days before I get back in, but now snug & warm at home I can’t wait for another go at those flatties… ho hum

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by flyflicker

...but now snug & warm at home I can’t wait for another go at those flatties… ho hum

That's the spirit . I was planning to come down today but got a better offer last night (beating, duck shooting, drinks & Phil Lynott special on Radio 2).

The clincher was the tides. I got really confused about the tides at Portland.. New Years day the water was high at Newton's Cove when I entered around noon and then went down through 3pm-ish .. exposing rocks, etc.. So, I was expecting the the opposite tides this week (normally tides reverse same day of following week ... or so I thought). According to the internet sites -- high tide was around noon this weekend with low tide around 6pm -- the exact opposite of what I expected (and, to me, seems the same as last week). Was it really high tide around noon today? [I saw the half moon (up at about 60 degree & south) at 5pm and thought that might suggest a high tide??]. Or did I just catch one of those discontinuities in the tide that occur near the solent?

[e.g. Here are the tide times this weekend:

Sat 7th Jan 2006

04:16 0.72m 11:59 1.88m
17:12 0.64m
Sun 8th Jan 2006

00:38 1.62m 05:08 0.84m
12:55 1.70m 18:10 0.71m ]

[deirmendjian]

Hey All,

I'm just getting done with my vacation time here on the sunny - but currently murky - california coast. I've been out a couple of times since I've been back. In two days, I'm back to Colchester, UK, and the closest decent shore-diving, I've been told, is Bognor Regis, which is about 2 and a half hours away with a car that I don't have.

I have a new suit that is awesome. I have a new gun. I have fins and a mask that I love, and I really, really, do not want to give up spearfishing for the next 8 months while I get my Master's degree.

Please, do any of you guys know of ANY shore spots that are close by Colchester? Near Clacton? Or would I have to drop some quid on a beater and pay you guys a long ass drive visit in Portland and Weymouth and Dorset to get my spearing in? Let me know.

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by deirmendjian

... In two days, I'm back to Colchester, UK, and the closest decent shore-diving, I've been told, is Bognor Regis, which is about 2 and a half hours away with a car that I don't have. ...

...Please, do any of you guys know of ANY shore spots that are close by Colchester? Near Clacton? Or would I have to drop some quid on a beater and pay you guys a long ass drive visit in Portland and Weymouth and Dorset to get my spearing in? Let me know.

If I lived in Colchester (god forbid), I'd be checking the nearby coast -- & there is a lot, close by too. I lived in & near Felixstowe & Ipswich for a couple of years -- and there is coast around there worth looking at (perhaps try somewhere near the Felixstowe Ferry or Languard Fort the coast looks interesting around Harwich too) [check out the multimap satellite images too]. It might also be worth check estuaries near Ipswich & Manningtree -- might need to be careful of tidal flows, mud, etc. -- there are some nice pubs around them that might make convenient entry points?!

A little further from, home you might check out the (Sussex?) coast south of London (that does indeed include in and around Bognor). I believe Paul & Colin of www.RobAllenEurope.com fish along that stretch pretty regularly -- check out some of the trip reports on their website.

The sea has been pretty murky in Dorset recently -- you might want to pick your time & location carefully if you are going to make that drive.

[deirmendjian]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

If I lived in Colchester (god forbid), I'd be checking the nearby coast -- & there is a lot, close by too. I lived in & near Felixstowe & Ipswich for a couple of years -- and there is coast around there worth looking at (perhaps try somewhere near the Felixstowe Ferry or Languard Fort the coast looks interesting around Harwich too) [check out the multimap satellite images too]. It might also be worth check estuaries near Ipswich & Manningtree -- might need to be careful of tidal flows, mud, etc. -- there are some nice pubs around them that might make convenient entry points?!

A little further from, home you might check out the (Sussex?) coast south of London (that does indeed include in and around Bognor). I believe Paul & Colin of www.RobAllenEurope.com fish along that stretch pretty regularly -- check out some of the trip reports on their website.

The sea has been pretty murky in Dorset recently -- you might want to pick your time & location carefully if you are going to make that drive.

Hey, thanks a lot for that Mr. X. I suppose I'm going to just have to be adventurous, and not be afraid to try and spear where no man has done so before.

[fearthespear]

I like the attitude... keep on spearing! This time of year is good for exploring. With fewer fish around you won't be wasting your time! I plan to keep diving (viz permitting) right through till the next season. Dorset is well worth the drive. Probably best to make a weekend of it to make the journey worthwhile...

[1 shot, 1 kill]

Hi all, good call on the new thread for the new year Glowworm, the other one was getting a bit long! Hope everyone is enjoying 2006 so far, can't see that i'll be getting in before March time but will be "investing" in some exciting new gear from Portland Oceaneering soon, looking forward to the Spearo BBQs as well. Hope to see everyone soon, cheers.

[SurfnSpear]

.....not even a little look around the piers?

[1 shot, 1 kill]

I suppose i could be persuaded... I'll let you know when i'm going to be around

[glowworm]

Yeah i might give it a go if i get time.Might practice getting into your suitcase Surfinspear.

[deirmendjian]

Originally Posted by fearthespear

I like the attitude... keep on spearing! This time of year is good for exploring. With fewer fish around you won't be wasting your time! I plan to keep diving (viz permitting) right through till the next season. Dorset is well worth the drive. Probably best to make a weekend of it to make the journey worthwhile...

I like my attitude, too, but I don't think it's going to get me anywhere. Shore dive spots, as far as I can tell, are not spoken of in the same sentence as Essex. I went to Mersea island today and I found out why: the water is literally crap brown, not a milimeter of visibility in it, and shallow as all shit too.

The geological structures present where land meets sea in this area simply aren't conducive to water unclouded by caca. Shit!

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by deirmendjian

I like my attitude, too, but I don't think it's going to get me anywhere. Shore dive spots, as far as I can tell, are not spoken of in the same sentence as Essex. I went to Mersea island today and I found out why: the water is literally crap brown, not a milimeter of visibility in it, and shallow as all shit too.

The geological structures present where land meets sea in this area simply aren't conducive to water unclouded by caca. Shit!

I took a dip today too, although in Newton Cove, Dorset. Not spearing, just thought I'd see if I could recover my weight belt (no joy). Almost no viz (maybe 50cm max)! Swell -- and occasionally a fairly big wave. Pretty awful. Although the water temperature was fine -- the 5mm spearo suit is proving to be more than adequate for UK winter & it also provided good protection from the rocks.

I bought some weights in Portland Oceaneering & got some good location suggestions, which will help shape future plans. Also got an invite to the next spearo BBQ, which sounds fun. Looks like they will be carrying Picasso equipment this year (along with the existing stock of cressi-sub & RA gear). They had a cool spearing DVD on -- should probably get one of those need to get the DVD player working.[I believe they mentioned that a boat would be handy too! I am noticing a pattern].

[deirmendjian]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

I took a dip today too, although in Newton Cove, Dorset. Not spearing, just thought I'd see if I could recover my weight belt (no joy). Almost no viz (maybe 50cm max)! Swell -- and occasionally a fairly big wave. Pretty awful. Although the water temperature was fine -- the 5mm spearo suit is proving to be more than adequate for UK winter & it also provided good protection from the rocks.

I bought some weights in Portland Oceaneering & got some good location suggestions, which will help shape future plans. Also got an invite to the next spearo BBQ, which sounds fun. Looks like they will be carrying Picasso equipment this year (along with the existing stock of cressi-sub & RA gear). They had a cool spearing DVD on -- should probably get one of those need to get the DVD player working.[I believe they mentioned that a boat would be handy too! I am noticing a pattern].

It's just like that one guy's signature on this board says: "it will take you to exotic lands, beautiful waters . . . ruin your marriage, drain your bank account"

Criminy. I should have gone to Southampton or Sussex or some university in Dorset instead of freakin' Essex. Better yet: I should have stayed home on the So. Cal. coast, chock full as it is with white sea bass, halibut, lobsters, calico and sand bass, leopard shark (they're absolutely delicious), lingcod, cabezon and more - at several different shore spots, all within less than an hour's drive from my parent's place. Life is retarded.

[Old Man Dave]

Greeting to all you Dorset Spearo's. Happy New Year. Anyone checking out our Guernsey thread (apart from Mr X)? Tried night diving yet? Just interested.
Dave